Locke’s and Rousseau’s Views on Property

Introduction The origins of land ownership, property, and the ability to claim something as belonging to a particular individual and not all people is a disputable topic. In The Second Discourse, Rousseau critiques Locke’s approach to viewing ownership of land. Locke’s view on the property is based on the idea...

Kant’s Ethical Philosophy and Milgram’s Experiments

The problem for Kant’s ethical philosophy is whether moral principles are applicable to nonhumans, such as Galacticans. Kant’s humanity formulation holds that people should not treat others as a means to an end (Gibson, 2019). Instead, human beings are agents with goals and ambition and should be accorded respect. Since...

Epistemology and Methods of Knowing

Epistemology and the Three Models Notably, epistemology is the branch of philosophy concerned with the knowledge’s nature, implications, and limits. Hence, epistemology is focused on whether the knowledge claims can withstand investigation in such a way that individuals can distinguish between simple ideas and factual knowledge (Tavernaro-Haidarian, 2018; Entwistle, 2015)....

Values in the Quran and “Prince Behram and the Princess Al-Datma”

Islam may be seen as a controversial religion, with many contradicting morals. Some of the Quran’s values are not always promoted in the fictional works. For example, there are differences in interpreting the way families should be formed in some Arabic tales. Comparing the Quran and “Prince Behram and the...

Plato’s, Aristotle’s, and Socrates’ Philosophical Ideas

Understanding differences in philosophical approaches, as well as their nature, is essential for gaining insight into the key premises of specific philosophies and teachings. Although cultural specifics play a vital role in the development of said differences in philosophical approaches, other factors may also be at play. However, despite the...

Ancient and Medieval Metaphysics

Both ancient and medieval authors, from Plato to Aquinas, demonstrated interest in the matters of metaphysics. At the same time, their approach to the subject and the ideas they proposed and entertained differed sharply. Unlike Ancient philosophy, driven purely by the love of intellectual pursuit, medieval philosophy existed under an...

Personal Freedom of Thought Concept

Freedom is defined in different ways; however, the most common meaning is the ability to act without the interference of other people. Several philosophers have tried to have varied opinions on the aspect of freedom, but they usually agree that external forces influence the freedom of people. Over the past...

Randy Pausch Last Lecture

Introduction Randolph Frederick Pausch was a professor of computer science at Carnegie Mellon University. He was given a terminal diagnosis of three to six months after being found with pancreatic cancer. The concept of death is brought out in the lecture as Pausch shows how people can react to death...

Traditional Kantianism and Its Relation to Software Engineering Ethics

Research the Ethical Theory of Traditional Kantianism Immanuel Kant is one of the major thinkers of the Age of Enlightenment. He is known for his work “Groundwork of the Metaphysic of Morals,” which provides an evaluation of motivations for action (Kant et al., 2019). The ethical theory of traditional Kantianism...

Singer’s and Narveson’s Ethical Approaches to Charity

Introduction There are many ethical approaches to charity and altruistic behavior that state how individuals should embark on helping others, whether any kind of help is necessary, and to what extent. Thus, such theories as utilitarianism and libertarianism present opposing views on charitable behavior and whether individual members of society...

Utilitarian and Libertarian Approaches to Justice

The concept of justice is complicated and nebulous, and its exact nature has been the subject of numerous debates throughout millennia. In general, it is considered to be an impartial decision-making agency that can make and enforce decisions that are regarded as virtuous. One of its most important aspects is...

Essential Tenets of Idealism and Realism in Politics

Introduction Political scientists identify two main theories of international relations such as realism and idealism. These theories are fundamentally opposite since their representatives believe that a different nature guides people and states. While realists believe that all states’ actions are based on their national interests and the desire for power,...

Death Concept: Accepting Its Transformational Power

Definitely, death is the end of the earthly life, while one can still question if it is the real end. Depending on the attitude, the answer can be different. Basically, there are two main answers to this question, as there are two sides to the same coin. On the one...

Sharon Street’s Article Objection Paper

Sharon Street’s article, Does Anything Really Matter or Did We Just Evolve to Think So? raises crucial questions about the origins of personal and societal biases or beliefs that influence the perception of events. People often undoubtedly rely on facts they learned through life and refused to analyze the genealogy...

The Ideal Society and Form of Government

Introduction Although socialism, capitalism, and communism offer various benefits to society, libertarianism’s strong valuation of individual freedoms, distributive justice, and the protection against state authority interference makes it the ideal form of government. The ideal societies are characterized by free citizens with equal and inalienable rights coexisting within an egalitarian...

Deontology and the Categorical Imperative

Deontology is a theoretical and philosophic movement that directs people in understanding what action should and should not be taken by an individual. People subscribing to this view believe that persons are born with a set of obligations and responsibilities they must adhere to. This ethical theory places an increased...

Socrates’ Arguments for the Immortality of the Soul

Phaedo is a dialogue by Plato, which explores the subject of the immortality of the soul. It contains Socrates’ reflections on life and death expressed in the conversation with his friends in the last hours before his death. One of the arguments for the immortality of the soul provided by...

Donald Davidson: Philosophy of Mind

Introduction Many philosophers have investigated the relationship between the mind and the brain. These investigations date back to the days of Plato, Aristotle, and a few other philosophers. Historically, before the scientific understanding of the mind and the brain, theology informed the understanding of the relationship between the mind and...

The Philosopher’s Explanation of Reason and Empiricism

Epistemology, Metaphysics, & Reason Rene Descartes is one of the world’s most famous philosophers that influenced the way people see the world and make meaning out of it. Many of these theorists’ ideas were considered to be authentic and radical. For instance, he was the first one to question human...

The Effects of Trade Unions on Alienation at Work

Introduction The concept of alienation was first proposed by the German philosopher Karl Marx in his famous work Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844. He argued that the modern production methods forced workers to abandon their humanity and embrace the role of an easily replaceable element in a large oppressive...

“Old” and “New” Metaphysics

The main difference between the old and the new metaphysics is in the philosophical problems they seek to address. The old metaphysics, going back up to the Ancient Greek philosophers such as Parmenides and Aristotle, was preoccupied with the matters of essence and existence. The classic example of a problem...

A Philosophical Puzzle from John Locke’s Perspective

Introduction The physical tangibility of material reality and the extent to which it is dependent on the personal perceptions of an individual is, perhaps, one of the most contentious topics that have been discussed throughout the history of philosophy. In the famous dilemma of a falling tree, the question of...

Materialism and Dualism Theories and Reasoning

Why Materialism Makes More Sense The purview of existence in the world has had several illustrations on the constitution of life as well as the state. Even then, the notions of soul and body tend to attract massive concerns from different fragments, drawing battle lines on which aspect is more...

What is a Feeling of Pride?

Introduction Pride is the feeling of satisfaction resulting from one’s actions or possessions, or the connection to something or someone. The person experiencing pride believes the action, possession, or connection in question to be desirable and values their being related to it. The word “pride” may be fairly neutral, although...

Idealistic Philosophies of I. Kant and G. Hegel

Introduction As of today, the gnoseological methodologies of Immanuel Kant and George Hegel are being strongly associated with the concept of a so-called German philosophical idealism. Nevertheless, despite the fact that this concept is now being commonly assumed as such that represents essentially the idealistic philosophy of Greco-Roman antiquity, adapted...

The Justice for Socrates: The Influence on the Development of the Philosophy

The influence of Socrates on the development of the philosophy could hardly be underestimated since his views provided a foundation for many philosophers to dwell upon. In this essay, one of the most fundamental works by Socrates, The Apology, will be analyzed with the aim to understand the Socrates’ attitude...

“From Living Large” by John Sullivan

Introduction John Sullivan’s article From Living Large dwells on the Confucius’ argument of the small-minded person as well as that of a large-minded person. According to Confucius, these are two possibilities found in the same person. The advice posed by the author is that these people need to recognize times...

Having Integrity Importance in Professional Life

Introduction Integrity is important for every person as it stipulates his life choices and moral attitudes towards the world. The designation “professional” is highly desired in our society and has been for centuries. People will even take courses of action that seem on the surface to be against their economic...

Herbert Marcus And the New Left

Introduction Marxist Herbert Marcus was regarded in the 1960s as the guru of the new left. Although Marcus was not the only Marxist to formulate theories of integration and capitalist stabilization his vigorous search for alternative forces and how he bluntly presented his theories distinguished him from his contemporaries. As...

My Definition of Leadership

The word leadership assigns and unimaginable task upon one person who has been chosen to be the head of a group. It is the act of steering a group of people who share qualities or ambitions towards a common goal. This person is called a leader. Somebody who knows how...

Confucianism in Modern Western Society

In a time where our economy is reaching the breaking point and faith in our current government has waned, many people have begun to look toward a different method of doing things in order to create a more positive society. One of those ways is to integrate the ideals of...

Philosopher Max Scheler

Max Scheler, who is considered to be an outstanding German philosopher of the 20th century, developed a hierarchy of values based on the Ressentiment concept. Graphically the hierarchy of values can be presented in the following form: Positive and negative groups characterize Scheler’s values; values are considered to make a...

Louis Pojman Theory of Merit and Demerit

Introduction It has been argued over the years, whether to judge people based on their deeds, irrespective of their intentions. When this is done, they are subjected to judgments based on their actions, without considering if they are responsible. It is quite easy to note that people have different reasons...

Existentialism as a Philosophical Concept

Introduction “The primary purpose of philosophical analysis is to examine meaning and to develop theories of meaning” (Kaufmann 59). It is hence the purpose of this paper to discuss the topic of Existentialism. This paper analyses Existentialism, its definition, origins, concepts and early pioneers who helped shape this philosophy into...

Existence of God: Philosophical Proofs

Introduction I will argue in support of the argument brought forward by St. Aquinas that God exists since we can experience him through our senses, live up to his purposes and be guided by his perfect will. Human beings are at liberty to search for the truths about God’s existence...

Garrett Hardin: Mutual Coercion

Hardin and his work Garrett Hardin is known for his good attempts long with arguments to work out social reasons and effects that can damage the environment. His work ‘The Tragedy of the Commons’ explains the main source of the hazards that appeared in society with the flow of time....

Aesthetics: The Theory of Beauty

Aesthetics mark one of the fields that have received intensive scholarly concerns. As early as the first century, different philosophers have since tried to explain the meaning of aesthetics and specifically identify what really makes an object beautiful in the eyes of the observer. On their part, empiricist philosophers aimed...

The Philosophy of Social Research

Abstract The paper is an analysis of the philosophy of research, core concepts of research designs as well as other approaches to research. In philosophy of research, it has been established that there is a progression from scientific methods alone into more flexible concepts that incorporate contextual experiences such as...

God Existence: The Cosmological Argument

Introduction The Cosmological Argument for the existence of God, as propounded by Thomas Aquinas, hinged on the five general principles. This, in Aquinas’ masterpiece was entitled “The Summa” (The Five Ways). In what follows, we would be critically discussing the first, second, fourth and the fifth pillars of his argument...

Ignorant Bliss and Tormenting Knowledge

“Ignorance is Bliss”, is a famous saying from many different cultures. They say the more you know, the more aggravated you will be. To know whether ignorance is truly bliss is the common theme of the two readings, Plato’s “The Allegory of the Cave” and Voltaire’s “The Good Brahmin”. In...

Comparative Eastern Philosophies Influences

Introduction Eastern philosophy is a terminology referring to the philosophies in the Asian continent, these philosophies have their origin in China, India, Kuwait and other countries in Asia. Unlike the rest of the world most philosophies in Asia revolve around their religion that happens to take three very dominant perspectives;...

Plato’s and Aristotle’s Ideas of Ethics

Introduction Aristotle’s and Plato’s philosophies disagree on many issues. One of the most common issues of this disagreement arises when we examine their different perspectives and school of thought regarding issues in ethics. Many conflicting views can be recognized when we look at their different works related to ethical theory....

Influence of Yin Yang on Confucius and Lao Zi’s Way of Thinking

Yin Yang refers to the concept that is used to describe and explain how some opposite or converse forces in the world are mutually supporting and intertwined. It describes and explains how they give rise to each other in turn and seem to be mutually dependent on each other. This...

The Purpose of Philosophy

The most important question in philosophy Philosophy is an extensive subject and what separates philosophy from other subjects is that it is the perspective that other subjects are examined through. Being of such nature, there are a number of questions that are of prime importance, but what is widely considered...

Socrates in Phaedo: Equality and Justice

Introduction One of the major questions of philosophy has always been the nature of the soul, what it is, where it resides, where it comes from, how it is developed, and for what purpose. This abiding interest like the human being from a philosophical rather than physical standpoint is evidenced...

Deleuze’s “A Thousand Plateaus” and Guattari’s “Capitalism and Schizophrenia”

Introduction The book “A Thousand Plateaus” written by the French philosopher Gilles Deleuze and the psychoanalyst Felix Guattari is the second part of the project “Capitalism and Schizophrenia”. Main body As a matter of fact, the authors themselves believe that this work cannot be considered that as a “book” because...

Plato and Absolutism in “The Allegory of the Cave”

The nature and accuracy of knowledge that people get using their perceptive apparatus are among the most discussed questions in philosophy. In the Allegory of the Cave, Plato provides his perspective on the issue by using a dark cave and prisoners in chains as the symbols of limitations related to...

Hellenistic Philosophy and Art: Views on Emotions

Abstract The breakdown of the poleis (Greek city-states), which occurred after Alexander’s death, left a majority of the people feeling alone and frightened. In order to regain what they had lost, the Greeks turned to upcoming cultural movements, each of which tried to provide them with a sense of community...

Solidarity. “All for One and One for All” by Charles Taylor

“All for One and One for All” is an essay written in 2010 by a Canadian philosopher, Charles Taylor. In his essay, the author narrates about solidarity as one of the most significant elements of democratic societies. The strength of the essay is Taylor’s argument that points out that the...

Skepticism in Knowledge Theory: The Science and Philosophy of Doubt

Introduction Approaching arguments from the position of blind faith rarely leads to effective decisions, which is why a skeptical attitude toward unsubstantiated claims has been practiced in science for centuries. Dissecting skepticism as a theory of knowledge, one can understand the philosophical ramifications of the specified approach better and, therefore,...

Chapter 5 of Locke’s Second Treatise of Government

Introduction John Locke was an English philosopher, famous for his liberal ideas and natural rights. In Two Treatises of Government, he evaluated different states of nature, war, and slavery. In the fifth chapter, Locke focused on property and its establishment in society from God’s perspective. The purpose of this essay...

Chapter XIII and XIV from Hobbes’ “Leviathan”

Introduction Leviathan is one of the most influential works created by Thomas Hobbes in the middle of the 17th century. Covering a number of human and natural rights, the author evaluated the role of power and needs regarding absolutism and contractarianism. The goal of this paper is to analyze Chapter...

Karl Marx’s Critique of Capitalism

The socialist revolutionary, Karl Marx, singled out several socio-economic formations in history and considered the patterns of their development. Slavery, feudalism, capitalism, and communism aspects were discussed by this scholar. Marx revealed the economic contradictions inherent in capitalism, pointing to the inevitability of the transition to the next formation. This...

Plato’s “Euthyphro”: The Meaning of Piety as a Virtue

Plato’s “Euthyphro” is a written dialogue between Socrates and Euthyphro that discusses the meaning of piety as a virtue. Generally, piety is considered to be the fulfillment of duty to a higher power and humanity. Euthyphro is regarded as a highly pious man who chose to legally prosecute his own...

Philosophy: Plato’s “Five Dialogues” Analysis

In the suggested passage, the philosopher revolves around the price of freedom and whether it could be achieved by any means. If to speak about the main idea of this very text, it could be determined as the essence of the cogitations about justice, injustice, and the appropriate response to...

Free Will and Determinism: Can They Coexist?

Introduction Through the pleasures and woes of life, humans often find themselves in states of regret, denial, or any of the plethoras of emotions felt after a regrettable or punishable action. One may wonder whether these emotions or reactions are reasonable. That would depend on whether humans are actually in...

Philosophical Insights in Benner’s ‘Novice to Expert’

Introduction In her article, Altmann (2007) focuses on analyzing Patricia Benner’s influential article “From novice to expert” with the aim of defending its philosophical, rather than theoretical, character. Altmann explains that her purpose is not to diminish the significance of Benner’s work, which is extensively applied in all spheres of...

Kant vs. Fuller on Rule of Law: Morality and Governance

Introduction The rule of law is a subject of practical philosophy that has always been of high interest to philosophers willing to arrive at principles of pragmatic governance by either separating empirical applications of sets of rules governing human action from the pursuit of ends valuable in the moral sense...

Socrates’ Arguments on Shepherds, Rulers, and Selflessness

Introduction Socrates, one of the greatest philosophers of ancient Greece, presented his statement about crafts, arguing that they are all selfless and directed only for the advantage of what they operate on. However, in Thrasymachus in the Republic, I used a shepherd as a counterexample to refute this claim. In...

Explainable and Unexplainable in Arts and Natural Sciences and Their Impact on Knowledge

Introduction The arts and the natural sciences have profoundly affected human thinking. Culture, technology, and socioeconomic ideas have all grown exponentially due to this double-edged quest for knowledge. Explainable refers to everything that can be reduced to a set of physical laws or a set of unambiguous physical properties (Shafir...

Kantian Ethics and Youthful Accountability in A Thirteen-Year Boy Video

Introduction The main character in the “A Thirteen-Year Boy” video faces an ethical dilemma. Examining it considering Immanuel Kant’s moral values, it becomes clear that his emphasis on reason and autonomy plays a decisive role in determining the ethical nature of actions. Ethical Analysis of the Dilemma Reason and Independence...

Ethics and Happiness: The Connection Between Morality and Fulfillment

Introduction The fundamental link between ethics and happiness cannot be disregarded in the quest for a happy life. Ethics, commonly characterized as a system of moral precepts directing conduct, is a crucial factor in determining our choices and behaviors. Using insights and my own experiences, this article aims to investigate...

Agent and Possible Intellect in Saint Bonaventure’s vs. Averroes’ Views

Many philosophers considered the nature of knowledge and human intellectual capacities from different perspectives. Aristotle proposed the most influential theories that later became the basis for interpretations and discussions. Saint Bonaventure articulated a theory of the agent and possible intellect, which attributes the possibility of knowledge generation to each individual...

Epistemology From Rationalist and Empiricist Perspectives

Immanuel Kant, a German philosopher, is well-known for his work in epistemology and metaphysics. The question, “What can we know?” is central to much of his work. The short answer is that human understanding is limited to mathematics and the natural and empirical sciences. Kant argues that it is impossible...

Philosophy of Leadership Statement

Introduction The philosophy of leadership is a theory that describes the art of leading and serving a group. This philosophy is not just any group; it includes authors, researchers, and businesses seeking to improve their operations through organizational changes (Bolman and Deal, 2017). The philosophy is especially appealing because it...

Spinoza’s vs. Descartes’ Philosophy of Substance

Introduction The initial problem of the philosophical worldview is the doctrine of being. In modern times, the search for unity and stability in the world has transformed into a solution to the problem of substance. Various philosophers recognized as such either one substance, two consciousness and matter, or many. Thus,...

Exploring Peter Singer’s Ethical Concepts in “Famine, Affluence, and Morality”

Explanation of the Principles and Concepts For millennia, philosophers have been searching for the truth of ethics by making new observations. Modern research is focused on the search for ethical inquiries in the practical activity of a people, reducing the metaphysical part. Among contemporary philosophers of this trend, one should...

John Locke’s Essay and Definitions Conceptual Analysis

In the John Locke’s Of Identity and Diversity under review, the author discusses several definitions of identity and self and separates them into component parts and terms. His philosophical definitions of thought, perception, and interaction intersect with rejecting and denying certain definitions and concepts. It is necessary to analyze and...

Deontology: The Concept of the Moral Law

It is important to note that the moral law is a mandate which dictates how a person must act. The latter is Kant’s perspective on ethics and morality, where the supreme principle of morality or Categorical Imperative lies at its core. The act of lying contradicts the morality of truth,...

Philosophy of What Constitutes a Good Life

Introduction Philosophy and religion are tightly connected with the human desire to understand the world and themselves. Many different theories were proposed in order to better quantify the human condition and determine the ultimate purpose and aim of life. However, it still remains impossible to find definitive truths about living...

Incompatibilism and Determinism in Human Life

When it comes to the philosophical aspects of life, many people support the idea of free will. This idea is deeply ingrained in their actual experiences to the extent that it is nearly hard to consider the possibility that their perspectives are incorrect. For example, when individuals contemplate various actions...

Maimonides’ Definition of Prophecy and Political Leadership

Maimonides is a renowned Jewish philosopher acclaimed for his contributions toward aligning the constructs of religion and philosophy and describing how human beings can better understand the word of God. Yet, his theory on prophecy and its manifestation in human beings is most contested because it does not associate prophecy...

Hume’s Bundle Theory of the Self

Introduction Philosophers of all times have been concerned with the issue of human identity, approaching it from many angles. One of such scholars was David Hume, who included a chapter “On Personal Identity” into his extensive work on human nature. Interestingly, Hume has set himself apart from other philosophical traditions...

Application of Utilitarian Theory of Morality

Finding a Solution to an Ethical Dilemma Utilitarianism is the ideology based on the idea that human life is not significant and that the genuine value is the benefit that one person can potentially bring. The utilitarian approach and values focus on estimating the statistical happiness that particular actions can...

Stoicism vs. Epicureanism: Comparative Analysis

Ancient Greek philosophy is a diverse subject containing various perspectives on life. While some of them did not pass the test of time and were left as relics of the past, others remained relevant to the present day and had a massive influence on the development of philosophical thought. Despite...

Jean-Paul Sartre’s Defense of Existentialism

Jean-Paul Sartre was a renowned French philosopher who wrote several books and inspired people through his brilliant ideas. In writing “Existentialism is a Humanism,” originally published in 1946, Jean-Paul Sartre tries to persuade an audience comprising of other philosophers and the publics about the nature of people living as isolated...

Lao Tzu and Diogenes: Philosophical Figures of the Pre-Christian World

Lao Tzu and Diogenes were philosophical figures of the pre-Christian world. Despite living in radically different societies, geographically opposite world regions, and temporal periods, these thinkers had several similar, relatively revolutionary concepts. It is a generally accepted fact that Diogenes was the greatest cynic, nihilist, and non-conformist of the ancient...

Han Fei, Confucius, and the Athenian Argument

It is possible to discuss several similarities between the arguments of Han Fei and Athenian envoys. The first is the discussion of punishment and favors in Han Fei or two handles. The two handles are employed by the ruler in order to control the ministers. This way, fear protects the...

The Physicalism Concept in Philosophy

Physicalism is closely related to the word ‘physical,’ which states the material condition of objects surrounding people. According to Jononymous Personymous (2021), physicalism means that everything has a physical substance, but followers of this theory do not deny the fact that abstract objects exist. Individuals can create their specific vision...

Analysis of “Flatland” by Abbott and “A Fast Car and a Good Woman” by Martin

Edwin Abbott’s satirical work Flatland explores the nature of hierarchy, freedom, and reality. The story depicts a two-dimensional universe in which “side differentiation is meant by Nature to indicate color distinction.” As a result, it is a society in which certain seemingly abstract features determine the distribution of assets. This...

Epistemology: Pragmatism and Moral Truth

Philosophers, since time immemorial, have been at a conundrum in defining the truth. Pragmatic theories have been at the frontline by proposing that true beliefs will be accepted “at the end of an inquiry.” Although the pragmatic theories concentrate on connecting the truth and epistemic practices, the truth can be...

Free Will by Kant, Descartes, Sartre, and Nietzsche

Introduction Can human beings act independently and make their own choices, or their decisions are not autonomous and are influenced by various factors? Do they have the right to do what they want? Are they free? Individuals have always been trying to find answers to these questions as they can...

Nozick vs. Rawls: Distributive Justice or Justice as Fairness

Introduction Philosophers have suggested multiple theories that can be applied legislatively for different purposes depending on the societal aims that one seeks to address. Two seemingly opposing viewpoints that approach an existing problem with contrasting solutions belong to Robert Nozick and John Rawls. While both philosophers chose the notions of...

An Analysis of Smith’s Lecture About Plato’s Republic

One unique characteristic of the Republic is that it is a literary work written as a dialog. Despite this work of Plato being the most influential one in the field of political thought, and as Smith notes, all the works written after the Republic can be viewed as an answer...

Welfarism and Resourcism Philosophies

Although the concept of equality may seem to be intuitively understandable, it is quite complex and multidimensional in fact. Every new epoch brought different interpretations of the term; at the current stage of the development of the society, everyone may have his or her own opinion that derives from relevant...

How Much Should We Do for Our Fellow Man?

The question of how much we should do for our fellow man arises every time, especially during times of emergencies, disasters and when we see others in need. Helping others is a choice that every person can make on their own. However, it depends on individual ability and willingness to...

Philosophy: “Archetypes of Wisdom” by D. J. Soccio

This chapter highlights the basic components one should expect from the book and the main concepts that one should be aware of to ensure they understand the entire book. Its central themes include defining key terms, what the book is about, different areas of philosophy, and philosophical archetypes. The author...

Socrates’ Ideas and Plato’s Representation in “Allegory of the Cave”

Introduction Early philosophical discussions presented by the scholars of Ancient Greece are still essential for the scientific community of the current age. The knowledge and beliefs manifested in the writings of well-recognized philosophers of that time offer the researchers an opportunity to establish the characteristics of philosophical thought. Furthermore, it...

Justice in “The Republic” by Plato

Central Question of Plato’s Republic In The Republic, Plato’s strategy entails explicating the primary notion of justice, political or societal, and deriving a comparable idea of justice. Plato’s perfect society comprises three classes of persons, including guardians, auxiliaries, producers, in which a just society is developed when these categories of...

Utilitarianism Applications and Criticism

Introduction Decision-making in various situations depends on the paradigm a person uses to analyze the results of their actions and choices. Under these conditions, there are numerous theories that might be applicable to various situations to determine their nature and outcomes. For instance, consequentialism is a paradigm implying that the...

Descartes’ Philosophical Thoughts on Body and Soul

It is generally accepted that man is binary in his structure; he consists of a soul and a body. According to this notion, the soul is the invisible, inner spiritual part, while the body is its outer, apparent one. The dependence of these two elements has long been proved and...

Philosophy and Its Role in Modern Science

Introduction Philosophy has often been criticized for its lack of practical utility. Indeed, some scientists and their followers maintain that most of the philosophical questions, especially the most basic ones that have been researched for centuries, are still unanswered. As a result, metaphysical, ontological, and existential endeavors are seen as...

The Relationship Between Science and Philosophy

Science and philosophy are strongly correlated because modern science has grown directly from philosophy. According to Ramchandani (2017), science means “knowledge” and stems from philosophy, which means “love of wisdom.” Therefore, people in former times considered philosophy as a method to express their love for wisdom, and the purpose of...

“The Last Days of Socrates” by Plato

The Last Days of Socrates is one of the most underestimated works written by the world-known ancient Greek philosopher Plato. Modern scholars frequently address the other parts of Plato’s dialogues; however, The Last Days of Socrates is central to the philosophical tradition of Plato. After all, Socrates was the mentor...

The Allegory of the Cave Reflected in the Modern State

Current politics, government decisions, and media communication are based on the views and opinions of those who should be at the edge of intellectual and strategic knowledge. Nowadays, different people criticize authorities and communication channels for being biased or one-sided. One might say that this is not the first time...

Descartes’ Philosophical Ideas from the Meditations on the First Philosophy

Summary Rene Descartes is a French philosopher and scientist with a complicated life situation and tough childhood. However, Rene was not doomed to the difficult life of the late sixteenth century Rene Descartes – the most important philosophical ideas from the Meditations on the first philosophy Rene Descartes is a...

The Concept of War in the Bhagavad Gita

One of the oldest religions of the world, Hinduism is often seen as the set of stories, myths, and morals, which promote pacifism. At the center of its teachings lies the Hindu scripture Bhagavad Gita. The entirety of the writing comprises the dialogue between the major Hindu deity Krishna and...

Bertrand Russell’s Knowledge by Acquaintance vs. Description

The general philosophical basis of Russell’s theory of knowledge was made up of the ideas to which he came rejecting the speculative philosophy of German idealism. Russell himself characterized his position as scientific common sense (Russel 1997). This sense does not contrast science and ordinary knowledge, as well as knowledge...

Is the World About Us?

One of the central branches of philosophy studying the nature of being is called ontology, and the question of being itself is one of the major topics in philosophy. The formation of this discipline began precisely with the study of the nature of being. Ancient Indian, Chinese, and Greek philosophy...

Philosophy of the Concept of Solipsism and How It Differs From Others

Throughout history, humans have tried to make sense of the world around them. Through observation, discussion, and theory crafting, individuals have managed to present specific ideas on the nature of broader concepts. Practices that study the fundamental aspects of human existence can be called philosophy. Many great minds have combined...

How Does “The Matrix” Film Connection to “The Allegory of the Cave” by Plato?

In his well-known work titled “The Allegory of the Cave”, Plato makes use of diverse means of expression to teach a moral lesson regarding the relativity of everything that an individual may perceive as common truths. The philosopher uses a deep cave with almost no light as an allegory for...

The Centrality of the Concept of Power

Introduction Humans have tried to explain the nature of the world around them for centuries, but they have never reached an agreement. Some believe that their lives are predetermined, others proclaimed themselves the only masters of their decisions, and the third group prefers the combination of those factors. One of...

The Ancient Greek Philosophers: The Heritage in Modernity

European and a number of other contemporary societies may be called a direct or indirect product of ancient Greek culture. In ancient Greek philosophy profound ideas about the relationship between knowledge and opinion, truth and logical error, and dialectics as a method of cognition were formulated. These ideas served as...

The Concept of Time: Specific Patterns and Person’s Perception of Time

Introduction It is hard to disagree that the concept of time is one of the most essential and influential components of this world and individuals’ life paths. The past, present, and future are combined with some other factors and take a colossal role in shaping a person’s fate. All people...

The “Falling Tree” Dilemma

Thesis The sound of a falling tree in an empty forest does not exist. Introduction Background Information Philosophy gives humanity many questions and puzzles to ponder about existence, nature, knowledge, perception, and reason. Regardless of what problems it poses, there always can be an answer or “truth of the matter”...

Lens Analysis: Natural and Applied Sciences

The issue of women in the workforce is an important one in the field of natural and applied sciences. According to Noonan (2017), 76 percent of the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) workers are men. There are numerous reasons for this disbalance, one of which is the high rates...

Descartes’s Interpretation of the Problem of Error

The Problem of Error is an essential philosophical and theological question that has been a matter of debate for many centuries, especially during the Middle Ages and the early modern period. The discussion examines the reasons for human imperfection, including the error of senses, despite the existence of a perfect...

Kantian Ethics and the End in Itself

The idea of the categorical imperative formulated by Immanuel Kant is based on four specific principles, and the principle of ends is one of them, in addition to the principle of universalizability, the principle of humanity, and the principle of autonomy. The purpose of this paper is to explain how...

The Existentialism of Sartre

Existentialism is a popular philosophical movement in the twentieth century that is centered on the attitude toward existence. The primary principle of this philosophy is focused on the unique human existence as an irrational phenomenon. The fundamental issue of the existentialism is considered to be controversial. The existence is defined...

Analysis of Euthyphro Dilemma

Introduction A causal chain problem has always been an essential part of numerous philosophical questions and paradigms. The Euthyphro dilemma highly resembles chicken and egg problem, where the central debate revolves around of which causes which. However, the Euthyphro dilemma possesses much deeper meaning regarding religion and philosophy. In the...

Boethius and Dante’s Ideas of Friendship

Introduction Boethius, the writer of ‘The Consolation of Philosophy’ was a Christian philosopher of the 6th century in Rome. It should be noted that, Boethius was executed by King Theodoric the Great; after being suspected to be conspiring with the Byzantine Empire. It can further be argued that his work...

Yoruba and Consumerism Religion: William Young’s Phenomenological Approach

Introduction William Young defines religion as, “a human transformation in response to perceived ultimacy” (Young, 2). According to Young, there is no standard definition of religion. He therefore uses seven questions to build a framework around his definition. This framework is helpful in the study of various religions around the...

“Proof of an External World” by George E. Moore

The argument George Edward Moore, an English philosopher, is well known for his “philosophical argument, “Here is a hand,” in which he criticizes philosophical skepticism in favor of common sense. His argument takes three dimensions: (1) Here is a hand, (2) Here is another hand (3) There are at least...

Free Will in Hard Determinism, Soft Determinism and Libertarianism

The questions of free will were always agitating the minds of philosophers. This could be explained by people’s tendency to acknowledge the responsibility of one’s actions. The questions that might arise ask whether there were other options in doing certain options or it was already predetermined. As a purpose of...

Violence: Dialogue Between Sigmund Freud and Michel Foucault

The following is what would have accounted for a hypothetical dialogue between Sigmund Freud and Michel Foucault on the subject of violence’s intrinsic subtleties. Both thinkers were presented with the statement that “Violence is a mundane, everyday part of our lives. So much so we are largely immune to its...

Immanuel Kant’s Political Thoughts

Humans should have the courage to use their own Reason Evaluating the above notion have many dimensions to understand, but in the light of political philosophy it suggests that every man perceives a particular opinion about attaining or retaining freedom. Since no person on earth likes to get involved into...

What Is Identity Theory?

Introduction Over the years, the brain has been known to significantly affect the mind. However, only recently it has been found out that the brain consist of different parts which perform different functions. The proponents of the identity theory are of the view that when we experience stimuli e.g. pain,...

Philosophy. The Problem of Personal Identity

A possible thesis of this reading is ‘personal identity is flexible on a number of levels but remains based on a solid foundation of rarely changing principles.’ The author says, “if you are like me and you have a strong attachment to the belief that we persist through time …,...

Leo Strauss and Friedrich Hayek on Democracy

Introduction The idea of ‘democracy’ has been in the domain of political theorists for quite a long time. It can be remembered that the controversy over democratic space for the citizens has been in existence from the time when classical theory centered on the proposition that the people hold a...

“Ethics of Emergencies” by Ayn Rand

When dealing with the notions of ethics and moral behavior, one often confronts the issue of choice concerning a certain situation which demands immediate and resolute actions for its resolution. Being ethical or moral is largely viewed as being socially open and lending a helping hand to those in need...

Immanuel Kant’s Moral and Political Philosophy

Kant’s Moral and Political Philosophy Immanuel Kant’s moral philosophy revolves around our everyday conversion of rational knowledge into philosophical wisdom, which serves as a practical reason it itself to follow morality. Kant’s theory defines a moral deed as ‘categorical imperative’, which though is derived from ‘duty’ but according to Kant...

Citizenship and Civil Disobedience According to Aristotle and Sophocles

In setting forth his ideas regarding what makes a good citizen, Aristotle illustrates the difficulties involved in simply defining who might be a citizen and who might not be. In terms of being a citizen of a particular country or nation, he indicates that anyone is a citizen who is...

The Factual Character of Socrates & the Fictional Character of Antigone: Comparison

The dictionary typically defines philosophy as “the love of or search for wisdom or knowledge” or “as the theory or logical analysis of the principles underlying conduct, thought, knowledge and the nature of the universe” (Neufeldt, Goralnik, 1994, p. 1015). With such a general definition, one might begin to understand...

Freedom – Comparison of Different Definitions

Freedom is often a term used to describe various types of individual liberties, such as religious liberty, political liberty, freedom of speech, right of self-defense, and others. Nations fight for political freedom, youth desire behavioral freedom, and monks desire spiritual freedom. It is also used as a general term for...

Antigone & Socrates’ Philosophy: Critical Analysis Essay

Sometimes the best way to understand a person’s philosophy is to attempt to apply their thinking to an outside situation or event. There is a catch to the process, though, in that if one is not careful to apply this mode of thinking to another individual within that same society,...

Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics: Friendship, Virtue, and Happiness

The Nicomachean Ethics is Aristotle’s best-known and significant work that defined his ethics. This writing includes ten books that were initially introduced as separate scrolls and are believed to be based on his lecture notes at the Lyceum. Aristotle was one of the last great Greek philosophers and the heir...

Skepticism and Unreliable Knowledge Sources

Skepticism is associated with doubts about knowledge and its reliability. Skeptics stress that it is impossible to make sure that any source of knowledge is reliable enough, so people are likely to be mistaken all the time (Vaughn, 2018). The best illustration of this perspective is Plato’s assumption that the...

Analysis of Rowe’s and Hick’s Ideas

There are some topics on which people have been arguing for centuries and still cannot come to a consensus as there is no such evidence that no one would doubt. Some of those questions are God’s existence, the nature of evil, and the human soul. William Rowe and John Hick...

More’s “Utopia” vs. Bacon’s “New Atlantis”

When it comes to utopia as a philosophical genre, one cannot forego the author who gave it its name. While More was far from the only philosopher attempting to envisage perfect society, it was his book that baptized such thought experiments as a proper type of a philosophical treatise in...

Understanding the Socratic Method: Debate and Definition

The Socratic Method is a particular way of teaching and learning, which originated in the V century BC in Athens. The method entails engaging in a structured debate to uncover more accurate meanings to concepts. In the debate, the teacher does not provide the students with undeniable factual knowledge but...

Roy’s Adaptation Model: A Theoretical Framework for Nurses

Principle of Cosmic Unity One of the paradigms discussed in Roy’s Adaptation model is the idea of “cosmic unity,” which redefines the goal of systematic approaches to nursing from mere system maintenance to the achievement of a greater purpose. Roy defines cosmic unity as a set of relationships between people...

Mysticism in Religion: Impact, Types, and Gender Dynamics

Introduction Religious beliefs have played a significant part in human lives ever since their inception in ancient societies. The idea of the presence of some being that is beyond the material world has helped people find answers to crucial questions. They could obtain an understanding of how the world is...

Determinism vs. Free Will: Pereboom’s Hard Incompatibilism

Determinism is a well-established school of thought, arguing that all actions performed are entirely determined (hence the name) by psychological, biological, or other causes. Thus, all actions are entirely rational and could be explained. Sometimes it also precludes free will, since if all human actions are determined by their experience...

Do Humans Really Have a Soul Inside?

Do humans have a soul? It is not right to claim that human beings have a soul yet there is no concrete evidence to indicate any action that has resulted from the presence of the soul. Instead, many individuals just talk about it surviving after the death of the body....

Religion as the Opiate of Masses

Critical Analysis of the Quote According to Max, “religion is the opiate of masses” (48). This statement has elicited heated debate among scholars over the years as they try to analyze its meaning as per the thoughts of Max. In this quote, Max compares religion to opium, a drug known...

Hinduism, Taoism, and Buddhism: Life, Dharma, and Karma

Hinduism, Buddhism, and Taoism These spiritual philosophies stress on the acceptance of things the way they are, overcoming desires and humility (Rudy, 2004). They also recognize the shortness of human life and limited personal achievements. They both believe in a certain way of life (dharma) and the universal principle of...

Friedrich Nietzsche’s Views on Human and Society

Writer’s Ideas It is paramount to note that there many ways to interpret the section titled “The madman.” The fact that this story can be regarded as provocative should not be overlooked. “God is dead” is a phrase that appears several times in the works of an author, and he...

Mind-Body Dualism and Human Nature in Philosophy

Introduction Throughout the ages, people have tried to comprehend the world and understand their own place in this unique system. From the time the ability to think critically and analyze events first appeared, individuals used their brains not only to come up with ways to survive but also to improve...

Chisholm’s & Goldman’s Internalism and Externalism

Chisholm’s views on the alternatives to internalism In his view, Chisholm seems appears to support the externalism view that “justification of knowledge” depends on a number of factors that are “external to a person”. This argument means that the actions of a person cannot be justified only by determining the...

Plato vs. Aristotle: Philosophy, State, and Social Views

Introduction It is worth noting that the two great philosophers Plato and Aristotle had polar views on the essence and the philosophy in general. Aristotle, unlike his teacher Plato, was interested not so much in the inner essence of the being, the fundamental principle of the world as such, but...

Patient Spirituality in Healthcare: Spiritual Needs Interview

Interview Question: Are you a believer? Answer: I am, very much. I believe in God, and those moments in my life when I doubted his existence were the hardest moments for me. I am not much of a churchgoer because it was never a tradition in my family, and I...

Understanding Lao Tzu’s Notion of Effortless Non-Striving

Explain and evaluate the Hindu ideas of Brahman, atman and reality Karma stands for “action” that leads to a number of outcomes, as a result of man’s desire for earthly things (Moore & Bruder 489). For example, Karma suggests that a noble action leads to happiness, whereas, an evil action...

Jacksonian Democracy and Manifest Destiny: Historical Context and Implications

Difference from Predecessors The history of the United States is riddled with ambiguous and often controversial events, people, and ideas. Even though all of these ideas are built to fit the profile of a democratic concept as a part of the philosophy created by the Founding Fathers, some of the...

Equality in “The Politics” by Aristotle

The issue of equality has always been a ground for social conflicts. It was a subject of active debates and numerous pieces of philosophical and political writings. One of the outstanding works that discuss the origins of political life and organization of society is The Politics by Aristotle. Written centuries...

Nature of Reality Philosophy: Dualism vs. Materialism

The problem of nature of reality has always been one of the main philosophical issues. Since ancient times many philosophers and thinkers have been evolving different approaches that propose various treatments of this philosophical problem. Among a great variety of approaches, it is possible to distinguish such school of thought...

“The Problems of Philosophy” by Bertrand Russell

The arguments of the author in ‘Problems of Philosophy’ were neither for direct realism nor against indirect realism. As a result, the author described the existence of reality and appearance using the Cartesian technique (Russell 6). To approach the argument on appearance and reality, he suggested that we must avoid...

Taylor’s View of Cruelty and Compassion

The purpose of this work is to consider the prominent philosopher Richard Taylor’s work ‘Cruelty and Compassion.’ In this respect, firstly, it is necessary to discuss the definitions of both phenomena. Secondly, it will be discussed if they are arbitrary or not, and sufficient proof will be presented. The third...