Why Practicing Utilitarianism is Important

Philosophy is an integral part of every person’s worldview and outlook on life which they espouse and through which they interpret various phenomena. Ethics is inherent to any philosophical perspective since it constitutes an element which guides people in their actions and interactions with others. Utilitarianism and deontology are two...

Marxist Criminological Paradigm

Marxists’ attitude towards the concept of criminal punishment cannot be discussed outside of how Marxist paradigm theorizes crime. In its turn, this theorization reflects the conventions of the Marxist theory of a class struggle. According to Marxists, the pace of a historical progress is being defined by an ongoing process...

Theory of Knowledge: Emotions and Knowledge

By definition, emotion is: “an affective state of consciousness in which joy, sorrow, fear, hate, or the like, is experienced, as distinguished from cognitive and volitional states of consciousness” (“Emotion” par. 1). Emotions most often conduce us to a conclusion, where we agree or disagree with a certain fact, and...

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...

Should Kant be Criticized for His Absolutism?

Immanuel Kant was the German philosopher of the eighteenth century, whose ideas argued time, morality, space, and nature. One of his principal works was The Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals, which categorized humans’ primary moral duties and discussed their impact on their lives. Kant’s statements rejected happiness as a...

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”...

What Is the “Soul-Making Process”? By Hick

There exist many debates concerning the existence of God. Atheists argue that there is no actual evidence of God’s existence. To prove their point of view, they say that He would have never allowed evil to happen if He existed. Thus, taking into consideration how many happens in the world...

Cogito, Ergo Sum (“I Think, Therefore I Am”) – The Fundamental Position of Descartes

Introduction Many philosophers, researchers, and scientists have explored the question of whether a person can be sure about anything they know or perceive through their feelings. Rene Descartes, who shared the ideas of rationalism, claimed that the one, certain truth is that every time one thinks he or she exists,...

Philosophical Method and Main Branches of Philosophy

All scientific disciplines require sets of rules and laws, called methods, which are based on critical thinking and are essential for any research. Philosophy is not an exception here; the only difference is that while such sciences as mathematics and physics deal with specific fields of study, philosophy seeks to...

Informative Speech: Importance of Ethical Awareness

Ladies and gentlemen, with your permission I will talk about the importance of ethical awareness in our interactions with each other and our work. It is vital to know the importance of ethics in our midst. Many people fail to realize that it is our responsibility to make our surroundings...

Meno 88-c Socrates Summary & Analysis

Introduction In this paper, I will defend Socrates’ claim that the same traits of character can be beneficial if the person is wise and could lead to misery if the person is not, against the objection that an ignorant action might lead to happiness, and a wise action might end...

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...

Philosophy of Art: Definition and Purposes

Introduction Art is deficient in an agreeable and acceptable description which makes it simple to explain in a manner in which an action is carried. Art involves the utilization of handiness together with thoughts in the process of designing artistic items, surroundings, or know-how to facilitate distribution and comparison with...

What Kind of Thing Is the Mind?

The concept of mind is obscure, controversial, and impossible to define perfectly. Philosophical analysis, researches on the brain, and remarkable advances in the field of neuroscience prove to be futile with regard to defining the concept of the mind. Most philosophers have the opinion that the mind is an entity...

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...

Moral Reasoning – Virtue Ethics

I choose virtue ethics as one of the five major perspectives of moral reasoning as being most closely related to my personal views. Virtue ethics is an approach that looks at the principles which are more concerned about the behavior of the moral agents, instead of the set principles or...

John Locke, Father of American Philosophy

John Locke (1632-1704) has been credited with many of the founding principles upon which the Declaration of Independence was based including concepts of property and religion and the role of government on these in the lives of the individuals governed. Several of these ideas propounded by Locke in his description...

John Wesley and Methodism

Introduction John Wesley was born in 1791 in Lincolnshire, England, and he was the founder of Armenian Methodist. It started when Wesley adopted open-air preaching, which was first established by George Whitefield. Wesley Methodism was an evangelical movement that believed that a person who had faith in God could be...

Theory of Knowledge: Plato’s Allegory of the Cave

We See and Understand Things Not As They Are But As We Are The assessment of knowledge as a subjective or objective entity can be seen as a question that is haunting humanity since the ancient times. Taking Plato’s allegory of the cave, where people chained since childhood to watch...

Daily Struggle and Law of Non-Contradiction

There is one wise saying that philosophy is a queen of all sciences. It is really true as it is very difficult to find so ancient and wise science as philosophy is. Due to philosophy and works of famous philosophers, people find explanations of the events and actions which seem...

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....

Philosophical Word: Ontology and Ontological Issues

Introduction There are various different but related issues that are normally utilized in ontology in its implementation during concept description as well as determination of their existence. These issues of ontology include the situation involving a project in which types of things in existence are determined. The project in which...

Philosophy’s Influence on Education System

Introduction Education can be defined as a process of passing knowledge to others. It may also be considered as an area of study taught at learning institutions. Education can be carried out formally as in an organized setting or informally. Education has undergone various philosophical changes. This includes changes in...

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,...

Aristotle’s Biography: Philosopher’s Teaching and Outlook

Biographies of prominent people often represent a terrain of especial interest for researches, as the background and life circumstances of the former can provide valuable reasoning and explanation for the peculiarities of their ideas, values, and train of thought. One of the obvious cases of such informative biography can be...

The Great Person Theory Definition

Everything in this world has a history. How is history formed is a topic long debated by historians. Historians believe in different theories behind the formation of history. These theories have led to controversies like the dependability versus unreliability of their reasoning. A few historians, including ancient and modern, believe...

“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...

Modernism, Postmodernism, and Metaphysics

Introduction Philosophy as a special form of society’s conscience can be said to have been occurred to fulfill the need for people to answer certain questions. The answers to such questions should be able to deliver a complete, logically relevant, and sufficiently broad in generalizations and conclusions knowledge about the...

“Popular Sovereignty and Nationalism” by Bernard Yack

Introduction This paper is a critical evaluation of “Popular Sovereignty and Nationalism” By Bernard Yack. Discussion In his article, Yack proves the relationship between nationalism and popular sovereignty and shows that against popular belief, modernization is not a prelude to nationalism but rather a result of nationalism to some extent....

Evangelism in Christians Analysis

Introduction Evangelism is the endeavor of Christians to convert people who do not believe in Christianity or who belong to other religions to convert to Christianity. Evangelism has its historical background because it was started in the 19th century in the historical era of ‘The Great Awakening.’ However, in modern...

The Philosophy of Karl Marx and John Stuart Mill

Of the different philosophers that have influenced world political thought, John Stuart Mill’s contribution in the field was very significant and his political ideas have been frequently referred to regarding debates on equality and freedom. His most important work On Liberty is widely recognized as a remarkable and classic contribution...

The Theory of Phenomena

Introduction Phenomenology comes from structures that are found within a conscious experience. Phenomena are the structures that exhibit themselves on the assumptions and presuppositions of science. One can consider them the way a thing is immediately experienced and the way it is. Edmund Husserl was the first distinguished phenomenologist. He...

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...

“Virtue Ethics and Confucianism”: Article Analysis

Describing and analyzing the philosophical article “Virtue Ethics and Confucianism” by credible scholar Bryan W. Van Norden (professor of the Vassar College of the Chinese and Japanese Philosophy Department) from the anthology volume “Comparative Approaches to Chinese Philosophy”, it is important to note that it critically evaluates and represents the...

Rawls vs. Nozick on Social Problems and Criminal Justice

Abstract A variety of approaches to the study of fairness, ethics, morality, and justice entails numerous disputes between scientists who support specific theories and ideas. Famous philosophers John Rawls and Robert Nozick offer compelling and intriguing concepts regarding the values of fairness and equality. They describe concepts of building a...

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...

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...

Mill’s and Kant’s Moral and Ethical Concepts for Rescue Efforts

Introduction The fields of ethics and morality continue to dictate or govern human beings’ behaviors and actions. Different philosophers and scholars have presented evidence-based theories and principles to guide moral values and ethical perspectives. Some of these thinkers include John Stuart Mill and Immanuel Kant. The paper presented below uses...

Analyzing Descartes’ Meditation 1 and Sensory Beliefs

Introduction Reading Descartes’ Meditation may be difficult because of the impossibility of finding out the truth and staying consistent. The intention of the author to clarify the things to doubt is a complex work with many perspectives. In this paper, the analysis of Descartes’ Meditation 1 is developed to explain...

Helping Others: Examining an Ethical Dilemma

Introduction As a rule, society considers helping others to be a virtuous and noble deed. If you approach anyone on the street and ask them if helping others is a good thing to do, the answer would most likely be “Yes.” However, after getting this initial affirmation, there are many...

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...

Aristotle and Augustine on Doing Wrong

Aristotle, the Ancient Greek philosopher who lived in the 4th century BC and was a student of Plato, had a huge intellectual range and thus was involved in many different branches of science, such as biology, chemistry, history, political theory and, most importantly, philosophy. Among his many philosophical works, a...

Descartes: How to Achieve Knowledge

Descartes was the first philosopher to criticize the empiricists’ view of the process of achieving knowledge in the seventeenth century. According to Descartes, human senses cannot be trusted, as there are no reliable signs to distinguish whether a man is asleep or awake (158). There are, however, some undeniable truths,...

Edmund Husserl on “Crisis” of Europe

Introduction Edmund Husserl is believed to be one of the greatest rationalist philosophers of the early 20th century. During the Nazi regime, the scholar studied and analyzed most of the predicaments that appeared to trouble every European citizen. The events experienced during this period confirmed the challenges that had been...

Studying Philosophy: Benefits for Students

The benefits a student may gain by studying philosophy and the Socratic Method of Teaching Studying philosophy benefits students as it develops their thinking abilities. Philosophical inquiries and debates contribute to the students’ critical thinking and encourage them to look at one issue from different angles. This can help students...

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...

Heraclitus on Reality: Change and Cosmic Order

Heraclitus on the Nature of Reality Heraclitus argues that there is no reality. Nature is constantly changing. Consequently, he equates permanence to illusion. In addition, he argues that change is not random. On the contrary, it is controlled by a cosmic order (Moore & Bruder, 2011). He refers to this...

Philosophical Views on Reality and Change: Heraclitus vs. Plato

Heraclitus Heraclitus’s view concerning the nature of reality is that it keeps on changing. He argues that reality does not exist while permanence is an illusion. The most remarkable thought concerning Heraclitus’s view is that a person cannot step into the river twice because it constantly changes. Argumentatively, the water...

“Liberalism and Social Action” by John Dewey

In 1935 philosopher John Dewey published Liberalism and Social Action. John Dewey was one of a number of intellectuals in the 1930s who openly articulated antagonism toward the free market economy that dominated most of the United States’ policies; John Dewey’s enmity was largely targeted toward the unequal distribution of...

Values & Attitudes of an Effective Human Service Provider

Introduction Values refer to codes of conduct that a person holds as relevant, worth, or essential in life. On the other hand, attitude is the way of viewing or feeling about something, which is usually seen in a person’s form of conduct. Human service goes along with appreciating the well-being...

Personal Worldview: Different Approaches

Introduction Every individual has a personal worldview that he or she uses both consciously and subconsciously to answer questions and make decisions. Spirituality also plays a significant role in one’s life as it guides people and offers them a set of rules and beliefs that construct a specific view of...

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...

The Lasting Impact of Alexander Hamilton on American Federalism and Economy

Alexander Hamilton was the first economist in America who held a principal political figure, but he never managed to become a president in America. There was a great depression in the 1930s where he was allied with the monetary policies in reverence to the American economy that held accountability for...

Evidentialism vs Non-Evidentialism Debate Exploration

At the root of evidentialism is the principle that one should only ground beliefs on the relevant evidence that one possesses. Clifford, one of the famous proponents of the view, argued that the level of knowledge (the amount of evidence) one has is proportioned to the belief. The philosopher’s view...

“Good Life” From an Ethical Perspective

What is a Good Life? The question of what constitutes a good life was pursuing humanity since the dawn of time. However, as humankind developed and formed societies, the definitions of a good life needed to be assessed, as definitions solely through materialistic possessions were not only inaccurate, but also...

Religion in Marx’s and Nietzsche’s Philosophies

Introduction Religion can be defined as a set of beliefs and practices that explain the relations between people and their God. Every religion is characterized by beliefs and religious practices that all its followers observe. Each religion has its own distinct practices that distinguish it from others (Brenkert 56). The...

Cicero’s Views on Citizenship and Ethics

Cicero argued that virtue is at its best when it is applied by the state or by government. He argued that political action is the only way of putting virtue to use and that this comes naturally. In this context, one may be mistaken for believing that such actions would...

Epistemology’ and Education’ Theories

Introduction Epistemology is one of the most interesting branches of philosophy. It deals with the numerous question raised by various philosophers about education. One of the many questions raised by persons in the profession over the years is the definition of knowledge. Many philosophers believe that knowledge acquisition in education...

The Transcendental Exposition of the Concept of Space

Introduction The Transcendental Exposition of the Concept of Space postulates that humans have a pure instinct of space, a concept that is commonly referred to as the argument from geometry. Accordingly, Kant has tried to assume a theory of space as untainted instinct from a postulation about mathematical cognition. This...

The Condition of the Working Class in England by Friedrich Engels

The book ‘The Condition of the Working Class in England’ written by Engels Friedrich, a German social scientist and political theorist, is a manifestation of the evils that accompanied what is known as industrial revolution. Principally, Engels’s piece of writing is owed to the conditions of industrial proletariat in great...

Grief in Nicholas Wolterstorff’s Book “Lament for a Son”

Introduction Lament for a Son is a book by Nicholas Wolterstorff focused on the author’s personal experiences of the death of his child, grasping his grief, and finding hope in the faith. The objective of this paper is to analyze how the author describes discovering joy after loss, to provide...

The Categorical Imperative, Developed by Immanuel Kant

Immanuel Kant’s views Immanuel Kant would have opposed the directive, that all professors must be fingerprinted, through the categorical imperative argument. The categorical imperative, developed by Immanuel Kant, consists of two formulations. The first formulation has two criteria. The first is universalibility, which states that the reason to do something...

Ethics of Using Animals in Medical Researches

Abstract This paper explores how the principles of the deontological ethics can be applied to the discussion of using animals in the medical research and laboratory experiments. The specific type of the deontological ethics that is applied to the topic in the paper is the Kantian theory. In spite of...

The Problem of Free Will

John Searle and Rene Descartes on Dualism Descartes’ philosophy can be represented as an extreme manifestation of dualism since the philosopher believed that a mind does not have any physical properties and, thus, is related directly to consciousness. Searle, on the other hand, believed that there is a strong biological...

Hobbes’ Leviathan and Austin’s The Province of Jurisprudence Determined

The similarity between Austin’s and Hobbes’ approaches is evident since both philosophers point out that the law cannot exist without a person who will establish the law and agree to execute and make it. Both Austin and Hobbes view sovereigns as the makers of the law, and subjects need to...

Susan Wolf’s Compatibilism and Critique of Moral Perfectionism in Free Will Philosophy

Introduction Susan Wolf is a prominent philosopher of action and moral philosopher who has significantly contributed to free will. She is well-known for her defense of compatibilism and her criticism of moral perfectionism. In her work on free will, Susan Wolf claims that determinism and free will coexist. She argues...

Classical Utilitarianism: Ethics, Happiness, and Moral Decision-Making

Introduction to Classical Utilitarianism Classical utilitarianism has historically been defined as an ethical system in which happiness is seen as the fundamental value, and the accomplishment of the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people is held to be the primary objective of action. According to classical utilitarianism, pursuing...

The Divine Nature of Love and the Soul in Plato’s Phaedrus

Introduction Phaedrus is a dialogue written by Plato, a set of conversations between Socrates and Phaedrus as they walk along the roads outside Athens. The text of the dialogue is constructed in a conversation-based manner where the speakers share philosophical ideas about love, eroticism, and rhetoric as a manifestation of...

The Skepticism of David Hume on Knowledge, Induction, and Causality

The Foundation of Inferences from Experience In philosophy, particular importance is given to such an aspect as knowledge and to what extent individuals can claim it. Many philosophers paid attention to the study of such an aspect as the reason for securing knowledge; however, David Hume had a more skeptical...

Comparing Plato’s Idealism with Berkeley’s Rejection of Objective Reality

Introduction For centuries, philosophers have debated the nature of the universe and knowledge of reality. Plato and George Berkeley, two well-known philosophers, have approached the investigation of this subject from various angles. As outlined in his famous book “The Republic,” Plato’s philosophy provides intriguing insights into the nature of reality....

Plato’s View of Art: Philosophies of Art and Beauty

Plato was known for being concerned about society and its morals. He knew that art had a great influence on the youths, which is why he expressed some concerns. The philosopher feared that certain negative influences depicted in it could have a negative impact on people. This is why the...

Morality and Ethics: Philosophical Theories

Ethical and moral standards form the basis on which an action is considered right or wrong in a particular society. Philosophers such as John Stuart Mill, Immanuel Kant, Aristotle, Sartre, and Singer developed different theories explaining the concept of morality and ethics (Tseng & Wang, 2021). Philosophical theories such as...

Aspects of the Philosophy of Nature

Introduction The philosophy of nature is the hypothetical field that examines the natural environment or the actual universe in its broadest sense. This existence of distinction and focus on the origin’s dilemma has profoundly impacted present conceptions of creation. Nature is an inherent and essential component of humanity. It is...

Analysis of Ayer and Mackie’s Works on Moral Judgement

Moral judgment is the process of deciding what to do when faced with an ethical dilemma, including questions of right and wrong. Different philosophers have developed theories for criticizing right and wrong and the forces that drive people to decide what is wrong and right. These philosophers include David Humes,...

Groundhog Day: Philosophical Parallels

Summary Groundhog Day is an iconic film that has a classic rethinking of the time loop theme with deep philosophical overtones. Even though I had watched the movie several times before, I rewatched it a few days ago and found a lot to think about. The film builds parallels with...

Plan for the Portfolio: Competing Philosophies of Education

The philosophy of education encompasses relevant schools of thought and their responses to the social issues in education. It primarily revolves around the critical concepts of equality, equity, social justice, peace, and other stimulating factors to educate people on moral virtues from a philosophical perspective (Davids and Waghid, 2021). At...

Social Justice, Education, and Critical Pedagogy

Introduction Education helps in social and economic development and is significant for any political decision. Through education, academics can interact with people and develop creative solutions that help save the world. Praxis is a deliberative, responsible, human-moral action that involves wise judgment. The approach is the basis of creativity in...

The Mind-Body Problem in Philosophical Theories

Introduction The mind-body problem is a philosophical discussion explaining the relationship between the body and mind. Various past and modern philosophers have developed varied positions regarding whether the mind is independent of the body. Sufficient evidence shows that the mind is what the brain does and that both are interdependent....

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...

Utilitarianism Theory: Principles and Ethical Forms

Introduction Utilitarianism has attracted ardent opponents and defenders over the years as an approach to ethics and morality in society. Enthusiasts regard the philosophical approach to morality as a liberating and standard theory. Further, the theory practically connects attitude to decision-making and rejects the tyrannical questions about moral conventions. On...

Deterministic Approach and Free Will

In philosophy and social sciences, a debate regarding the existence of free will resulted in the creation of a deterministic approach. The classical doctrine of determinism suggests that every event and incident in human life is controlled by laws of nature and mystical powers. Thus, the deterministic views opposed the...

Truth: Philosophical Theories

In modern society, the image has a significant role and determines the attitude of people to an individual or organization. Thus, this phenomenon is strongly connected with the truth, which becomes an integral part of it. To study this aspect, various theoretical approaches are used, providing a more detailed understanding....

Major Philosophical Concept: Existentialism

This lecture is the primary source that focuses on existentialism, where the author argues how it is synonymous with humanism. According to the author of this article, everyone tries very hard to become what they wish to be. From the onset, Sartre has a conflict with his public image, which...

Heraclitus’s Philosophy of Change

Formal Analysis P1: All living beings undergo constant change at every point in their lives. P2: Inanimate things are subject to continuous change. P3: Everything in the world exists in a cycle of change as fire does. C: Heraclitus’s philosophy of change is the correct way to think about the...

Analysis of Arguments for God’s Existence

There are different approaches in philosophy that discuss the existence of God from all viewpoints. Some intend to prove that God exists, whereas other concepts support the idea of his non-existence. The third ones suggest the idea of agnosticism, claiming that it is not possible to prove the existence or...

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...

How Socrates from The Golden Ass Is Inferior

Introduction Tragedies in a book or movie may portray men as worse than they are in real life, while comedies portray them as better. In a tragedy, the protagonist finds himself in a dire situation; in a comedy, he finds himself in a favorable one. According to Aristotle, tragic hero...

Do Human Beings Have Free Will?

Free will, what is it and do human beings have it? Does everyone have free will? Is free will a concept to be able to account for the evils within our world if you believe in any form of a higher power? Is free will a real thing, or is...

Sartre’s Existentialism Interpretation

Introduction Existentialism is a very peculiar discipline of the school of thought in terms of its historical context. Its periods of active development and popularity paralleled the civilizational era of technical progress, full-scale and technological wars of annihilation, and unhuman state systems. These factors formed the very freedom-loving basis of...

Peter Singer’s Famine, Affluence, and Morality

Peter Singer’s Famine, Affluence, and Morality is a philosophical stance on how modern society may and should reconsider its definition of moral obligation. The narrative centers around the 1971 crisis in East Bengali, where, at the time, nine million people were suffering from poverty, lack of housing, and life uncertainty...

Plato’s “Symposium”: An Explanation of Love

Plato’s Symposium 201d-212c is primarily focused on Socrates’s speech. The Greek philosopher and thinker addresses Agathon about the notion and nature of Love. He uses the wisdom he received from Diotima of Mantinea in order to explain what role and place Love holds. The first aspect of the speech focuses...

The Basic Level of Healthcare: H. Engelhardt’s and N. Daniels’ Perspectives

Introduction As far as healthcare rights are concerned, Tristram Engelhardt and Norman Daniels are on opposite sides of the aisle. Norman Daniel believes normal functioning can only be restored with minimum healthcare. He makes the case that denying people access to even the most basic healthcare violates their constitutional rights,...

Argument of the Existence of Matter

Bishop Berkeley is one of the philosophers who has argued on the concept of whether matter does exist or does not exist. The philosopher has argued based on the concepts of immaterialism, which have played an essential role in defining matter. As a result, everything that human beings ideally think...

Plato’s “Republic” and Emotional Supervising

Introduction Privacy of life and emotion, personal freedom are fundamental things for the modern democratic world. However, when describing the ideal political regiments in his Republic, Plato shows a view different from the contemporary interpretation of the free and just democratic republic. The Ancient Greek philosopher argues that, while ensuring...

Are Liberalism and Pluralism Incompatible?

Introduction In the field of political philosophy, the question concerning the compatibility between two theoretical frameworks, namely liberalism, and pluralism, has been vividly discussed and taken to the center of the debate. Despite the lack of a clear answer to the question of whether liberals should be pluralists and if...

John Locke: The Answer to the Epistemological Problem

The Tree Puzzle The tree puzzle is a well-known philosophical paradox that can be approached in diverse ways. Solving it requires engaging in complex decision-making processes based on the definitions of reality. The puzzle itself illustrates the extent to which perception influences the truth. Moreover, it refers to the human...

The Objectivism Approach to Art

Introduction Scholars have discussed the most difficult aesthetic topic since Aristotle’s Day. The former believes that objective standards exist for judging the aesthetic worth of craftsmanship, whereas the latter believes that all perfection assessments are subjective. Martin Gardner was an outspoken supporter of the objectivist concept, stating that perseverance was...

“Critique of Pure Reason” Work by Immanuel Kant

The Critique of Pure Reason, the main philosophical work of Immanuel Kant, was published in 1781, the result of reckless writing after many years of deliberation. Before its creation, Kant reported that it was no longer possible to keep such complex material in mind, and it was urgently required to...

Plato and Aristotle’s Philosophy on Common Interest

The political ruling aims primarily to govern citizens and give a listening ear to their concerns. The governance of states is founded on law and regulations whose primary goal is to enable citizens to live a quality life. All citizens in a state aspire to live safely and peacefully while...

Nietzsche’s Philosophy and Worldview

It is necessary to raise the question of the nature of the direction of the criticism of Nietzsche against thinking. Although it is comprehensive and very radical at first glance, the study allows us to see the ambiguity of such an understanding. Uncompromising criticism is directed primarily against the absolutization...

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)....

Philosophy of the Elenchus

The elenchus is a method of discussing matters presented by Socrates. It consists of several stages, which include asking questions, presenting logical contradictions as per the answers, and insisting on combined efforts in pursuing the truth. In other words, one using this approach starts with claiming doubts regarding the opponent’s...

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...

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...

“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...

Philosophical Attitude of God’s Foreknowledge and Human Freedom

Introduction Omniscience is the state of having full or maximum knowledge and is regarded as an essential feature of an entirely perfect being. Many philosophers have considered this trait to be possessed and attributed by a divine-like God who is believed to have the necessary knowledge, complete knowledge, tenseless knowledge,...

The Cristian Perspective and the Scientism in Healthcare

The Cristian Perspective Despite the advent of science, religion and the Christian faith still play a prominent role in the field of healthcare. In the medical industry, care professionals are responsible not only for ensuring the physical but mental well-being of their patients as well. Christian principles can provide the...

Apologies from Socrates: Analysis

In Apology 28b-30c, Socrates admits that he is not ashamed of pursuing a life that has not put him at risk of early death. The philosopher’s convictions hinge on the rational premise that it is worse to “live as a bad man” and not consider justice when taking action (28b)....

People’s Attitude Towards Death

Nowadays, death is an integral part of the life cycle of any person, which will meet everyone in one day. However, there are different times, various circumstances and reasons for death, so most people are afraid of this day in their lives and their friend and families. This fear is...

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...

Application of Nietzsche’s Thoughts on Daily Life

The contemplation behind Nietzsche’s philosophy projects the meaning of values and their importance to existence. Regarding nature, Friedrich Nietzsche emphasizes that humans are at a development stage that is not final but transitional. Subsequently, living can never become too complacent or gratified with their accomplishments without putting their claim of...

The Reasons Why Torture Is Unacceptable

Torture has always been a tool employed by people to extract vital information from individuals that possess important knowledge or simply humiliate them into submission and despair. Historically, torture was used as a means to receive confessions from criminals and witnesses (Hoadley et al. 248). Only recently did it disappear...

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...

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...

Plato’s Republic – The Most Outstanding Points

The Republic is a book written in 370-360 BC by Plato, the renowned Greek philosopher. He constructed the reading in the form of the dialog between his teacher Socrates, whom he respected much, and Socrates’ counterparts Glaucon, Adeimantus, Polemarchus, Cephalus, Niceratus, and Thrasymachus. In this dialog, which starts from the...

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...

“What We Have to Lose” by Theodore Dalrymple

The purpose of this paper is to summarise the arguments presented by Theodore Dalrymple in his rather lengthy philosophical article and reflect on them, providing my own opinion. The author begins by mentioning how insignificant he feels in comparison to the shocking and devastating events that transpire regardless of his...

Cicero’s and Aristotle’s Friendship Notions

Introduction In Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle explains the principle of friendship and virtue are the coe of social relations, Aristotle supposes that all people were not equal. Aristotle believed that there were a more intelligent master or ruling element and a ruled element or slave. In contrast to Aristotle, Cicero believes...

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...

Modernization Theory: Context and Sociological Issues

Background information Different development theories have been invented by scholars in bid to unravel the mystery behind varied developments in the society. In their bid to come up with strong argument, scholars have employed different social scientific phenomena. One of the development theories that were established in early 1940s is...

Political Theories: A Perspective on Human Nature, Order, Freedom and Equality

Concept of Human Nature Considered by the State The concept of the human nature is an important part of the political theory because concepts, suchlike state, liberty, freedom, and others are discussed with a view to relations of human beings and a state. Sometimes a living organism is even presented...

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...

Are There Limits to What Should Be Questioned? Philosophical Questions

Questions are usually used by many people to set the base for an inquiry. Therefore, any constructive conversation must contain some questions. This piece of work therefore tries to explain whether limits should be put to what should be questioned or not. Philosophy is a discipline that is characterized by...

“Discourse on Method” by Rene Descartes

Rene Descartes was a remarkable French philosopher whose contribution to the development of modern science and philosophy can be best of all proven by such titles as the Father of Modern Philosophy and the Father of Modern Mathematics that are traditionally ascribed to him. There is no doubt that it...

The Meaning of Death and a Person’s Attitude Towards It

Introduction Death is one area of human experience that many people do not like talking about because they are worried about it and they even won’t want to imagine it. Many other areas of human experience are openly discussed but the issue of desperation related to death makes people see...

Russell and Strawson’s Debates on How to Draw Inferences

In “On Denoting,” by Bertrand Russell (1905,) Russell presents fundamental statements in such a way that show the reader how they must make a series of deductions while considering built-in assumptions. He creates formulas to show how we analyze even basic statements as being true or false based on multiple...

Truth in Mathematics, Ethics and Arts

This essay aims at illustrating in what way truth in mathematics, ethics and arts is different. It is widely believed that mathematical truths are objective, universal and agreeable to all in all situations. It is also widely accepted that truth in art is more of subjective i.e. depends on individual...

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...

“Of Miracles” Essay by David Hume

Introduction Miracles are something that human beings always want to believe in, but what scholars, philosophers, and scientists try to dismantle. In other words, being a purely religious phenomenon, a miracle is doubted by those who actually doubt the very essence of religion and the fact of the existence of...

Epistemology and Its Usage in Writing

Introduction The word epistemology refers to studying the source of knowledge. In this respect the reality and truth of what a man writes or says more or less props up against the thoughts and ideas being told and outlined previously. In other words, everything which surrounds an individual can be...

Objective Knowledge Based on Experience and Culture

There is a great debate throughout the course of history as to what the concept of knowledge ought to refer to. A great amount of literature has been written on this controversial topic with scholars and philosophers pitting their impressive brainpower towards a possible definition of what knowledge is. However,...

Frankford and Campbell’s View of Free Will

Introduction Free will is the ability of one to choose a course of action with his/her own control. It is the ability of people to control their action with out any external influence from another party. Those who believe in free will take various positions about this very broad subject....

Is It Morally Permissible to Drive After Having One Drink?

Introduction The very term “ethics” has a great number of definitions, naturally, it is not necessary to present all of them, but overall we can single out two definitions, which seem to be the most appropriate. First, ethics is a branch of philosophy, which studies the moral value of human...

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...

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...

Does a Falling Tree Make a Sound? Realism and Metaphysical Perspectives

Introduction The question about whether a tree falling in the forest makes a sound when there is no one to hear it is a philosophical puzzle, which has elicited unending debates in various circles. As Livingston argues, humans need coherent answers to archetypal patterns (12), and thus the answer to...

Silverman’s Wager in “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”

There are many different arguments for the existence of God and against it, most of which have been criticized heavily and logically deconstructed since their inception. Blaise Pascale, a famous scientist, and philosopher proposed a model for faith that is based on rationality. He claimed that belief has a higher...

Virtue Perception by Aristotle and Today’s Society

Introduction As an essential set of traits, virtue is perceived as moral excellence that defines the extent of the humanity of oneself. It is a common phenomenon studied by ethics, a branch of philosophy. The Greek philosopher, Aristotle, made a significant contribution to examining this ethical phenomenon, as he is...

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...

Nietzsche’s Comparison of Love and Desire: A Philosophical Analysis

How Does Nietzsche Use Comparison to Make an Argument about Love? The exploration of love as one of the most complex feelings experienced by people requires a detailed analysis of the effects that it produces. Thus, the degree of power that love can give a leader can be identified and...

Socrates and Augustine on Choice and Virtue

Philosophers’ views on such topics as virtue and choice are usually based on their overall attitudes towards ethics and sources of their beliefs: either religious or non-religious. If to provide an example, Augustine and Socrates’ views on virtue and free will were completely different. In Plato’s Apology, Socrates argued that...

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...

Thomas Samuel Kuhn’s Epistemological Relativism

Introduction Thomas Samuel Kuhn is one of the most famous proponents of scientific revolutions. He influenced academic as well as social circles by postulating a term that is widely used today, the paradigm shift. This is after claiming that the scientific revolution does not follow a linear or a continuous...

Mahatma Gandhi and His Influences on Hinduism

Mahatma Gandhi, one of the greatest and most recognized spiritual leaders globally, was born on the 2nd of October, 1869. Gandhi became instrumental in fighting for India’s independence using non-violent means as well as championing for his people. His methods of attaining freedom inspired many across the globe, as this...

Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung: Religious Beliefs

By applying psychological methods and interpretive frameworks to religious studies, Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung attempted to accurately describe the advantages and disadvantages of religious beliefs. According to the views expressed by Freud in his The future of an illusion, religious belief can have several positive implications for an individual...