The God’s Existence: The Cosmological Argument and Counterarguments

The cosmological argument is the viewpoint that proves the God’s existence using empirical facts. In essence, everything in the universe is moved or created by another motion, cause, or existence (Jononymous Personymous, 2021a). If a certain phenomenon can be observed, then it has to originate from another phenomenon, thus forming...

Descartes and Autonomy of Human Understanding

Experiences shared by society have different effects on individuals and, in some cases, provide a reason for self-reflection. The recent and not fully resolved COVID-19 pandemic can be used as an example where billions of people worldwide were affected, but the outcomes were unique for each person. The uniting feeling...

Plato, Skeptic, and Stoic: Philosophical Dialogue

Plato “I believe that truths are to be unearthed, and knowledge is permissible. Truth is not relative but objective as it conforms with how our reasoning apprehends a statement’s logic. It is thus wrong to state that people lack knowledge in some rudimentary way. However, there must be a distinction...

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...

Wealth Inequality and Redistribution: Robert Nozick’s Perspective

Poverty and wealth inequality have been concerning society for a very long time. The latter has sparked a debate regarding justice and wealth inequality. In the section How Liberty Upsets Patterns, Robert Nozick depicts how a person can benefit from the distribution of the second party. However, I will explain...

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...

Differences Between Sartre’s Account of Being and Heidegger’s Account of Being

One of the central sections of philosophy that studies the problem of being is called ontology, and the problem of being itself is one of the main ones in philosophy. The problem of being was the base around which the whole field of philosophy was originally formed. Ancient Indian, Chinese,...

A Letter to Plato the Philosopher

I regularly review your reputable philosophical literature and its moral ethics. I am writing this letter to proclaim how your philosophy has been helpful to me in handling my everyday decision-making reasoning. The concept of happiness has helped me achieve my existence, nature, and self-happiness. I have used the idea...

The Essay “Civil Disobedience” by Henry David Thoreau

The work Civil Disobedience by Henry David Thoreau is an illumination of the current shortcomings of the government. In the essay, the author describes the evil side of the authority that uses its power to reach its benefits, disregarding the nation’s interests. The paper written by Thoreau serves as a...

The Rogerian Theory and Its Applications

The Rogerian argument posits many advantages to an Aristotelian discussion. Individuals are likely to become defensive when others confront them. In this way, the Rogerian approach tries to defuse a tense situation and connect these factions rather than seek domination of one over the other (Quinn, 2015). It involves establishing...

Virtue and the Philosophical Issue That Surrounds It

One of the dialogues of Plato’s Meno is set around the argument between Socrates and Meno, where he challenges the philosopher to state how virtue is archived and what is its nature. At the end of the part, Socrates reveals that the confident Meno does not understand how virtue is...

Berkeley’s Evolving Theory: Philosophical Reflection

Philosophical queries are multifaceted and involve reflection and awareness. Especially notable is the thought that people’s limited capacity for perception creates a subjective stance toward the world. A direct consequence of this is a belief in the distance and increased priority over the rest of the world. Buddha and Berke...

“The Socratic Dialogues” by Plato

For Plato, philosophical wisdom is characterized by the ability to confront the trial of serious conversation. As proposed in the apology, this usual criterion precludes nearly every sort of what is normally known as wisdom without a moment’s delay. Neither the legislator, the craftsman, nor the artist can clarify the...

St. Thomas’s Natural Law Teaching and Aristotle’s Teaching in Ethics

People tend to have varying views on numerous aspects of life and explain some significant and primary concepts differently. Thus, attempts to discuss and define natural law started in Ancient Greece; later, many brilliant philosophers, including Thomas Aquinas and Thomas Hobbes, tried to understand this concept. Overall, according to Hobbes...

Analysis of Shantideva’s Philosophy

Shantideva was an Indian philosopher and monk who preached ideas of virtue and promoted many basic principles of Buddhism. Among the many themes he raises in A Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life, there is an exploration of the nature of patience, which is often the result of reflection...

Descartes: Philosophical Analysis

The perception of the world by the human mind is one of the fundamental questions studied by philosophy. Understanding one’s self and awareness of reality are questions that puzzled the philosopher of antiquity, Descartes (Miceli, par. 4). He tried to answer this question in his writings and came to an...

Philosophical Thinkers and Questions in Ethics

The fundamental difference between philosophy and science is that the former asks conceptual questions and tries to find explanations entirely through thinking. On the other hand, the latter formulates theories that can be tested experimentally. The first crucial philosophical question is related to the existence of objects, which is asked...

Religion and Politics as Modern Fictions

Summary Religion is part of a categorization system that looks neutral to the secular liberal, presented in awareness as conforming to how the environment is, irrespective of the discursive structures that comprise our communal interpretative misgivings. According to critical religion, religion is a power category that interacts dialectically with other...

Kant’s Role in Developing Moral Philosophy

It is challenging to overestimate Kant’s role in developing moral philosophy, which explains the fact that many other experts rely on his works. In her article “Morality as a System of Hypothetical Imperatives,” Foot (1972) attempts to deny a commonly held belief that moral judgments cannot be hypothetical imperatives. In...

Machiavelli’s The Prince: Political Virtue or Unethical Governance?

The Prince political treatise is known for being rather controversial and making people have conflicting ideas, which affected the reputation of the text’s creator Niccolò Machiavelli. Some interpret the book as immoral and encouraging cruel rule in which Machiavelli promotes unethical governance. However, others consider this writing to be a...

Philosophical Puzzle “If a Tree Falls in the Forest”

Introduction Human thought has long been attracted to the theory of knowledge and the understanding of the nature of knowledge. People have asked themselves philosophical questions related to the reasons why one might think that they know something. In this regard, the age-old epistemological puzzle about a tree falling in...

Discussion of Plato’s Views on Reality

The main concept of Plato’s cave allegory is to describe the human condition, in which genuine truth is veiled and misleading pictures and information are mistaken for reality. Plato describes the narrative of a person who is led down the Gnostic road in the allegory. This allegory depicts the state...

Discussion: Meditation on Death Awareness

Meditation on death may sound gloomy and unnecessary, but it has a great spiritual potential for ourselves. People get used to the things they possess and love during the life course. But, when the death comes, the self is deprived of all these things and has to start the death...

The Three Principal Aspects of the Path

The Condition of Living Beings The best way to help living beings is to show them the path leading to liberation. Thus, the best way is the unity of method and wisdom, which is the quintessence of the teachings of all the Buddhas, that is, these three essential aspects —...

Free Will (Nurture) vs. Determinism (Nature) in Human Life

It is essential to emphasize that the question of what influences people’s feelings or actions is one of the most archaic not only in philosophy but also in psychology. There are two various points of view on this issue; the first asserts that hereditary and natural factors determine the identity...

Researching of the Philosophy of Daoism

Daoism is a religion-philosophical indigenous Chinese tradition that has affected the lives of countless Chinese for over 2000 years. Laozi, a great philosopher in the Roman period BCE, is the central figure of Daoism (Van 54). Most people believe this thinking to be a religion, yet it does teach us...

Subjectivism: Approach Toward Knowledge

Formal Analysis P1: To know that something exists is to experience its existence immediately and directly. P2: Human senses are too limited to discover the objective truth. P3: Context dictates the truth. C: Subjectivism is the correct way of viewing knowledge. Essay There are three different perspectives regarding knowledge, definition,...

Skepticism in Philosophy and Its Role in Life

Skepticism refers to a philosophical idea based on the doubt that reliable knowledge of the objective world is possible. Throughout history, there were significant changes in the development of philosophy associated with the crisis of democratic society and the increase of dictatorial regimes throughout. As a result, people attempted to...

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...

Buddha, Tolstoy, and Raymond’s Martin Views on the Meaning of Life

Meaning of Life Many influential philosophers throughout history have offered a response to the issue of what, if anything, makes life worthwhile, albeit they rarely state it in these terms. The systematic endeavor to determine what individuals have in mind when they think about the issue or what they mean...

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...

David Hume’s Biography and Philosophical Views

The history of philosophy demonstrates that many thinkers contributed to the development of this science and demonstrated different approaches to the perception of the word. Many of them had similar views, yet their differences led to lengthy debates, criticism of each other’s work, and the formation of groups of followers....

The Trolley Problem. Ethics and Social Philosophy

The trolley problem has its origins as a set of thought experiments in both ethics and philosophy. The dilemmas that are presented are often stylized in such a way that encourages the participant to debate whether the sacrifice of one person for the sake of many is fair or advantageous....

Rousseau’s Theory About a Lawgiver and a Civil Religion

For centuries, many great minds and talented thinkers outlined their ideas about citizens, governments, the development of the world, and the way it should be arranged. For instance, Genevan writer and philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau had his views on the system of states. In his 1762 book The Social Contract, the...

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...

Descartes Thoughts on What Am “I”

Introduction It is important to note that the question of self and one’s inner subjective experience is among the most challenging questions in philosophy. Descartes, in his meditations, addresses the core concepts of God, self, and doubt. By the philosopher’s thoughts and conclusions, “I” is separate from the external world....

George Berkeley’s Theory in the “Book of Common Places”

In 1707-1708, the young George Berkeley wrote the Book of Common Places, consisting of 2 parts: A and B. The central idea of the work was Berkeley’s unique philosophical outlook, specifically the principle of “esse est percipi”: to exist is to be perceived. After presenting this idea to the public,...

Truth Perception and Ourselves

In everyday life, people can be observed visualizing things as individuals rather than as things are. When another supplants control one problem, the interpretation is from the brain or sentiments. Since everyone links different things differently, people’s feelings toward some objects are unique. People see them as they are because...

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,...

Holbach’s, James’, and Sartre’s Views on the World

Introduction As a thinking matter, man is becoming more and more aware of himself as an active factor of the social and natural environment surrounding him, of the whole being on the scale of the universe. This defines the idea of man as a conscious participant in world evolution. In...

Philosophical Views of Confucius vs. Seneca

Introduction Human beings have formulated moral principles that guide their actions and the manner in which they relate to each other. Confucius was an ancient Chinese thinker who acknowledges that the presence of a gentleman among barbarians helps them overcome their uncouthness. Seneca believes that a virtuous life is only...

Analysis of Descartes Journal: The Experience of Philosophy

Rene Descartes prefers meditation over the scholastic method of debate popular at the time because it allows him to get insights that the Question-Responded (Q&A) structure does not qualify. Furthermore, one can tell that a dream inspired him during his euphoric moments, and he embarks on these meditations as a...

Review of “The Prince” by Machiavelli

Machiavelli was a Florentine philosopher best known for his political ideas in the 16th century. After his death, his two most famous philosophical works, The Prince and Discourses on Livy, were published. His impact has been massive, with the possible exception of Kant; no philosopher since antiquity has had such...

The Interaction with Augustine’s “Confessions”

Introduction Augustine’s achievements include studying problems that the ancient philosophers had not considered, particularly his exploration of the dynamics of the human person and the movements of world history. The former is devoted to his autobiographical book “Confessions” (13 books). With deep psychological introspection, he dispassionately explored the contradictory process...

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...

Playing a Chance Game: Kantian ‘Disinterestedness’ and Aesthetic Judgment

When it comes to aesthetic judgments and the human faculties that enable them, Kant analyzes and classifies them with the same meticulous rigor that is characteristic of his approach to ethics or epistemology. The key notion of his aesthetics is that a proper judgment of beauty can only be disinterested...

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...

The Falling Tree Problem as a Philosophical Puzzle

Philosophers are skilled in resolving puzzles, which often constitute the primary object of their studies and research. Yet, some of these conundrums do not seem to have one clearly-defined answer and thus provide an opportunity for a debate. One of the examples of such philosophical puzzles is the falling tree...

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...

Religion vs. Science: Creationism and Kuhn’s Ideas

Introduction Since the dawn of human civilization, religion has been its integral component. It shaped the mindsets of entire nations, having a direct influence on both global affairs and the everyday activities of the people. The world has always been characterized by an extreme diversity of beliefs: from the pagan...

Plato, Confucius, and Han Fei: Definitions of Society

The idea of society as a community with a set hierarchy and philosophy is thousand years old, dating back to the primitive life. As a result, philosophers started pondering over the concepts of life and reality quite a while ago, making the issue quite contentions. Although there seems to be...

Philosophy: Aspects of the Soul Theory

Individual identity is explained by evoking the soul, according to the oldest related concept, which is perhaps the most frequently accepted by ones who are not involved in the sphere of philosophy across the world. The soul may be considered a metaphysical, immaterial element of a human, according to this...

The Freedom of the People: Descartes, De Spinoza

Freedom is the essential characteristic of human life, which is revealed based on the unity and interaction of its spiritual and material components. It consists of the ability of man to create and direct his being in accordance with the laws of the development of nature and intelligent life on...

Plato’s Philosophy: Souls Are Immortal

Plato’s main argument is that souls are immortal and responsible for the recollection of knowledge. He uses the example of recollection to show that souls are immortal and existed before a human is born by mentioning instances in which people can recollect knowledge that they have never been conversant with....

Waltz and Machiavelli Thoughts on International Relation and Politics

Waltz And Machiavelli’s Thoughts This paper will discuss the similarities and analysis of Waltz and Machiavelli’s thoughts on international relations and politics. Waltz began his career as a political theorist to describe state behavior. He used the imagery of human nature and individual leaders, the domestic politics of nations, and...

Change in The Metamorphosis Novella by Franz Kafka

You may think that you know a person very well, but just one occasion can turn them into a total stranger. Unfortunately, that is the truth many of us have already experienced or have yet to experience. The pain, emptiness, and disconnectedness that one feels when this happens are skillfully...

Classical Heroes in Search of Eternal Wisdom

Comparison of the epic about Gilgamesh and texts describing the trial of Socrates and his self-defense reveals interesting details about the attitude of early civilizations to human life. Man is perceived by both the Sumerians and the ancient Greeks as a unit that is able to know itself only in...

Ethical Substance in Sophocles’ “Antigone”

Introduction There are numerous themes that are covered in the outstanding work by Sophocles. The issues that the prominent playwright raises in the play became essential topics for discussion in countless literary works centuries later. Certain virtues described in Antigone contradict each other and make it difficult to realize the...

Utilitarian and Retributivist Theories of Punishment

Introduction Fair punishment has long been a subject of dispute among philosophers, politicians, and the general public. However, there is still no consensus on which type of penal system is the most appropriate in terms of effectiveness and ethics. These discussions gave rise to two major theories – utilitarian and...

Handling Ethically Challenging Situations: Utilitarianism and Deontology

Introduction The ability to choose between right and wrong has been a contentious issue about ethical principles that govern societal rules. Among the minds that have developed theories to address the matter are Immanuel Kant and John Stuart Mill. On the one hand, Kant is of the view that an...

The Train Problem: Ethical and Philosophical Issue

The wagon problem is one of the most popular ethical and philosophical issues. The question seems straightforward; of course, saving the lives of five is more important than saving the life of one. However, it is complicated by the fact that, in this case, the person behind the level, making...

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...

Plato’s vs. Aristotle’s Political Approaches

Introduction Plato and Aristotle are among the most influential philosophers to have written on various topics. These topics range from ethics to general academic inquiry. Their work played a crucial role in laying the groundwork for other philosophers and scholars to make important advances in various theories. These scholars have...

Realities and Shadows in Plato’s “The Allegory of the Cave”

The shadows in Plato’s allegory reflect a distorted view of reality, a delusion about truth. For instance, Socrates invites Glaucon to envision a cave in the discussion. Prisoners are chained up within the cave; they are forced to face a wall. Because the captives have never seen the genuine items...

Animal Experimentation: The Theory of Utilitarianism

Violence and life-harming action can be reviewed from the perspectives of several philosophical theories. Since the chosen moral issue concerns animal experimentation, it is closely related to the theory of Utilitarianism. The main idea of this philosophy induces preference of practical changes over morally wrong obstacles (Lazari-Radek & Singer, 2017)....

Chapter 9 of The Archetypes of Wisdom by Soccio

René Descartes was the first philosopher who focused on acquiring knowledge about knowledge, giving rise to the new era of epistemology in philosophy, becoming the pioneer of rationalism. According to rationalists, knowledge relies primarily on reason and not on sense evidence. The coherence theory of truth states that knowledge is...

The Utilitarianism Theory by John Stuart Mill

John Stuart Mill is the philosopher behind the Utilitarianism Theory, who introduced the theory in a bid to help people from making life decisions. In his approach, Mill suggests that actions are right when they produce happiness and wrong when they result in sadness (Komu, 2020). According to Mill, happiness...

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...

The Process of Cognition and Gaining Knowledge

The process of cognition with relation to different areas of human life is guided by the methods for making forecasts on the basis of available data. From this perspective, the efficiency of this complex initiative is conditional upon the credibility of initial information. Even though some claims are made regarding...

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...

The “Archetypes of Wisdom” Book by D. J. Soccio

The second chapter of Archetypes of Wisdom by D. J. Soccio (2015) was dedicated to the Presocratic period in the development of philosophy. In general, it introduces the term Sophos, which referred to wise men or first philosophers who aimed to understand natural processes and the essence of life (Soccio,...

Theories of Foundationalism and Coherentism

The nature of knowledge has always been a disputable question. Since the earliest stage of civilization, philosophers have been trying to determine this broad concept and clearly explain its character. However, the scope of the term, its sophistication, and the numerous components it includes resulted in the emergence of numerous...

The Happiness Concept in Aristotle’s Ethics

The concept of Happiness presented by the Greek philosopher Aristotle in his classic work Nicomachean Ethics lies beyond the traditional notion of Happiness that has developed in the collective consciousness. Happiness is not determined by the amount of wealth or the constant pleasures that a person is able to experience...

The Nature of Piety in Plato’s “Euthyphro”

In Plato’s “Euthyphro,” Socrates asks whether something is pious because the gods love it or whether the gods love it because it is pious. The term pious can be translated to mean religious correctness or holiness. It means narrowly the act of doing and knowing what is right in religious...

Do Humans Have a Right to Meaningful Work?

In the philosophical tradition, few topics come up as frequently as does the subject of meaning. Humans have a history of seeking significance in things surrounding them and experiencing frustration if this goal cannot be achieved. But should meaning be found in every aspect of everyday human experience, or are...

Justice in Continental Philosophy

Introduction For many decades, the delineations of philosophy have been drawn between supporters of continental viewpoint and analytic ideas. The analytic theory describes a method of thinking anchored in the interrogation of whether something is factual, while the continental model often seeks to answer multiple factors, which constitute meaning (Arnold,...

The Philosophy of Manifest Destiny

Introduction Manifest destiny is a philosophy advocating that the United States was divinely ordained to expand its dominance, capitalism, and democracy across the North American continent. This belief is also based on issues of religion and race. Nevertheless, the country was not ready to show its superiority without a justifiable...

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...

Ancient Greek Philosophy and Worldview

Ancient Greek philosophy had its own character and unique differences. Scientists are still studying how people in ancient times saw the world, and many works on this topic have already been written. This scientific work deals with the review of how the ancient Greeks saw the concept of the world...

God’s Existence in Descartes’ Argument

An ontological argument set forth by Descartes is among the most exciting while also improperly understood aspects in his philosophy. The interest in the argument is associated with the effort to prove that God exists based on simple but significant premises. Descartes was unsuccessful in proving the existence of God...

“The Value of Philosophy” Book by Bertrand Russell

In The Value of Philosophy, Bertrand Russell reflects on the significance of philosophy as a field of study for humanity as a whole. One of the important aspects of his work is highlighting that philosophy does not aim at gaining definite answers and concentrates on the ability and process of...

Panopticism and Michel Foucault on Education

Michel Foucault was a French philosopher, writer, and political activist whose theories mainly revolved around the relationship between power and knowledge. Foucault’s thoughts have significantly influenced people, particularly on cultural and communication studies, as well as sociology. Educational institutions, specifically schools, are understood as panoptic spaces by social researchers. They...

Social Philosophy on Public Decision-Making

Introduction Moral philosophy is predicated on the notion of fulfilling individuals’ rights and freedoms without interfering with others. In our societies, governments protect and promote civility, ensuring a certain individual or group does not impede others’ rights to pursue their happiness. It is important to discern the relevance of this...

Materialist Theory of Consciousness and Counterarguments

Argument of the Materialistic Theory of Consciousness The materialistic theory of consciousness focuses on the idea that consciousness is material and ceases to exist with the annihilation of the body. Remarkably, there are three types of arguments supporting the materialist theory of consciousness. These are panpsychism, illusionism, and arguments suggesting...

A Socratic Dialogue Recreation

Intrinsic qualities of the human experience are a topic that many philosophers and thinkers have brought upon in their works, as well as something people have wondered about in their daily life. While it is impossible to understand where people have originally come, from and how they came to be...

Lies in the Philosophy of Immanuel Kant

One of the most famous defenders of the absolute prohibition of lying in the history of Western philosophy is Kant. According to the categorical imperative, he argues that falsehood is forbidden not because a lie is directly immoral but rather due to the fact that fiction cannot be universal; as...

Roderick Chisholm on Human Freedom and the Self

Introduction In the modern world, disputes persist over the freedom of the human role, whether it is complete or whether the will is caused by external influence. Philosophers hold different opinions in this discourse: some adhere to deterministic positions, others libertarian. Determinists declare that there is no free will based...

Challenges of the Digital Age: The Well-Examined Life

Socrates’ Biography The activity of Socrates, one of the outstanding ancient thinkers, has significantly impacted the formation of philosophical ideas in different cultures and influenced the emergence of different concepts. He was born in 469 BC to a mason and midwife and died in 399 BC in Athens. During his...

Meaning, Illusion, or Reality: Philosophical Puzzle

Summary Philosophy as science often questions topics that the average person does not consider. The purpose of this approach is to identify such categories as meaning, illusion, or reality. One of the riddles to solve the problem is, “If a tree falls in the forest and there’s no one around...

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...

The Idea of Aging and the Inevitable Death

The idea of aging and the inevitable death typically seem exceptionally distant for young people. However, as one ages, the necessity to reconcile with the fear of eventual demise emerges. Moreover, aging and the threat of death are connected directly and inseparably to multiple losses, including the loss of physical...

Seeds: Theorists of the Classical Way of Transition

The main aim of urban theories is to have a glimpse of the contemporary world, which is an outcome of transition. Urban and modern society has evolved from the traditional way of living to the modern way. The main theorists of the classical way of transition include; Emile Durkheim, Max...

Objection to Epistemic Criticism of Love

The argument that love is epistemically objectionable is based on the assumption that the standard epistemological norms are correct. The mainstream epistemological norms stress the importance of impartiality, truth, and rationality in beliefs and behavior. Therefore, the types of beliefs and behavior commonly associated with love and friendship are objectionable...

The Work “The Age of Reason” by Thomas Paine

The initial post states that Thomas Paine, as a deist, criticizes Christianity extensively. Additionally, his views are surprising in the context of the time in which he lived. Indeed, it is extremely daring of him to criticize religion using the publication of The age of reason (Paine, 2014). The post...

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...

The Trolley Problem of Active vs. Passive Killing

The Trolley Problem The trolley problem refers to a thought experiment frequently cited within philosophy and psychology. While it contains many variations, its central idea is based on decision-making. It describes a situation where the reader witnesses a trolley with dysfunctional brakes toward a switch in the tracks. At the...

The Role of Women in Sophocles’ Antigone

Sophocles draws attention to various problems in his tragedy Antigone. The themes of justice, traditions, and family are still actual in society nowadays. One could also notice the huge role the women characters play in the tragedy and the overall morale of the piece. Hence, this research will analyze the...

Confucius’s Equivalent for the Golden Rule

In Chapter 5 of The Analects, Confucius formulates an equivalent of the Golden Rule. Through Master’s counsels, Confucius defines the concept of universally appreciated conduct. The Master suggests that in order to be appreciated everywhere, one should approach people with sincerity and truthfulness, and his actions should be honorable and...

Moral Responsibility and Categorical Imperative

The question of duty and moral responsibility has been a relevant topic throughout the whole history of philosophy. Various thinkers propose diverse opinions on what a human must do in order to achieve happiness and fulfill their obligations. Duty is also the central point of deontological ethics, which focuses on...

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...

The Permissibility of International Peace

Introduction One of the most critical questions in existential philosophy is to determine the potential for a global peace as a system in which all nations live in a commonwealth. In discussing this idea, it is crucial to be particularly precise in the terms used since the state of international...

Machiavelli and Modern Politics in the United States

Introduction It is no secret that the modern political landscape in the United States and across the world is becoming more polarized, which is the problem being addressed in the given reflection. The two major political parties of America are further from each other than ever, which is why Machiavelli’s...

Compatibilist and Libertarian Freedom

The issue of freedom has always caused debates among philosophers, psychologists, and other scholars related to the field of social sciences. Some of the perspectives of studying freedom include compatibilist and libertarian conceptions. A significant feature of the libertarian theory of freedom is that it implies circumstantial and metaphysical freedom....

Emotions Constitute Rationality: Philosophical Perspective

Introduction Since classical times, humans have tried to explore and describe the mechanisms that regulate life both for particular individuals and societies. Among the essential issues are the origin of feelings and their role in decision-making; specifically, philosophers of all epochs sought to answer the question of whether emotions interfere...

The Critical Analysis of the Trial of Socrates and Daodejing

The speed of modern life rarely allows us to think about major philosophical questions and moral rules that control our lives. Not surprisingly, we close ourselves to the outer world, trying to follow a habitual set of circumstances and refrain from indulging in new ideas. After reading Trial of Socrates...

Veil of Ignorance: Emergence, Definition, and Impact

Veil of Ignorance emerged out of a thought experiment conducted by John Rawls. In conducting the experiment, he sought to examine arguments about justice, integrity, parity, and social stature in a structured procedure. The Veil of Ignorance constitutes part of the social contract theory that is used to examine inklings...

Ancient Greek & Roman and Medieval Philosophies

The examination of universal and basic concerns such as presence, reason, wisdom, values, consciousness, and language is referred to as philosophy. These issues are frequently offered as issues to be investigated or handled. The concept of happiness is central to Ancient Greek and Roman beliefs, yet at the Dawn of...

Review of “Antigone” Play by Sophocles

Multiple themes are covered in the famous play by Sophocles. Despite the importance of love for family and other essential topics, the playwright particularly emphasized the issue concerning the origins of law and the conflict between the natural law and the new type of civil law that developed rapidly at...

Reviews Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave” and “Theory of Forms”

Plato experienced a variety of influences from previous philosophical movements. The pre-Socratic influential thinkers include Protagoras, whose relativist thought inspired Plato’s dialogues despite contradictions between the two thinkers’ approaches. As for the Sophists, some contempt for them could have encouraged Plato to achieve excellence in reasoning. The impact of Socrates...

“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...

“Phaedrus” by Plato and “Experience of Reality” by Pessoa

In order to depict a parallel between Plato’s Phaedrus sections 247 b-c and Pessoa’s experience of reality, it would be rational to provide the background of Plato’s ideas in these sections. Plato tends to explain the nature of souls by appealing to an understandable – but not complicated and ambiguous...

Plato’s Approach to Economic Matters in “Symposium”

While Symposium is not the most famous of Plato’s works, like Republic or Allegory of the Cave, it still occupies a prominent place within the philosopher’s legacy. Although mainly concerned with questions of love and virtue, Symposium, true to the multifaceted nature of its author’s thought, covers a broad range...

Epistemology. Epistemology of Perception

Throughout the history of humanity, people have been striving to comprehend the world they live in, constructing theories of various kinds to explain their observations. Some of the most fundamental philosophical problems are addressed by the branch of philosophy called epistemology, which studies the nature, origin, and limits of human...

Metaphysics, Existence and Its Beginnings

Metaphysics is a process of searching for the original nature of reality, the world, and existence. Aristotle was the first to use metaphysics to answer the cause of beginnings and the becoming of the world. In the Middle Ages, the content of metaphysics was replaced by finite: Thomas Aquinas thinks...

Ancient Philosophers Overview

Thales Thales of Miletus is remembered for their influences on science and philosophy. Though there are no writings on Thales, his achievements are difficult to evaluate and are based on the legendary Seven Wise Men. As a practical statesman, Thales advocated the unification of Ionian cities in the Aegean region....

Major Concepts in Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s Texts

General Will Quotation: “Immediately, instead of individuals entering into contractual relations, this act of association creates a conditional collective Whole… This Whole receives unity, its common self, its life and will as a result of such an act. As long as a certain number of united people look at themselves...

We Often Learn More From Failures Than Successes, but Not Always

Introduction Failures can teach people to think differently or break down completely, depending on the type of it. Successes may lead to over-relaxation when a person stops working actively in order to take pleasure in them. In contrast, causing pain and failures can stimulate work more actively and more productively,...

Heidegger’s, Derrida’s, and Levinas’ Philosophies

Introduction Martin Heidegger is one of the most famous philosophers that many people have analyzed. He was a German, and his work primarily involved politics and religion. Moreover, many individuals have argued that his ideas have impacted European philosophy. He also had an impact on other aspects, such as cognitive...

Socrates as an Iconic Figure in Philosophy

Socrates is an iconic figure in thought history that set the vector of flowing of the whole Western tradition. He was born around 470 B.C. and died in 399 B.C. by Athenian court order because he was blamed for many sins, mainly baseless. Despite the fact that he was concerned...

John Rawls’s Justice-as-Fairness and Political Liberalism Theory

Introduction Unlike classical constructivism, Rawls significantly revises the concept of the social contract. It is a kind of ideal hypothetical situation in which people choose the principles of a fair social structure. Philosopher seeks to model the conditions for concluding a contract that would guarantee a fair outcome; in other...

The Allegory of the Cave: Results of Living in Isolation

Introduction The Allegory of the Cave is a situational stance of how cave imprisonment represents the world of imagination and despair at war in the progressive acquisition of thoughts and ideas to build on the realities. It focuses on sharing the positive significance of education in eradicating ignorance and mental...

Are Free Will and Determinism Compatible?

Philosophical metaphysics teaches that all human decisions have underlying causality and motivation, and the freedom to express personal free will is the basis for most of them. It is challenging to call free will one of the inalienable rights of a citizen, for it is difficult to delineate where its...

Socrates as the Physician of the Soul

Socrates was one of the first Western philosophers whose thoughts and ideas were recognized around the globe. He left no definite philosophy, and most of his works were based on his followers’ retelling, like Plato or Xenophon. He believed that reasonable people would hardly harm themselves and support the possibility...

Bentham and Taurek on Happiness of the Community

Introduction John Taurek is the most effective critic of Jeremy Bentham’s aspect of morality approval in utilitarian theory. Even though both philosophers were connected with utilitarianism, they had a significant confrontation regarding the fundamental values of their vision: community prevalence. In his theory, Taurek objectively argues that utility is a...

The Pragmatic Theory of Truth in Buddhism and Christianity

Concerning the discussion posted on analysis of validity, acquiring, and defining truth on the pragmatic theory of truth, criticism on William James’ pragmatic theory can be deduced. The theory holds that a belief or claim can be classified as true if it works. However, critiques of this theory assert that...

The First Metaphysics and Current Metaphysical Concerns

The examination of metaphysical concerns is one of the principal orientations of philosophers of all times, which is complicated by differences in their approaches. Moreover, these initiatives tend to evolve with regard to preferences or vary depending on their focus. From this perspective, their examination through the lens of Pre-Socratic...

Is the Mind Identical to the Brain?

Introduction The human brain is the most perfect and most mysterious mechanism. It controls everything that happens in the body, and therefore life. Mind is a set of cognitive and analytical abilities of man, due to which the intellect of the individual is formed. There is no standard interpretation of...

The Philosophic View on the Nature of Truth

Philosophers are interested in a variety of questions related to the idea of truth. The challenge is determining what types of matters can be considered true. Is truth the definition of words and is a linguistic entity, or is it truly an abstract and everlasting concept? The essential question remains...

Camus and the Meaning of Life

The meaning of life, if there is any, is one of the oldest and most profound questions in the history of human civilization. The sheer number of philosophical traditions that attempted to answer it in one way or another suggests there is no easy and evident solution to it. However,...

Researching of the Daodejing Laozi

Daoism is an ancient world-famous philosophical movement that has always been a matter of interest for philosophers. This traditional Chinese philosophy focuses on the understanding that Dao is an ultimate void forming the supreme world order (Ivanhoe 5). The Daodejing of Laozi, where the various Daoism concepts are collected, touches...

Aspects of Philosophy of Life

Every morning at 8 A.M., the alarm clock on the smartphone fills the room with an annoying melody that could have been joyful if it had not interrupted my sleep. Instead of waking up with a broad smile, I lie in my bed and think that a new day of...

What Is Philosophy Based on Plato’s Views?

It is important to note that philosophy is a framework under which even ordinary knowledge and information are questioned through criticism based on a strictly determined set of principles and rules. In other words, philosophy address the fundamental aspects of the universe and existence itself with no room for inarticulate...

Descartes’ Evidences of God’s Existence

Descartes puts forward several axiomatic philosophical proofs of the existence of God to explain the objective surrounding reality. In his opinion, the mechanistic processes taking place in the world around us cannot be explained without a cause-and-effect logic. It is precisely in the search for an explanation of the pattern...

Kant’s Morality and Utilitarianism

Morality is impossible without freedom, since if a person’s actions are determined by the will of God or the laws of nature, then one cannot speak of morality or morality, since then there is no responsibility. Kant believed that a person’s actions in moral terms could be determined by three...

Han Fei and Aristotle: Interpret of the Passage by Confucius

Introduction The concept of harmony has always taken one of the central positions in both Western and Eastern traditions of philosophy. Prominent thinkers have utilized this notion to describe social aspects, such as cultural norms and sovereign regulations, and individualistic nature. Furthermore, the concept of harmony is frequently used to...

Analysis of Locke’s Philosophy

Locke’s philosophy on the state of war represents a particularly interesting topic due to the presence of ideas that require a substantial amount of nuance and the transfer of these ideas into the context of actual war settings. Namely, Locke’s idea of an aggressor’s right to instigate a war as...

Historic and Global Fundamentalism

Historic fundamentalism can be categorized as an occurrence that is distinctly Protestant, Christian, and American. Its early roots can be traced back to 1919, a year of what can be deemed extreme modernization due to the end of the first world war, the citizen status of African Americans, and the...

Spinoza’s Views on God’s Infiniteness

There are many views and positions regarding the existence and form of God. Spinoza was the first who dared to refute the concept of the dualism of matter and spirit, uniting these concepts in the concept of God, who is equal to Nature. This approach was revolutionary in the 17th...

The Confucianism Role in Early Chinese Society

The importance of Confucianism for early Chinese society is conditional upon its role in establishing relationships among the citizens. In order to do so, the followers of this approach were guided by five relationships, and they seem quite informative from the perspective of analyzing its structure. However, these aspects had...

A Philosophical Solution for a Soldier Who Finds a Child With a Gun

As a way of life, philosophy demands that children should have a space for active engagement in philosophical thought to promote their critical thinking. Philosophical thought allows children to ask existential questions about their surroundings and the world (Kizel 142). The curiosity in children exposes them to many dangers, some...

Philosophical Research: Setting the Scene

Introduction Psychological research involves the empirical pursuit of exploring and explaining phenomena. We might ask questions such as: Does X vary with Y? Does X cause Y? What is the strength of the relationship between X and Y? Within the context of clinical psychological research, we might ask questions such...

Socrates: Life and Death Discussion

Introduction The Phaedo is among Plato’s most renowned and extensively read dialogues. However, the discussion raised several contentious problems about the conceptions of life and death, as well as what happens after death. Socrates, for example, argues in the dialogue that the soul should not be consumed by the demands...

Philosophy: A Change in a Personal Belief

Introduction Man is one of the most controversial creatures on earth, with unique features, characteristics, and peculiarities. People learn about the environment with the help of perception types, discover the secrets of being and make specific conclusions and suggestions from their reflections. Every human, by nature, tends to stray and...

Balancing Others’ Freedom and Own Happiness

Freedom is the ability to do something without prevention by other individuals. A free person can engage in activities without any constraint from the people around them. Additionally, freedom gives people the power to act or speak accordingly without any hindrance. When people act freely, it is not always a...

Meditations First & Second by René Descartes

In the First Meditation, Descartes expresses his intention to break the foundation of falsehoods that he had accepted as true since childhood. He begins by stating that everything he has accepted to be true is acquired from or through his senses. The first belief that seems unlikely to be doubted...

Omniscience, Omnipotence, Group Organism, and Technology

The meaning of the word omniscience lies in the etymology of the word, since this term is related to a person who knows everything. Omniscience is the ability to know everything infinitely and without limits, or at least everything that can be learned about life, thoughts, feelings, the universe, and...

Argumentation in Plato’s “Apology of Socrates”

Socrates’s arguments against the accusations of the prosecutor Meletus are represented in two ways. One way included an explanation of the purpose and method of Socrates. He believes that it could give a jury explanation of why certain people do not like him. Socrates’s second argument is based on response...

Machiavelli’s Claims on Good Leadership in The Prince

In the book The Prince, Machiavelli presented the readers with opinions that were opposed to humanism philosophy. He encouraged rulers to kill some of their subjects to obtain what they wanted. The author discusses the criminal ways that rulers can use to attain what they want. He outlines how rulers...

Kantian Ethics and Its Special Features

Deontology is an ethical theory that considers the motives and other mental factors conditioning human behavior as essential in exploring moral concepts. Deontological ethics is deemed duty-oriented because it estimates the person’s actions according to any existing systems of ethical rules. Deontology principles are an essential basis of Kantian ethics...