Kant’s Imperative Overview and Analysis

The phenomenon of the imperative is a rather well-known philosophical subject. Having been coined by Immanuel Kant, the idea of an imperative as the concept that defines one’s decision-making has been accepted and used widely in philosophy, specifically, in Kantianism (Longuenesse, 2020). Although the two imperatives, namely, the categorical and...

The Meaning of Khaldun’s Words on Man’s Weakness

By stating that man is weak and deficient, Khaldun establishes the limits of his own knowledge and, consequently, of the book. He contrasts his awareness with the God’s, claiming the superiority of the latter. The author restricts his explorations to the Maghrib region specifically because of his inability to portray...

Philosophy: Political Advertisements

Introduction Philosophy is usually understood in various diverse ways by people or philosophers of different backgrounds. However, these different philosophers aim at achieving some understanding, awareness and gaining some intelligence, to think, support and argue rationally on various essential matters. Moore & Bruder, 2005 philosophically offered a succinct definition of...

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...

Understanding of Kant’s Sublime Experience by Merritt

Melissa McBay Merritt is a philosopher whose works mainly concern Kant’s philosophy, history of ethics, and modern impact on society. She examines how moral rationalism can be implemented in contemporary ethics and what effect Kant’s legacy caused in the structure of today’s morality and the human mind. This essay considers...

Philosophy of Science: Economics as a Philosophical Concern

In recent decades, the debates on the meaning and content of experimental analysis have been extensively discussed in philosophy. The discussions of the implications overlapped physical examination to social sciences such as economics. This study’s fundamental position involves the factors considered scientific, their theories’ viability, and their relationship to the...

William James – the American Philosopher

The Nursing Profession during William James Era William James was an American philosopher and a psychologist. He was considered the founder of the pragmatism school of thought and functional psychology. He was born in a wealthy family in January 1842. William James made a massive contribution to the field of...

When the Means Defeat the Goals: Thomas More and Georges Danton

Introduction The dilemma of using any means necessary for achieving noble goals has always been prevalent in philosophical and political discussions. Every country has examples of engaging in authoritarian measures to accomplish a higher objective, yet the implications are best illustrated by biographies of people who had to choose what...

Disproportional and Unequal Possession of the Earth

Introduction John Locke’s political philosophies have influenced a number of theories globally and have inspired many philosophers. His work was based mainly on the hypothesis of the social contract. He strongly suggested and believed that human nature was structured in a manner that allowed people to be selfish. This, according...

Power of Ideas: Philosophical Theories

Rene Descartes’ argument Rene Descartes proposed a novel way of acquiring knowledge through the use of his “doubting methodology” (Moore & Bruder, 2008). He said that skepticism enabled him to know the truth. The doubting methodology was comprised of the dream conjecture and the evil demon conjecture. It is possible...

The Ethics of Simple Life: Crisis as Opportunity

The documentary by Happen Films (2016) tells a story about a group of people who experimented in their way of life and decided to live a year in a rural community trying to use only natural or recycled materials and products. The film demonstrates how people can respond to global...

Assisted Euthanasia: Philosophical Perspectives

Introduction The ethics of human relationships is the object of many philosophical teachings and doctrines. At the same time, specific issues and topics are controversial and acute since they are difficult to discuss within the framework of one particular theory due to distinctive views on causes and effects. As such...

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...

Marxian Alienation in Modern Capitalist Countries

The ideas of Karl Marx have a notable influence on everyday reality, both through past events and modern communist and socialist movements. However, the historical materialism of Marx is a product of nineteenth-century society; hence, the question of practical relevance is worth asking. This paper aims at answering a more...

Classical Philosophical Puzzle by George Berkeley

Introduction “If a tree falls in the forest and there is no one around to hear it, does it make a sound?” is a classical philosophical puzzle. It is sometimes attributed to George Berkeley; however, the philosopher did not discuss the question directly (Campbell, 2014). The puzzle concerns the nature...

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)....

Utilitarianism and Protection of People’s Rights

Among criticisms targeted at the ethical theory of utilitarianism is one that states that it fails to protect people’s rights and freedoms. The critics’ argument is based on the main principles of utilitarianism formulated back in the eighteenth century, their interpretation, and their applicability in the modern world. The purpose...

Nietzsche’s Ideas: God and True Virtue

Introduction Friedrich Nietzsche, the outstanding German philosopher of the 19th century, left behind a rich academic heritage and became one of the founders of irrationalism as a philosophical doctrine. One of his well-known works is Thus Spake Zarathustra, the story about a wandering preacher who promotes the doctrine of the...

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...

Philosophy of Death and Dying

Introduction For quite a long period of history, issues related to death and dying were within the scope of the church’s professional competences. Representatives of Christian denominations explained the afterlife to the common people and took care of the dying. With the development of a natural-scientific view, the monopoly of...

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...

“What Is Enlightenment?” by Immanuel Kant

On the one hand, the concept of “enlightenment” can be understood as a specific historical era – for example, it is about enlightened absolutism – and on the other, a certain moral, legal, and social program. This possibility of an ambiguous interpretation of the term “enlightenment” determines the originality of...

Is the World About Us?

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

Concepts of Justice in Relation to Modern American Society

Social justice is generally assumed to be necessary for any progressive society. However, it is unclear how to define justice, and many philosophers have been working on the problem since ancient times. The current paper reviews some essential ideas of justice and reflects on how these ideas are relevant to...

Comparative Analysis of Socrates and Jesus of Nazareth

Socrates and Jesus of Nazareth are very similar characters that can be both perceived as prophets from different perspectives. Socrates and Jesus were significant and powerful figures due to the divine strength they obtained (Wright 374). Socrates was told by an oracle that he was the wisest of men and,...

Sima Qian: Reasoning on the Concept of “The Root”

When analyzing “the root” that Qian puts into the essence of The First Emperor, one can conclude that this term implies a natural order, which is the root cause. In his description of Li Si, the author notes that all attempts to interpret the consequences of the minister’s actions were...

Moral Status and the Nature of Human Person

Philosophy makes an attempt to gain a better understanding of the world through questioning the established traditions and the preconceived notions people often hold. Many of the questions formed in this process do not have a concrete answer and serve as a way for an individual to think about any...

Liberty and the Common Good: COVID-19

In modern political culture, libertarianism has acquired new supporters and has taken on a new existence. The philosophical underpinnings of libertarianism are essential to discuss because they can point out the limitations of the ethical system in the present context. To explore the issue, it was chosen to focus on...

“The Variety of Religious Experience” by William James

At the turn of the 20th century, America began to see a surge in religions of healthy-mindedness that would eventually change the landscape of modern medicine. Taken from William James’ pivotal lecture “The Religion of Healthy-Mindedness,” this distinction of American religions would provide the groundwork for an entire genre of...

Classical Political Thought Through the Prism of Greek Philosophy

Gorgias’ argument in The Encomium of Helen for why Helen of Troy is not responsible for the Trojan War Among the few complete sophistic texts that have survived until these days, one stands out for its complexity, logical beauty, and neatness of argument. The Encomium of Helen by the greatest...

Do People Have Free Will? Psychologists Answer

One of the central and widely discussed questions of neuroscience and philosophy is whether we have free will. Scientists’ opinions about what free will is, and even about the reality of its existence, are very contradictory. The idea of free will can be conveyed as the ability for self-control, and...

Ethics and Popular Opinion in Socrates’ Philosophy

The importance of public opinion is crucial in modern-day society and cannot be underestimated. The majority of people’s views should be taken into consideration and given publicity when a controversial issue is being discussed. Socrates, a Greek philosopher, was trialed and executed for his controversial opinion on multiple subjects. His...

Utilitarian View on the Weight of Human Sacrifice

The notion of sacrifice is familiar to practically any human being ever alive on this planet. Whether it is a material thing, or one’s desire to pursue a dream, everyone at some point in his or her existence had to put something at stake for the sake of a greater...

Conceptual Ideas of the Long Nineteenth Century Intellectuals

Introduction Philosophers and thinkers formulate not only urgent problems for society but also look for their causes and solutions. Intellectuals in the Long Nineteenth century criticized aspects of their time’s political and social order and discussed natural human needs. Figures such as Edmund Burke, William Blake, Leo Tolstoy, Sigmund Freud,...

Aristotle and His Vision of the Virtues of Man

Aristotle has provided humanity with a great number of philosophical concepts that are meant to contain a full description of human nature and exact guidelines that lead to harmony in a person’s mind and soul. The idea that a person is free to choose whether or not he/she wants to...

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...

Naturalism, Transcendentalism, Social Anxiety and Fear

Modern advances in manufacturing, space travel, and science perpetuate immense corporate appetites of global companies that continue to abuse the planet’s natural resources for short-term financial benefit. The dystopian society is what many modern thinkers predict to come at some point in the future. The Space Merchants by Cyril Kornbluth...

Consequentialist Deontological Ethical Theories

Introduction The term ethics has a variety of definitions. It can be viewed as a branch in philosophy that tries to define moral notions like defining wrong and right (Bookchin, 2004). It can also be defined as the science of individual obligation (Bentham, 1999). Nature of law assumes that law...

The Comparison of Thomas Hobbes and John Locke’s Views

Thomas Hobbes and John Locke were famous English philosophers who became the classics of 17th-century political thought. They considered such issues as the state of nature, the social contract, the right of revolution, limits of power, and property rights. Although their political and philosophical views had something in common, they...

Connections Between Aristotle’s Views of the Universe and Aquinas’s

Aristotle inspired many philosophers and thinkers with his ideas of how the universe functions. One of the people who built on the ideas of Aristotle was Aquinas, a well-renounced theologian. The similarities between Aristotle and Aquinas’s views on the universe are in their interpretation of knowledge and some views of...

Morality and Happiness: Philosophical Concept

Introduction Moral issues often appear in philosophy, literature, and even politics, since morality forms the basis of human activity. Morality is a set of norms of behavior adopted in a particular society or the mind of a specific person. People acquire morality in the process of life, and it can...

Philosophical Thought of Paul Sartre

Jean-Paul Sartre Jean-Paul Sartre is one of the most known French existentialists of the twentieth century. His ideas were expressed in numerous works related not only to philosophical writings but also to plays (Hayim, 2017). The main problems that he discussed were connected to the notion of freedom as a...

Studying Liberal Arts and Sciences Essence and the Role

Abstract The research describes the essence and the role of liberal education. The definition of the liberal arts and sciences has been provided; the role of liberal education in the democratic society has been described; the importance of studying liberal arts and sciences has been applied to the field of...

Crito’s Concern About Reputation

When Crito expresses concern about his reputation, Socrates inquires why one needs to worry about “the opinion of the many (44c).” At first glance, it may seem that the philosopher rebels against the social order of Athens. Upon further investigation, it becomes clear that he does not devalue but rather...

The Centrality of the Concept of Power

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

The Confessions of Saint Augustine

The Confessions is the general title for thirteen autobiographic stories of Saint Augustine, dated 397-398 A.D. They contain the narrative about Saint Augustine’s life and his way of conversion to Christianity. Being the first detailed autobiographic in European literature, the book has served as a literary example for Christian writers...

The Ancient Greek Philosophers: The Heritage in Modernity

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

The Problem of Evil in Relation to Philosophy and Religion

The existence of God is a difficult question since there seems to be no way to provide hard evidence of whether He exists. Therefore, people are divided into theists who believe in God’s existence and atheists who are confident of the contrary. The strongest argument of atheists against the existence...

The Book “Metamorphosis” by Kafka and the Film “Eraserhead” by Lynch

A number of stories throughout the history of occidental societies tie the notions of desperation and isolation to the beginning of a spiritual journey. These experiences may trigger an inciting incident that would send a protagonist into the search of consolidation between their internal and external universes. Works of both...

Descartes’s Ideas Which Opposed Skepticism

René Descartes was a mathematician, physicist, and philosopher of the 17th century who brought revolutionary ideas regarding human existence and the truth of knowledge. What is more, his works became the base for philosophy and are quoted and evaluated even today. Many believe he was the rationalist who promoted skepticism...

Soren Kierkegaard: His Life and Philosophical Views

Kierkegaard was born in 1813 to a Danish family that adored the ways of Christianity in Copenhagen. He was the last born in a family of seven children. Kierkegaard ever lamented his old age birth that led to his suffering while young. His surname has its deriving from priesthood activity....

No One Can Knowingly Choose to Do Evil

One of the most debatable issues investigated by Socrates is his suggestions on the nature of peoples’ evil actions. The philosopher claimed that people tend to commit only good deeds and no one can knowingly choose to do evil, hence, all the harm is done out of ignorance (Ambury). The...

Ethical Egoism as a Valid Framework for Moral Action

In the study of ethics, egoism is highly relevant since people are often faced with moral choices that require them to prioritize either their own needs or someone else’s. Most ethical theories do not consider the interests of the moral agent when offering frameworks for ethical decision-making. Instead, people are...

Enlightenment Ways of Thinking

Classical liberalism views human nature from a skeptical perspective. This perception is similar to that of conservative liberalism. For instance, one of the most predominant classical liberal philosophers John Locke wrote in the late 17th century that reason rarely controls human emotions. Therefore, the conservative thinker Burke and the liberal...

Ethical Relativism: Socrates and Appiah’s Theories

Socrates brought a philosophy from heaven to earth, and estranged it from nature, revealing a spiritual, metaphysical field. In the era of universal fermentation, the fluctuations of philosophical, moral, religious, and political beliefs and traditions, he pointed to human self-knowledge as the source and beginning of real knowledge and philosophy....

Civil Disobedience: Socrates and Thoreau

The civil disobedience movement was widely supported by philosophers of ancient times as well as modern thinkers. However, their views on the matter significantly differed in the way they expressed them. The two contrasting figures in philosophy related to this idea are Henry David Thoreau and Socrates, and their comparison...

Concept of Labour Mixture: Interpretations and Arguments

Locke argued that in the ‘natural state’ the human original condition, every person had an equal right to ownership and use of natural resources that were provided by the “spontaneous hand of nature” (Locke, 2005, sect. 25). The earth was commonly owned; however, resources are not useful for human survival...

A Virtuous Ruler by Niccolò Machiavelli

Since ancient times, numerous philosophers have dedicated their efforts to finding the right ways to become a perfect ruler. The Greek tradition, which formed bases for the political thoughts for centuries, viewed citizens’ happiness and prosperity as the highest virtues. Such ideas were later replaced with Christian morality statements, which...

American Promise Ideals Overview

The American Promise is primarily the ideals of freedom, democracy, and liberalism. The founding fathers first formed this position; this is the attitude towards the development of constitutional liberties, the independence of the American nation, and the glorification of the ideals of liberalism. In the US, human rights are considered...

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...

Walter Benjamin as a Marxist Criticist of Art

Argument Critics of the Marxist approach comprehended art as a form of social production and realization. For them, it is not an intellectual, idealistic phenomenon but an instrumental social practice. A genuinely revolutionary artist, therefore, always deals not only with a work of art but also with the means of...

The Philosopher’s Way: Philosophical Concepts

The Concept of Free Will: Determinism, Compatibilism, and Libertarianism The theories of determinism, compatibilism, and libertarianism center around the notion of free will and the question of whether individuals can make free choices or their freedom are restricted by forces beyond their control. Determinism claims that all events and actions...

“On the Duty of Civil Disobedience” by Henry David Thoreau

People challenged its government long before the term “civil disobedience” was coined by Henry David Thoreau in 1849. In his On the Duty of Civil Disobedience, originally called Resistance to Civil Government, the author discussed the issue, providing a clear viewpoint and examples from his life. He expressed that civil...

History of Psychology and Its Theories

Introduction Accordingly, human beings study psychology to understand the peculiarities of a personality’s development, avoid making similar mistakes in handling and treating various psychological disorders, obtain valuable ideas to develop psychology as a science, and satisfy their natural curiosity and thirst for knowledge. Needless to say, studying psychology starts with...

Immortality Perception in Modern Philosophy

Introduction Eternal life, and the value of such an experience – this question has always worried philosophers of antiquity and modernity. Besides, since it is linked with the problem of life’s meaning, the question of immortality is one of the fundamental dilemmas of philosophy. In his article Williams (2010) presents...

Comparison of Socrates’s, Epicurus’s, and Michel de Montaigne’s Views on Happiness

The way to a happy life was studied by philosophers from ancient times. Alain De Botton’s programs united in the series “Philosophy: A Guide to Happiness” present and discuss the views of different philosophers on various aspects of this subject. Comparing the perspectives of the thinkers, it is possible to...

Hume’s Problem and Kant’s Solution

The disagreement between Hume and Kant resulted in the awakening of the latter from his dogmatic slumber since he was disturbed by Hume’s skepticism against causality. The so-called Hume’s problem was in his disbelief in cause-effect relationships due to the fact that people can see only a row of events...

Martin Heidegger: Key Figure of German Philosophy

Heidegger Biography Martin Heidegger, a German philosopher, was born in 1889 to a catholic family. He was raised in a Roman Catholic Church where his father served as sexton. Heidegger gained many contributions from the Catholic Church that were working tooth and nail in preparing him for the priesthood. His...

The Existentialism of Sartre

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

Global Governance Institutions in Context of Globalization

Introduction The global community established a community that was meant to share a culture and some values that would enable the member states to come together and have an environment that would enable them to provide solutions to the global problems to achieve globalization (Wolf 2004). The global governance institutions...

Secularist Counter-Arguments Against Religion Ability to Give Added Meaning to Morality

Divine command theory was presented by John Calvin, St Augustine, and many other famous philosophers. Its followers argue that “ethical principles are simply the commands of God” (Pojman & Fieser, 2011, 188.4). The theory that appeared in the era of early Christianity and has been dramatically transformed since then has...

Moral Intuitions: A Heuristic Model

Introduction The purpose of this paper is to analyze a heuristic model of moral intuitions as described in the book, The Moral Psychology Handbook, by John M. Doris. To present the model, it is first necessary to identify it and explain its working principles. Models of heuristics can improve on...

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

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

Religion and Science Cultural and Philosophical Hostility

The philosophical and cultural tension between science and religion reached its peak in the period of scientism, which was dominant in nineteenth-century society. Olson (2008) defines scientism as the displacement of opinions, perspectives, methodologies, and practices from the framework of research of the ordinary world into the study of people...

John Maynard Keynes’s Argument on Practical Men

Introduction Economists and politicians who consider being quite exempt from intellectual influence are typically slaves of some defunct philosophers (Cahn 73). Such people prefer to back their ideas by philosopher’s Big Idea. However, some philosopher’s assumptions and thoughts are outdated and taken for granted through the social order. In the...

Philosophical Ideals in Relation to My Life

Philosophy is not merely a studied discipline. It is also a complex of views, opinions, and attitudes to various values and the community one belongs to. The system of values and beliefs consists of thoughts, which are connected with each other and make a kind of cooperation. When one starts...

Bentham’s Method of Determining Right Acts & Laws

Introduction Bentham argues that human beings are dominated by pain and pleasure. He says that people have the authority to determine the things they need to do. In his theory of utility, Bentham argues that every behavior is supposed to be evaluated as good or bad depending on how it...

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...

Why History Matters to Philosophy

Introduction History is a very important subject to every discipline of life and particularly in philosophy. History is basically a representation of all human activities, events, and processes. On the other part, history can be considered as the practice that humans have of collecting and inferring happenings. History has been...

Five Years of My Life ‘ by Murat Kurnaz

In the modern world, all of the political priorities are arranged. The USA is the world leader which protects people from the humiliation, cruelty, and terror of the aggressive Islamic countries of the Middle East like Iran, Iraq, or Afghanistan. But nobody knows the real situation in international politics and...

Moral Philosophy in Making Worthwhile Decisions

Abstract As a human being, various aspects of life are instrumental when it comes to making worthwhile decision and choices. The world is awash with ideas and trends that influence a person’s capacity to respond and act. It is quite important to have a moral position and standing that puts...

Personal Worldview Inventory, Theory and Types

Introduction A worldview is a theory of how the world works. According to Sire (2015), “worldview is the fundamental perspective from which one addresses every issue of life” (p. 24). Although every individual has his worldview, there are some common views on the world within people in similar cultures. Spirituality...

Bourgeoisie As the Ruling Class

Introduction Capitalism dominates the world economic system today. Even in societies like China and Cuba where advanced forms of communism have succeeded, they have been heavily influenced by capitalist tendencies. According to Chilcote (2006, p. 32), there is not even a pure form of capitalism owing to state ownership of...

Principle of the Brain and Awareness: Opinion of Philosophers

Rene Descartes considered the mind as a nonmaterial element. The brain that has physical representation but still holds the abstract concept of intelligence is separated from the mind, an entity which includes self-awareness and consciousness. John Searle questions the classical concept of dualism. The consciousness is real and non-reducible because...

The Main Ideas Behind Kant’s Formula of Humanity

Kant has described various aspects of humanity that define their moral standing and capability. There are various forms of moral standing which mainly depend on what the person feels is right to do and that he has the ability. There are many right things that can be done, yet people...

Art Issue in Nietzsche’s “The Birth of Tragedy”

In the essay “The Birth of Tragedy”, Nietzsche talks about such an issue as art. He tries to find connections between German and Greek art. In this work, he states that progression in the field of art is closely connected with the Apollonian and Dionysian duality. After naming Apollo and...

Conservatives and Liberals Approaches in Politics

Introduction In American politics, power is the focal point with differences in ideology becoming very influential. Liberal and conservative ideologies complicate American political views. As a result, the two ideologies are critical in understanding American politics (Conover and Stanley 11). This essay discusses the general differences in the way in...

My Definition of Leadership

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

Kant: Ethics Must Be Based Purely on Reason

This assignment defines on justifications of Kant’s arguments that Ethics must be based purely on Reason. Ethics is a branch of philosophy which seeks to address questions about what one believes. It is based on morality, reason and ability of human brain with an aim of attempting to shape or...

Nietzsche and Peculiarities of His Theories

Introduction Nietzsche is an eighteenth century philosopher that had a unique perspective especially on how the previous philosophers looked at morality. His writings are based on some of the assumptions that most philosophers had based their reasoning on. He hence feels that there is a different way through which such...

Thomas Hobbes and John Locke Comparison

Thomas Hobbes Thomas Hobbes was a famous philosopher from England whereby he dwelt much on philosophical ideas in politics. He was born on the 5th day of April 1588. Hobbes was very instrumental in developing some political theories which were mainly geared towards protecting the sovereignty and rights of citizens....

Connection Between Summum Bonum and Moral Right Action

According to Mills, any action has to be considered either as being morally upright or being morally incorrect. He explains that this is actually a property of every action. An action is considered to be morally upright according to the extent which it causes, a given individual or the society...

Originality as Interpretation Philosophy of Law

Introduction Originality is a philosophy that is associated with interpretation. It has been used since the 1980s after being coined by Paul Brest. In this case, originality can be termed as a hypothesis of explanation and interpretation. Originality is a theory that tends to shy away from construction. Basically, this...

Summarized Account of Knowledge of Theory and Practice

The study of knowledge is classified under a branch of philosophy called Epistemology (Kurtus, 2002). This study has several schools of thought describing how knowledge was developed or gathered. Up to date, people have certain varying perspectives about knowledge such as what is knowledge and how it helps people in...

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...

The Main Risks of the Utilitarianism

The term utilitarianism can also be known as utilism. This idea correlates with the term utility to maximize its usefulness and on the other hand minimize the negative aspect of utility. Before we define utility lets understand the term utility first. Utility can be defined as the pleasurable satisfaction in...

Confucian Ethics and Authority in Chinese History

The Chinese history can be traced back to several thousand years. It is known to have been entwined among various dynasties that contributed differently to the development of the Chinese political, social and cultural standards. It is during this period of ruling by the different dynasties, that there emerged a...

How Do We Know Things: Discussion

People can be completely mistaken concerning many things we are surrounded by; this fact can be explained by human memory lapses and delusion. The investigation of human thoughts and knowledge is considered to be the basic principle of epistemology study. The science is focused on the issue of people’s differentiation...

Phenomenon of Philosophy: Principle of Utility

Introduction The principle of utility denotes that actions or conducts are right as much as they advance contentment or enjoyment; and are wrong in the event that they result to sorrow or pain. In this case, the feelings of contentment or sadness are organic events that engage the human beings’...

The Prince, On Liberty and Social Contract

The Prince, by Niccolo Machiavelli Machiavelli wrote The Prince as a useful guide for governance, this is apparent from the beginning of the book: its dedication to Lorenzo de Medici, the leader of Florence. Chapter 1 and 2 illustrate the book’s scope, a discussion of autocratic systems. These chapters describe...

State Toleration of Religion: John Locke’s Opinion

Introduction The relations between government and religion are not always smooth. To solve this problem many philosophers, discuss the question of whether the state should tolerate religion or not. John Locke was one of the representatives of the philosophic world who cared greatly about the problem of the state, religion...

Inconsistency of Socrates’ Arguments

It is often the case that philosophical judgments are self-contradictory. This can especially be seen from the arguments that Socrates makes in Crito and Apology. In Apology, for instance, he tells how he refused to take part in the unjust killing thus going against the Thirty Commissioners’ order. In Crito,...

Yoruba and Consumerism Religion: William Young’s Phenomenological Approach

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

“The World Philosophers” Theories Relevance to Nowadays

Introduction Over the years, great reliance has been placed on the market system to support and maintain economies. There have been emergent issues that have varied with time and include the Great Depression, inflation, unemployment, and financial crises among other economic issues. The ancient philosophers and thinkers came up with...

How Models Have Affected Acquisition of Knowledge in the Natural Sciences

Introduction Although you may not know it, models are used everywhere we go every day to assist in the search for knowledge. What makes models different from the aspects they represent, however, is that they are created with the human element. By being created in this way, models are susceptible...

Socrates in Aristotle’s and Plato’s Works

Thesis Statement Discussion Socrates’s decision of investigating piety was prudent and necessary. He was a wise philosopher who enlightened the citizenry against unjust laws and traditions which tend to be oppressive. He was charged, convicted, and condemned on the charge of impiety. Impiety charge had three specifications depicting Socrates’s thoughts:...

Aristotle’s Ideas of Persuasion in Advertising

In today’s world, markets have been globalized; we can access information about any product sitting right at home. Every advertiser tries to sell his product at any cost. Advertising promotes a product to its customers. One main aspect of advertising is persuasion. Every advertiser tries to persuade people effectively. Persuasion...

Immanuel Kant and his Personal Philosophy

Immanuel Kant was a German philosopher who lived between 1724–1804. His work and philosophical ideas reflect his time and historical epoch. In his philosophical works, he discusses and analyses moral rules and principles of ethics and moral judgment. Ideas and concepts discussed in this work became a ground of deontological...

The Christians Book of Houston Smith and Lewis

Introduction Houston Smith wrote his book on the World’s Religion in 2004. He grew up in a Christian background but has gone ahead to study various religions that are in the world. He has written many other religious books that are still studied today. Most of his work is based...

Jonathan Edwards and His Ethical Reasoning

Introduction Among those who have played an important role in the development of American thought in the XVIII century we should mention Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758). The man, who removed far from social and political storms era (he died too early to participate in debates on national self-determination), he finished his...

Moral Theoretical Positions of Kant and Mill

Introduction Consequentialism and Deontology are two moral theories that define the ethical parameters based on which an individual should act. Both theories share opposite concepts. For Kant and Mill, actions are either classified as right or wrong with no excuse for a grey area. But for a common man, strict...

Liberal and Conservative Views

Introduction A conservative person believes in personal responsibilities and conserves his/her existing cultural or traditional norms. A conservative person preserves his/her social norms and is reluctant to any kind of change. A liberal person on the other hand welcomes and implements new changes even if they are unrealistic. A conservative...

Understanding Forgiveness and Forgiveness Word Concept

The word forgiveness is defined as the act of excusing an offender or a wrongdoer who has committed a mistake. Synonyms of the word forgiveness include, pardoning, condonation, exculpation among others. Other authorities have defined forgiveness as the compassionate feelings that support a willingness to forgive. However, confusion surrounds what...

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...

Is Belief in God Rational: Discussion

Introduction This paper seeks to examine not the existence of God or negation, but whether man’s belief in god is rational and based on sound logic and deductive reasoning. The aspect that needs to be discussed first is which acts constitute holiness. It is seen that the acts which gods...

How Do We Evolve Knowledge?

Introduction The question “how do we evolve knowledge?” is a debate in philosophy older to human existence. Philosophers differ on the source of knowledge. Some say that reasoning is a way to acquire knowledge while others say that perception is the way to get knowledge. Art, ethics and math are...

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...

Aristotle’s Discussion in Nichomanchean Ethics

Aristotle’s discussion in Nichomanchean Ethics provides a perfect definition of an ethical society and the meaning of such ethics. His discussion leads him to a quest of wanting to find out about voluntary and involuntary actions. In the process of attempting to differentiate the two terms, it occurs to him...

American Philosopher John Dewey and Pragmatism

It can be argued that the world was turned upside down after the Industrial Age. Indeed, it was a time of great upheaval, especially in the highly industrialized nations of the Western hemisphere. It was at this time of radical change that an American philosopher by the name of John...

Jerry and Alan: Unethical and Illegal Situations

Jerry and Alan had different motivations. Jerry’s motivations were to earn money to pay off his loan, as well as to pay for the house he had contracted and wedding he was about to have; but his main motivation was to justify Alan’s trusting him with a responsible position. However,...

How to Know What Your True Purpose in Life Is

The cosmic joke with humanity is that those who have seek more, and those who don’t, wish they had. Life is tiered along lines of needs, and at any one point, there’s always that next goal to be accomplished or challenge to be overcome. Yet as soon as that next...

To What Extent Is Truth Different in Mathematics, the Arts and Ethics

Introduction In considering the meaning of truth in mathematics, the arts, and ethics, one is bound to encounter similarities and contradictions while making attempts to arrive at a concrete conclusion regarding what truth connotes in these three streams. There are several arguments from different schools of thought that are not...

The Ethics of Global Conflict: Violence vs. Morality

Introduction Ever since the dawn of civilization, groups of people united by a common interest used to wage wars on each other, as the ultimate mean of resolving seemingly irresolvable issues. Modern historians and anthropologists cannot even find a consensus on whether the first stone axes, produced by revolutionizing homo...

Consciousness: Science and Technology

Exceptional Human Experiences The issue of exceptional human experiences is begging to be brought out at the beginning of the chapter. This is presented in the context of various experiences that are not a usual phenomenon to many for instance Hypnotic regression and psychic visions in the human mind. The...

Physicallism and Dualism: Definition

Physicallism and dualism are two different paradigms, which have the opposite views on the essence of life, however, they complement each other. Abstract Physicalism and Dualism are the most confronting philosophical theories that represent the views of the origin and nature of life and the surrounding world. Physicalism stands for...

Violence: Dialogue Between Sigmund Freud and Michel Foucault

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

Science vs. Religion: West European Studies

Outline: The relationship between the two streams of thoughts and ideologies emerged in the early part of the sixteenth century. This relationship has been changing with changing years and there have been periods of rivalry, marked by some periods of friendship between the scientists and the Church. It was due...

Different Accounts Of The Afterlife

The afterlife (also referred to as life after death or the hereafter) is the idea that the consciousness or mind or soul of a being proceeds a kind of life after physical death comes. Many scientists think that existence after death often happens in some kind of a spiritual sphere...

Franciscan and Dominican Orders

The history of Christianity cannot be complete without mentioning such aspect as religious orders. The religious orders throughout history had a great impact on the major historical events in general, and the flow of Christianity in particular. In terms of influence and longevity, two orders should be mentioned, the Franciscan...

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...

The Power of Ideas: Philosophical Development

Feminist philosophy Feminism could be defined as a belief which accounts that like men, women should as well have similar rights which include economic rights, political, intellectual, sexual, and social rights. Feminism involves several philosophies as well as theories all touching on matters involving gender difference, campaigns of equality and...

Religion and Pragmatism: Interconnection

When one sees an object or a person or anything, generally he or she creates an imagination or an opinion about what he or she sees. This opinion or imagination so developed more probably depends on the physical appearance of the person one sees or the situation in which one...

Formal Ontological Debate Between Craig and Dacey

This debate revolves around the question of whether God exists or not. William Craig supports the idea that there is some higher power governing the lives of all living beings, whereas Austin Dacey rejects this hypothesis. In this paper, we need to assess the quality of the arguments, which these...

Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Self-actualization is the topmost need in Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. It can be achieved through self-exploration and action. This need manifests itself when lower-level needs have been satisfied. What can you really control? You can control yourself. To achieve this, there is a need to learn how to manage...

Karl Marx: Manifesto of the Communist Party

What Marx has tried to highlight is the prevalence of classical and neoclassical economics over historical materialist categories which includes and exploits the traditional concepts of utility, choice, and scarcity in the form of feudalism. This has emerged in a historical context as class struggle and according to Marx, has...

John Calvin and His Approach to Religion and Philosophy

John Calvin due to the several aspects of his approach to philosophy can be correctly identified as Augustinian. The teachings of the Catholic Church on free will and predestination are doctrines postulated by the Doctor of Church St. Augustine. Calvin also focused on these doctrines as the center of his...

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...

Kant’s Aesthetic Judgment and Beauty Theories

Different people have different attitude to different problems. Beauty is not an exception. One and the same item may attract these people and make feeling of disgust in others. It is impossible to say who of them is right and who is wrong. All these perceptions are personal and appear...

Liberalism in Kant’s and Rawl’s Views

Introduction There are a lot of different conceptions and theories in philosophy which are closely interconnected with world politics. Liberalism, capitalism and democracy are political concepts which were carefully discussed by such philosophers as Kant, Rawls and others. The attention, which is paid to these theories, could be understood as...

Shakespeare and Renaissance Political Thought

Introduction Renaissance political thought put forth the principalities and offered people a choice of them. Machiavelli proposes that the principalities may be hereditary or may be acquired by new princes or might be free ones. Hence, he proposes the state of dominions being free or living under a prince who...

Monarch in “Leviathan” Book by Thomas Hobbes

Introduction The issue of power and state were constantly in focus of many outstanding philosophers. From ancient times until nowadays the humanities insist on better ways of state conduct in terms of its kind and form for different societies. People tend to merge, in fact, with the current status quo...

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...

Social Contract Theory: Individual-State Relations

Introduction Social Contract theory is based on the principles of political philosophy described in a number of theories of well known thinkers, such as John Locke, Thomas Hobbes and Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Political philosophers managed to present the key assumption through the freedom and priority of individuals underlining the motivations of...

Socrates and Plato: Ideas of the Great Philosophers

Introduction The ideas of the ancient philosophers such as Socrates and Plato are often looked to for wisdom and an idea of the ‘right’ path one should take. These individuals provided a great deal of information regarding the proper functioning of a society, including what it would take for a...

Why Should I Be Moral When Is Not in My Best Interest to Do So

Whether a person should be moral or not, is a matter of dispute that many of the writers and thinkers of the world have been asking each other for years. By morality what we mean is that a set of rules passed to us through social and religious experiences which...

When Should We Trust Our Senses to Give Us the Truth?

Introduction The most difficult thing is getting to know the truth, to know the truth takes a lot and there is no prescribed procedure for getting to know the same. So the question is how exactly can a person know whether his perception of a given thing is true or...