Exploring Knowledge Systems: Myth, Magic, Science, and Philosophy

Posted on Nov 25, 2024 in Philosophy and ethics

1. Mythical Knowledge

Myths are narratives explaining origins, social order, and community destiny. Key features:

  • Anthropomorphic
  • Animist
  • Indeterministic
  • Comprehensive

2. Magical Knowledge

  • Domain: Socially privileged caste (witches or shamans).
  • Ritual: Rigorous and efficient ritual procedures.
  • Private: Not public or intersubjective.
  • Dogmatic: Results are unquestionable.

3. Technical Knowledge

  • Practical: Based on trial and error.
  • Specialist: Originates from the social division of labor.
  • Public: Rules and procedures are shared.
  • Reviewed: Subject to continuous review and improvement.

4. Religious Knowledge

  • Omnipotence: Recognition of higher powers.
  • Transcendence: Absolute powers beyond nature.
  • Mystery: Powers are unpredictable and miraculous.
  • Presence: Connection to the divine (rational or irrational).

5. Philosophical Knowledge

a) Key features:

  • Causal: Rational or speculative explanations.
  • Realistic: Principles and laws represent reality directly.
  • Coherent: Explanations are self-contained.
  • Reviewable: Conclusions are open to criticism.

b) Ancient vs. Modern: Philosophy was initially intertwined with scientific knowledge; now, they are distinct.

6. Scientific Knowledge

It is experimental, methodical, and linked to technological knowledge and expertise.

7. Science vs. Philosophy

Both explore causes. Philosophy deals with rational causes; science investigates empirical causes. Both are rational, but philosophy is speculative, while science aims for control and domination.

8. Technoscience

Essential features: Implemented, Cooperative, Market-oriented, Public and private.

9. Main Philosophical Problems

A) Epistemological (human knowledge), Anthropological (Man), Ontological (Reality), Ethical, Political, Aesthetic, and Poietic (Action).

B) Kant’s questions: What can I know? What should I do? What can I hope for? What is man?

10. Is Philosophy Interdisciplinary?

Yes, its reflections can inform other scientific knowledge.

11. Ancient Philosophy

  • The Presocratics: Focused on nature (physis).
  • The Sophists and Socrates: Knowledge, ethics, and politics.
  • The Great Thinkers: Plato and Aristotle.
  • Post-Aristotelian Schools: Practical and ethical guidance.

12. Medieval Philosophy

  • The Fathers: Early Christian thinkers (Apostolic and Church Fathers).
  • The Scholastics: Medieval Christian philosophy (Early, High, Great, and Late Scholasticism).

13. Humanism

Humanism places humans at the center of the universe. Key figures:

  • Classical Humanism: Petrarch, Pico della Mirandola, Pedro Pomponazzi
  • Observation and Experimentation: Leonardo da Vinci
  • New Philosophy of Science: Francis Bacon
  • Religious Ideas: Luther
  • Scientific Revolution: Copernicus, Brahe, Kepler, Galileo

14. Rationalism

Rationalism emphasizes reason’s autonomy and sufficiency. Main representatives: Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz

15. Empiricism

Empiricism emphasizes experience as the sole source of knowledge. Main representatives: Locke, Berkeley, Hume

16. Kant’s Importance

Kant sought to overcome the limitations of rationalism and empiricism by distinguishing between empirical and transcendental conditions of knowledge.

17. Contemporary Philosophy

Main trends and authors:

  • Positivism (Comte)
  • Materialism (Marx)
  • Vitalism (Nietzsche, Ortega y Gasset)
  • Phenomenology (Husserl, Heidegger)
  • Existentialism (Sartre)
  • Analytic Philosophy (Wittgenstein)
  • Frankfurt School (Adorno)