Paradoxes, Philosophies, and Human Evolution

Posted on Mar 3, 2025 in Philosophy and ethics

Paradoxes and Philosophical Doctrines

A paradox is a statement that leads to conflicting conclusions, such as “This statement is false”. A paradox or antinomy presents a logical difficulty that appears as soon as a certain type of statement is made. From this statement, two possible logical consequences are extracted that contradict each other. The initial claim cannot be rejected or accepted, leading to a kind of impasse. There are two main types of paradoxes: logical and semantic. The former involves the concept of class or group, while the latter involves truth.

Philosophical Theories

  • Empiricism is the philosophical theory according to which all knowledge comes from experience. This theory became very influential in modern times. George Berkeley, John Locke, and David Hume are some philosophers who contributed to the consolidation of this theory.
  • Rationalism is the philosophical doctrine that states that only rational knowledge is certain; that is, reason is the only path to knowledge of reality. Rationalism believes that authentic knowledge is obtained solely through reason, without involving the senses.
  • Relativism holds that reality is dependent on the person, historical epoch, geographical location, economic and social level, cultural background, etc. Relativism negates any claim of universality in human beliefs or practices because it believes that truth is always relative to or restricted to a specific context.
  • Skepticism goes beyond relativism and denies even the possibility of truth.
  • Fatalism is the belief according to which all present or future events are written or determined by certain causes independent of human will.
  • Theological predestination is a doctrine whereby God’s decisions in creating the world and humans mark the lesser fate of humanity.
  • Necessitarianism is a more philosophical conception that claims that events, actions, and even human thought are marked by an inexorable chain of causal relations.
  • Determinism considers that there is no free will.
  • Free will claims that we really have freedom of choice and thus our future is not determined.
  • Compatibilism argues that free will and determinism can coexist.
  • Agnosticism is the philosophical trend whereby the existence or non-existence of God is something that cannot be verified.
  • Atheism is the attitude that denies the existence of God.
  • Deism does not accept any revealed religion and believes that reason alone can demonstrate the existence of God.
  • Pantheism is the doctrine that God is equivalent to nature and the universe.
  • Theism is the belief in a creator of the universe who ensures its maintenance and governance.

Human Evolution

Hominization is the biological process, starting from the first hominids, that humans have undergone until today. The designation sapiens refers to characteristically human traits: the capacity for thinking, talking, reasoning, and deliberating. The most remarkable biological characteristics of the human species are bipedalism, a complex brain, preterm birth, language ability, and non-reproductive sexuality.

Key Aspects of Human Evolution

  • Bipedalism: Bipedalism separates us from other primates; we move on two legs and stand upright. It is believed that there was a change from quadrupedalism to bipedalism, leading to important physical changes. Despite some drawbacks of the erect posture, bipedalism has provided undeniable adaptive advantages. We are taller, less surface area is affected by the sun, and we save energy.
  • Free Hands
  • Complex Brain
  • Preterm Birth: Humans are born without having fully matured.
  • Language Ability: The ability to speak is one of the most important, as it facilitates communication within our species.
  • Planetary Occupation: Humans are the only primate found throughout the world.
  • Non-Reproductive Sexuality: Human sexuality fulfills other functions, in addition to biological ones. Eroticism involves obtaining pleasure and agreeable sensations. The relational function favors the establishment of love or affection links.