Philosophy: Knowledge, Action, and Meaning
Realm of Philosophy
Philosophy:
- Knowledge: Combats dogmatism and prejudice, provides the meaning of science.
- Action: Criticizes any attempt at the instrumentation of the human being.
- Sense: Act consistently.
Aristotle and Kant
Aristotle:
- Theoretical truth: To be achieved.
- Practical: Try to improve conduct.
- Production: Produce useful or agreeable objects.
To the first belonged mathematics, to the second ethics or politics, and to the third, techniques and arts.
Kant:
What do I know? What should I do? What can I expect?
- The first refers to theoretical or practical knowledge.
- The second to the action of moral and metaphysical.
- The third to enter the knowledge.
What is Truth?
Truth is the correspondence or fit between language, thought, and reality.
- Realism: Admits the existence of an objective reality that we perceive through the senses and express with language.
- Idealism: Affirms that there is only one reality, which one thinks or imagines. Things do not exist independently of thought.
- Critical Realism: Denies there is a reality, but what is shown coincides with the senses. Reality is filtered through our subjectivity. It does not require abandoning the theory of truth, but it should be qualified.
Is It Possible to Know the Truth?
- Dogmatism: Sticking to one’s truth and defending it against any criticism, argument, or evidence.
- Skepticism: States that it is impossible to assume any certain knowledge, and certainly, it is not considered that one ever has 100% knowledge of things.
- Criticism: Says there is truth, but it is difficult to get there.
How Philosophers Have Historically Lived Linking Ethics and Politics
The crisis of democracy caused Greek philosophers to distance themselves from politics, but most philosophers have been linked to the politics of their time (Seneca, Machiavelli, Marx, etc.).
What Major Ethical and Political Achievements are Based on Philosophy?
Human rights, universal citizenship, and democracy are based on a theoretical (philosophical) basis.
Why is Philosophy One of the Best Ways to Educate Citizens?
It teaches us to think and seek the truth.
How Does the Meaning of Life Influence the Way We Live?
We live, not just exist; we know why we live. Our life is not good if it does not have sense or purpose. The way of living life depends on the meaning we give it.
Philosophical Fields
- Theoretical: (What do I know?)
- Practical: (What do I have to do? What is happiness?)
- Metaphysical: (What is reality? Are we free?)
- Anthropological: (Is the mind the brain?)
- Linguistics: (What is significance?)
- Aesthetic: (What is art? What is beauty?)
Nihilism
Nihilism is a position that argues that the world, and especially human existence, has no objective meaning, purpose, etc.
Bias
A bias is a prejudgment of what is deemed knowledge.
Is Science Neutral?
It should be, but in practice, it is not, because scientific research, etc., are contingent upon economic or political interests.
What Task Does Philosophy Assign to Science?
Philosophy’s tasks include reporting abuse, guiding scientific research, establishing ethical boundaries, and giving meaning and cohesion to the work of different scientific branches.
Philosophy as Therapy
Philosophy helps us to pose the problem well, to examine all the evidence, etc. Although we do not always find the perfect solution, we will be sure to have chosen the best option, the most rational one. We are not animals; we seek meaning, aspire to truth and happiness, and do not want to be dominated. Socrates said that a life without reflection is not worth living.
Are We Rational Animals?
Yes, because we think and are smart.
Is it Irrational?
Yes, because we have irrational impulses, erotic life, and we are aggressive and destructive.
What Makes Humans Unique?
- Thinking, reasoning, knowing (Homo sapiens)
- Work, manufacture (Homo faber)
- Speaking, symbols (Homo symbolicus)
- Producing, consuming (Homo economicus)
- Playing (Homo ludens)
- Looking (Homo videns)
- Fighting (Homo bellicus)