Understanding Human Action: Causes, Consequences, and Freedom
The term action is reserved for the things we do consciously and voluntarily. The word “action” designates the activity of a responsible being, in opposition to the concepts of inertia and passivity. The concept of action is essential when talking about practical philosophy. Action requires the intervention of consciousness and has moral connotations of good and evil deeds.
Causes of Action
A cause is what makes something occur; it is the source of action. Cause is a universal concept. When a cause
Read MoreIndividual and Society: Exploring the Dynamics of Relationships
Tensions in the Individual-Society Relationship
Individuals are integrated into their social environments. This integration inevitably entails social tensions and conflicts.
Rejection
Rejection occurs when the majority social group does not accept or recognize certain individuals as full members. This assessment is cultural and depends on each group. Other factors, such as radical, cultural, religious, and economic factors, can also motivate social rejection. Often, these reasons are primarily based
Read MoreLas de Barranco: A Story of Dignity and Survival
Las de Barranco: A Literary Analysis
Dramatic Structure
- Literary Genre: Dramatic Comedy
- Structure: Divided into four acts
The work is structured in four acts. The first two acts introduce the subject, while the third and fourth acts develop the central conflict and resolution.
Synopsis
Doña Maria, the widow of Captain Barranco, struggles to maintain her social status. She uses her daughter, Carmen, as bait to lure young suitors, hoping to gain financial stability through gifts and favors. However, love
Read MoreSocial Organization and Political Power: Plato, Hobbes, Locke, and Smith
Two Models of Basic Social Organization
- Primitive tribal societies: A small number of members employ a subsistence economy.
- Modern societies with states: Institutions have political power, and there are distinct groups according to their functions, privileges, or economic power.
Legitimate Political Power According to Two Types of Criteria
- According to their origin: In the Middle Ages, it was often considered that legitimate power came from God.
- As a function of development: For Plato, the goal of
Empiricism: David Hume’s Theory of Knowledge
Empiricism:
Empiricism: Opposed to rationalism, but agrees that ideas are the object of knowledge. Experience is the source, criterion, validity, and limit of knowledge. The model is physical, using the inductive method to gain knowledge from experience.
David Hume:
David Hume: A more radical empiricist. His treatise on human nature researches human sentiment, and works on religion. Objective: The Science of Human Nature: Based on the idea that all other sciences are related to the powers of humans.
Read MorePhilosophical Views of Humanity: Socrates to Aristotle
Conceptions of Humanity
Socrates was the first philosopher to attempt to objectively describe the human condition, including ethical concerns such as good and fairness. He argued that anyone accused in a trial could emerge victorious, even if guilty, but that it is wrong to do so if one knows they are guilty of the charges. Socrates distinguished between good and bad, but acknowledged the difficulty in defining them. The Sophists, particularly Protagoras, described the human condition subjectively.
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