Key Philosophical Systems: Empiricism and Rationalism
Core Principles of Empiricism
Empiricism is the denial of any innate knowledge. Each of our ideas, however abstract it may seem, must have an empirical basis and result from the action of the subject over the world. Understanding is like a tabula rasa (a blank slate) in which nothing is written before contact with experience. Understanding cannot spontaneously occur from any idea.
- We cannot go beyond the data provided to us by way of what is called a vacuous metaphysics of speculative construction
Life, Motor & Fire Insurance Principles and Claims Process
Life insurance is not just a commercial transaction; it is a ‘social contract’ built on specific legal and ethical pillars. While it shares some principles with general insurance, others apply differently because human life cannot be replaced or valued purely in monetary terms.
Core Principles of Life Insurance
Here are the core principles of life insurance in detail.
1. Principle of Utmost Good Faith (Uberrimae Fidei)
This is the most critical principle. Unlike a standard market transaction where the
Read MoreAxolotl: Mexico’s Remarkable Regenerative Salamander
The Unique Biology of the Axolotl
The axolotl, a unique salamander native to Mexico, is renowned for its remarkable regenerative abilities and its distinct appearance. It holds a special place in Mexican culture and biodiversity, making it an emblem of the country’s natural heritage.
The axolotl, scientifically known as Ambystoma mexicanum, is a critically endangered species found primarily in the Xochimilco canals of Mexico City. Unlike other amphibians, the axolotl retains its larval features
Read MoreCore Concepts in Rationalist Epistemology
Self-Mastery and the Control of Desire
The core idea is self-conquest. This concept suggests that our mind naturally desires things that are possible to obtain or create, and does not dwell on impossible things. It is necessary to alter or change our desires before attempting to change the order of the world, because the only things truly in our hands are our desires and thoughts. Everything else is beyond our powers. Since happiness is the desire to avoid suffering, the fewer desires we have, the
Read MoreDavid Hume: Causation, Substance, Morality, and Society
Hume on Causation, Substance, and Morality
An idea will be true if it comes from an impression, but it can also be a fiction. Thus, knowledge is limited to our impressions and ideas. The cause-effect relation is based on experience. We can never find in it a necessary connection between the facts, but only that an event (cause) is regularly followed by another (effect). The necessary connection would imply that this relationship would always hold, but this cannot be guaranteed.
Hume applied his analysis
Read MoreThe Foundations of Modern Thought: Philosophy, Politics, and Science
Philosophical Shifts and Political Thought
William of Ockham and the Decline of Scholasticism
The doctrine of William of Ockham defended empirical knowledge of facts. With him began the decline of Scholasticism. This period marked the start of major conflicts between religious and political power. Ockham’s approach paved the way for encouraging empirical thinking and science. Philosophy began to separate from theology.
Niccolò Machiavelli: Politics and the State
Machiavelli sought to explain the nature
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