Intellectual and Religious Shifts in 18th Century America
The Enlightenment and the Great Awakening
John Locke and the Foundations of Knowledge
An important thinker was John Locke, who wrote the Essay Concerning Human Understanding. His philosophy challenged traditional views:
- It is incorrect to think that colors are innate in a creature; you are not born knowing colors, you actually learn colors. Therefore, knowledge is not innate.
- Knowledge comes from experience (from life, experiments, and science).
- We can change society for the better by pooling our experiences.
Philosophical Foundations of Morality and Action
Foundations of Ethics
Definition of Ethics:
- Ethics is the study of our own behavior to help us become better people.
- It is a branch of philosophy that focuses on understanding human actions from a moral point of view.
- The purpose of ethics is to reflect on what we should do to improve ourselves and society.
Why is Ethics Important?
- All actions have consequences—they can help or harm ourselves and others.
- By acting ethically, we become better persons and contribute to the common good.
Key Point: “Ethics
Read MoreComparing Rationalist and Christian Conceptions of Human Nature
Rationalist Conception of Humanity
The Rationalist View of Human Beings
For Greek thought, what distinguishes the human being is the word (logos) and reason. Only reason allows humanity to properly understand reality. Reason is therefore used to try to answer all the questions posed to humans.
They believed that language serves human beings to share their ideas with others.
As rational beings, humans are unique in the universe because they are not content merely to engage with and live reality as it
Read MorePhilosophical Ethics and Moral Psychology: Key Theories
Epicurean Philosophy: Achieving Tranquility
Epicurean philosophy has a twofold task: addressing misconceptions that foster fear and suffering, and cultivating a wise and supportive state of mind in all circumstances.
The Pursuit of Pleasure and Avoidance of Pain
The search for pleasure is innate; both children and animals naturally seek pleasure and shun pain. Pleasure and pain are considered the primary causes of actions in living beings. For Epicurus, pure pleasure (absence of pain in the body and
Read MoreThe Giver: Summary, Themes, and Chapter Breakdown
The Controlled Community: Setting the Stage
The story takes place in an apparently perfect society where there is no war, pain, suffering, or differences between people. Everything is strictly controlled: the weather, emotions, memories, and even people’s life choices. At the age of 12, every child receives their “Assignment,” which is the job they will keep for the rest of their lives.
Jonas and His Assignment
The main character, Jonas, is chosen as the new Receiver of Memory. This position
Read MorePyle, Fowler, and the Meaning of Love in The Quiet American
The Concept of Love in The Quiet American
In my opinion, neither Fowler nor Pyle knows what love is. Pyle fell in love with Phuong almost from the first time he saw her, but that isn’t love because he was only attracted to her body. Also, it’s important to know that it was the first time he was with a woman (he was inexperienced), so it was something new for him. He fell in love with a woman that he hardly knew, which represents an infantilization of love. What he actually felt was the desire to
Read More