The Enlightenment: Context, Philosophy, and Critical Thinking
The Enlightenment: Context and Philosophy
Chronology, Extension, and Social Base
The Enlightenment, also known as the Age of Reason, spanned the entire eighteenth century, with key dates being 1688 (the Glorious Revolution) and 1789 (the French Revolution). This new world vision transcended borders, influencing Germany (Kant, Hume, Rousseau) and extending to Spain and Russia. The bourgeoisie, an economically rising class, played a crucial role. Their political power was, however, hampered by feudal
Read MoreNietzsche’s Philosophy: Key Concepts Explained
Nietzsche’s Philosophy: Key Concepts
Nihilism
Nihilism is the negation of all belief; it is, in principle, a philosophical attitude towards life, expressing the hopelessness of being devoid of meaning and without reference. It is the negation of existence. For Nietzsche, it is, first and foremost, every culture that denies the values of life, as is the case with Western culture. This nihilistic attitude may be active or passive.
- Passive nihilism is what happens to humans after the death of God; without
Globalization, Ethics, and Political Philosophy Concepts
Unit 10: Globalization
Globalization is an economic process towards the establishment of transnational relations, creating a global society. Key features include:
- Consistency
- Difference
- A space for reflection
- An exaggerated perception of risk and fear
- Globalization of problems
Global Ethics
Global ethics addresses the moral problems arising from current scientific and technological development. It involves the practice of universality.
Moral Concepts
- Moral Minimum: Establishing a set of moral standards binding
Reality, Being, and Existence: A Philosophical Inquiry
Being and Becoming
In a narrow sense, reality is considered to be whatever we experience (foulbrood, atoms, planets). In a broad sense, reality is considered to include not only material beings and the observable realities of science but also subjective experiences that we know intimately (feelings, beliefs, ideas). Heraclitus of Ephesus believed that the secret of reality lies in eternal becoming; he did not believe that reality is immutable.
Reality and Appearance
Reality is the set of all beings
Read MorePhilosophical Perspectives on Society, Ethnocentrism, and Culture
Philosophical Views on Human Nature and Society
Humans are social by nature. According to Aristotle, man is a political animal, requiring society and culture to develop skills. Humans are beings with needs that can only be fulfilled within society, allowing them to reach perfection and happiness. Living in society is a requirement of human nature; only an animal or a god can do without it. Humans alone can live in society because they are endowed with reason and a moral nature, which forms the basis
Read MoreRationality Lecture: Understanding Truth and Reality
The Rationality Lecture: Truth and Reality
3.1 Knowledge: Epistemology
Epistemology (from the Greek episteme, meaning “true or safe knowledge”) is the branch of philosophy that studies knowledge. It addresses questions such as:
- What is knowledge?
- What methods provide knowledge?
- What is the origin of knowledge?
- What are the limits of knowledge?
3.1.1 Epistemology as the Center of Philosophical Reflection
Epistemological problems are genuinely philosophical (as has been stated since the modern era). This
Read More