Aristotle’s Philosophy: Causes, Universe, and Human Nature
For Aristotle, the world is a rational entity because it is understood by reason (causally). When you know the cause of what is produced, knowledge is scientific. THEORY OF THE CAUSES. Material Cause: Immanent principle (within reality). The cause of something being made. Formal Cause: Principle: the species and its configuration. It is the model; how the species and the model cause the essence and genera. Efficient Cause: Principle: that from which change begins. The first agent is the cause of
Read MoreSocial Inequality: Marginalization, Discrimination, and Poverty
1. Marginalization and Discrimination
Marginalization
Marginalization means excluding certain individuals or groups from mainstream society, denying them opportunities and social participation. It’s important to distinguish voluntary separation from forced exclusion. Marginalization occurs when individuals are pushed to the fringes of society against their will.
Discrimination
Discrimination involves treating certain individuals or groups unfairly based on factors such as religion, ethnicity, politics,
Read MoreHuman Intelligence: Nature, Consciousness, and Spirit
Human Intelligence: A Defining Characteristic
Intelligence is the ability to solve problems creatively, stemming from an understanding of the situation, its elements, their relationships, intended purposes, and available means. It involves providing new solutions to old problems or creative answers to new ones. Intelligent behavior is flexible, active, creative, original, comprehensive, intentional, and utilizes tools to achieve goals, exploring various ways to overcome dependence on instinct. It
Read MoreEmpiricism: Philosophy of Experience and Knowledge
Empiricist Philosophy
The founder of this philosophical school was John Locke in the 17th century, but its full development was achieved a century later by his countryman, David Hume.
Empiricist philosophy critically examines the limits of knowledge to avoid errors. Empiricist philosophers, like rationalists, are modern thinkers concerned with reflecting on the philosophy of knowledge, particularly how to think correctly to avoid mistakes.
However, they solve the problem differently than idealists.
Ancient Greek Philosophy: Logos, Physis, and Arche
Ancient Greek Thought: A Foundation
I. Early Greek Thought
From the 12th to the 6th century BC, Western thought developed. Ancient civilizations’ knowledge accumulated systematically. Greek society was aristocratic, agricultural, and militaristic, organized into stable poleis (city-states). These were independent economic units with strong political unity, supported by a large slave population and a class system: nobility (military commanders and landowners) and slaves.
This era saw advancements
Read MoreMetaphysics: A Kantian Perspective
1. Metaphysics: The Search for a Path
Summary
Kant’s text begins by examining the state of metaphysics. He observes that this ancient discipline, despite its enduring nature, has yet to find its way to true scientific status. Metaphysics has repeatedly encountered dead ends, its practice often based on unfounded concepts. Reason, however, persists in its pursuit of metaphysical knowledge, leading us to question the validity of our current approaches.
Analysis
Kant contrasts metaphysics with established
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