Descartes’ “I Think, Therefore I Am”: Justification and Impact
Descartes’ Methodological Doubt and “I Think, Therefore I Am”
Subject:
Reasons to justify methodological doubt and arrival at the first principle of Cartesian philosophy: “I think, therefore I am.”
Key Ideas:
- The senses deceive us, so what we perceive through them is false.
- Since we err, everything we had considered proven should be rejected.
- Thoughts are presented to us both when awake and asleep, so our perceptions are no more real than illusions.
- It is impossible to doubt everything, because the act
Colonialism: Causes, Organization, and Global Impact
Causes of Colonialism
- Economic Factors: Desire for cheap labor, access to raw materials, and new markets.
- Demographic Factors: Overpopulation and lack of job opportunities leading to migration.
- Political Factors: Competition for geographic areas and military/economic strategic control.
- Ideological Factors: Conservative nationalism and the belief in the superiority of certain nations, leading to racism.
Some intellectuals, trade unionists, and political leaders, especially socialists, opposed colonialism,
Read MoreDescartes’ Philosophy: Cogito, God, and Certainty
To understand Descartes’ philosophy, one must grasp a fundamental truth: doubting everything leads to the realization that there is someone who doubts, and therefore, a thinking intelligence exists. From this, Descartes concludes the existence of thought, famously stated in Latin as “Cogito, ergo sum” (I think, therefore I am), which he considers the first certainty. It is the only knowledge that can assert its own existence.
An analysis of this first certainty reveals that existence is recognized
Read MoreEconomic Principles: Analysis of Market Dynamics and Firm Behavior
Economic Principles
Analyzing Production Effects on Income and Input Substitution (Hicks)
X = Y1 + Y2 compensates consumer income to maintain the new price level and initial utility.
Constant Returns to Scale
Scale is excludable and the rivals are faced with proportional increases for all the private factors. Output grows at the same rate.
Fixed Costs and Political Bargaining
If costs are fixed, average variable costs and average total costs, along with votes, determine the majority when deciding. Equal
Read MoreIndustrial Revolution: Causes, Energy, and Production
Causes of the Industrial Revolution
Population Increase: Since the eighteenth century, plague epidemics were disappearing, and the development of agriculture allowed for the growth of food production, leading to a significant decline in mortality.
- European mortality, including infant mortality, declined.
- The birth rate decreased slowly but remained high, resulting in a considerable increase in vegetative growth.
- The population increase was greater in the cities. There were also migrations, especially
Science Fundamentals: Rocks, Minerals, Plate Tectonics & More
Science Overview
What is Science?
- Derived from Latin scientia, meaning knowledge.
- Discovery through observation; not static, continuously evolving.
- Creation of new knowledge through research.
Types of Knowledge:
- Belief Knowledge: Inherent, personal, and often supernatural.
- Research Knowledge: Universal, based on observable and measurable phenomena.
Facts:
- Derived from both belief and research knowledge.
- Science is based on facts that can be tested and repeated.
How Science Works:
- A process of observations (
Understanding Determinism and Human Freedom
Cosmological Determinism
Cosmological determinism: the destination.
The Stoics saw a need to find out what is the order of the cosmos to know how we behave in it, and it resorted to the doctrine of Heraclitus of Ephesus, who said that everything is explained for some reason, and as the number of reasons cannot be infinite, there must be a prime reason, according to them, that happiness is aware that any exterior is in the hands of fate, trying to ensure peace of mind. This begins to open a distinction
Read MoreUnderstanding Administrative Procedure: Principles & Effects
Principle of Equality: Individuals who are considered stakeholders in the process.
Principle of Advertising: Access to and knowledge of the relevant proceedings.
Principle of Free Procedure: The processing is, in general, free to the public. Exceptions include due diligence expenses or actions requested in procedures in the field of public finance, by reason of service or benefit.
Effects of Administrative Actions
Effects generally occur after the date on which the events are held, unless otherwise
Read MoreEssential Air Travel Concepts: Itinerary, Segments, and More
Essential Air Travel Concepts
Key Concepts:
Itinerary – The term itinerary refers to the origin, destination, and intermediate points in a journey. Each portion of an itinerary is referred to as a segment. An itinerary is constituted by one or more segments. For example, an itinerary that would be Lisbon – Paris – São Paulo, the itinerary would be Lisbon-São Paulo and would have two segments which are Lisbon-Paris and Paris-São Paulo.
Percurso (Route) between two points (city pair).
Segment –
Read MoreUnderstanding Amortization: Functions, Accounting Roles, and Financial Implications
Functions of Amortization
1) Juridical: Amortization accounts for the depreciation of fixed assets used in the production process. Without it, financial assessments would be inaccurate.
2) Economic: Amortization distributes the depreciation (consumption) of fixed assets over time. The total amount of this consumption is known at the end of the asset’s useful life.
3) Financial: Amortization ensures the availability of liquid assets for the renewal of fixed assets. It allows the entity to maintain its
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