Modern Philosophy: Origins, Scientific Impact, and Key Currents
Modern Philosophy: 15th to 18th Centuries
From the 15th century, a process of historical, social, and cultural change occurred in Europe, leading to what is known as modernity. Modern thought emerged in open confrontation with medieval religious culture, radically changing attitudes toward reality and the human relationship with it.
The Scientific Revolution (16th and 17th Centuries)
The Scientific Revolution of the 16th and 17th centuries marked the definitive break with the Greco-Medieval worldview.
Read MoreSt. Thomas Aquinas: Philosophy, Life, and Enduring Legacy
St. Thomas Aquinas: Faith, Reason, and Philosophy
The Compatibility of Faith and Reason
St. Thomas Aquinas, a revered theologian and admirer of Aristotle, asserted that Aristotelian philosophy was entirely compatible with Christian faith. He believed that theological and philosophical truth is singular and unique, accessible through various paths. The ultimate truth, God, is the final object of all knowledge. While divine revelation provides profound insights, knowledge of God can also be approached
Read MoreScientific Methods, Symbols, and Human Communication
Empirical sciences study observable facts and are testable through experience (via the senses). These include natural sciences (e.g., physical chemistry and ecology) and social sciences (e.g., sociology, psychology, anthropology, and history). They are part of the hypothetico-deductive method.
Formal sciences study the human mind and prove their claims through logical and coherent reasoning. Mathematics and logic are examples, forming part of the deductive method.
The Hypothetico-Deductive Method
The
Read MoreFundamental Philosophical Inquiries: Existence, Cosmos, and Ethics
Philosophical Inquiries: Core Concepts
Learning Philosophy: Cultivating Critical Thought
Learning philosophy involves engaging with its typical contents and reflecting on fundamental questions. It’s not just about knowing answers, but also about learning how to think. This process allows us to distinguish between two kinds of philosophical inquiry: those that address the fundamental problems traditionally discussed in philosophy, and those activities related to learning to think for oneself.
Fundamental
Read MoreMarxist Philosophy: Materialism and the Critique of Hegel
The Philosophical Divide: Materialism Versus Idealism
According to Marx’s theory, the basic problem of philosophy is the contradiction between two opposing philosophies: materialism and idealism. The problem that arises is the question of the relationship between the material and the spiritual, between being and thinking.
Under the general heading of materialism are located all those philosophers who think that matter comes first and that consciousness is the product of a highly complex development
Read MoreThomas Aquinas: Harmonizing Faith, Reason, and Power
Medieval Philosophy: Papacy, Empire, Faith & Reason
The Political and Philosophical Divide
All European medieval philosophy was deeply marked by the struggle between the Papacy and the Holy Roman Empire, the two great powers vying for control over the dismembered remains of the Holy Roman Empire. Moreover, it is said that, from the tenth century onwards, the controversy concerning the relationship between faith and reason was essentially the philosophical and theological reflection of the political
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