Key Concepts in Argumentation and Rhetoric
Argumentation vs. Opinion Differences
Argumentation and opinion both involve expressing viewpoints but differ in their foundation and purpose. An opinion is a subjective belief reflecting personal feelings or preferences, often expressed informally and without requiring evidence. In contrast, argumentation aims to persuade through a structured presentation of logical reasons and solid evidence, such as data, expert insights, or statistics, while also addressing counterarguments to strengthen its
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Race and Social Construction
Originally, when a group is assumed to have a biological basis, they are called a race. But in reality, the idea of race is socially constructed, meaning that it is defined by a society. We are taught to differentiate between different people on the basis of the color of their skin and phenotype (biological characteristics of an organism). We are taught that white people behave in a certain way, and other races which include Black, Arab, Asian, and Jewish people. This
Read MoreKey Concepts in Sociology: Bourdieu, Weber, Durkheim, Williams
Bourdieu’s Sociology of Science
For Bourdieu, scientific truth is located between the “epistemological binomial” formed by logicism (with its tendency toward objectivism and the propositional) on one side, and historicism (with its relativistic and skeptical tendency) on the other. The sociological critique of science thus presents itself as an overcoming of this “scholarly tradition” (what we might call the traditional propositional logic of science). This tradition tends to view science and scientific
Read MoreUnderstanding Nietzsche: Ideas and Influence
Nietzsche’s Core Concepts
This section covers fundamental concepts in Nietzsche’s philosophy.
Nihilism
Nihilism, a concept derived from the Latin nihil meaning “nothing,” describes the situation that arises when the values of traditional Western culture (moral, religious, philosophical, etc.) are deleted or canceled. The traditional values have been canceled, leading to nihilism. However, humanity cannot exist in this situation without values, so the philosopher’s task is to construct new ones. These
Read MoreHuman Nature: Reason, Language, Unconscious
Rational Animals?
Intelligent Beings
One of the earliest definitions of the human being is the “rational animal.”
This definition was proposed by Aristotle over two thousand years ago and, after all this time, still holds.
While science tells us that mammals are primates, the result of a long evolutionary history that has made us Homo Sapiens, the thinking being, the philosophical definition of “rational animal” also highlights intelligence.
Both perspectives highlight intelligence.
The human being is
Read MoreDoctrina Social, Hobbes y Rousseau: Ideas Políticas
Doctrina Social de la Iglesia
El conjunto de reglas y principios relativos a la política social y económica de la humanidad basados en el Evangelio y el Magisterio de la Iglesia Católica. Sus principios son:
- Dignidad humana
- Bien común
- Destino universal de los bienes
- Principio de subsistencia
- Participación social
- Solidaridad
- Valores fundamentales de la vida social
- Calidad de vida
- Amor y cultura de vida
La encíclica Rerum Novarum apoya el derecho a formar sindicatos, apoya la propiedad privada y regula
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