Karl Marx: Key Concepts and Theories
Karl Marx: A Summary of Key Ideas
1. Political Economy and Historical Materialism
Marx argued that the anatomy of civil society is found in political economy. Through the lens of historical materialism, he explained that the economic infrastructure is the key to understanding a given society and the changes it experiences throughout history. A society’s economic infrastructure (the functioning of its economy) shapes its superstructure, which includes legal, political, and ideological elements (laws,
Read MoreJohn Stuart Mill: Freedom, Happiness, and Utilitarianism
Human Freedom and the Common Good
Mill argues for the common good as a moral criterion, asserting that it contributes to individual happiness. However, individual good sometimes conflicts with the common good. In a society, it’s necessary to establish regulations on individual conduct.
Mill explains that when internal direction isn’t enough to control its members’ conduct, society resorts to public opinion and the force of law. A group can only limit an individual’s freedom to protect others from
Read MoreUnderstanding Action, Responsibility, and Freedom: A Philosophical Analysis
Action, Responsibility, and Freedom
Action Definition
Colloquially: Any type of act or event.
In philosophy: Voluntary and conscious operations undertaken by an individual or subject.
Home of the Specific:
- Animal behavior: Often limited to running a genetic program. While some animals learn, many actions are automatic.
- Behavior of a computer: Determined by a program. Operations are automatic, not of free choice.
- Human behavior: While children are instinctive, humans possess the ability to choose between
Metaphysics: Definition, Types, and Parmenides
Metaphysics: Definition
Metaphysics is the study of being, encompassing all of reality. It seeks to answer questions about the origin of everything, what exists, and the ultimate end of nature.
The term “metaphysics” was coined by Andronicus of Rhodes in the first century BC. While organizing Aristotle’s works, he grouped certain topics in books placed *after physics* (meta ta physika).
The definition of metaphysics as something spiritual, beyond the physical, was institutionalized in medieval times,
Read MoreUnderstanding Thought: Mental Processes and Problem Solving
The Nature of Thought and Intelligence
This section explores the contents of mental processes and how our minds solve problems and make decisions.
The Contents of Thought
Our thinking relies on mental representations. Perception, mental projection, and memory allow us to store information for later use.
Before proceeding, we must distinguish between types of mental representations. Cognitivist psychologists and philosophers identify two basic types: analog and symbolic representations. Analog representations
Read MoreDescartes: Father of Modern Philosophy and Rationalism
Life of René Descartes
Life: Father of modern philosophy, initiator of rationalism. Born in 1596 into a family of minor nobility, the son of Joachim Descartes, counselor of the parliament of Rennes. Descartes was educated by his grandmother until 1606, when he entered the Jesuit school, despite a weak state of health. He studied grammar, Latin, Greek, logic, physics, metaphysics, and mathematics, but criticized scholastic matters and methods. He moved to Paris and began case studies for his bachelor’
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