Philosophical and Marxist Perspectives on Human Nature
Two Types of Philosophy
There are two main types of philosophy:
- Autobiographical Philosophy: This refers to an individual’s effort to address the fundamental questions of life. Philosophers’ views on these issues differ due to factors like personal status, culture, historical context, and contemporary science.
- Systematic Philosophy: This encompasses statements or theories designed to have universal validity beyond biographical interest.
Theories on Human Nature
Autobiographical and Religious Theories
Religious
Read MoreUnderstanding Politics and Citizen Participation
The term ‘policy’ seems to be a reviled word in our time, associated with dark interests and corruption of all kinds, something alien and uninteresting. But politics is one of the activities of citizen status. The term, in its classic sense, comes, like so many things, from ancient Greece. Policy comes from the word ‘Politiken, that is, ‘citizen’. And the ‘citizen’ was that which dealt with the things of the *polis*, the city, participating in their government and administration. We have already
Read MorePhilosophical Materialism and Other Philosophical Concepts
Philosophical Materialism of Gustavo Bueno
Philosophical materialism, as defined by Gustavo Bueno, is a doctrine concerning the structure of reality. It is characterized by its opposition to both materialist monism (such as Diamat) and monistic idealism or spiritualism of a theological nature. It represents a form of rationalistic pluralism, positing the uniqueness of the world while developing a general ontology of matter that extends beyond the empirical world.
Philosophical materialism, in contrast
Read MoreAristotle’s Philosophy: Physics, Theology, Anthropology, Ethics, and Politics
Physics
Aristotle established the distinction between being in potentiality and being in actuality. Movement is the transition from potentiality to actuality. Physics is the science that studies objects that can move. Aristotle states that every physical matter is composed of matter and form: matter is what remains in the change, and form is what is modified. Aristotle distinguishes two types of change: substantial and accidental. In accidental changes, objects remain what they were; in substantial
Read MoreAristotle’s Hylomorphism, Politics, and Noesis: Key Concepts
Aristotle’s Hylomorphic Theory
Any substance, according to Hylomorphic Theory, is comprised of two components: Matter (Hyle) is the raw material. Form (Morphe) is the essence or idea. It’s the configurator pattern or idea of matter. For example: a table. The matter (Hyle) is the wood, and the form (Morphe) is the carpenter’s idea.
Dynamism and Actuality
Dynamism refers to the potential of substances. Matter represents the future: an astronaut is an astronaut, but potentially could be more. Actuality
Read MoreThe Enlightenment: Context, Philosophy, and Critical Thinking
The Enlightenment: Context and Philosophy
Chronology, Extension, and Social Base
The Enlightenment, also known as the Age of Reason, spanned the entire eighteenth century, with key dates being 1688 (the Glorious Revolution) and 1789 (the French Revolution). This new world vision transcended borders, influencing Germany (Kant, Hume, Rousseau) and extending to Spain and Russia. The bourgeoisie, an economically rising class, played a crucial role. Their political power was, however, hampered by feudal
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