Descartes and Hume: Philosophy of Mind and Knowledge
Descartes’ Philosophy of Mind
According to Descartes’ anthropology, the bodies of animals are not machines. What differentiates man from animals is that man also possesses an ego or consciousness. Descartes provides a somewhat simplistic explanation of the interaction between soul and body, suggesting a connection through the pineal gland. (Rationalist philosophers like Malebranche, with his occasionalism, Spinoza, with his psycho-physical parallelism, and Leibniz, with his pre-established harmony,
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Aristotle’s Ethics: Virtue and the Citizen
Aristotle, born in ancient Greece in 384 BC, reflected on the role of citizens in society, emphasizing the fundamental importance of education. He believed that individuals should strive for self-improvement, developing their best qualities and exercising caution in all situations. Educated individuals, in this view, are a benefit to the city. To flourish and achieve happiness, a person should cultivate virtue, not just through thought, but through practice,
Marxist and Psychological Views of Humanity
Marxist Perspective
Humans:
Marxism posits a monistic position, conceiving of human beings as belonging to the material world. As natural beings, humans are defined by their needs: food, shelter, and clothing.
However, humans differ from other species because they can produce what they need to survive. This is achieved through the transformation of natural processes. Humans are able to produce their own means of subsistence through work.
This perspective considers how humans transform nature. Depending
Read MoreHistorical Methods and Evolution of Philosophy
ITEM 1: Methods of Philosophy
Mayeutica-Dialectical: This method, created by Socrates in the 5th and 4th centuries BC and inherited by his disciple Plato, is characterized by uncovering the truth through dialogue. It implies that truth resides in everyone and is only reached through communication. It is the method that best defines the philosophical attitude.
Empirical-Rational: Used by Aristotle in the 4th century BC and by Thomas Aquinas in the 13th century. It relies on sensory experience but goes
Read MoreDescartes’ Method: Rules and Application
Descartes’ Philosophical Method
Draft discards: Seek that truism on which to build philosophy. This required a method, previously found suitable, which was suggested by mathematics.
Method
A set of certain and easy rules whereby one will never take the false for the true and come to the truth.
Rules of the Method
- Evidence: Admit nothing as true that is not known and obvious; that is, without the possibility of doubt. A truism is clear and distinct. It naturally means that it is present and manifests
Understanding Epistemology and Scientific Knowledge
Epistemology and the Nature of Scientific Knowledge
Epistemology is the branch of philosophy that studies the conditions of production and validation of scientific knowledge. Epistemologists are concerned with understanding how science works and what criteria determine whether a theory is scientific. They address the fundamental question: How can humans, with their limited and brief contact with the world, acquire such extensive knowledge?
Contexts of Scientific Inquiry
Scientific inquiry can be understood
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