Understanding Social Science and Philosophical Inquiry
Social Science Methods
The goal of social science is to understand social reality. This pursuit gives the social sciences the following features:
- Predictive capacity is lower than in natural sciences.
- Generalization ability is lower than in natural sciences.
- Value neutrality is often impossible.
Do social sciences use the same methods as natural sciences? The response points to two different traditions: the empirical-analytic and the hermeneutic. The first tradition advocates applying the methods of
Read MoreUnderstanding Wittgenstein’s Mirror Theory of Language
Wittgenstein’s Philosophy: Language, Thought, and Reality
Ludwig Wittgenstein, the Austrian philosopher, studied with Bertrand Russell. During the First World War, he wrote his seminal work, the Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus. The structure of the Tractatus is characterized by making a statement and then following it with further elaborations.
Wittgenstein’s Mirror Theory of Language
What is the core intention behind Wittgenstein’s philosophy? It centers on the Theory of the Mirror. In this theory,
Read MoreAbsolutism and the Enlightenment Era
Absolutism
A system of government established in Europe in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
Its best example is Louis XIV (the Sun King: everything revolved around him). His famous phrase is: “The state is me“.
It is also called the “Old Regime“.
Features of Absolutism
- All power is held by the King.
- The absolute power of kings is of divine origin; the King is accountable only to God for his actions.
Factors Contributing to Absolute Power
- The nobles desired the riches of the bourgeoisie.
- The bourgeoisie
Human Rights Principles: Equality, Difference, and Social Justice
Envisioning a World of Justice and Solidarity
How can we disrupt current projections of the future and foster renewed hope? By creating a world where we truly embody the values of equal justice and solidarity.
Key Societal Transformations Envisioned
What are the transformative aspirations for society? These include:
- Street children will no longer be treated as disposable; indeed, the very concept of ‘street children’ will cease to exist.
- The world’s physical deserts and the ‘deserts of the soul’ will
Western Philosophy: Core Concepts from Aquinas to Rousseau
Thomas Aquinas: Key Philosophical Concepts
Reason and Faith
Reason and faith are distinct but complementary paths to truth. Theology, guided by faith, helps discern the truth of statements.
The Five Ways (Proofs for God’s Existence)
Aquinas proposed five arguments for the existence of God:
- Motion: Everything in motion was put in motion by something else, leading to a First Mover.
- Efficient Cause: Every effect has a cause, leading to a First Cause.
- Contingency and Necessity: Contingent beings depend on
Human Rights: Foundations, Evolution, and Contemporary Issues
The Evolution of Human Rights Ethics
In the aftermath of the disasters of World War II and the impact of the Jewish Holocaust by the Nazis, new ethics based on dialogue and communication emerged. Notably, Jürgen Habermas raised the ethics of duty, in which, unlike Kant, universality is achieved through dialogue. These rules acquire universal validity when their creation is achieved through this process based on communication, or if all those affected participate in the dialogue. Habermas’ ethics
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