Understanding Key Concepts: Reality, Illusionism, and Society
Key Concepts in Philosophy and Social Science
Reality
In philosophy, reality is a concept that designates the common features of what exists. It is studied by metaphysics. The primary object of metaphysics is what makes something ‘is’ as such. It is the study of beings, before the analysis of entities or existing real beings.
Illusionism
Illusionism refers to a reality that stems from a false perception of the outside world. It is linked to a mistaken appearance that does not correspond to reality.
The
Read MoreUnderstanding the Foundations of Philosophy and Science
1. The Philosophical Knowledge: Experience acquired through thinking. Philosophy is the process of using reason to critically and rigorously understand the fundamental structure of reality and reason.
2. Evolution of the Term “Science”: The modern notion of science emerged during the Renaissance, a period known as the Scientific Revolution. This is when science and philosophy began to diverge. Certain particular sciences, especially those of an empirical nature, such as physics and astronomy, became
Read MoreReligious Conflicts and Renaissance Skepticism
Religious Conflicts in 16th and 17th Century Europe
In the sixteenth century, the breakup of Christendom occurred through the Reformation. After the initial expansion of Protestantism in the mid-sixteenth century, a Catholic reaction, traditionally called the Counter-Reformation, took place.
By 1600, Europe was divided into Catholic and Protestant countries.
The Germanic empire was devastated by the bloody Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648). This war became a European event as all the European powers entered,
Read MoreMarx vs. Nietzsche: Comparing Philosophies and Ideologies
Comparison: Marx and Nietzsche
While Karl Marx and Friedrich Nietzsche were contemporaries, the distance between their respective philosophies is immense. However, we can find some similarities in certain points.
Historical Perspective
Marx maintained a linear view of history, a conception in which the various stages of economic history lead to a final stage: Communism. This conception of historical evolution was marked by a series of laws of historical progress, inspired by Hegel. On the contrary,
Read MoreAncient Greek Philosophers: Logos, Mythos, and the Pre-Socratics
Logos and Mythos: Understanding Early Thought
Understanding the meanings of Logos and Mythos and their inherent forms of human reflection: Logos designates a way of thinking about the world, a logical analysis emphasizing reason, explaining the world through the power of thought. Mythos is a way of thinking that places the world within the context of its supernatural origins.
The Role of Myth in Cosmology and Human Life
Understanding the role of myth in relation to cosmology and human life:
- Creation
Understanding Ontology: Being, Essence, and Existence
Understanding Ontology: Everything That Is
Ontology: Everything is what it is. What I can grasp through the capture of perception, touch, and sight may or may not coincide with reality. Let’s consider grasping reality as the things we see. That is something ontological because we know what we grasp. We reached it by perception.
For example, considering beings clarifies the reality we live in. We can think of things as real or unreal. We need terms to define the realities of dentistry, to define more
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