Aristotle’s Philosophy: Ethics, Politics, and Metaphysics
Aristotle’s Philosophy: Key Concepts
Sophia (wisdom) is virtue; it is the union of episteme (scientific knowledge) and nous (intuitive intellect). A sage not only knows the true principles but can also demonstrate their consequences. Sophia deals with unchanging objects; it is knowing the entirety of being.
Anthropology
Man is a natural substance composed of matter and form. Man is a substantial union of body and soul, contrary to Plato. The soul is the principle of natural things in life; it is what
Read MoreMajority Vote, Natural Law, and the Poor
Majority Vote
Majority vote is a democratic principle that alludes to the rule of “one person, one vote,” which implies that the will of the society is the alternative voted by more than half. The vote is a key element of citizen participation. According to Rousseau, agreement on the majority vote is the only necessary concordant vote; otherwise, we cannot explain why, almost always and everywhere, the majority vote is considered fair and valid.
However, it has a limit, as individuals can be easily
Read MoreUnderstanding Society, Power, and Political Thought
Understanding Society and its Structures
Society: An assembly of individuals who share a culture, with the aim of satisfying a set of basic needs and, subsequently, other secondary needs.
Types of Societies:
- Tribal: The oldest form, arising from the union of family groups with communal property and a very limited social hierarchy.
- Archaic: The next step, linked to agriculture and slavery. Private property, social classes, and taxes emerge.
- Feudal: Land ownership is in the hands of landowners to whom
The Birth of Modern Science: A Historical Shift
Origins and Foundations of Modern Science
The origins of modern science can be traced to the Scientific Revolution, a period characterized by groundbreaking contributions from figures like Copernicus (1473-1543), Newton (1643-1727), Galileo, and Kepler. A revolution can fundamentally alter a prevailing situation. The Scientific Revolution, in particular, involved a complete transformation of the worldview of the universe.
Copernicus: A Heliocentric Revolution
Copernicus (an astronomer) was responsible
Read MoreUnderstanding Plato’s Core Philosophical Concepts
Plato’s Philosophy: Key Concepts
1. Ideas
Ideas are immaterial, unique, eternal, and immutable entities. They represent the true essence of things.
2. Science/True Philosophy
Plato divides knowledge into two realms: doxa (opinion) and episteme (knowledge). Doxa is the sensible knowledge of the material world. Episteme, or true knowledge, can only be attained through the understanding of the world of Ideas.
3. Dialectic
Dialectic is the process of ascending from the shadows of the sensible world to the
Read MorePlato’s Philosophy: Knowledge, Ethics, Society
Plato’s Philosophy: Knowledge, Ethics, and Society
Knowledge
Dualism distinguishes two levels of knowledge:
Knowledge and Opinion
Plato distinguishes two forms of knowledge: knowledge and opinion.
- Knowledge, Science, Episteme: Excludes the possibility of error. It is stable, firm, and based on reason. Knowledge is necessarily true and stable. Its object is ideas. It is achieved by reason.
- A) The study of mathematics.
- B) “Dialectic.”
- Opinion, Belief, Doxa: May be wrong, insecure, and easy to change. It has