Ancient Greek Philosophy: Early Thinkers and Their Ideas
The Milesian School
Thales of Miletus
Thales of Miletus was a mathematician, astronomer, and politician. He affirmed that the Earth rests on water, that water is the principle of all things, that all things are full of gods, and that everything is alive and vibrant.
Anaximander
Anaximander: A continuation of Thales’ thought. He claimed that the Earth is spherical and the center of the world. For him, the beginning of everything is the Apeiron (the undefined, non-empirical, immortal, indestructible,
Read MoreNietzsche’s Zarathustra: Will to Power, Eternal Return, Superman
The message of Zarathustra covers several key themes in Nietzsche’s philosophy.
1. The Will to Power
The Will to Power is not that of the psychologists, nor does it coincide with the will of Schopenhauer, although it is inspired by it. Nor is it passive will, the will to obey, the will towards the nothingness of nihilism, the will for man’s theoretical truth, the will to seek pleasure and avoid pain, nor even the will to live. On the contrary, life is Will to Power, and this is the will to excel,
Read MoreSwift’s Paradox: Literary Genius and Controversial Views
Swift’s Vision of Society and Humanity
Alas, not even the genius of Swift was equal to producing a specimen by which we could judge the poetry of the Houyhnhnms. It sounds as though it were chilly stuff (in heroic couplets, presumably), and not seriously in conflict with the principles of ‘Reason’. Happiness is notoriously difficult to describe, and pictures of a just and well-ordered society are seldom either attractive or convincing. Most creators of ‘favorable’ Utopias, however, are concerned
Read MorePhilosophical and Sociological Concepts: Key Thinkers & Theories
Key Philosophical and Sociological Concepts
Philosophical Perspectives on Humanity and Society
Descartes
René Descartes understood the human being as a self-consciousness.
Kant
Immanuel Kant argued that reason orders and imposes its laws on the world, thereby configuring it.
Rousseau
Jean-Jacques Rousseau contended that men have lost their natural state of goodness due to society. He believed they must decide what their nature should be.
Nietzsche
Friedrich Nietzsche was a thinker who dared to push the
Read MoreBioethical Dilemmas: Eugenics, Abortion, and End-of-Life Care
Bioethics: Fundamental Concepts and Debates
Bioethics is a field of study concerned with the ethical implications of biological and medical advances. It addresses moral questions arising from healthcare, life sciences, and biotechnology.
Eugenics: Historical Context and Modern Trends
Eugenics refers to agencies that may improve or impair the racial qualities of future generations. It encompasses two possible actions: the selection of certain human groups and the rejection of others.
Eugenics in Antiquity
In
Read MoreUnderstanding Responsibility: Legal, Moral, and Societal Dimensions
What It Means to Be Responsible
Responsibility, in its various forms, defines our accountability for actions and their consequences:
- Legal Responsibility:
- Historically, it meant “to answer,” i.e., the defense of something in a trial or the justification for an action that has been called into question.
- Subsequently, also in the legal field, it was established that when someone causes harm to another, they must assume the repair of damages or an equivalent (fines, imprisonment, etc.) as legally established.