Pedro Crespo in ‘The Mayor of Zalamea’: Character & Values
Analysis of Pedro Crespo: Values and Character
Pedro Crespo, a wealthy farmer who is later appointed Mayor of Zalamea, is a dynamic character with a strong sense of social honor. He believes in natural law, acknowledging differences in lineage, but firmly asserts that all are equal before the law and that justice must be served. He rejects the notion that honor and class can be bought, a point he subtly challenges his son on. Crespo is characterized by his initial caution and his principle of treating
Read MoreC.S. Lewis on Moral Values: Tao Supremacy
Item 4: The Lack of Instinct as the Foundation of the New Morality
C.S. Lewis offers several criticisms of instincts as the basis for values:
- If it is an instinct, an unavoidable natural impulse is naturally obeyed, why write books like the Green Book that exhort us to obey instinct?
- Claiming that if people obey the instinct to die for the country or friends as instinctive, happiness and satisfaction are only achieved when we are dead, and therefore is not satisfaction or happiness at all.
- If instinct
Thomistic Philosophy: God, Reality, and Ethics
The Reality: Hylomorphic Perspective
Where Does Reality Come From and What’s its Purpose?
Reality is a whole subject, hylomorphic. The first problem is to prove the existence of God.
Demonstrating the Existence of God
It is necessary to demonstrate the existence of God rationally.
- Is it necessary? Yes, because the existence of God in reality is not evident through the senses.
- Is it possible? Yes, because God imprints footprints in perceptible reality. From effects, we can reach the cause. This is the
Understanding Life’s Core Concepts: A Philosophical Lexicon
Understanding Life’s Core Concepts
Cast: This metaphor means that we, living beings, did not choose our circumstances, our world, nor the time to enter it. Suddenly and fatally, without our decision, we are in the world.
Knowledge: All knowledge is an elaboration of the continuing revelation that consists primarily of living, a development of the first fundamental attribute of life. The theory of knowledge of Ortega’s perspectivism posits that all knowledge, including mathematical-experimental science,
Read MoreEthical Dilemmas in Engineering: The AFB Brake Case
Moral Issues in Vandivier’s Report Decision
AFB 1. What moral issues were involved in Mr. Vandivier’s decision to write up the final qualifying report? Explain.
From my point of view, yes, there were very important moral issues involved in Mr. Vandivier’s decision to write up the final qualifying report.
Firstly, we must state that there is no legality in Mr. Vandivier’s action. Moreover, if you question whether something is good or not, if there is any doubt, and you are not really certain of its
Read MoreDescartes’ Substance Theory and Mind-Body Dualism
Descartes’ Theory of Substance and Mind-Body Dualism
In all areas, Descartes defined substance as that which exists in such a way that it does not need anything else to exist. He distinguished three types of substance:
- Spiritual or Thinking Substance:
- Infinite: God. Has no parts, so it is infinite.
- Finite: Soul, a spiritual substance, but finite.
- Extended or Material Substance.
Descartes’ ultimate aim was to safeguard the autonomy of the soul with respect to the subject. Classical science, imposing a
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