Understanding Key Philosophical Concepts and the Origin of Science
Theoretical Knowledge
Theoretical knowledge encompasses all information that describes and explains the natural and social world around us. It arises from the simple desire for knowledge, not to guarantee our survival or well-being, but it often contributes to them.
Language Features
From a linguistic perspective, language is considered the human ability to communicate through a system of signs. This power is manifested in the particular language used by each speaker and possesses these characteristics:
Read MoreNietzsche’s Philosophy: Language, Superman, and Life Periods
The Genealogy of Language
Genealogy and the objective idea of language: immutable ideas. Language is not born out of man’s need to know, but out of the need to express one’s own life experience. The training process is the concept of sensation. The feeling passes through image metaphors. Then comes the word, through which a human being is the source of becoming. This process is called the agrarian pact. Language is not merely pragmatic; it is an agreement between a group of people manifesting their
Read MoreLanguage Acquisition, Functions, and Philosophical Views
Language Features
- Is acquired
- Is articulated
- Is conventional
- Is symbolic
Functions of Language Use
- Syntactic: Correct use of signs
- Semantic: Using language to talk about something
- Pragmatic: Use of language in a given context
Purposes of Language
- Referential function: Transmitting information
- Dialogic function: Communicating with others
- Social-cultural function: Transmitting social views and beliefs
Theories of Language Acquisition
- Behaviorist Theory: Babies babble, and linguistic behavior is reinforced when
Act vs. Rule Utilitarianism: Principles and Differences
Act and Rule Utilitarianism
If we consider the statement of the criterion of utilitarianism alongside the criterion of utility, we can ask what status corresponds to “utility.” In other words: is it a useful act or is it perhaps a more useful rule? We usually distinguish between two types of utilitarianism, which eventually have unmatched implications:
- Act Utilitarianism
- Rule Utilitarianism
Act Utilitarianism
Act utilitarianism involves a calculation of what we should do in each case or circumstance,
Read MoreDavid Hume’s Philosophy: Empiricism and Limits of Reason
David Hume’s Philosophy: Empiricism and the Limits of Reason
Challenging the Concept of Substance
We have knowledge of sets of impressions, but not of substance. If a quality were to repeat an impression on all substances, this is not true. The term ‘substance’ is an empty word. If we deny substance, are we denying God, the world, and myself? God, being an infinite idea not derived from any impression, is an object of faith but never of knowledge. Hume attacks the rationalistic arguments that showcase
Read MoreSuffragettes’ Fight for the Vote: Early 20th Century Activism
Suffragettes was the name given to members of women’s organizations in the early 20th century who fought for their right to vote in public elections. The term refers in particular to the members of the Women’s Social and Political Union, a women-only movement founded by Emmeline Pankhurst. This group engaged in direct actions and civil disobedience, including chaining themselves to railings, smashing windows, and setting fire to postboxes and empty buildings. They also set bombs in order to damage
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