Development of Consciousness: Stages and Influences
Development of Consciousness
Psychological research, conducted by Piaget and Kohlberg, among others, suggests that morality is a condition that develops in humans throughout their lives. This development involves two factors:
- Psychological maturity of each individual, i.e., their intellectual and emotional development.
- The influence of the environment in which they live: family, friends, education, economy, media, social conflicts, etc.
This development process is universal, a common trait of all people,
Read MoreKey Philosophical and Anthropological Concepts
Key Definitions
Determinism: A philosophical concept asserting that all events are inevitably determined, thus denying free will.
Fixism: The theory that species have remained unchanged over time, without evolution.
Creationism: A theory based on Genesis, proposing two main ideas:
- The separate and final creation of all species.
- The creation of man in God’s image.
Ethnocentrism: The practice of judging other cultures based on one’s own, assuming one’s culture is superior, which historically led to colonialism
Read MorePlato’s Philosophy: Key Concepts and Principles
Plato’s Philosophy: Key Concepts
Science
Science, according to Plato, is the knowledge of the true realities, which are the Ideas. Plato called this knowledge Episteme or Intelligence. It comprises two activities or degrees:
- Dianoia: Discursive logic, corresponding to mathematical knowledge.
- Noesis: Contemplation of Ideas.
Dialectic
In contrast to the Sophists, for whom dialectic was the art of debate through dialogue (i.e., rhetoric), Plato and Socrates considered dialectic a scientific method that allows
Read MoreThe Enlightenment: Key Ideas, Impact, and Figures
The Enlightenment: A Cultural and Ideological Movement
The Enlightenment was a cultural and ideological movement that developed in Europe during the 17th century. Its background lies in humanism and rationalism. The learned men of letters were activists who sought to transform society. Their work fueled the liberal influences that led to the French Revolution.
Key Features of the Enlightenment
Critical Spirit and the Cult of Reason
Any established truth can be subjected to criticism by human intelligence.
Understanding Tendencies: Affectivity vs. Activity in Psychology
Understanding Tendencies: Affectivity vs. Activity
Introduction: Traditional psychology often limited its scope to states of consciousness. However, contemporary psychology demonstrates that these states are explained by underlying forces. Tendencies are internal forces oriented towards goals. A tendency is spontaneous and unconscious, forming the basis of all human activity, such as the tendency to eat, which manifests as hunger. A tendency can be symbolized by the pressure of a compressed spring,
Read MoreUnderstanding Plato’s Philosophy of the Soul and Society
Understanding Plato’s Philosophy
A degree of knowledge is episteme, ascertain who has a speech. Dianoia refers to discursive thought going from premises to the hypothesis that concludes. Noesis is non-discursive intelligence, a state of mind that represents the essence or the idea of goodness. The degree of knowledge, episteme, is the real understanding of the intelligible world.
Anthropology: Conception of the Soul
In the Fedro, Plato compares the human soul to a winged chariot and a pair of horses,
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