Nietzsche’s Theory of Morality: Noble vs. Slave Morality
Main Idea of Nietzsche’s Text
Friedrich Nietzsche’s (1844-1900) text summarizes his theory on the origin of moral values. According to Nietzsche, moral values, as we know them, arise from resentment. This is a reactive movement by the weak, those who are incapable of creating their own true moral values and a “triumphant yes to oneself.” Instead, they are confined to denying the values of others (those with a noble morality). Resentment, the “no,” the inability to create authentic values, would be
Read MoreInnate Ideas vs. Experience: The Origin of Knowledge
Three Problems of the Origin of Knowledge
The problem of the origin of knowledge (POK) was initially raised as the question of whether there are innate ideas or thoughts in the human mind. Some argue that all our ideas come from experience, while others believe in the existence of innate ideas. Those who support the latter are called Genetic Rationalists (or Nativists). Those who defend the opposing view, that all knowledge comes from experience, are called Empiricists.
Genetic Rationalism
Genetic
Read MoreRationalism: A Deep Dive into its Core Concepts
What is Rationalism?
Rationalism is a philosophical movement that emerged in the 17th century in continental Europe, most notably epitomized by René Descartes. Although features of metaphysical rationalism can be traced back to Parmenides, who affirmed the full rationality of the world and deduced the non-existence of movement, and Plato’s epistemological rationalism, it was during the 17th century that the movement truly flourished.
Prominent figures like Leibniz, Spinoza, and Pascal made significant
Read MoreKey Philosophical and Sociological Terms Defined
Key Philosophical and Sociological Terms
Moral
It derives from Latin (Mos moris) and refers to Customs.
Ethics
It comes from the Greek (Ethos) and refers to the mode of being.
Politics
Comes from Greek (Polis), which was the organizational form of the Greek city-states.
Arche
The establishing principle of all that exists.
Logos
Order regulating the discourse of nature. It also refers to man’s rational capacity to understand that order and reason.
Demiurge
The computer, not a creator.
Doxa
Greek word translated
Read MoreUnderstanding Reality and Knowledge: A Philosophical Inquiry
Theoretical and Practical Reason
- What is the reason?
- For the ancient Greek philosophers, theoretical reason is the ability to think.
- The purpose of theoretical reason is to understand the reality around us, to which we belong, and to understand our situation in it.
- For this, it calls for a specifically human ability, which we use to create concepts and develop our capacity for abstraction: intelligence.
This is summarized in the Greek word for excellence, THE LOGOS
Practical Ability
- It is the ability to
Renaissance Political Philosophy and the Rise of Modern Science
Renaissance Political Philosophy
Political philosophy played a crucial role in the Renaissance, a period marked by significant social and political changes. This era saw a reconsideration of fundamental issues, such as the nature and basis of political society, the scope of sovereign power, the relationship between church and state, and the concept of natural rights. Prominent figures like Machiavelli, More, and the Spanish jurists Francisco de Vitoria and Bartolomé de las Casas contributed significantly
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