Nietzsche’s Philosophy: Death of God, Superman, Will to Power, Eternal Return
Nietzsche’s Philosophy: Key Concepts
The Death of God
This concept symbolizes the end of the sense of significance. With the death of God, humanity no longer seeks a reason behind the stars. This represents the liquidation of all idealism, any thought that superimposes itself on a unique world. The reality of God has caused the death of ideas. The emergence of a being, the last man alive without ideals, is negligible. He is only looking for comfort and creates a happy existence. The death, due to
Read MoreJohn Locke’s Two Treatises of Government: Key Concepts
John Locke’s Two Treatises of Government (1689)
Context and Purpose
- Intended to support the rising during the Exclusion Crisis.
- Associated with the Glorious Revolution of 1688.
- Presents two pieces of political thought to legitimize revolution.
- Argues that revolution cannot be justified unless the leviathan is unstable.
- Posits that if a government becomes tyrannical, the people have the duty to rebel.
- Tyranny includes violating the ability to pursue happiness or taking away freedom, among other actions.
Descartes’ Substance, Method, and Ideas: A Philosophical Analysis
Descartes’ Concept of Substance
First Definition: Descartes used ‘substance’ and ‘thing’ as synonyms. A substance is a concrete existing entity that is independent for its existence. It does not need anything else to exist. Only God is a true substance, as creatures depend on God for their existence. However, the concept of substance applies differently to God and creatures.
- Infinite Substance: God, who is absolutely self-defined.
- Finite Substances: Souls and bodies, which depend on God but not on
Nietzsche’s Philosophy: Critique, Morality, and the Superman
Nietzsche’s Philosophical Task
The philosophical task proposed by Nietzsche is twofold:
- A negative aspect: a critique of the main concepts of religion, philosophy, and morality.
- A positive aspect: the attempt to understand and explain life as a deep background on which everything arises.
Critique of Metaphysics
Since we know this world is unreal, we must look at the other for being in possession of the truth. So dedicated to finding, to “speculate” over the movement of the world: what is to be the world
Read MoreHuman Evolution and Cultural Diversity: A Comprehensive Look
Human Evolution: From Creationism to Natural Selection
Biblical tradition explained the origin of humans through creationist theories. These conceptions were based on a fixist assumption. In the 18th century, advocates of creationism and fixism included Carl Linnaeus and Georges Cuvier. Their work defended the thesis that the adaptability of individuals to the environment is the result of intelligent design. These works criticized Lamarck.
Evolutionary Explanations: Darwin and Natural Selection
The
Read MoreHuman Person: Dignity, Freedom, and Moral Responsibility
The Definition of a Human Person
The Church defines a human person as someone created in the living image of God, possessing a part of God’s dignity. It invites all people to recognize each other as brothers and sisters, for whom Christ died. A human individual possesses the dignity of a person, not just something but someone, capable of self-knowledge, self-possession, and freely communicating with others. They are called by grace to offer their creator a response of faith and love.