Hume’s Philosophy: Causality, Human Nature, and Knowledge
Hume’s Analysis of Ideas and Causality
According to Hume, all objects of human reason or inquiry can be naturally divided into two classes: relations of ideas and matters of fact.
Relations of Ideas
The first class encompasses the mathematical sciences. Any statement within this realm is either intuitively or demonstratively certain.
Matters of Fact
The evidence for the truth of propositions related to matters of fact is not the same as the former. Whenever it is likely, the opposite of any matter of
Read MoreNietzsche’s Philosophy: Influences and Key Concepts
Nietzsche: Context and Philosophical Background
The first half of the 19th century was a time of optimism, intellectual idealism, Marxism, and positivism. These movements, all heirs of Enlightenment reason, made the progress of mankind their flag. In the second half of the century, to which Nietzsche belongs, we see a gradual erosion of these ideas, which had previously served to shape the world. A reaction emerged, and perhaps Nietzsche most robustly conducted a review of all aspects of culture.
Read MoreHuman Reasoning and Emotions: Logos, Rationality, and Personhood
Reasoning and Feelings
1. Logos as the Human Essence
- Logos, the ability to understand and explain reality, is the defining characteristic of humans.
- It involves using language to discuss concepts.
- Logos enables us to live in society because we share a common language.
- Wisdom involves analyzing and deciding what is good in the world, guided by knowledge or agreement.
2. Reason and Rationality
The word “reason” is used in many different ways. As Kant said, there are different uses of reason. Today, rationality
Read MorePlato: Life, Philosophy, and Influence on Western Culture
Plato: Life and Philosophical Journey
Plato was born in Athens in the 5th century BC. His life was profoundly influenced by his relationship with his teacher, Socrates. Socrates’ death, a conviction in which Plato’s uncles Charmides and Critias were involved, at the hands of democracy significantly impacted Plato’s rejection of it. Politically, his work aimed to develop an ideal model of society, an aristocracy, to avoid the perceived evils of democracy and other political systems, which he considered
Read MoreReligious Experience: An Existential Inquiry
The Era of Ideology
Our era is an era of ideology. Instead of learning from reality with all its data and building upon it, we try to manipulate reality by adjusting it to the consistency of a schema. The triumph of ideology proclaims the downfall of civilization, as St. Augustine suggests.
Realism in Investigation
First, an investigation of any event or thing requires realism. St. Augustine said, “I investigated to find something, not to think.” The healthy person wants to know how the facts are.
Read MoreUnderstanding Democracy, State, and Society: Key Concepts
Participatory Model
It is based on the ideas of Rousseau. According to this model, all citizens should have the opportunity to participate actively in the state government. It works internally in many unions and leftist political organizations. At a state policy level, the closest system was that of the former Soviet Union and, now, systems like the Swiss or the U.S., where a large number of policy decisions are subject to a referendum among the citizens.
Phases of Modern Democracy
First Phase: Liberalism