Philosophy: Key Concepts and Thinkers
Features of Philosophy: Interrogative Reason
Interrogative reason emphasizes the importance of questions over answers. Knowing at a deeper level is based on scientific data but viewed from a different perspective. It employs constant criticism with arguments, fosters a broader outlook, and integrates knowledge and science.
Forms of knowledge include:
- Science: Philosophy considers scientific data.
- Religion: Based on faith, it is subjective and meets on reason to explain the meaning of life.
- Literature:
Plato’s Philosophy: Epistemology, Anthropology, Ethics, and Politics
Plato’s Theory of Knowledge (Epistemology)
In Theaetetus, Plato concludes that knowledge cannot be mere perception. He asserts that varying degrees of knowledge correspond to different degrees of reality. As Socrates argues, true knowledge is infallible. Since the sensible world is fallible and constantly changing, knowledge cannot be derived from it. While Plato accepts Protagoras’ relativism in that we all perceive our own reality, he disagrees that perception equates to knowledge. He posits that
Read MoreRene Descartes: Philosophy and the Foundations of Modern Thought
Rationalism: Faith and Reason
Rationalism addresses the tension between faith and reason. According to St. Augustine, they were completely united: faith is necessary to achieve truth, which is God. We can define Rationalism as the self-sufficiency of reason as a source of knowledge. Rationalism is the philosophical doctrine that explains:
- Origin of knowledge:
- Empiricism: knowledge comes from the senses.
- Rationalism: valid and true knowledge about reality comes from reason.
- The science of ideas and principles
Descartes’ Philosophy: Rules, Morality, Doubt, and Substance
1. Descartes’ Rules of Method
The first was to never admit anything as true without knowing the evidence that it was, that is, carefully avoiding precipitation and prevention and not including in my judgments nothing more than what was presented to my mind so clearly and distinctly that I had no reason to doubt it.
The second, to divide each of the difficulties I examined into as many parts as possible and into as many as required for its best solution.
The third, to drive my thoughts, starting with
Read MorePostmodern Society: Impacts on Individual Well-being
Disregard for Saturation
The reason is that there is everything in excess, causing saturation. Values are devalued; the important thing is to have fun while saying nothing, without contributing anything.
Features:
- The overwhelming frivolity. A kind of socialization of banality and mediocrity.
- The promotion of human selfishness, lack of solidarity, lack of high ideals, and a drop in values.
This causes some to consider suicide, looking for a quick exit to this accumulation of facts.
A Society Turned Away
Read MoreNietzsche’s Critique of Western Philosophy and the Will to Power
Nietzsche’s Critique of Western Philosophy
The German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche must be framed within the crisis of human reason in the nineteenth century. Western culture, born in Greece, transitioned from myth to logos, entrusting since its beginning in the potential of reason to achieve its intended goals. Reason seemed to give a single meaning to human life. But it was in the nineteenth century when confidence in reason was broken and replaced by pessimism and distrust. Thus, some authors,
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