Cartesian Mechanisms, Ideas, and Method
Cartesian Mechanisms
The Cartesian mechanistic states that the body is a machine and that all dealings must be explained by the same principles and physical laws that apply to the inanimate world. Indeed, the use of animal spirits does not serve to solve the problem of substance interaction. The mind-body problem is one of the most interesting issues in contemporary philosophy. Hard to find now a defender of classic dualism or dualism of substances. If there are, however, other forms of dualism that
Read MoreSocrates and Plato: Philosophy in Ancient Greece
Socrates and Plato
1. Historical Context
1.1. Triumph of the Democratic City-State
- Civil strife and revolution: democratic constitution of Cleisthenes, as amended by the revolution of Ephialtes: political participation of all citizens in city government.
- Three political parties: reactionary, Knights of Truth and Order, moderated by Socrates and Plato; and radical democratic workers. Government party of the proletariat led by Pericles.
- After the medical war (victory of the Greeks led by Athens over the
Nietzsche’s Philosophy: Deconstructing Nihilism and Morality
Nihilism: A Philosophical Deconstruction
Nihilism is the denial of all belief. It surged in the nineteenth century, and is, in principle, a state of despair for those who do not know what to do with their lives. Later, it became a doctrine whose immediate objective was to destroy all acquired ideas and social prejudices, approaching anarchist approaches. Nietzschean nihilism is complex. It is not a philosophical theory or a theoretical proposition, but a proper motion of the history of our culture.
Read MoreHuman Action: Understanding Its Nature and Motivations
The Human Action
Being alive is being in action. To live and act is inherent in each individual. We are all different because we each have a peculiar way of acting that expresses our individuality.
Approaching the Notion of Action
Action refers to the operations of a voluntary and conscious agent. An agent is a person, animal, or thing that performs an action. Only a volunteer is aware of being an agent. Action is a unique type of event, specifically human. We must be aware that not everything a person
Read MoreUnderstanding Human Existence Through Historical and Social Context
Human Life: Historical and Social Perspectives
Human life, historical, social
In his “History as a system,” Ortega integrates the vital issue of historical reason. He clarifies that human life is an indubitable reality, a constant process of deciding our next move. However, these choices are influenced by prior convictions. Every individual exists within a framework of beliefs that shape their spiritual repertoire.
These beliefs, unlike ideas, are not what we think but rather the foundation of our
Read MorePolitical Power: Origin, Legitimacy, and Social Order
Political Power: Origin and Legitimacy
Item 12: Origin and legitimacy of political power
Concepts of origin and legitimacy
The power has no subject; it is a relationship and is considered an enigma. The enigma of power is characterized by its multiple and complex nature. Power is a set of institutions to guarantee the holding of citizens in a given state. It is the legal-political interpretation of power.
The state is a relation of domination of man over man, founded by legitimate violence. The state