David Hume’s Philosophy: Skepticism and Emotivism
David Hume’s Critique of the Concept of “I”
Critics of the concept of “I”: Hume used criticism of the concept of innate ideas and the “I” to develop Cartesian skepticism. The existence of substance as a cognoscente “I” had been considered unquestionable, not only by Descartes. It seemed that the “I” was immediately called an intuition: “I think therefore I am.” Hume also criticized the “I” as a reality different from impressions and ideas. Regarding the existence of the “I” as the subject of ongoing
Kant’s Philosophy: Social Contract, Cosmopolitan Law, and Freedom
Social Contract Theory
Social contract, in various philosophical theories, refers to the covenant, agreement, or contract by which people hypothetically decided to create a civil state (social, legal, peaceful), leaving the natural and semi-wild state they supposedly lived in before. For Kant, the social contract was probably the first moral obligation people adopted long ago, leaving the state of nature and seeking peace, justice, and freedom (moral and legal), which are only possible in a civil
Read MoreFree Will vs. Determinism: A Philosophical Debate
Nature of Free Will
1) Free will is a property of voluntary acts. Free will is not a “thing”, not a separate faculty, but a property of the will, or more precisely, voluntary actions, namely that they do not originate outside the subject who performs them. It is there because of the subject, and nothing else. Thus, the subject is an author, and not just an actor of such acts.
2) Free will is said of the whole human being. While freedom is a property of voluntary acts, it is also of the will itself,
Read MorePhilosophy and Human Evolution: From Myth to Modernity
The Stories
A myth is a tale of fantasy, decorated with symbols and metaphors, transmitted from generation to generation. The main characters are gods, heroes, or supernatural characters who act arbitrarily. It maintains forms of social cohesion, since society is reflected in the myth, the creative being, responding to certain questions and problems.
Rational Discourse
Rational discourse is contrary to myth. It uses rational arguments and relies on natural elements of nature. It is subject only to
Read MoreNietzsche’s Critique of Western Culture and the Rise of the Superman
Nietzsche’s Critique of Western Culture
Style of His Work and Influences
The subtitle of Thus Spoke Zarathustra, “A book for everyone and no one,” reflects the ambiguity of Nietzsche’s works and thoughts. His writing is not systematic; it routinely uses aphorisms and poems. While his style is attractive, the absence of a well-defined vocabulary creates major problems of understanding.
He uses no arguments and deductions, but quick intuitions. He does not avoid contradictions and is often violent. He
Read MoreKey Concepts in Thomas Aquinas’ Thought
Reason and Faith
We must use reason to study God. Aristotelian thought, being empiricist, is part of the experience to reach absolute truths of reason. There are two kinds of truths: revealed and rational, and they have something in common. The truths revealed are the dogmas of faith, communities are the preambles of faith, and the latter are not rational truths revealed.
God reveals the truths common for two reasons: 1) because many Christians do not have time to understand. 2) because philosophers
Read More