Aristotle’s Core Philosophical Concepts Defined
Form (Morpho): Essence and Distinction
Discussing how we perceive the features of an object and its forms. Aristotle distinguishes substantial form from accidental form. Substantial form is the essence of a thing. Aristotle’s position on forms differs significantly from Plato’s. For Plato, the forms or ideas of things are separated from them, existing in a ‘World of Ideas.’ In contrast, for Aristotle, forms are inherent in individuals. This concept of composition accounts for the metaphysics of matter
Read MoreCore Concepts: Society, Culture, and Knowledge in Philosophy
State and Society Fundamentals
Society: A group of people, peoples, or nations that coexist under common rules.
Definition: Society is a system of usages and procedures of authority and mutual aid, of many groupings and divisions, of controls of human behavior and liberties. This ever-changing complex system, which is called society, is a web of social relationships. —MacIver and Page
- A collective of people who coexist, share a space, and collaborate with each other to survive.
- Common standards, which
Humanity’s Symbolic Universe: Language, Signs, and Meaning
The Human Symbolic Universe
Many capacities make human beings unique creatures, but they all share at least the use of a symbolic universe. From the realms of science, morality, art, and more, the human world is not merely a world of physical capabilities. The realities of representation allow us to work in a thousand different ways on reality without having to act directly upon it. The world of representation is not a copy of objective reality but the recreation of a world seen through human eyes;
Read MorePhilosophical Concepts of Truth and Existence
States of Mind Regarding Truth
Ignorance
A state of mind admitting ignorance about a particular matter.
Questioning
A state where one cannot affirm or deny the truth, because the reasons for and against are quite similar.
Subjective Certainty
A state where one’s mind accepts the truth of claims without admitting any possibility of equivocation.
Criteria for Determining Truth
Authority
A statement is accepted as true because it comes from someone credited with knowledge of the subject.
Tradition
A certain concept,
Plato’s Dualism: Soul, Body, and Reincarnation
Plato’s Anthropological Dualism
Plato believes that human beings are composed of two distinct elements, the body and the soul, which are accidentally united. This dualistic view results from a confluence of Orphic-Pythagorean influence and metaphysical elements inherent in Platonic philosophy itself. Without this view, his theory of knowledge could hardly be explained, as developed in his dialogues of maturity: Phaedo, Phaedrus, and The Republic.
Platonic anthropology is developed through the following
Read MoreThe Essence of Philosophy: Concepts, Critiques, and Purpose
Features of Myths
- People turn to gods and heroes.
- Forces of nature are personified and deified.
- Myths are imaginative or fantastic stories.
- Mythical knowledge, though based on observation of nature, is not rational because explanations are not justified or demonstrated.
- The author of the myth is always unknown; it arises from a group, in contrast to scientific or philosophical theories.
- Myths have a traditional and uncritical character; they are anonymous.
The Miletus School
The Miletus School was a group
Read More