Kantian Ethics and Heraclitus’ Philosophy
Kantian Ethics
Duty
Kant defines duty as the necessity to act out of respect for the law. Actions can be performed with immediate inclination or disinclination. For example, preserving one’s life is a moral duty and something we are naturally inclined to do. Conversely, a merchant charging fair prices to retain customers acts out of respect for the law but is motivated by the inclination to earn money. In both cases, the action aligns with duty, but the motivation differs.
Categorical Imperative
Actions
Read MoreDeterminism, Indeterminism, Ethics, and Justice: A Philosophical Overview
Determinism
Determinism denies freedom, although it may admit its appearance or accept its coexistence in practice as if it were real, but without truly being as represented.
Foundation in the Natural Sciences
- Physical or Mechanistic Determinism: Although humans can be considered more complex, they would still be determined by the laws of physics or matter.
- Biological or Physiological Determinism: Human behavior is determined by biological or physiological factors. Geneticists argue that human behavior
Descartes’ Rationalism: Methodical Doubt and the First Truth
René Descartes (1596-1650)
The Father of Modern Philosophy
R. Descartes is considered the father of modern philosophy and a key figure in rationalism. His work marked a new stage in philosophy, characterized by the absolute autonomy of reason. This autonomy meant that reason was not to be curtailed by external factors such as tradition, authority, or religious faith.
Rationalism
Rationalism considers reason the primary source of knowledge, upholds the innateness of ideas, aspires to a universal philosophy,
Read MoreTeaching as a Helping Profession: Competence, Initiative, and Responsibility
4. Teaching as a Profession for Help
The notion of support is essential to understand the essence of educational work and its due professionalism. In modern economic classification of labor, teaching is in the tertiary sector of services. The expansion of this industry is one of the most influential factors in the profession’s design, but teaching is more than a service activity; it is an activity of help. There is a clear conceptual difference between service and support because of their purpose.
Read MoreThe Positive School of Criminology: Key Thinkers and Concepts
Participating in the Positive School
Philosophical and Scientific Bases
The Positive School of criminology is characterized by its use of the scientific method, rather than adhering to any specific philosophical or social system. While some early positivists questioned the rule of law, most emphasized the importance of studying crime as a natural phenomenon.
Core Principles of the Positive School
- Crime is a natural fact to be studied scientifically.
- Determinism: Criminal behavior is influenced by physical
Rousseau’s Critique of Enlightenment: Reason, Virtue, and Society
The Enlightenment according to Rousseau
Most Enlightenment thinkers emphasized reason to define knowledge, virtue, and happiness. They believed that by changing common thought and disseminating knowledge, they could reform society. Rousseau, however, rejected this equation. While acknowledging the importance of knowledge, he championed virtue and critiqued societal disguises that hinder well-being, turning people into slaves of luxury. He argued that the pursuit of knowledge alone could lead to vanity
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