Cartesian Philosophy: Mind, Body, and the Existence of God
Descartes’ Method and the Cartesian Project
One of Descartes’ key concerns, marking the beginning of modern philosophy, is the question of method. Three reasons explain this focus:
- Methodological Dispersion in the Renaissance: Methods varied across subjects, following a tradition dating back to Aristotle, who differentiated between methods for arithmetic and geometry.
- Skepticism: Widespread skepticism, represented by figures like Charron, Francisco Sanchez, and Montaigne, challenged the possibility
Hume’s Epistemology and Ethics: Empiricism and Moral Emotivism
Theory of Knowledge of Hume
To begin to develop the theory of knowledge consistent with this Scottish invention, it is necessary to know David Hume. Hume was an empiricist and a good empirical basis for all his work was obtained by sensory experience. To start with, Hume formulated a theory with several epistemological principles (always based on empiricism) from which follow a series of logical consequences (here are the most important):
1. Empiricism: Our thought is reduced to very narrow limits,
Read MoreHuman Knowledge: From Curiosity to Scientific and Philosophical Inquiry
Namely, survival is a question.
Humans have basic needs (fire burns, water wets) and the curiosity to understand why things are the way they are. Why is water wet? Why does fire burn? Aristotle said humans have a need to know to avoid ignorance, which subjects us to anxieties.
In early Greek philosophy, there was a relationship between knowledge and happiness. Being inquisitive and gaining knowledge brought happiness. So, there is a relationship between knowledge and happiness, not necessarily between
Read MoreFunctionalism in Philosophy of Mind: Mental States and Causality
III. Functionalism
Functionalism in the Philosophy of Mind attempts to solve the problems of recognizing and classifying mental states. It’s a realistic position, meaning it asserts the existence of mental states. These states are classified by their causal role within an agent, not their physical or chemical makeup. To understand a mental state, we must examine its consequences for the subject.
Consider this: Princess Leia believes Luke Skywalker is attractive. This belief, along with others (e.g.
Read MoreUnderstanding Moral Relativism, Skepticism, and the Cosmos
Relativism
Relativism posits that principles of right and wrong are group-specific and not universally agreed upon.
Sophists (5th century BC): Focused on rhetoric and persuasion, believing in dialogue over absolute truth and denying universal values. Socrates, conversely, believed in universal values.
Relativism manifests in several forms:
- Cultural Relativism: Moral criteria depend on cultural norms.
- Contextualism: Morality is judged within the context of an action.
- Ethnocentrism: Placing one’s own culture
Kant’s Practical Reason: Ethics, Freedom, and Political Thought
The Practical Use of Reason
To answer the question “What ought I do?” Immanuel Kant employs the practical use of reason. Kant believed that the ethical approaches of preceding philosophies were flawed. He developed the first formal ethics, a significant innovation. Formal ethics focuses on the form of moral actions rather than their content, establishing how actions must be in order to be morally correct, rather than setting a supreme good or specific behavioral standards.