Aristotle, Aquinas, and the Soul: A Philosophical Examination
1. Aristotelianism. With the collapse of the Western Roman Empire, Greek philosophy and science—also prohibited in the Eastern Roman Empire—were lost. Teachers migrated to Syria and then the Islamic world, carrying important works to open schools and pass on this knowledge. Thus, Greek culture met the great Muslim civilization, which became the heir to Greek science and philosophy. Works were translated from Greek into Syriac, from Syriac into Persian, and from Persian into Arabic. In the Western
Read MoreThe Ethics of a Good Life: Savater’s Philosophy
CHAPTER 1: THE ETHICS OF LIFE
We aim to teach what is foremost in this life, things essential for living normally. We explore areas of agreement and disagreement, acknowledging that not all things are universally good or bad. What seems good can be harmful. Men think differently; thus, criteria for good and evil vary. We’ll examine examples of human freedom. Unlike animals, humans are rational beings with choices. Animals have programmed lives; men are born free, building their own lives. Our
Hume’s Theory of Knowledge: Impressions, Ideas, and Experience
PRG3
Human knowledge is the object of all philosophy. Hume sought to define its limits, believing that metaphysical knowledge has been a source of error. He emphasized guided experience as the foundation of knowledge. Gnoseology, on the positive side, deals with:
- Impressions: Collected through the senses.
- Ideas: Exist in the mind.
There are two kinds of perceptions:
1. Impressions penetrate our consciousness with greater force and are known through the senses. They can be divided into:
- Sensations (color,
Immanuel Kant: Philosophy, Life, and Influence
Immanuel Kant: A Philosophical Journey
Life and Works
Born in Königsberg in 1724, Immanuel Kant’s life was deeply influenced by his pietistic upbringing and education. He studied philosophy, mathematics, and Newtonian physics under Professor Martin Kniewas. Kant’s prolific writing career saw him publish numerous books, averaging one or two annually until 1770. A notable conflict arose with the Prussian government over his publication, “Religion within the Limits of Pure Reason.” His work can
Read MoreMedieval Liberties: Contracts, Power, and the Evolution of Rights
Thinking Historically and Civil Liberties
Thinking historically means freedom to place things in history and thus remove them as much as possible from the arbitrary interference of the powers that be. The historicist approach inevitably tends to favor civil liberties, the ‘negative’ freedoms that result in the capacity to act in the absence of constraints or obligations, within a clearly defined and autonomous sphere, especially in relation to political power.
Historicist explanation, from the Middle
Read MoreHume: Knowledge, Morality, and Politics
1. Hume: The Boundaries of Knowledge
Impressions and Ideas: The Foundation of Knowledge
Hume rejects innate ideas, asserting that all knowledge originates from experience. He uses the term “perceptions” to encompass all mental content. Our knowledge of external objects is limited to our perceptions, not the objects themselves. These perceptions are categorized as impressions and ideas.
Impressions are vivid, strong, and fundamental perceptions derived from sensations (external world) and inner experiences
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