Marxist Materialism: Class Struggle, Ideology, and Historical Evolution
Materialism
Materialist Doctrine
Materialism posits that all matter is the ultimate cause of reality. In historical materialism, according to Marx, man is not a passive object but an active protagonist of their life and history. History is determined by the economic relations of production, which are in turn determined by the means of production.
Production Relations and Class Struggle
Production relations are established between the owners of the means of production and the direct producers (workers
Read MoreNietzsche’s Critique of Western Culture and Comparison with Plato
Nietzsche and the 19th Century
Nietzsche lived in the second half of the nineteenth century, a time of great change in all areas. From an economic standpoint, there was a consolidation of industrial capitalism and European colonialism in Asia and Africa. This involved the substitution of a society stratified by class, represented by the capitalist bourgeoisie and the proletariat. Politically, European nationalities (Germany, Italy, Greece) arose, and liberal revolutions extended the political triumph
Read MoreMetaphysics: The First Science of Reality and its Principles
1. Philosophical Reflection on Reality
1.1 The Need for a Foundational Science
The positive sciences, as outlined in unit 1, start from postulates, formulate hypotheses, verify them through experience, and transform them into laws and theories. Science, therefore, begins with premises that are as universal, necessary, and obvious as possible to achieve the most certain and true knowledge. The more universal a premise, the more reliable it is, and the more necessary it is, the less likely it is to
Read MoreModern Philosophy: Rationalism vs. Empiricism
1-General Characteristics of Modern Philosophy: The Historical Background
(17th-18th Centuries): A time of clashes between European countries and colonial expansion. The modern state consolidated, with absolute monarchy as the dominant political system. The commercial bourgeoisie rose as the ruling class.
Cultural and Philosophical Context: The Baroque era saw the emergence and development of science as a distinct field of inquiry. Science rapidly separated from philosophy. Philosophers grappled
Read MoreHuman Nature: Freedom, Dualism, and the Immaterial Soul
The Place of Man in Nature
Following his metaphysical proofs of God’s existence, Rousseau investigates humanity’s place within the divine order. He posits that man is the center of creation, supporting this claim with several arguments:
- Dominion over animals
- Mastery of nature through technology
- Knowledge and intelligence about the universe
- Possession of moral capacities (reason and innate sense of justice)
- Capacity to connect with God through worship
Rousseau argues that this worship stems from self-love
Read MoreEthics of War: Pacifism, Realism, and Just War Theory
Ethics of War: Key Concepts
Soft Power vs. Hard Power
1. Soft power: Co-optive strategies inducing desired outcomes.
2. Hard power: Strategies compelling through military coercion and force.
Pacifism
3. Pacifism: A rule-based ethic; violence is never morally legitimate for national security or moral goods (human rights, justice, peace).
4. Highest norms in pacifism: Peace and nonviolence (take priority over other norms).
5. Historical supporter of pacifism: Erasmus (“You will lose much more than you
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