St. Augustine’s Philosophy: Being, Knowledge, Love, and Happiness
Chapter 26 Part 2
Summary
The truth of being, knowing, and loving are intertwined. Academic arguments do not interfere because if I exist (Angan), I know (esxisto), and if I know, then I love (enotnces). We add love because I am not mistaken that I love; I do not love things that deceive (amo). Furthermore, all want to be happy, and this desire is inseparable from existence.
Analysis
St. Augustine criticizes the Academic philosophers. These skeptics of the New Academy (Neoplatonism), while asserting
Read MoreHume’s Epistemology: Knowledge, Causality, and Skepticism
Hume: Types of Knowledge
Hume distinguishes two types of knowledge: relations of ideas and matters of fact.
Relations of Ideas
These are propositions derived from thought alone, independent of external reality. For example, “5 + 5 + 5 = 30 / 2” is true by definition. Their truth is a priori and their negation is contradictory.
- Necessary
- Domain of thought
- Analytic: Truth discovered through analysis of terms
- Obtained by intuition
- Truth is independent of experience
Matters of Fact
These propositions rely on
Read MoreRousseau’s Philosophy: State of Nature, Society, and Social Contract
Introduction
As a critic of society, Jean-Jacques Rousseau explored the tension between civilization and human nature. He argued that while society offers certain conveniences, it also weakens and makes individuals dependent on others. Once humanity leaves the state of nature, there is no return, only the possibility of exchanging natural liberty for civil freedom.
The Natural Man
Rousseau posited that in the state of nature, humans are guided by self-preservation and empathy, living simple lives threatened
Read MorePlato’s Philosophy: Soul, Metaphysics, Knowledge, and Politics
Plato: Life and Influences
Plato, a prominent philosopher in Greek history, was influenced by his teacher, Socrates, his travels in Magna Graecia, and earlier philosophers like Parmenides. He was also influenced by the Pythagoreans, admiring their mathematical prowess and belief in governance by the wise, a concept he mirrored in his idea of an aristocracy ruled by philosopher-kings.
The Soul
Plato believed in the duality of man, composed of body and soul, with the soul being the true reality. The
Read MoreKant’s Philosophy: Knowledge, Ethics, and the Path to Autonomy
Thinking of Kant
Kant’s philosophy begins influenced by Newtonian physics and rationalism, known as the pre-critical period. However, his focus on philosophy and reading Hume shifted him towards metaphysics as a science, moving away from rationalism to enter his critical period, aspiring to “Sapere aude” (dare to know, to think for yourself). He sought human emancipation through reason, urging individuals to leave their self-imposed immaturity.
Kant’s philosophy revolves around four key questions,
Read MorePhilosophical Concepts: Kant, Hume, Locke, Aristotle, Plato, Augustine, Aquinas, Descartes
Kant
Types of Judgments
Kant distinguishes between two types of judgments:
- Analytical: The predicate is already contained within the subject, obtainable through simple analysis. These judgments are always true, universal, and necessary, but do not expand scientific knowledge.
- Synthetic: The predicate is not contained within the subject but adds to it. Synthetic a posteriori judgments are based on experience but are not universal or necessary. Synthetic a priori judgments, however, are both universal