Hobbes vs. Locke: Political Philosophy and the Empiricist View of the Mind
Hobbes
His political thought is reflected in his work Leviathan. He defends the absolutism of the state and shows a preference for monarchy. He maintains the natural equality of all men. Absolutism is justified not on the differences between men, but on the selfish and aggressive nature of human beings.
State of Nature
Man is particularly dominated by the desire for power (Homo homini lupus). A situation of mistrust and conflict, a war of all against all, makes civilization and progress impossible.
Read MoreDurkheim’s Sociological Theories: An Analysis
Durkheim and Rejection of Analytic Individualism
Durkheim understood that society is not merely a reflection of individual actions. He rejected analytical individualism and idealism, focusing on the practical constraints of industrial society. Social life, according to Durkheim, comprises shared beliefs, practices, and customs—binding norms and conventions that define a group’s existence. He emphasized that the group’s individuality, not its individual members, determines social facts.
Durkheim
Read MoreAnalyzing Humanistic Texts: Television and Philosophy
Humanistic Approach
This text is undeniably humanistic, aiming to develop a subjective perspective on the concept of ‘television’, which can be considered a test case. The fragment belongs to the realm of philosophy, employing a personal style to present ideas.
The text is an essay fragment from the publication Images and Words. It’s not the entire work, but a section intended to argue a specific theory.
Notably, the text uses the 1st person, common in essays, implementing dialectics effectively.
The
Read MoreHumanity and Knowledge: Philosophy vs. Science
Humanity and Existence
What do we need to know about our existence? Philosophy arises from the desire to understand our existence and find meaning. It’s a humanizing task that elevates us beyond mere animality.
Human vs. Animal
- Humans: Adaptation, future-thinking, flexibility, freedom, purpose.
- Animals: Necessity, survival, stimulus-response, instinct, routine.
Animals live immersed in immediate needs, while humans reflect on the past and project into the future.
Facing Reality
A fundamental difference
Aristotelian Concepts: Substance, Happiness, and Cause
Substance
From Latin substantia, translation of Greek ousia. Etymologically, “what’s underneath,” but it has a complex meaning. It means:
- The subject in the resting properties: being Socrates, for example, which predicts certain features such as being an Athenian, being a teacher of Plato…
- What remains in an accidental change: being the same person, Socrates, but changing appearance over time.
- Being independent: having its being not in another but in itself. We must distinguish the level of attributes
St. Thomas Aquinas: Faith, Reason, and Philosophy
St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274)
Leading figure of 13th-century scholasticism and Christian thought. Notable works: Commentaries, Summa Theologica, and Summa contra Gentiles.
Reason and Faith
Aquinas sought to establish the boundaries between reason and faith, philosophy and theology. He argued that:
- Reason (knowing) and faith (believing) are distinct powers.
- They are not contradictory.
- There is a zone of confluence, called preambles of faith.
- Mutual collaboration is possible, with reason providing dialectical