Infinity, God, and the Social Contract: Key Philosophical Concepts
Infinity, God, and the Foundations of Thought
The Idea of Infinity and the Existence of God: The analysis of thinking has allowed us to discover some ideas that build thought itself, including the idea of infinity and the idea of a perfect being, which Christianity identifies as God. As Anselm of Canterbury demonstrated, the term ‘God’ expresses the essence of a being that may not exist. Therefore, from the idea of God found in my mind, I conclude that God exists. Now, we can take a third step to
Read MoreNietzsche’s Critique: Twilight of the Idols & Plato
Nietzsche’s Twilight of the Idols: Key Concepts
Summary of Texts (pp. 205-207)
- Nietzsche criticizes previous philosophers, calling them “conceptual mummies.” He suggests that to be a philosopher in their tradition is to engage in monotonous, gravedigger-like mimicry.
- He continues his critique, making an exception for Heraclitus. He argues that philosophers rejected the testimony of the senses because they revealed multiplicity and change (though he acknowledges Heraclitus was unfair to the senses).
Key Philosophical Disciplines and Core Characteristics
Philosophy encompasses various fields of study, including the philosophy of mathematics, physics, religion, sociology, culture, and art, among others. Philosophers grapple with a wide range of issues, which have evolved into distinct philosophical disciplines taught at universities.
Main Branches of Philosophy
1. Epistemology
Examines the possibility, origin, and limits of knowledge. It pertains to all acquired knowledge, including scientific knowledge. Epistemology seeks to explain how humans understand
Read MoreHuman Rights Fundamentals: Definitions, History, and Challenges
Understanding Rights and Duties
The concept of human rights involves both give and take. A right concerns the power to make demands or to require others to behave in a certain way. Rights are guarantees, freedoms, or privileges that people possess. They may or may not be guaranteed by law, but they aim to provide protection and security to all citizens.
Conversely, duties are the rules, laws, or regulations governing coexistence in society, which we are obliged to comply with.
Fundamental or human
Read MoreDavid Hume’s Philosophy: Empiricism, Knowledge, and Causality
Hume’s Empiricism: Impressions, Ideas, and Knowledge Limits
Are there impressions derived from ideas? Yes. The impressions of reflection may follow their respective ideas, but only after the feeling and the ideas derived from them. Ideas of sensation, however, are derived from their corresponding impressions of sensation. Therefore, all the contents of the mind are rooted in sensory experience. (Treatise, Part One, Section Two).
Hume’s Knife: Meaning and Metaphysics
What is meant by Hume’s Knife? It
Read MoreFreedom, Morality, Culture, and Humanization Concepts
Defenders of Freedom
Determinism is not easily acceptable. Thinkers have sought ways to defend the possibility of liberty. There is no doubt that if even a donkey’s will can overcome circumstances, much more so can a being endowed with reason overcome its circumstances, thus not being determined by them. Historically, this theory has been developed as follows:
- Kant claimed a distinction between what can be known through experience and what can be thought. This does not mean our mind cannot consider