19th Century Philosophy: Nietzsche and Western Culture
MARCO Historical and Sociocultural
The second half of the 19th century was marked by revolutions, highlighting the conflict between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat due to industrialization. The clash between bourgeois liberalism, nationalism, anarchism, socialism, and communism was also significant. In Germany, the leading power in Europe, population growth occurred thanks to the Second Industrial Revolution (electricity, improved communications). Germany and other countries adopted democratic
Read MoreUnderstanding Knowledge: Epistemology and Truth
Knowledge 1.1: The Epistemology
Epistemology is a branch of philosophy that seeks to analyze what knowledge is. The interest in knowledge has been constant throughout history. From the seventeenth century, epistemology became the center of philosophical reflection.
Knowledge 1.2: The Concept of Knowledge
In philosophy, knowledge is used as a synonym for understanding. To approach its definition, we compare it with related concepts such as perception and belief.
Review
A subjective assessment, where we
Read MorePhilosophical Foundations: Aristotle, Descartes, and Locke
Aristotle
Aristotle, a pupil of Plato, spent twenty years at the Academy. He excelled in all areas of knowledge, providing insights that greatly influenced later thought. How can we explain the essence of a particular man with an unchanging, external idea of man? Aristotle proposed a different conception of being: a red apple exists differently than the apple itself. The apple seems more consistent as an independent entity, while the red depends on the apple’s existence. This is Aristotle’s analogy
Read MoreUnderstanding Practical Reason: Concepts and Theories
What is Practical Reason?
The ability to reach practical judgments under a system of rules.
- Consistency
- Coherence
- Grounded
- Empirical truth
- Effectiveness
- Optimization
- Reflexivity
Three Concepts of Practical Reason
The Aristotelian
The Hobbesian
The Kantian
Hobbesian Theory Representatives
Buchanan
Gauthier
Slave Contract Negotiation
Buchanan points out that a slave contract is a negotiation.
Foucault’s Underlying Desire and Power
According to Foucault, desire and power lurk behind every speech.
Kant’s Rationality Concept
Universality
Read MoreHume’s Moral Philosophy: Sentiment, Utility, and Virtue
Hume’s Journey to Moral Philosophy
After the initial reception of his Treatise of Human Nature, David Hume returned to Scotland. He later worked as a tutor and traveled extensively before focusing on revising his earlier work. This led to the Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals, which he considered his finest work.
The Role of Sentiment in Morality
Hume argued that morality is guided by habits rather than reason. The goal is to understand our duties and cultivate virtuous habits. He emphasized
Read MoreHabermas: Communicative Rationality & Ethical Dialogue
Jürgen Habermas
Jürgen Habermas was born in Düsseldorf in 1929. He collaborated with Adorno at the Institute for Social Research in Frankfurt between 1956 and 1959. He devoted himself to teaching and to analyzing the relationship between science and society. Today, he is considered one of the premier global philosophers. In 2003, he received the Prince of Asturias Award. Among his works are Knowledge and Human Interests, Theory of Communicative Action, and The Future of Human Nature.