Understanding Legal Demonstration and Sophistry

Item 13: The Demonstration

Demonstration in Legal Arguments

A demonstration is an argument that, through true and necessary premises, reaches a true and necessary conclusion. Unlike a syllogism, demonstration is not merely deductive; its premises must be true, certain, and irrefutable. In essence, a demonstration is a syllogism built upon true and necessary premises. The major premise represents the norm, the minor premise represents the case, and the conclusion provides the rationale.

The syllogism,

Read More

Hume and Kant: A Comparison of Causality Critiques

Comparison of Hume and Kant on the Principle of Causality

Hume:

  1. Empirical, a posteriori.
  2. Contingent, not strictly universal.
  3. Logically possible exceptions exist.

Kant:

  1. A priori. It is one of the 12 categories of understanding.
  2. Necessary and strictly universal.
  3. Derogation is possible only from particular causal laws, not the principle itself.

Influence of Hume on Kant

  1. Sensory experience is the beginning of our knowledge.
  2. Experience cannot provide universal and necessary knowledge.
  3. Experience is the limit of
Read More

Understanding Philosophy: A Journey of Inquiry

Many people do not understand philosophy or see its value. This may be because philosophy is not emphasized today, or perhaps because I do not yet fully grasp its true meaning. Even I am unsure of what it is and its usefulness.

If we use the standard definition of philosophy, we would say that philosophy is “the love of wisdom.” But what is wisdom? What is love? Again, we would enter into more questions than answers.

Applying philosophy requires an entity, a practitioner, usually called a philosopher.

Read More

Culture’s Role in Human Evolution and Development

Cultural Evolution and Humanization

Primate species leading to humans were not limited by fixed behavior like other animals but had the ability to learn. Humans are the result of both biological evolution and cultural evolution. The emergence and evolution of culture allowed humans to adapt to their environment. Several characteristics and factors favored the psychological and social evolution of human beings.

Key Factors in Humanization

Five key factors are often highlighted:

  • Hunting
  • The Discovery of
Read More

Descartes’ Quest for Certainty: Method and the Cogito

Descartes’ Method for Attaining Certainty

Descartes aimed to develop a system of truth by accepting nothing as assumed. For that, he established a method consisting of four rules to arrive at certain knowledge:

Rule 1: Evidence and Methodical Doubt

Evidence: Do not accept anything as true unless it is known evidently to be so. A truth is evident when it presents itself to the mind with clarity and distinction. An idea is clear when we know all the elements that comprise it. An idea is distinct when

Read More

Agricultural Lease Agreements: Key Terms and Conditions

Key Aspects of Agricultural Lease Agreements

Lease Definition and Exclusions

An agricultural lease provides temporary rights for agricultural or forestry use in exchange for rent.

The following are not considered leases:

  • Harvesting crops in exchange for a share of the products.
  • The performance of individual agricultural labor.

Leases excluded from the LAR (Ley de Arrendamientos RĂºsticos) include:

  • Those between relatives, partners, or spouses.
  • Transfer of land use in exchange for services rendered.
  • Leases
Read More