Utilitarianism, Kantian Ethics, and Epicureanism
Utilitarianism
In the first half of the 19th century, a new philosophical movement called utilitarianism emerged in England. This movement advocated a positivist social science, affirming faith in reason and defending the ideals of liberalism and industrialization as the new economic system. However, utilitarianism expressed great concern that early capitalism led to numerous inequalities, injustices, and social and moral problems. As a result, utilitarians believed that society needed to be transformed.
Read MoreIntegrity in Public Service: A Guide to Ethical Conduct
Integrity in Public Service
Mr. Carlos Carrillo Salvador
Integrity is the capacity to act honestly and with moral principle. Humans constantly strive for positive values and attitudes, vehemently seeking efficiency, quality, and perfection. The whole person seeks fulfillment in three dimensions: upwards (relationship with God), horizontally (with other humans and nature), and downwards (acceptance of divine and natural laws).
Ms. Cordero Diego Barriga
Integrity is not rare; it’s a philosophy practiced
Read MorePlato’s Philosophy: A Comprehensive Overview
II. The Theory of Nature
The Problem of Nature in Plato
Plato rejects mechanistic atomism, arguing that order cannot be a haphazard outcome of disorder. Order must originate from an ordering intelligence, which he termed the Demiurge.
The Demiurge, or ordering intelligence, acts upon eternal and chaotic matter. By establishing a third element, it introduces a plan or model. The Demiurge’s function is to imprint essences or ideas onto this matter as effectively as possible. The universe is not entirely
Read MoreHistorical Reason and the Theory of Generations: Ortega’s Philosophy
Historical Reason
The historical reason is crucial for understanding human reality. It helps us overcome the limitations of purely scientific reasoning by focusing on the historical construction of human life and its categories. Unlike traditional philosophy, which viewed human nature as static, Ortega emphasizes change and history. Modernity’s focus on pure reason and mathematics, while successful technically, fails to grasp the dynamic nature of human existence. Humans are not static things but
Read MoreSt. Thomas Aquinas: Philosophy, Theology, and Influence
St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274)
Early Life and Education
St. Thomas Aquinas was born in Naples, Italy, a descendant of the Counts of Aquino and Chieti. He began his education at the Benedictine Monastery of Monte Cassino at the age of fourteen. He later pursued studies at the universities of Naples, Paris, and Cologne.
Dominican Order and Academic Career
In Naples, Aquinas joined the Order of Preachers (Dominicans) in 1245, facing opposition from his family who held him captive for a year. He eventually
Read MoreWittgenstein’s Two Philosophical Periods
Wittgenstein’s Philosophy: Two Periods
1. Early Wittgenstein: Logical Atomism
Wittgenstein’s Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus presents his early philosophy. The core idea is that the world’s structure mirrors the logical structure of language.
A. The World
Wittgenstein posits that the world comprises atomic facts, which are indivisible, causal, contingent, and independent. These facts consist of simple objects or things.
B. Pictorial Meaning
Language, according to Wittgenstein, pictorially represents the
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