Liberalism vs. Democracy: Locke and Rousseau’s Social Contracts
The Birth of Liberalism: John Locke (1632-1704)
The Political Role of Ownership in Building Consensus and Democracy
John Locke, the empiricist philosopher known for his assertion, “there is nothing in the intellect that has not previously been in the senses,” also likened a child’s mind to “wax, forming and shaping as you want, a blank slate.” He believed that the human mind at birth is like a blank paper, devoid of any innate ideas, including the concept of God. According to Locke, knowledge stems
Read MoreAristotle’s Philosophy: Key Concepts and Political Thought
Aristotle’s Philosophy
Biographical Sketch
Aristotle, a disciple of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great, forged his own philosophical path, diverging from his mentor’s teachings. He established the Lyceum and rejected Plato’s world of Ideas, instead embracing hilemorphism. This concept posits that ideas, while influential, are not the sole determinants of a thing’s essence and nature. Aristotle held a deep fascination for biology and is considered the father of logic, making significant contributions
Read MoreConstitutional Culture & Cultural Diversity: A Deep Dive
INCORPORATION AS A MATTER OF CONSTITUTIONAL CULTURE:
The presence of the word “culture” in the new Constitution and its significance to the right is a useful distinction between “culture” and “cultures.” This distinction highlights the impact on specific socio-historical events and the general idea of culture.
The word “culture” has transitioned from being a neologism lacking legal recognition. The vague and ambiguous statements found in legal phrases demonstrate this lack of clarity. Scientific
Read MoreLiberty, Human Existence, and Moral Values: A Philosophical Exploration
Liberty and Human Existence
Will and Values
The individual possesses a will, capable of perceiving and internalizing values. Values are not subjective; individuals do not determine the inherent worth of things.
Value:
Value is that which disrupts indifference, prompting an individual to form an assessment due to its contribution to personal fulfillment and its ability to address certain needs.
- Vital Values (corporeal, economic, useful)
- Spirit Affecting Values (truth, beauty)
- Ethical and Religious Values
Understanding Human Bonds: From Love to Resentment
Positive Bonds
Some examples of positive bonds include friendship, trust, confidence, brotherhood, love, respect, appreciation, affection, esteem, confidentiality, loyalty, admiration, passion, love of a mother, gratitude, freedom, and infatuation.
Negative Bonds
Some examples of negative bonds include anger, hate, intimacy, fidelity, rejection, dislike, distrust, envy, jealousy, and nostalgia.
Types of Bonds
Friendship
Friendship is a complex bond that requires love, trust, support, and respect.
Resentment
Resentment
Read MoreHeidegger’s Dasein: An Elementary and Analytical Backgrounder
Dasein (being there) was central to the work, “Being and Time” (1927) by German philosopher, Martin Heidegger. Heidegger was influenced by Edmund Husserl and phenomenology, and scholars often divide Heidegger’s philosophical itinerary into two distinct stages: “The First Heidegger,” the Heidegger of Being and Time, who was studying the meaning of being in the human horizon and deepened the reflection on man as being able to consider the question of being, and the “Second Heidegger,” who in later
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