Change and Causality in Aristotelian Philosophy
Aristotle’s Analysis of Change
The problem of physics is to explain change, because change is inherent in nature. Aristotle believed that prior philosophers had failed to adequately explain change. He then analyzed why other philosophers failed to explain kambia (change).
- Some said that everything flows, that reality is pure movement. But this did not explain the nature of change itself.
- Others, like Parmenides and Plato, denied change. Parmenides said kambia is when something goes from not-being to
Pythagoras to Democritus: Unveiling Ancient Philosophies
The Mathematical Works of Pythagoras
Significant contributions include the Pythagorean theorem, the incommensurability of the diagonal and side of a square, distributions, numerical oppositions, and geometric relations.
Parmenides
- In the car of truth: He lived in Elea as a settler and aristocratic organizer, concerned with its laws. Excellent judges, sworn citizens, acted in accordance with the laws of Parmenides.
- The prologue to a journey: She wrote a poem in Homeric hexameters to communicate their
Understanding Descartes: Key Concepts and Definitions
Key Concepts in Descartes’ Philosophy
Opinions and Knowledge
Knowledge not recognized as genuine is pre-methodical doubt and the application of the method.
Reason
Reason is man’s natural, innate, general instrument of knowledge: ‘ability to judge well and distinguish truth from falsehood.’ Also called ‘good sense’ and is equal in all men. Therefore, the diversity of opinion comes just as it is applied (method).
Analysis
The second of precepts or rules of method, which is to reduce the complex to its simplest
Read MoreNietzsche: Philosophy and Transvaluation of Values
Nietzsche’s Philosophy: A Radical Critique
Nietzsche’s key works include: The Birth of Tragedy, Thus Spoke Zarathustra (subtitled “A book for everyone and no one”), Beyond Good and Evil, On the Genealogy of Morality, Twilight of the Idols, The Antichrist, Ecce Homo, and The Will to Power.
Nietzsche undertakes a profound critique of Western culture as a whole. He attacks metaphysics, religion, morality, art, science, politics, the educational system, the role played by women, and the intellectual crowd,
Read MoreFormal and Informal Logic: A Deep Dive
Abstract Philosophy: Formal and Informal Logic
Logic and Its Object
Definition: Logic is the knowledge or science that aims at formal reasoning (studying the correctness or validity of reasoning).
Reasoning: The process that allows us to obtain new knowledge from existing knowledge.
Reasoning or Inference
These are processes by which we obtain information from known data. Any inference consists of:
- Premises: A set of statements that express the data from which we start.
- Conclusion: A final statement that
Understanding Human Knowledge: Levels and Types
The Levels of Human Knowledge
From birth, human beings constantly receive information progressively and acquire knowledge about the world and themselves. The whole body of knowledge that a human being acquires throughout their life and that serves for their existence is what we call knowledge. Therefore, in a very general and broad sense, knowledge is to know, to have understanding.
There is knowledge that we acquire without actively seeking it. Other knowledge requires deliberate searching. Sometimes,
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