Understanding Morality, Ethics, and Freedom
Accio Moral:
Moral beings are human beings with the capacity to imagine alternatives and choose between them. Being able to justify our moral actions means we are masters of our actions. We know we are free, which implies responsibility. We can blame someone who kills because the liable person is free, so we can judge them. We can act morally or immorally. Amoral beings are like animals.
Differences Between Ethics and Morality:
Morality is closely related to custom and is an echo, therefore it may
Read MorePresocratic Philosophers: From Myth to Logos
The Presocratics were philosophers and scientists who sought to demonstrate the falsity of myth. Their origins can be traced back to Miletus, a center of commerce where economic prosperity flourished. This prosperity led to entertainment, which in turn fostered contemplation, elevating myth to logos, the foundation of philosophy. This transition involved moving away from belief and tradition, which originated in imagination, and questioning the gods and the truth of beliefs. Their theories focused
Read MoreUnderstanding Human Existence: Reality and Life
Two Aspects of Reality
Human beings, through contact with reality, recognize a duality of aspects:
- Exterior Experiences: The subject of experiences. These are perceived as being outside the subjective being.
- Subjective Experiences: Experiences perceived as internal.
These aspects are obvious because humans do not need to search for them; they are readily found. We exist within these components and outside ourselves, finding ways in which we relate.
- Outside: Includes the body (as a physiological component)
Kant’s Ethics and Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
Kant’s Ethics
The most important works in Kantian ethics are the Critique of Practical Reason and Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals. According to Kant, ethics must find universal and a priori principles of morality, of free action. The goodness or badness of an action lies exclusively with the intention, that is, on the good will of the subject. An action is governed by good will when executed solely out of respect for duty, regardless of other conditions or interests.
Duty is the need for action
Read MorePre-Socratic Philosophers: Heraclitus, Parmenides, and Socrates
Heraclitus
Heraclitus accepted the validity of the senses as a starting point but argued that true reality is only accessible to reason, specifically through knowledge of nature. He stated, “Nature is pleased to hide.” The senses show that everything in nature is in motion, constantly becoming; “everything is continuously flowing (panta rei)” like a river, everything is turned off and on like a continuous fire.
But only reason shows us why everything is constantly changing. Reason reveals that the
Read MoreEudemonism, Idealism, Marxism, and Existentialism
Eudemonism
A eudemon is a good spirit or demon. The human being is born with the aim of achieving what is good. Aristotle believes that this is so because it is a principle of the human being that is rational by definition. The essence of the human being is rationality, which seeks the good. Aristotle presupposes a teleology. This movement in nature has a purpose, so good is the final and best, the most beneficial, the most perfect, and the most positive.
Idealism
Kant assumes that it is reasonable
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