Understanding Power Dynamics and Constituent Power in Society
Power is Exercised Unidirectionally?
For Foucault, power is relational and not unidirectional. We tend to think that power is a property one either has or does not have. Social space is often presented under the vertical view of a pyramid, conceiving power as exerted unidirectionally. However, by studying leaders of egalitarian societies, we see that they must do more and be more generous to be recognized by others, out of admiration or fear. Power is not something one simply possesses; rather, power
Read MoreHistorical Evolution of Education: Athens to Modernity
Arete in Athens and the Evolution of Educational Content
Arete’s most important hallmark is the emergence of philosophy, which affected different points in time where the ultimate goal was the pursuit of perfection, with three major exponents: Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. The concept of Arete sought the epitome of all virtues and aimed to reach perfection. This concept was imprinted in the Greek culture but had to be developed. Arete involves both physical and intellectual aspects, separate but
Read MoreRacism, Nationalism, and Political Ideologies: A Historical Analysis
Gobineau’s Racist Doctrine
Gobineau: A racist doctrine proposed by Count Gobineau in his book Essay sur L’inégalités des Races Humaines (Essay on the Inequality of Human Races), published in 1853. It had enormous influence, despite the absurd and even ridiculous theses contained therein. Hannah Arendt, the great author of German origin, fled racism and settled in the U.S., dedicating her life to studying human cruelty.
Influence of Gobineau in Brazil
The existence of a long process of miscegenation
Read MoreMarxism and Capitalism: An Analysis of Societal Evolution
Personal Opinion of Marx
In this dissertation, I proceed to discuss some of the important aspects of Marxian philosophy, based mainly on capitalist society and the pursuit of a classless society. Marx said: “The capitalist society carries within it its own negation. Capitalism is the first step towards a classless society.” Bourgeois capitalist society has brought about a large technological development so that the concepts of ownership and value disappear. An example is the free distribution of
Read MoreUnderstanding Human Nature: Insights from Diverse Fields
Philosophical Anthropology: Integrating Knowledge of Humanity
Philosophical anthropology is a discipline responsible for integrating all that we know about humanity. It must fulfill three basic functions:
- Critical-dialectical: Critical analysis of scientific and philosophical theories about human beings, their conception of humanity, and their research methods. It is important to avoid reductionism, which reduces humans to a single dimension.
- Theoretical interpretation: Integrating the disciplines
Historical Evolution of Work: From Antiquity to Modernity
Historical Evolution to the Emergence of the Concept of Work
Work, as we know it, is not a natural fact. If the valuation of the natural human being as sociable and the current concept of generalized work activity in sectors did not exist, the meaning of work would consist of a set of beliefs, values, and attitudes toward work. Its contents and its role have no universal meaning. A person excluded from work has a psychological problem of social origin. Labor, which is a social construction, can be
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