Essays on Philosophy
Philosophy is both a subject and a method. On the subject side, it can be divided into four main divisions. They are metaphysics, epistemology, axiology, and logic.
Metaphysics is the further study of reality beyond physics and ultimately the nature of the universe – like science, yet, unlike any science. It focuses on the basics and principles of things and the concept such as time, mind, space, souls, cause, etc. Some sample questions are: Can we go back in time? Is it possible to understand someone’s mind? Do souls ever last after death? Is there karma?
Epistemology is the study of knowledge. It covers the concept of belief, truth, logic, reasoning, etc. Questions being asked: How is knowledge developed? Can we change someone’s belief?
Axiology is the study of value, and things that are valuable, and how those values come into society. It consists of the actual value of a thing and moral value also known as ethics. Ethics usually involves judgments, obligations, personal experiences, and theories.
Logic is the study of reasoning – where things make sense. It looks into how and when things happen, like a path of thinking that guides you to a start and endpoint of things. Questions involve are: Is there a rule for logic/reasonings? Does everything happen for a reason?
Philosophy can also be a method of thinking. In order to be a philosophical question, the topic being discussed must fall under one or all of the following: intractable, explosive, and thought-provoking. Philosophical methods require thinking very hard about the fundamental concepts. Instead of a conclusion or one solid answer, the method gives a tool of thinking and the process of thinking is what we learn and value. In this process, arguments appear to push the discussion forward.
Plato, one of the most important philosophers in history once told a tale to represent his view in philosophy – The allegory of the Cave. The public is like prisoners in the cave. They blindly believe what they see which is not the true scenario. Even the prisoner gets released, he will still believe what he has always believed just like humans prefer to believe what they feel comfortable with. The one who thinks differently will be treated as a fool – like philosophers who think out of the general comfort zone. The value is to teach the world to think instead of just falling for what our eyes see and mistaken that as the truth.
Under the education of the Christian Church, Locke’s philosophy is also the search for truth. He is famous for the Natural Law. It referrers to the laws that go with the flow of nature. Anything against or without natural reasoning, including God, is not believable.
Another important philosopher, Bertrand Russell thinks that philosophy is not about being productive in material aspect, nor having a finalize definite conclusion on the nature of reality or most uncertain questions. More importantly, is to narrow down a very broad concept through personal views and exchanging ideas on a topic. Philosophy also lets us escape from this world through thinking philosophically.
Erich Fromm’s basic thesis of humanistic psychoanalysis is that the human species feel disconnected from our original, wild nature with the lack of human communication, but we can still think rationally. The separation from the natural world caused basic anxiety due to loneliness and isolation. …
Many things and ideas led up to the formation of the Renaissance period. This period was the beginning of the evolution of art, music, and literature in which the people in society became more focused on. These things eventually became prioritized and very critical to …
Antigone, a feminist, symbol, and good example possesses endure the trial of energy for more than two thousand years, and with substantial reason. Her activities portrayed in the play Antigone by Sophocles are those of bravery and boldness. She likewise passes on a feeling of …
Cultural diversity has challenged the old relationship between culture and civilization, with which many communities understood themselves as superior and others as inferior. This situation has been the starting point to generate and legitimize inequality. The music video “Apeshit” proclaims that representation in the arts …
In this essay I will be arguing that freedom and determinism can be shown to be compatible using the argument of David Hume. Free will is the capacity to select between special feasible guides of action unimpeded. Free will is carefully linked to the principles …
John Hick and David Hume are both concerned about the problem of evil. This problem is made really difficult as if God is powerful, there should be no wrong, but according to David Hume and John Hick, this is wrong. David Hume is an empiricist, …
Hume believed that fundamental basis of all knowledge is impressions and ideas. Impressions being an immediate interpretation of an experience and ideas are a copy of a feeble original impression. We as human associated these impressions and thoughts together, connecting them in a way for …
The term Epistemology comes from the Greek word “episteme,” which means knowledge, and “logos” meaning study or science. It was brought about during the time of the enlightenment during the 17th-18th centuries by modern philosophers. It answers the question, “How do we know?” It is …
In order for one to best make a decision, it is important to carefully consider the best method to do so. Utilitarianism and Kant theories provide these methods. This paper presents the pros and cons of each of these theories. It also presents the comparison …
Emotions are an integral part of human beings. Therefore, human beings are often called emotional beings. In fact, they are the only species among all the other species to have developed a complex web of emotions. Emotions indeed help us to perceive and experience reality …
For Kant, the self can be conscious of its own existence, but it cannot know itself as on object. To understand it, you have to understand the distinction between the phenomenal, noumenal, and Kant’s understanding of sensuous intuition, and you have to apply these understandings …
The beginning of the first distinctly modern movement in art history marks the beginning of generations of artists purposefully deviating from the beaten path that lay behind them in an attempt to question what the meaning of art is, to evoke emotion, and/or to communicate …
The satire of Joseph Heller’s novel “Catch 22” in characterizing the failures of the military and political facilities of America in the middle of the 20th century is especially true to the public. The novel, which paints a picture of how society has become poorly …
The big bang is a complex topic. As we don’t know everything about the if bang, but we do know a lot about it. With all the scientist’s research over the years this is what they have come up with. The expression “advancement” commonly states …
Worldview is a framework of ideas and beliefs is forming a global description through which an individual group or culture watches and interprets word and interacts with. It is a set of culture watches and interprets word and interacts with. It is a set of …