Philosophers essays

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Argument Against Euthanasia Based On Kant Contentions

Introduction Euthanasia, a common term used for assisted death, refers to the process where a personā€™s life is taken so as to end their pain and suffering. The term is derived from the Greek word meaning good death (Patil, 2013). The moral consequences attached to such an act can become quite complicated. Philosophical debates on the matter have been prevalent since olden Greek times, with both views for and against the act being prevalent (Landry, Foreman, and Kekewich, 2015). There...
4 Pages 2038 Words

Philosophy Of Soren Kierkegaard: Existentialism

Soren Kierkegaard has a lot of controversial things in his existentialism and philosophy and this includes his dislike of Kantianism and Hegeliansim and Churchism. He believes in a few things but most especially, he believed that God truly exists. Thatā€™s why he tried looking into the concepts of churches among all religions. After examining it, he realized that itā€™s not good to rely on the church in order for you to have a connection with God. The church shouldnā€™t be...
2 Pages 836 Words

Human Nature by Karl Marx And Thomas Hobbes

In recent years a number of democratic movements have failed, leading to the study of political institutions. Yet, within these studies very little attention has been given to human nature, whereas throughout history the nature of politics has been discussed in regards to human nature. It is wise to consider human nature when studying politics since political acts or impulses can be understood as a consequence of the interaction between human nature and the environment. For the purposes of this...
5 Pages 2181 Words

Aristotle's Views On Happiness

Prior to my commencement of the PHL unit, my understanding of happiness revolved around my religious perspective and personal experiences. I believed that in order to maximise my happiness, I needed to improve my relationship with god. My religious beliefs led me to the conclusion that happiness is not achieved by easy exercise, obedience, or other formal or legal dynamics. My religious beliefs describe happiness as a state that is achieved through understanding balance and achieving enlightenment. Happiness came from...
2 Pages 715 Words

Michel Foucault Ethics Against Utilitarianism And Deontology

Before Foucault, ethics was focused on the finding of oneself within a predetermined moral order or the creation of oneself in terms of a great transcendental ought. Thinkers like Bentham believe in an ethical theory rooted in an empiricist account of human nature. Benthamā€™s ethics reflects what he calls ā€œthe greatest happiness principle,ā€ where he implies that ethics reflects the moral obligation to seek out what produces the greatest amount of happiness for the greatest number of people. This thinking...
4 Pages 1923 Words

Thomas Hobbes And Karl Marx's Views On Human Nature

Human nature refers to all that is natural about human life; an innate, essential and fundamental character of human beings. This essay compares the writings of Thomas Hobbes and Karl Marx through a collectivistic lens. While Marx considers consciousness as integral to human nature, Hobbes conceptualizes human nature based on the principle of equality. Marx labels humans as ā€˜species beingsā€™; we're a species who consider others of our species to be essential for our existence. Marx emphasizes the cooperative character...
1 Page 500 Words

Aristotleā€™s Deep Thoughts Of Science

Animals have always been a part of humanityā€™s culture and throughout history their roles in society have evolved. In todayā€™s society, some people consider their animals to be family which differs greatly from prior norms that animals were beings placed on earth to be used as resources. Why have these norms changed throughout generations? Civilizations dating back to ancient Greece began to wonder about the universe and all that encompasses it. In doing so, the ancient Greeks particularly focused on...
4 Pages 1669 Words

The Effects Of Rousseau's Childhood On His Views On Sexuality

ā€œā€˜I want to show my fellow-men a man in all the truth of nature; and this man is to be myselfā€™ā€ (Rousseau, p.5). In an attempt to reach his audience, Rousseau in Confessions did what most would not dare in an autobiography: reveal ā€˜everythingā€™. Confessions does not follow the conventions of a traditional eighteenth-century autobiography. Rousseauā€™s self-portrait conveyed himself through raw emotions and distorted ways and actions rather than what society expected: a presentation of exemplary qualities. For a man...
2 Pages 698 Words

Aristotle Philosophy of Education

Introduction to Aristotle's Educational Philosophy This essay aims to explain Aristotleā€™s theory of education before evaluating the contemporary significance of his philosophy of education today. Aristotle is understood to have lived from 384 BC to 322 BC in Ancient Greece which today would span a geographical area that includes Egypt, Turkey, Iraq, Iran and parts of Afghanistan (Malam, 2006). He was a philosopher, scientist and teacher who is still viewed today as one of the most significant thinkers in the...
6 Pages 2704 Words

Role Of The Church In State Matters According To Machiavelli And More

Thomas Moreā€™s Utopia offers an analysis of European culture, proposes a model against which that society can be estimated and maybe fixed, yet the book eventually reasons that the best way to perfection is through Christianity. Whereas, NiccolĆ² Machiavelli in The Prince places a wide range of conflicting interpretations upon key sections of his works (particularly chapters VII-VIII and XV-XVIII) and a plethora of notable critics and philosophers have contended that Machiavelli distinguished between the role of church (morality) and...
4 Pages 1609 Words

Theoretical Grounds On Education Of William Edward Burghardt Du Bois And John Dewey

Introduction As a comparative essay is a theoretical identification of the similarities and differences in any two subjects, this document tries to establish the same between the two thinkers, William Edward Burghardt Du Bois and John Dewey. The main theme of discussion is how the idea of education of the two thinkers differ or concur and how relevant they are in the 21st century. While the time period of both the personalities coincided, they addressed vastly different aspects of education,...
4 Pages 2011 Words

The Significance Of Psychoanalysis for Designers. Freud, Descartes And Sartre Ideas

In everyday life, there is no moment that passes without us changing : my body changes, my character changes, my opinions changeā€¦ And yet we consider ourselves and others like a unique person even though we are constantly changing. But then, ā€œwho am I?ā€ Consciousness is the capacity to represent ourselves and the outside world. As explained by Christof Koch ā€œConsciousness is everything you experience.ā€ (What is consciousness?) https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-is-consciousness/ This is both what puts us in touch with the world...
3 Pages 1545 Words

Locke And Hobbes: The Political Theory Of Society

English philosophers Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) and John Locke (1632-1704) have both made large contributions to develop the political thoughts of society. Before we dive into each of their ideas, we need to be aware of the contexts from which they arose. Their vastly different individual circumstances have helped define striking distinctions in personal outlook. As such, this essay will first explore the historical context in which the different philosophersā€™ works were constructed and move on to consider the differences in...
3 Pages 1414 Words

Allegory Of The Cave Concept In The Film Truman Show

In Plato's Republic, the antiquated Greek logician brings up numerous issues relating to the premise of human presence. Several years sometime later, The Truman Show raised practically identical concerns, envisioning Jim Carrey, the film's saint, in a substitute reality. In this paper, I will analyze and unravel the relationship between the philosophical disputes conveyed in The Truman Show and Plato's Republic, most strikingly the Allegory of the Cave talk.There are numerous likenesses between both the twentieth century film and Plato's...
2 Pages 830 Words

Socrates, Plato And Aristotle Views On Human Nature And Morality

Human nature is defined as ā€œthe nature of humans, especially the fundamental dispositions and traits of humansā€ (Human Nature, n.d.). Moral character refers to ā€œthe most important code of conduct put forward and accepted by any group, or even by an individualā€ (Gert). As humans, we tend to think about our actions and whether or not they qualify as being ā€œgoodā€ or ā€œbad.ā€ There are many different attributes of a good person. For example, a good person is known to...
3 Pages 1492 Words

Socrates And His Theories' Impact On The Philosophy

Socrates is one of the few individuals whom one could say has shaped the cultural and intellectual development of the world; without him, history would be profoundly different. He is best known for his association with the Socratic method of question and answer, his claim that he was ignorant (or aware of his own absence of knowledge), and his claim that the unexamined life is not worth living for human beings. Socrates tends to bring inner discord, guilt, stress, anxiety,...
1 Page 685 Words

Epistemological Arguments Of David Hume And Rene Descartes

Although two of the most important of the early modern philosophers were writing a century apart from each other, Rene Descartes and David Hume were both examining epistemological arguments, ultimately coming to very different conclusion. Rene Descartes was a 17th century French philosopher whose main fields of interest were metaphysics and epistemology, and he is often considered to be the father of modern philosophy. One of his more important works, The Meditations on First Philosophy, details his philosophical viewpoints on...
3 Pages 1578 Words

John Locke: Influence On American Government

A nation where the government works for the people, where the people can rebel against the government if itā€™s not protecting their rights, where because weā€™re all equal, we all have the right to life, liberty, and property, with the separation of the church and government with no monarchy because how valid is it really that someone gets to be born into power? What kind of idea is that? One that you need to lock down, by John Locke. John...
4 Pages 1646 Words

The Nature Of Humanity By John Locke

The debate over the base nature of humanity has lasted centuries, creating many theories and counterpoints to those theories, yet none have been definitively established as the correct essence of humanity in a state of nature nor has a correct reason been pinpointed for why humanity decides to enter into social contracts. Are humans predisposed to violence and it is only for our benefit that we give up our freedom to preserve our own lives? Or is our nature closer...
4 Pages 1925 Words

Socrates Theory Of Recollection

In the Meno and the Phaedo, the character of Socrates argues for the recall possibility of encyclopaedism . In this paper I will first briefly explain what the remembrance theory of encyclopaedism is. Thenwill consider how Socrates argues for the reminiscence theory in the Phaedo. Next, I will consider why Socrates thinks that the recollection theory of eruditeness supports the claim that the somebody of a soul is immortal. I conclude by lifting a remonstration to Socrates' use of the...
3 Pages 1155 Words

Freud And Jung's Views On Psychodynamic Theory

Psychodynamic theory: Freud How relevant do you think Freud's ideas are in the modern world? How useful do you think they would be in helping counselling clients? We have all used a Freudian theory in our day by day discourse as our priggish self-declared psychology companions may have called attention to. Actually, the individuals who considered psychology in college and concentrated a couple of parts of Freudian way of thinking accept that they can pursue a person from their first...
1 Page 679 Words

Strengths And Weaknesses Of Viewpoint Of John Locke

John Locke was born on August 22, 1632, in Wrington, Somerset, a small village in England. Locke grew up with both parents Puritans and as such, he was raised that way. His religion believed that everyone was born into a state of nature and that everyone had the right to pursue happiness. His fatherā€™s connections and allegiance to the English government allowed Locke to receive an impeccable education. Throughout his childhood, he was homeschooled. He then had the opportunity to...
6 Pages 2711 Words

Michel Foucault: Ideas Around Racism And Biopower

Foucault (1976) describes biopower as the mechanisms and techniques that manage and control the lives of a population. The powerful statement ā€œto make life, or to let dieā€ (Foucault, 1976), highlights two different ways of looking at biopower and the state. On one hand, the main objective of the state is to make people live and protect them from harm, however, the state also has the power to ignore the pain and suffering of certain groups. I think that the...
1 Page 475 Words

The Idea Of Autonomy In Rousseau And Nietzsche

Rousseau and Nietzsche are both prominent figures of modern Western political philosophy, even though they lived over one hundred years apart from one another. In this essay I will try to compare and contrast the idea of autonomy in Rousseauā€™s and Nietzscheā€™s political theories through their discussion of the state of nature, general will, slave morality and the will to power. Ultimately, I will come to the conclusion that Rousseau and Nietzsche view autonomy very different in human society. Autonomy...
4 Pages 1811 Words

Soren Kierkegaard And The Truth Of Christianity

Kierkegaard creates intrinsic connections between his ideas of despair, the consciousness of the ā€œselfā€, and the traditional Christian belief of sin. For humans, there are two sides to the same coin. What is despair to Kierkegaard? Despair is a lack of understanding of oneā€™s self. A sickness of spirit. The self is something that is trying to constantly understand how it relates to itself, in essence, Kierkegaardā€™s self is the introspective conscious of the human being. A human being is...
2 Pages 1137 Words

Understanding The Audience And Efficiency Of Rhetoric By Aristotle

Understanding Aristotleā€™s Rhetoric Audience as an element of rhetoric has changed over time and changed throughout the course of history. One leading example of the contrast between the modern idea of audience and its original meaning is the way it was taught and observed by Aristotle. Aristotle defines rhetoric as ā€œspeech designed to persuade,ā€. According to Thomas L. Pangleā€™s The Rhetorical Strategy Governing Aristotleā€™s Political Teaching, Aristotle's Politics elaborate upon our full assessment of that type of social life in...
2 Pages 1028 Words

Camus And Sartre's Views On Existentialism

Existentialism is a way of thinking about finding oneself and the significance of life through choice, decision, and moral obligation. The belief is that individuals are looking to discover who and what they really are throughout their life as they settle on decisions depending on their encounters, beliefs, and viewpoints. Individual decisions become extraordinary without the need for a target type of truth. An existentialist accepts that an individual ought to be compelled to pick and be dependable without the...
2 Pages 764 Words

Madness And Civilization Book By Philosopher Michel Foucault

In modern society, the dominant social account of ā€˜madnessā€™, the attached characteristics, meanings, and treatment is monopolized by psychiatry and medicine, reducing the basis for its existence simply to biological differences. Historically, individuals were provided with socially produced images and descriptions of specific characteristics of madness and insanity, particularly in Western society, beginning with the Biblical imagery of madness as generated by possession by the Devil or promoted by a divine dissatisfaction. The notion of the latter image is continued...
4 Pages 2006 Words

Michel Foucault: Panopticism And Social Media

Based on the theory of the Panopticon by Michel Foucault, this essay considers the view that the existence of power is intrinsically linked to the existence of resistance to it, with his idea being true for power within the media as well. I argue that power is part of the function of the media as it is for any institution and therefore there will always be some form of resistance such as unplugging movements or Edward Snowdenā€™s actions against the...
3 Pages 1266 Words

Purpose Of Critical Thinking In Higher Education

What is Critical Thinking? How important is it in today's higher education system? These are very frequently asked questions. Floods of false and incorrect information are increasing in parallel with the rise of the influence of the internet. This affects the overall quality of studentsā€™ work. Many of them tend to study without any primal selection of the information, do not separate main facts from irrelevant information, and lack any internal motivation for thinking. Therefore, the ability to think critically...
1 Page 666 Words

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