Philosophical Theories essays

... samples in this category

Essay examples
Essay topics

How Confucianism Affected China

Confucianism affected China by showing social qualities and otherworldly ideas, and by setting up organizations, such as, houses of worship, schools and state structures. Confucianism, in the most essential sense, orders as a religion. In any case, philosophers think about Confucianism as a common religion, as its lessons and ideas address all parts of society and life, helped out through guidelines, laws and codes. Confucianism mixed the regularly isolated circles of teaching, government and church. This religion concentrated on the...
2 Pages 937 Words

Utilitarianism Contradiction On The Single Use Of Plastic

About 13 million metrics of tons of plastic ends up in the ocean every year, causing sea animals to suffocate, starve, and drown. Plastic not only affect animals, it also has a negative effect on humans because it contaminates the sea food humans eat. (PEW) As a result, humans are being stressed everyday about the consequences of the use of plastics. Utilitarianism takes a role in the negative consequences of plastics since it is impacting a great number of the...
2 Pages 984 Words

Existential Philosophy In The Metamorphosis By Franz Kafka

Existentialism is defined as “a family of philosophies devoted to an interpretation of human existence in the world that stresses concreteness and character” (Existentialism, 1). The movement rejects traditional attempts to ground human knowledge in the external world and claims the self emerges from experience. Overall, existentialism declares that humans make themselves what they are through their own choices (Farahmandian and Haonong, 334). Arguably, one of the most intriguing writers who can be identified as an existentialist is Franz Kafka,...
3 Pages 1455 Words

The Concepts Of Falsifiability And Enlightenment And Greta Thunberg

In the eyes of a casual citizen, philosophical notions stay unrelated to the events happening in real life. However, all philosophical concepts have been designed for the description of the events in the real world, the main scenarios of which become unchanged for thousands of years. Thus, each of them is likely to find its references in the events happening in the lives of casual people. This paper will review the concept of falsifiability, which is a part of the...
3 Pages 1359 Words

The Concept Of Individualism In Iliad

The denotation of individualism is the principle of being independent from group mentality and having freedom of actions and thoughts without limitations. Ancient Greece placed an emphasis on the individual, making it a major aspect of Western Civilization. Greeks were the first to experiment with ideals of individualism through direct democracy, in which certain citizens were encouraged to take an active role in government. As this idea developed and spread throughout Greek culture, people were encouraged to act and create...
5 Pages 2059 Words

The Reasons And Goals Of Utilitarianism

Act Utilitarianism’s direct aim is to produce the best outcome and welfare for the greatest number of people while weighing the sometimes heavy costs of what could be the best outcome for the many over the worst outcome for the few. Simultaneously, this theory wishes to conclude what decision brings the most good now and in the future in the hopes of identifying acts that qualify as a specific reasoning for the decisions that will result in the most efficient...
2 Pages 1002 Words

The Philosophical Concept Of Free Will In Confucianism

Free will, responsibility, and choice, are noted to be some of the few important concepts that Confucianism seem to lack as Herbett Fingarette claims. Although, Kyung-sig Hwang argues that these same concepts are actually present in Confucianism through soft determinism or compatibilism. It may not necessarily be the exact same general understanding that we have of free will as a whole because it is interpreted differently. Therefore, Hwang argues that free will is present in Confucianism and that there is...
4 Pages 1750 Words

Euthanasia: Human Rights To Choose What To Do With Yourself

The element of euthanasia (painless assisted killing of a patient that is suffering) is that it is seen as morally wrong to assist in someone's choice of death over life because it is basically assisting a person suffering to commit suicide. If Euthanasia would be illegal it would cause problems. These problems consist of the individual unable to make the decision for themself. Head trauma making them unable to think for themselves. How do we know if the person does...
2 Pages 845 Words

The History Of Citizenship And Diaspora

Citizenship is a concept of legal status which holds numbers of rights and entitlements and gives a sense of identity and belonging to the homeland country. It acquires or contains a universal desire term. Citizenship can be categories in many terms such as bad citizens, good citizens, active citizens and passive citizens. Having a citizenship is not only denoted legal status but also represents other claims, presumption and another status. Citizen is a word which is more than unselfconsciously imitative...
3 Pages 1188 Words

Ancient Greek Political Philosophy

Manifold attributes of modern-day civilization, if slightly taken heed of, predominantly carry the traces of concepts that were constructed and long conferred in the ancient Greek civilization. More precisely, it provided the basis for the foundation of the political system and its philosophy, bearing in mind that the word “politics” itself comes from “polis”, which simply refers to the Greek city-state. Despite the fact that the ideas and methods were generated and practiced in the olden days within the block...
3 Pages 1219 Words

Individualism In The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas

The opening scene is trying to portray a joyful society, where everyone is cheerful in Omelas. It establishes a theme that the society and the individual are against each other by illustrating the joyous society of Omelas. In the beginning they are also focusing in on the children and their innocent childhood, a critical part of this short story is trying to present this society as perfect if you will. As the story continues they start to suggest Omelas is...
2 Pages 748 Words

History Of Confucianism And Its Comparative Analysis With Other Eastern Thoughts

The History Confucianism is a philosophy that was developed by the social philosopher Master Kong (Confucius) in the year 551 - BC, whose teachings have deeply impacted East Asia. In fact, the fundamental principles of Confucianism began before the birth of the Zhou Dynasty. At that time, the idea of respect and the wellbeing was prevalent. These ideas united the people and helped prevent rebellion. Confucius believed that his philosophy was the way towards more civil society and a better...
3 Pages 1314 Words

The Enlightenment Movement: Origin, Expansion And Religion

ABSTRACT An era of excellent intellectual fervor in the 1600s and 1700s resulted to the Protestant Reformation and the decline of civil and political power in the catholic Church throughout Europe. The growth of the social groups supporting science, democracy, political freedom and rational investigation was known as the Enlightenment during this time. Civil officials were challenged and the relations between the institutions of a nation and its people created fresh concepts. These ideas created a period of revolutions to...
4 Pages 1778 Words

The Relationship Between Philosophical Concept Of Determinism And Free Will

Throughout history, free will and determinism have been a longstanding debate. The question arises because, as in many other issues in philosophy, two of our basic beliefs about ourselves and the world seem to conflict. While some believe that we do choose our own paths and have free will to choose, others believe our lives are chosen for us based on past events, or determinism. In this essay, I intend to argue that humans are free and have complete control...
3 Pages 1397 Words

The Advantages Of Individualism In Modern Society

Throughout middle school and high school years, one of the most important things to many people is fitting in or being popular. Many people change themselves to fit the trends and fads that shift every few months. The focus on popularity and trends restricts individuals from being individuals and creates a society of clones. Fitting in is so important to teens and adults, that it doesn’t allow people to become the individuals they are; being independent from these things will...
3 Pages 1266 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

The Effects Of Enlightenment Movement On Music

The enlightenment was an intellectual and artistic movement that, at its core, aimed to promote a rational, scientific mindset, both in thought and in deed, in contrast to the superstition and traditionalism of earlier generations. It encouraged individual excellence, and rewarded those bold enough to challenge the accepted limitations of their fields and then to push them to new places. With this came an uptake in critical thinking that posed a threat to the church and organised religion in general,...
2 Pages 855 Words

Nationalism Occurrence In Europe And Its Impact On The Other Countries

The culture of a nation has many faces. Each of the culture has its own thoughts, faiths and beliefs which help setting up norms for the systematic movement of the society. The concept of nationalism is also an output of such cultures. There are different meanings of nationalism for different people of the society because of the variety in the culture around the world. For some nationalism is a religious concept whereas for some it is a belief and thought...
2 Pages 1077 Words

The Concept Of Neo-Confucianism

Confucianism seems to have been one of the major thoughts and ideas for 2000 years in conventional Chinese culture, and has been leaving a great effect on Chinese culture, economy, politics, and social psychology. However, with communist took over in 1949, Marxism ideology has replaced neo-Confucianism in China. With the influx of industrial development and intrinsic development of Chinese society in the modern era, emergence of significant social and ecological challenges have become quite common these days. Hence, a number...
5 Pages 2179 Words

Political Philosophies: Democracy Legalism And Tyranny

Political philosophies determine how societies should be set up and how citizens are expected to act. Democracy, legalism, and tyranny are all political philosophies. Each political philosophy has varying advantages and disadvantages. Out of these philosophies, democracy is the best, oligarchy is the second-best, and tyranny is the worst. Out of the three political philosophies, democracy is the best. In a democracy, the people make the decisions. Citizens are able to vote on political, social, and economical issues, and can...
2 Pages 696 Words

Positive And Negative Aspects Of Enlightenment

According to Kant enlightenment is the freedom and courage to use one’s reason without being steered by others in a direction. It is laziness that acts as a barrier to using one’s own reason, as people don’t want to take responsibility of their decisions (Kant and Wood, 1784). It is always easier to rely on others to make our choices and then blame them for the consequences. Enlightenment will liberate people from this self-decaying practice and everyone can and will...
2 Pages 994 Words

LIterary Devices: Tone, Irony And Style Of The Story A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings

In 'A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings' the writer Gabriel Garcia Marquez weaves the characteristic with the heavenly aspects in a surprising way. It leaves the reader in question, 'What would I do if this happened to me right before I entered heaven?” By mixing the most ordinary and terrible pieces of life, Marquez utilizes an inventive tone and a style to make the story that convey components of regular day to day existence. The author, Marquez, also uses...
1 Page 670 Words

Fall Of Humanity: Then And Now

PART ONE: THE FALL - THEN What is revealed about human nature? According to Genesis chapters one and two, human nature is revealed as free from evil. The chapters reveal that God is holy and everything he does is holy. This implies that God only associates with holy creation. In Genesis one, God created Heaven and Earth by His word and later created a man from dust and breathe in life. Human nature was in the likeness of God himself...
3 Pages 1209 Words

Soren Kierkegaard: Father Of Existentialism

Soren Aabye Kierkegaard was an early 19th-century Danish philosopher. He was born in Copenhagen on May 5, 1813, and died on November 11, 1855. An understanding of Kierkegaard’s biography is important as his relationships with his father, Michael Pedersen Kierkegaard, and his fiancée, Regine Olsen, shaped him into a philosopher. Kierkegaard inherited melancholy, the sense of guilt and anxiety as well as being overly devotional towards Christianity from his father. Michael was guilty of having cursed God as a boy...
3 Pages 1389 Words

The Humanity Theory In The Article How And How Not To Love Mankind

In the article How-and How Not-to Love Mankind, Theodore Dalrymple interprets and explains the welfare of humanity and how philanthropic sentiment takes a variety of forms. Dalrymple introduces his argument with two nineteenth-century writers, Ivan Turgenev and Karl Marx. Although some aspects of Turgenev and Marx's lives were usually similar to each other, the two shared distinct views on human behavior, nature, and welfare. For instance, according to Theodore Dalrymple, Marx viewed human beings as 'snowflakes in an avalanche,' or...
2 Pages 1053 Words

Social And Political Philosophy: The Ideas Of Rights And Justice

Political and social philosophy examines the ideas of rights and justice. Distributive justice is defined as “a concept that addresses the ownership of goods in society” where it is assumed “that there is a large amount of fairness in the distribution of goods”. Robert Nozick criticized John Rawls’ theory of distributive justice as using government too forcefully, but this criticism fails to acknowledge the benefit of lessening the often harsh lottery of life. Nozick’s argument will be dismantled by Rawls'...
3 Pages 1344 Words

Social And Political Philosophy: John Rawls And Robert Nozick

Two of the most prominent philosophers of the 20th century, John Rawls (1921-2002) and Robert Nozick (1938-2002), disagreed as to how best to provide distributive justice. In philosophy, distributive justice can be defined as “The justice that is concerned with the apportionment of privileges, duties, and goods in consonance with the merits of the individual and in the best interest of society” (Merriam-Webster, 2019). Rawls’ theory of distributive justice asserts his interest in fair and equal opportunities for every individual...
3 Pages 1413 Words

Major Contributors Of Enlightenment Movement

The eighteenth century was a period of Enlightenment as well as an intellectual movement and was known as the age of reason. Many philosophers contributed to the term Enlightenment because it was the awakening to a new outlook on life. Intellectuals realized that they could come up with theories and logic on their own without the guidance of another. The seventeenth century was a revolution of scientific break through based off of previous theories throughout the years. This gave intellectuals...
2 Pages 933 Words

The Principles Of Transcendentalism In The Works Of Henry David Thoreau

Transcendentalism arose as an American philosophical movement in the early nineteenth century. Similar to romanticism, transcendentalists share a deep respect for nature and the individual. The movement emphasizes transcendence, or going beyond. In addition, transcendentalists strive to be self reliant and divine. During the development of Transcendentalism, America was facing a dichotomy. On one hand the nation was growing and was beginning to flourish. This flourishing helped the new civilization gain self confidence and made progression inevitable. On the other...
4 Pages 1650 Words

Euthanasia: Christian Deontological And Utilitarian Physician Ethics

The aim of this paper is to compare and contrast the various viewpoints of Christian deontology and utilitarian physician with regards to euthanasia. Euthanasia involves termination of the life of an individual to relieve them from their suffering due to terminal illness. The act of euthanasia as sparked a lot of debate among philosophers who have deontological and utilitarian perceptions. Deontological ethics justifies whether an action is right or wrong with regards to the moral code of the action. On...
5 Pages 2232 Words

Join our 150k of happy users

  • Get original paper written according to your instructions
  • Save time for what matters most
Place an order

Fair Use Policy

EduBirdie considers academic integrity to be the essential part of the learning process and does not support any violation of the academic standards. Should you have any questions regarding our Fair Use Policy or become aware of any violations, please do not hesitate to contact us via support@edubirdie.com.

Check it out!