Philosophy Now | a magazine of ideas Descartes, Rene [Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy] René Descartes is often credited with being the “Father of Modern Philosophy.” This title is justified due both to his break with the traditional Scholastic-Aristotelian philosophy prevalent at his time and to his development and promotion of the new, mechanistic sciences. His fundamental break with Scholastic philosophy was twofold. Descartes attempted to address the former issue via his method of doubt. Once this conclusion is reached, Descartes can proceed to rebuild his system of previously dubious beliefs on this absolutely certain foundation. The presentation below provides an overview of Descartes’ philosophical thought as it relates to these various metaphysical, epistemological, religious, moral and scientific issues, covering the wide range of his published works and correspondence. Table of Contents 1. René Descartes was born to Joachim Descartes and Jeanne Brochard on March 31, 1596 in La Haye, France near Tours. Little is known of Descartes’ life from 1614-1618. 2. a. b. 3.
The problem of evil, as described circa 300 B.C. In about 300 B.C., Epicurus eloquently summed up the problem of the existence of evil. It has come to be known as the Riddle of Epicurus or the Epicurean paradox. It was translated by David Hume in the Dialogues concerning Natural Religion: If God is willing to prevent evil, but is not able to Then He is not omnipotent.If He is able, but not willing Then He is malevolent.If He is both able and willing Then whence cometh evil?If He is neither able nor willing Then why call Him God? Tags: Epicurus, problem of evil Category: Good and Evil, Quotes About the Author (Author Profile) Erich Vieth is an attorney focusing on consumer law litigation and appellate practice.
Russell’s Paradox [Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy] Russell’s paradox represents either of two interrelated logical antinomies. The most commonly discussed form is a contradiction arising in the logic of sets or classes. Some classes (or sets) seem to be members of themselves, while some do not. Table of Contents 1. Russell’s discovery came while he was working on his Principles of Mathematics. Russell discovered the contradiction from considering Cantor’s power class theorem: the mathematical result that the number of entities in a certain domain is always smaller than the number of subclasses of those entities. The paradox had profound ramifications for the historical development of class or set theory. Russell wrote to Frege concerning the contradiction in June of 1902. When he received Russell’s first letter, the second volume of Frege’s Grundgesetze was already in the latter stages of the publication process. However, other logicians and mathematicians have proposed other, relatively more successful, alternative solutions. 2. 3. 4.
Kant's View of the Mind and Consciousness of Self First published Mon Jul 26, 2004; substantive revision Tue Jan 22, 2013 Even though Kant himself held that his view of the mind and consciousness were inessential to his main purpose, some of his ideas came to have an enormous influence on his successors. Ideas central to his view are now central to cognitive science. Other ideas equally central to his point of view had almost no influence on subsequent work, however. In this article, first we survey Kant's model as a whole and the claims that have been influential. 1. In this article, we will focus on Immanuel Kant's (1724–1804) work on the mind and consciousness of self and related issues. Some commentators believe that Kant's views on the mind are dependent on his idealism (he called it transcendental idealism). Three ideas define the basic shape (‘cognitive architecture’) of Kant's model and one its dominant method. The mind is complex set of abilities (functions). To study the mind, infer the conditions necessary for experience. 2.
The Problem of Evil 1. Some Important Distinctions 1.1 Relevant Concepts of God The term “God” is used with a wide variety of different meanings. On the other hand, there are interpretations that connect the term “God” in a clear and relatively straightforward way with religious attitudes, such as those of worship, and with very important human desires, such as the desires that good will triumph, that justice be done, and that the world not be one where death marks the end of the individual's existence. What properties must something have if it is to be an appropriate object of worship, and if it is to provide reason for thinking that there is a reasonable chance that the fundamental human desires just mentioned will be fulfilled? What one has here, however, is not just a puzzle, since the question can, of course, be recast as an argument for the non-existence of God. If God exists, then God is omnipotent, omniscient, and morally perfect. 1.2 Incompatibility Formulations versus Inductive Formulations 2.
Presocratic Philosophy The Origins of Western Thought Philosophical Thinking Philosophy as a discipline isn't easy to define precisely. Issuing from a sense of wonderment about life and the world, it often involves a keen interest in major questions about ourselves, our experience, and our place in the universe as a whole. But philosophy is also reflectively concerned with the methods its practitioners employ in the effort to resolve such questions. Thus, philosophy must be regarded both as content and as activity: It considers alternative views of what is real and the development of reasons for accepting them. Since our personal growth in these matters naturally retraces the process of cultural development, study of the history of philosophy in our culture provides an excellent introduction to the discipline as a whole. Greek Philosophy Milesian Speculation During the sixth century, in the Greek colony at Miletus, a group of thinkers began to engage in an extended exploration of the speculative issues.
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Philosophy Bro philosophicallexicon.com Leibniz’s Metaphysics The German rationalist philosopher, Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz (1646-1716), is one of the great renaissance men of Western thought. He has made significant contributions in several fields spanning the intellectual landscape, including mathematics, physics, logic, ethics, and theology. Unlike many of his contemporaries of the modern period, Leibniz does not have a canonical work that stands as his single, comprehensive piece of philosophy. Instead, in order to understand Leibniz’s entire philosophical system, one must piece it together from his various essays, books, and correspondences. Together with several apparently self-evident principles (such as the principle of sufficient reason, the law of contradiction, and the identity of indiscernibles), Leibniz uses his predicate-in-subject theory of truth to develop a remarkable philosophical system that provides an intricate and thorough account of reality. Table of Contents 1. Leibniz was one of the great polymaths of the modern world. 2.
Idealist philosophy:What is Real ? Idealist ontology, philosophy of science, cognition, reality, psychological Now, collective conscious experience, egoless experience, philosophy of mind, mind-brain relations, mind-matter relations, collective consciousness, egolessness, spirituality, shamanism, science and religion, God. Idealist Philosophy: What is Real ? Conscious Experience Seen as Basic to All Ontology. An Overview By Axel Randrup arandrup@mobilixnet.dk International Center for Interdisciplinary Psychiatric Research, CIRIP Written 2000-2003. Content Abstract Introduction Content and Temporal Extension of the Psychological Now The Ontology of Consciousness The Ontology of Nature Including Mind - Brain Relations Individual and Collective Conscious Experience. Collective Conscious Experience Across Time. Egoless Experience. The Ontology of Worlds Comprising Spiritual Experiences Shamanism Religion. Note References Abstract Introduction Content and Temporal Extension of the Psychological Now The Ontology of Consciousness