Philosophical Theories essays

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Mill and Kant: Utilitarianism vs Categorical Imperative

4 Pages 1767 Words
Philippa Foot in his publication “Killing and Letting Die,” formulated a thought experiment that incorporated two situations. Despite the two different scenarios yielding the exact same consequences in the end, the different methods employed in arriving at those similar outcomes raise questions revolving morally permissibility. In the first scenario which we shall call Rescue I, a person is in a...

Locke’s Empiricism And The Human Senses

5 Pages 2267 Words
The age old debate of whether or not human beings are born with innate knowledge or if all knowledge is gathered through experience, found in Rene Descartes’ Meditations on First Philosophy and John Locke’s An Essay Concerning Human Understanding, has raged on for as long as man has thought to question his own existence. As these two papers battle over...

The Role of Rationalism and Empiricism in the Industrial Revolution

2 Pages 952 Words
Introduction The Industrial Revolution, a transformative period between the late 18th and early 19th centuries, marked a pivotal change in manufacturing, technology, and societal structures. This epoch was significantly influenced by two philosophical schools of thought: Rationalism and Empiricism. Rationalism, which emphasizes reason as the primary source of knowledge, and Empiricism, which relies on sensory experience and observation, provided the...

Descartes Method of Doubt

3 Pages 1382 Words
Reviewed double_ok
In this essay, I will be exploring each stage of Descartes’ Method of Doubt and their aims in depth. Descartes’ uses the Method of Doubt more as a method of certainty with the aim of 1 building a certain and indubitable basis for knowledge . He ultimately aims to generalise all 2 human knowledge to certainty by running commonplace opinions...

Types And History Of The Development Of Humanism

4 Pages 1678 Words
Background of humanism Humanism is a philosophical and ethical stance that emphasizes the value and agency of human beings, individually and collectively, and generally prefers critical thinking and evidence (rationalism and empiricism) over acceptance of dogma or superstition. The meaning of the term humanism has fluctuated according to the successive intellectual movements which have identified with it. The term was...
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Humanism in Montessori's Early Childhood Learning

6 Pages 2548 Words
Introduction This essay will explore how the humanistic perspective in psychology relates to Montessori education and how it can be applied in a Montessori classroom to enhance teaching and learning. The humanistic perspective was developed within the field of psychology in the 1940s onwards in critical response to the limitations posed by the reductionist and determinist dominant psychodynamic and behaviourist...
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Humanism in Machiavelli's "The Prince"

2 Pages 779 Words
As a leader living during the Renaissance, I am focused on the qualities of humanism, individualism and secularism based on Machiavelli’s book. The Prince, written by Niccolò Machiavelli, is a guide for successful monarchial rule. From its origins in 14th-century Florence, the Renaissance spread across Europe adapted to local cultural thinking and conditions. The Renaissance value of humanism greatly influences...
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Humanism Influence In Renaissance Education

2 Pages 1015 Words
During the 13 hundreds till the 16 hundreds, there was a period of time in which humans suffer a drastic change in the way of thinking they had; this period of time is called the “Renaissance”. They started to think that humans were the center of all replacing God; and the intellectual movements that focused on human potential and achievements....
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The Features Of Individualism In Islam

3 Pages 1416 Words
Introduction The family structure is the bedrock of society that helps create a nurturing and secure space for all its members. It is an institution that has existed in some form, from time immemorial and will continue in spite of all the social evolution that we are experiencing. Irrespective of our race or nationality, homes have traditionally been seen as...

Ethical Theories: Utilitarianism, Relativism, and Social Contract

4 Pages 1637 Words
There are several ethical theories that attempt to distinguish what is morally right and wrong. Some examples of these theories include Utilitarianism, Cultural Relativism, Social Contract Theory, and Kantianism. Utilitarianism focuses on the outcome of an action as the primary motivation and whether or not that conduct is ethical (Hill, Utilitarianism PowerPoint, Slide 3) The problem with this theory is...

Absurdism and Existentialism in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead

3 Pages 1331 Words
Introduction The current analysis involves two plays, written by different authors to illustrate philosophical themes used to express meaning and purpose of mankind and their actions. The first play, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, written by Tom Stoppard, has two main characters, engaged in a game of spinning coins to determine who is more probable to win throughout the process....

Nationalism and Its Role in Indo-Pakistani Conflicts

2 Pages 1027 Words
Introduction The intricate relationship between nationalism and conflict is vividly illustrated in the historical and ongoing tensions between Pakistan and India. Following the partition of British India in 1947, which led to the creation of the two sovereign states, nationalism has played a pivotal role in shaping the political landscape of both countries. This essay examines how nationalist sentiments have...

Loss of Individuality in 1984

3 Pages 1472 Words
The society we live in will always push and suppress our individual thoughts, freedom, action and integrity; whether we like it or not. These classic pieces of literature, George Orwell’s ‘1984’ and Arthur Miller’s ‘The Crucible’, show us how our society’s loss of individuality is still being searched for even since the 1950s. A predominant theme in ‘1984’ and ‘The...

A Sense Of Humanity In Frankenstein And Blade Runner

3 Pages 1323 Words
According to the renowned philosopher Plato, “Human behaviour flows from three main sources: desire, emotion and knowledge.” Yet what does it really mean to be human? Is it determined by your attitudes, values, beliefs or emotions? The definition of a human being is constantly questioned in modern society, defining the ways cultural assumptions, attitudes, values and beliefs are conveyed. The...

Sartre And Kierkegaard: On God And Authenticity

5 Pages 2213 Words
Contrasting Philosophies: Sartre's Atheism vs. Kierkegaard's Faith Sartre is one of the most influential atheist existentialists. On the other hand, Kierkegaard is seen as the ‘father of existentialism, while most of his later texts were more religious than philosophical in their disposition. Kierkegaard does not believe in the traditional teaching of Christianity and instead wants to build an individual, intimate...

Existentialism Period And Its Influence

3 Pages 1587 Words
What is the purpose of life? What is death? Who am I and what do I want out of life? These are all questions deriving from the period known as Existentialism. Many philosophers contributed to existentialism thinking and helped to push the existentialist movement along. Even now, existentialism lives in our modern day society and helps some people to define...

Influence of Transcendentalism & Romanticism on 19th Century Literature

2 Pages 1024 Words
Transcendentalism and Romanticism were two movements that were very influential to the authors during the 19th century. This era helped authors express prevalent ideas and beliefs during this time. Transcendentalism was based on individualism and focusing on yourself and by focusing on bettering one’s self and practicing individuality will shape your life into the life you think you deserve. Romantics...

The Forms Of Individualism in Fahrenheit 451 And Divergent

4 Pages 1940 Words
Introduction: The Concept of Individualism in Dystopian Worlds Individualism is defined as “a social theory favoring freedom of action for individuals over collective or state control” (Google). There are two major forms of individualism that are prevalent throughout writings. The first form is individual vs. society, and it occurs when the individual must change his or her ideals in order...

Ultranationalism And Its Consequences

2 Pages 854 Words
Nationalism can be described as the commitment to the interests or culture of one country. Nationalism can be expressed in a small way, such as the celebration of individual culture or something much larger, such as the French Revolution. Nationalism appears in both positive and negative forms. Ultranationalism is a more aggressive form of nationalism that can be seen as...

How Can You Reach Enlightenment According to Siddhartha?

4 Pages 1963 Words
Hermann Karl Hesse was born in 1877, even when he was a little boy, he had an amazing mind, as his Mother Marie puts it in a letter to her husband… “The little fellow has a life in him, an unbelievable strength, a powerful will, and, for his four years of age, a truly astonishing mind. How can he express...

Nationalism In Europe: Positive And Negative Aspects

5 Pages 2395 Words
Historical Development of Nationalism in Europe Everyone has pride in their own nation. One's nation is where they choose to live and holds an abundance of important family history. Nationalism is the identification with one's own nation and support for its interests, especially to the exclusion or detriment of the interests of other nations (Webster dictionaries online, 2019). It is...

Unchecked ambition corrupts in Macbeth

2 Pages 702 Words
Macbeth, once an honorable character, loyal to his kings and friends. Always praised by everyone around him because of his positive demeanour. However, as the play continues, Macbeth soon falls victim to the witches’ prediction and suffers from his fatal flaw which is the desire for power and position. Macbeth murders his King who sees Macbeth as a loyal soldier...

The Definition Of Confucianism And Its Principles

3 Pages 1251 Words
Confucianism is an ancient philosophy about kindness and respect which is based on the teachings of Kung Fuzi He is also known as Confucius. Confucianism is not religion, but philosophy about how to live life, therefore, Confucius was also not God or supreme being with extra power. He was person who was able to transmit wisdom because he created moral...

Utilitarianism Contradiction On The Single Use Of Plastic

2 Pages 978 Words
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...

Existential Philosophy In The Metamorphosis By Franz Kafka

3 Pages 1447 Words
Reviewed double_ok
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...

The Concept Of Individualism In Iliad

5 Pages 2056 Words
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...

The Reasons And Goals Of Utilitarianism

2 Pages 995 Words
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...

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