are completely capable of making important contributions at the academic level but face resistance along this path. This is especially apparent in the branch of philosophy. In the western world, philosophy is largely dominated by Eurocentric philosophical outlooks and concepts, with little room for Indigenous philosophies. These philosophies can contribute various distinct ideas to western academia, which although stereotyped as primitive and outdated,…
Drawing Circles and Conclusions Philosophy is a major part of human development and exploration and has always been fascinating to me personally. I find myself philosophizing many aspects in my life, and I always enjoy reading philosophy. One of America’s most prominent philosophers is Ralph Waldo Emerson. Emerson has been a very influential philosopher; two important figures he influenced were Martin Luther and George Fox (Buell 60). He is known for his collections of essays that detail his…
is a Philosophical movement or system having various forms, but generally stressing practical consequences as constituting the essential criterion in determining meaning truth or value. The word Pragmatism as a piece of technical terminology in philosophy refers to a specific set of associated philosophical views originating in the late 19th century. Pragmatism as a Philosophical movement began in the United States in the 1870s; C.S. Peirce is given credit for its development along with later…
Although I think it is dishonest to say that the idea of another person’s death trumps in importance the death of oneself, I have always viewed death as just death, the end of life, and non-individualized. I learned a lot from Heidegger about the way in which I should look at my own death. However, I also found his analysis to be selfish and something…
nature, rather than the sentimental fanaticism and self-importance that comes so naturally to humans. His practical analysis feels reasonable and respectful, rather than demanding and condescending. It’s a more effective and realistic way of viewing right and wrong, resisting the urge to make morality grandiose. The breadth and depth of Aristotle’s work cannot be overstated. He helped continue the Socratic legacy of practical philosophies, looking logically at what constitutes…
An empirical proposition is one which has been researched on. Empiricism is a theory that asserts that knowledge comes from sensory experience. It’s a philosophy of science which emphasizes on the importance of evidence. (McMahon, 2012) This evidences only comes about if experiments are carried out. We say that the Earth revolves around the sun is empirical because scientific research has been carried to prove this notion. Scientists and astronauts travel into space or send their controlled…
In philosophy, there are ethical systems in place to help identify what would ideally be considered a universally accepted basis for morality. These systems follow ethical beliefs which philosophers categorize under different sets of moral rules. Two very important examples of these moral systems are Consequentialism and Deontology. They are two different strategies which attempt to identify what morality is really about by outlining the different values of what makes a good and ethical person.…
The axial age, a period of about five hundred years from 800 to 300 BC, was an age when many different philosophies and ways of thinking emerged in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Some of the philosophies established during the axial age have endured the test of time and are ingrained in the cultures of today. One school of thought that emerged between 500 and 400 BC, at the tail end of the Zhou state, and is still prevalent in the Chinese culture of today is Confucianism. Although during his…
Philosophy is a discipline that studies how one ought to live, as well as study reality, nature, existence, etc. However, there are a number of philosophers who propose differing sets of morals and have different ideas of living life to its fullest (Singer v. Mill). Kant proposes that moral actions are defined by the motivation of an action, and later on explains that moral actions are duties through reason, rather than inclination. This essay will explain the validity of Kant’s argument by…
Plato retained strong opinions on the importance of philosophers in a utopian society. Carefully laying out pieces of his idea of a just city, Plato places the philosophers as the leaders. As he explains, a city will fall into any number of temptations if it lacks philosophers, those who understand they know nothing and still strive to achieve true knowledge. Correctly, he states that without a moral foundation this ideal city inevitably crumbles into dust, like so many other cities before it.…