Constructivist epistemology

Holism vs. Reductionism The concept of holism has various applications and connotations. The significant assumption underpinning the approach of holism is that the characteristics of a system are understandable only through examining the system as a whole. Holism focuses on the association between various components, their interactions, interdependencies and interconnectedness. The holistic approach considers that the whole of a system is greater than or different from its individual parts. In…

There are various ways to understand and explain reality depending on the ontological and epistemological positions of each author. The opus magnum of Niccolo Machiavelli could be a perfect example to illustrate these positions. In this sense, and as David Marsh and Paul Furlong (2002) argue, “ontological questions are prior because they deal with the very nature of being; literally an ontology is a theory of being”. In an attempt to identify an ontological position in The Prince and in any…

Introduction What is Naturalism? Naturalism is a philosophical approach that considers just the presence of nature, consequently things that are heavenly, similar to phantoms, divine beings and spirits, are non-existent. It supports the idea that the most ideal way to prove something to be factual is through the scientific method. Scientific methods are used in order to discover and find answers to problems and issues of the society. The steps to be considered are the following.…

In this essay, I will first state the Gettier Problem for the Justified True Belief analysis of knowledge and explain Gettier’s assumptions. Next, I will explain the theory of the Non-accidentality Condition and argue in favor of this condition as a response to the Gettier problem. I will then present an objection by applying the counterexample given by Unger himself. Finally, I will defend the Non-accidentality condition from the objection. The Gettier Problem raises an issue with the theory…

Like the title “Why Scientists Should Embrace the Liberal Arts” implies, Skorton believes embracing the liberal arts will enable scientists to communicate to the public more effectively. But before we dives into how Skorton delivers his message persuasively, we need to identify his target audiences first. To start off, by publishing this essay on Scientific American under the category of science, Skorton is targeting at scientists and science enthusiasts since Scientific American is a popular…

What is cultural relativism and what are James Rachels’ conclusions about cultural relativism? Do you agree with him? Why or why not? In The Elements of Moral Philosophy, James Rachel defines cultural relativism as different cultures having different moral codes. Therefore, moral truth is relative and varies from culture to culture. Further on, he justifies why the cultural relativism argument is invalid, and why cultural relativism (if it were true) is an unacceptable form of morality. Finally,…

Briefly speaking about each of the parts, the first one presents the reasoning for social physics, attributing to the themes of social exploration (Chapter 2), idea flow (Chapter 3), and engagement (Chapter 4). The author starts with the explanation how social exploration is deeply connected with the diversity of ideas and social learning, the combination of which is the only way which leads to any innovation. Pentland advocates the “wisdom of the crowd” judgment in contrast to individual…

You are in a dark room with concrete walls where no sound can enter or leave. The dim lights are flickering and there are two guards standing outside. In front of you, is a man tied to a chair, he has information on a plot to kill thousands or possibly millions of innocent lives. You've asked him repeatedly to tell you what he knows, but he won’t say a word. The question arises in your mind is: should you resort to using torture? Torture is considered the act of “inflicting physical or…

Extrovert, Introvert, or Extroverted Introvert “You think you’ve got it figured out, huh? You have no idea what life has in store for you.” Will you accept a random message request from a stranger? Most probably not right? But it happened, because if not then you won’t be reading this. Gillian Mamaclay of 4 BS Legal Management here in Ateneo surprised me by accepting my request. This person is also the current president of the Ateneo Student Exchange Council. After accepting my message and…

What is epistemology? In laymen’s terms, it is the study of knowledge and if its formal definition is given, according to Oxford dictionary, it is the study of knowledge, in regards to its method, validity, and scope. It is the investigation of what distinguishes justified beliefs and pure opinion (“Epistemology”). What does it really mean outside of its textbook meaning? Carl Sagan helps readers understand it in his book, The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark, through one of…