Metaphysics

In the Transcendental Doctrine of Method attempts to lay out the formal conditions of the complete system of pure reason. Kant's basic intention in this section of the text is to describe why reason should not go beyond its already well-established limits. In the first section, he presents the discipline of pure reason in the sphere of dogmatism, Kant clearly explains why philosophy cannot do what mathematics can do in spite of their similarities. Kant also explains that when reason goes beyond…

In Meditation III of Meditations on First Philosophy, Rene Descartes sets the stage for proving the existence of God. While he begins with the fact that he is a “thing that thinks” with an ability to sense, imagine, doubt, and understand the world around him, Descartes confirms that these ideas exist within him. Since he is certain that he exists and thinks and that he “clearly and distinctly perceives” things, he then concludes that whatever he perceives clearly and distinctly is true. However,…

Individual meaning and conceptual factual information surround everyday life. Claims supported by facts range from stating that the rain is made from water to the sun in our solar system is 15 million kilometers away. The Correspondence Theory takes information and attaches it to a real world comparison considered factual. Each truth is only named a truth when it is attached to something considered factual. Throughout history, the metaphysical question, of what truth and facts truly are, has…

The Purpose of Giorgione’s Painting “The Three Philosophers” and “The Tempest” are two paintings by Giorgione which have inspired much confusion and a variety of different interpretations. Stephen Campbell attempts to make a definitive explanation of “The Tempest” by understanding it in its local, humanist, context. Alexander Nagel, on the other hand, makes the argument that there is no conclusive answer possible for what these paintings mean. Instead, these painting have a purpose; they are…

When we apply the theory of argumentum absurdum to both Hume and Aristotle’s argument, the equation would yield the same results. Since humans are capable of infallibility, and humans write about miracles, then miracles cannot be proven to exist, therefore, God cannot exist if his existence is reliant upon the miracles. Therefore, the existence of God cannot be logically proven under Hume’s claim, since we cannot see God, we cannot prove miracles exist, and God cannot exist where man is…

Eric Russell: High school english teacher, Advanced Placement Coordinator, yearbook advisor, husband, father of three, and my Helene Tucker. Dick Gregory once wrote, “Everyone’s got a Helene Tucker, a symbol of everything you want” (pg. 168). Symbol, by definition, means a mark or character used as a conventional representation of another. My high school english teacher, Mr. Eric Russell symbolizes me in many aspects of life, such as, accomplishing goals set in life, achieving infinite, intimate…

John’s use of the Greek term logos for Jesus connects Jesus not only to the account of Genesis 1, but ties into the Universe itself. The Greek principle of Cosmic Reason is the idea that the earth is orderly, which we can see today through our ability to measure things in the study of science (Harris, 2014). This thought is not new to recent Christianity however, but has been around for quite some time thanks to John. Van Der Kooi points out the Calvin’s theory was a continuation of John’s…

Many philosophers have debated the question of truth. Can truth exist? Can it exist outside of context? Can we know anything? Philosophers from Leibniz to Hume have worked through these questions using rationalism or empiricism to guide their search for truth. Multiple conclusions have been reached by these philosophers. Therefore, the debate still continues. By exploring some of the arguments surrounding the debate, and putting them in a contemporary context it becomes easier to understand the…

Bill Viola is a contemporary video artist. His artistic elements draw on electronic, sound, and video technology in order to create his work. Viola focuses on fundamental topics such as human birth, death, and the way the mind works. A lot of his work is very blunt and simplistic – given his focus; that is really the only way he can describe what he is trying to describe. The interesting part of Viola is not just his art, but also the way he sees the world; his art serves simply as a catalyst…

The second philosopher is Harry Frankfurt, whose ideas are similar to those of David Hume. Frankfurt has two ways in which he views how to be a person. The first is being moved by volitional necessity and how to have free wills. Frankfurt's views on how to have a free will starts with animals in Freedom of the will and the concept of a person, by Frankfurt. Animals can only have first order desires, which are represented as X. Then there are humans who want first order desires, X, but also want…