Philosophy of history

Blaise Pascal Pascal's Wager is an argument in philosophy presented by the seventeenth-century French philosopher. He thinks that people are betting on their lives that God exists or not. In Pascal’s view, he argues that a person should live as if God exists and believe in God. If in reality the God does not exist, they still can get the profits in their life. He also developed the theory of modern probability, and believed the reason cannot prove or not prove the existence of God.…

However, as one who came from a different background/tradition, I believe I have a cultural advantage, to conduct myself ethically and do good to others. This, in my opinion is the best way to influence others to do good. Kant's philosophy resonates with me more than the others, his analysis is conceivably parallel to my tradition and moral ethics. Kant indicate that “the only thing good without qualification is a good will.” According to Kant, “what makes a good person good is his…

Course: Novel Supervisor: Lecturer Adnan Riaz Date: December 5, 2017 “The underlying assumption is that reality, as opposed to appearance, is completely and perfectly good; to perceive the good, therefore, is to perceive reality”. (The History of Western Philosophy by Bertrand Russell, page 126, chapter XV, topic, The Theory of Ideas,) Appearance is the outward look of a person or thing. Appearance also means the condition, state, manner or style in which a person or object appears,…

Socrates' credo “An unexamined life is not worth living” sparks an intense and prolific discussion, just as Socrates intended. In the discussion of this credo, the thinker does just what the credo addresses: without studying, analyzing, or critically reflecting upon one's life, it is not worth living. Life is not about making all the right decisions in a progression to the idealized or perfect life. It is rather a procession to honor the experiences one is a part of or engages in, one's own…

have come and gone during the course of the world, the two that sparked my interest were Saint Thomas Aquinas and John Locke. These two philosophers contributed so much to the study when they were alive, and even continue to enrich the study of philosophy today. They are two very distinct, different people with varying thoughts and views on matters, yet have similarities, as well, that unite them and their ideas. I will describe in detail both of…

Plato's The Apology is an account of the speech Socrates makes at the trial. However, by no means is Scorates making an apology. The word apology originates from the Greek “apologia” which is translates as a defense, or a speech made in defense. Scorates is not apologizing for his actions but he convinces that his moral purpose was to become wise in philosophical virtues. Socrates has three main accusations brought against him in the Apology. 1. He studies things in the heavens and below the…

Locke, Hume, Mill, and the Mysterious Disappearance of Descartes René Descartes, born in France in the 17th century, laid the foundation of modern philosophy. In fact, due to his numerous contributions to the field, he is still considered to be the “father of philosophy.” Though a renowned philosopher, he also made considerable contributions to the fields of science and math, including the Cartesian coordinates, reflection and refraction of light, and analytical geometry (Infoplease, n.d).…

Does the moral worth of an action come from the consequence or the thought behind that action? In Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals, Immanuel Kant states that “the moral worth of an action does not lie in the effect expected from it” but that it is motivated out of respect for the moral law (Kant 401). However, in Utilitarianism, Mill supports the claim that what makes actions good is the outcome, not the action’s initial moral worth, “the motive has nothing to do with the morality of the…

Throughout human history, theology has been meant to be a source of hope, giving meaning to our lives. It has also been meant to serve as guidelines on how to morally live our lives and shape our culture to act according to God’s will. However, culture and theology have conflicted with each other, creating confusion on what place theology holds in our culture, and vice versa. What, if anything, do culture and theology contribute to one another? If humanity fails to address this crucial question,…

Plato is widely considered the most pivotal figure in the development of philosophy. He is from ancient Greece and is one of the most renown classical Greek philosophers. He was an idealist/ rationalist – “what could be?” Plato is also the founder of the Academy of Athens, which is believed to be the first institution of higher learning in the western world. His philosophy was interested in three areas: platonic epistemology, metaphysics, ethics. One thing that I think about when I read…