Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for Philosophy and ethics

Elenchus (Socratic Method):

a form of cooperative argumentative dialogue between individuals, based on asking and answering questions to stimulate critical thinking and to draw out ideas and underlying presuppositions.

Philosophy:

An attitude of critical thoughtfulness concerning highly fundamental and general beliefs

Deductive Argument:

Attempts to show that a conclusion necessarily follows the premises

Validity vs. Soundness:

Validity is a deductive argument which the conclusion cannot be false if the premises are true, whereas soundness combines both validity and true premises

Inductive Argument:

Attempts to provide reasons for the truth of the conclusion, the conclusion states more than what is contained in the premises, universal conclusion.

Glaucon’s

Cultural Relativism: A Critique

One can only be judged by the standards and morals of their culture because morality is determined by each culture. You can't judge any culture outside of your own because you don’t understand why they believe what they believe. However, if enough people are part of that culture and believe that what they are doing is good, then there must be some truth in that.

If cultural relativism was universally supported and believed to be true, then there shouldn’t be any international governing bodies such as the United Nations or the European Parliament. This is because, under cultural relativism, you should be accepting that each culture has its own opinion on what is good and bad, and from an outside perspective,... Continue reading "Cultural Relativism vs. Universal Morality: Exploring Ethical Frameworks" »

It is claimed that money is the only thing that motivates entrepreneurs

I can clearly say that entrepreneurs have different types of motivations. Some of them are related to the desire to earn money and others with the illusion of turning your dream into reality.

At present, the development of new companies has become very fashionable. With this, many entrepreneurs dream of becoming the next millionaire genius like Mark Zuckerberg. They also dream of traveling by private jet, partying in Las Vegas and having a Ferrari.

Although money is a great motivator and is very necessary to boost entrepreneurs, recent research concludes that people who only seek to earn money have a personality more prone to individualism, lack of willingness to work in teams... Continue reading "Motivations of Entrepreneurs: Beyond Money" »

Analyze: To study something in detail 

Branches of Philosophy: Knowledge and Science

Gnoseology (Theory of Knowledge)

Gnoseology (also known as Gnosiology) or the Theory of Knowledge defines, from a philosophical perspective, what we mean by "knowing." It aims to clarify the origin, nature, and limits of human knowledge.

Epistemology (Theory of Science)

Epistemology is the Theory of Science or Philosophy of Science, mainly due to the modern identification between knowledge and science.

Historical Context of Knowledge Theory

The Theory of Knowledge deals with issues regarding the reliability of reason or senses to provide true knowledge. This discussion can already be found among the main philosophers in Greece, like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, and also in the Modern Age, among philosophers... Continue reading "The Core Branches of Philosophy: Definitions and Key Concepts" »

Essential Literary Vocabulary and Definitions Glossary

This comprehensive glossary provides key terms, synonyms, and definitions, structured alphabetically, to enhance comprehension of complex texts and literary works.

A-Z Vocabulary List

Advice

Suggestion, recommendation.

Alone

By yourself, on your own.

Apothecary

Chemist, pharmacist.

To Approach

To come nearer.

To Argue

To disagree, to quarrel.

To Banish

To exile, to deport.

To Be Involved

To be part of.

Blind

Sightless.

Brave

Courageous.

Cell

A small room where a friar lives.

To Challenge

To dare (desafiar).

To Continue

To go on, to keep on.

Crows

Raven (corb/cuervo).

Dagger

A small sword.

Darkness

Obscurity.

Desperate

Hopeless.

Dove

The bird that represents love and peace.

To Drop

To let fall.

To Enter

To come into.

Fields

Cultivated

Immanuel Kant: "Doing What You Ought"

Highest Principle: Justice

Kant's highest principle is justice, emphasizing respect for individual rights. Moral rules can be broken, even if it makes people happy.

The Importance of Motive

Only the motive matters. The only morally good motive is the motive of duty, doing the right thing because it is right.

Acting Freely

When we satisfy our appetites, we are not acting freely because we are driven by the laws of our biology. We act freely in accordance with moral law, which is reason.

The Categorical Imperative

The moral law tells us what our duty is through the categorical imperative, an unconditional moral obligation that is binding in all circumstances and is not dependent on a person's inclination or purpose.... Continue reading "Immanuel Kant's Moral Philosophy: Duty and Ethics" »

Key Figures in Rationalist Philosophy

1. Who are the Three Great Rationalists?

1. Descartes, Plato, and Spinoza
2. Descartes, Leibniz, and Spinoza
3. Descartes, Leibniz, and Locke

Answer: B. Descartes, Leibniz, and Spinoza. Their philosophy emphasizes the importance of innate reasoning abilities in acquiring knowledge.

2. What is Saint Augustine's "Confessions" About?

1. Life
2. Religion
3. Nature of Time

Answer: C. Nature of time. He famously stated: "If no one asks me what time is, I know; if they ask and I try to explain, I do not know."

3. From Which Community was Spinoza Expelled?

1. Christian community
2. Jewish community
3. Muslim community

Answer: B. Jewish community. He was expelled due to his philosophical views, which were considered heretical.

4. How did St. Augustine Fuse

Understanding Business Protocol and Etiquette

Types of Protocol

• Official Protocol: Pertains to formal events.
• Social Protocol: Refers to universally accepted social norms.
• Business Protocol: Specific to an organization's conduct.

Defining Key Concepts

Protocol is about doing the right thing, at the right time, for the right reason, and with respect. It governs both internal and external behavior.

Business Etiquette is the set of professional and social norms we follow that dictates our conduct, created to facilitate our coexistence.

Social norms are what we are supposed to do, while social use is what we actually do.

Leadership and Corporate Values

Executive Behavior

Executives set the standard for workplace conduct. A good leader should:

• Set the rules