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

What is Real?

1. Introduction to Metaphysics

Metaphysics is the branch of philosophy that questions reality. Why do things and beings exist? What are they? Where do they come from? Being: everything that exists can be considered a being. The concept of being is very broad and general because it refers to everything that is real.

2. Essence and Existence

• Essentialism: claims that essence exists as separate realities, independent from the individuals.
• Conceptualism: essence is only incorporated into individuals who possess it or think about it.
• Nominalism: states that the term (essence) is just a name we use in order to communicate – a sort of conventional label.

3. Philosophical Positions on the Existence of God

• Theism: affirms the existence of a

Humanization: This evolutionary process occurred alongside hominization. It refers to the behavioral changes experienced by the same species included in the hominization process.

Humanism: Artistic and intellectual movement originating in Europe during the Renaissance. It defended free spirit and championed the abilities of human reason and intuition in the fields of philosophy, science, and art. Humanism avoided syllogistic methodology and dogmas that tried to control human creativity.

Inertia: Property of all bodies that keeps them at rest or in rectilinear motion, as long as that state is not changed by an external force.

Monotheism: Religious belief that affirms the existence of only one god who controls and governs all of reality.

Multiculturalism:

Philosophy:

Philosophy: Is a critical examination of reality characterized by rational inquiry that aims at the Truth for the sake of attaining wisdom. The etymology of the word is derived from two Greeks words: philo (love) and sophia (wisdom), literally means the loves of wisdom.

Wisdom is the proper understanding about nature of reality, a person is wise if he has a correct understanding about how things actually are and lives his lives accordingly. The philosopher seeks the truth to all people at all times, because it is not restricted to individual perceptions of what is true or false. Philosophy asks us to be able to justify why we hold these opinions, feelings or beliefs, we need to support our views using rather than emotions.Is not:... Continue reading "Understanding Philosophy: The Pursuit of Wisdom and Truth" »

Main Features of Philosophy

Philosophy is a radical “Why?”. It faces the basis of our world and existence. “Radical” means everything can be put into question, even philosophy itself (its own foundation). There are no prejudices allowed. For philosophy, nothing is taken for granted.

• Rational: No dogmas are allowed; it is based on logical arguments and experience.
• Systematic: Its assertions are related and hierarchical, ordered systematically without contradictions.
• Critical: Everything has to be examined by reason, even the simplest thing.

Philosophy is a problematizing discipline. Its value lies in its peculiar way of addressing problems more than in how it solves them. The questions, more than its answers, are valuable. It is a universalist

Public Speaking

A Well-Structured Talk

• Thorough subject knowledge
• Smart and professional appearance
• Careful preparation
• Good eye contact
• An enthusiastic attitude
• Strong voice
• Creative use of visuals
• Expansive body language

Transitional Phrases

• To start off, then
• To move on to my next point
• To go back to what I was saying
• To turn now to a different matter
• To say a bit more about that
• To give you an example of what I mean
• To digress for a moment
• To sum up, then

Techniques to Maximize Voice Use

• Rhetorical questions
• Dramatic contrast
• Tripling
• Repetition
• Simplification
• Emphasis
• Softening
• Machine gunning

Ethical Business Practices

Key Terms

• Ethical: Relating to beliefs about what is morally right and wrong.
• Activist: A person who believes strongly in political or social change

Social Darwinism

Social Darwinism is the false idea that nature legitimises the oppression of the socially weaker by the stronger. It is based on the Darwinian theory of evolution, which states that the fittest individuals survive and reproduce. However, Social Darwinism ignores the fact that humans are not simply animals, and that we have developed moral and ethical values that prevent us from acting in a purely selfish manner.

The Role of Aggression and Violence in the Evolution of Species

Aggression among members of the same species is fundamental for the conservation of the species. For example, fighting between rivals helps to determine who is the strongest and most fit to reproduce. In the case of humans, aggression has also played a role... Continue reading "Philosophical Implications of Evolutionism" »

Vocabulary Builder: Essential Words and Definitions

Cosy: Warm and comfortable.

Endangered: Said about species of animals in danger of extinction.

Fierce: Violent and savage.

Hectic: Extremely active.

Illogical: Something with a lack of logic.

Impossible: Something that cannot be done or achieved.

Inconvenient: Something that causes problems or difficulties.

International: Involving many nationalities.

Irrelevant: Something not important in a particular case.

Lifelong: Said about something that lasts or is supposed to remain forever.

Overpopulated: That has more people than permitted or advisable.

Tame: Change from wild to domesticate made by humans.

Unfair: Something that is not honest or fair.

Wild: Said of an animal living in its natural environment.

Phrases

   1.Argument: a set Of propositions consisting of premises and a conclusion.Deduction: Arguments where the conclusion follows necessarily from the premises.Induction: Arguments where the conclusion follows from the premises with some degree of Probability. Validity: when It is impossible for a deductive argument to have all true premises and a false Conclusion. Soundness: when a Deductive argument is valid and all the premises are actually true.Strength: when The conclusion is probable/likely relative to the premises in an inductive Argument. Reliability: when An inductive argument is strong and all the premises are actually true.It is important because is like the basis of Everything. It brings some structure of were to start the argument,

BEAUTY AND AESTHETICS

What is beauty?: The human capacity to feel something or have sensations. In philosophy, AESTHETICS refers to a particular type of sensations: those related to beauty and ugliness

Philosophers and Beauty

The Greek philosophers believed that beauty is real by itself

Realists think that beauty is part of something else

Modernists believe that beauty is something we create

AESTHETICS-The study of beauty or the philosophy of art

THE AESTHETIC EXPERIENCE-When an encounter with beauty occurs, whether it is the product of nature or art

1. Feeling that time has stopped
2. Lightness in the perception of reality.
3. Forgetting self
4. Symbolic.
5. Ephemeral.
6. Pleasurable

The definition of beauty (according to aesthetics)

1. PERFECTION OF FORM
2. NEATNESS
3. AN ATTRACTIVE