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

The Origin of Philosophy

• It begins with the recognition of ignorance
• It's a theoretical type of knowledge that aims to transform reality
• It's universal
• It

Six Core Aspects of Religiosity

There are six features of religion: authority, ritual, explanations, traditions, grace, and mystery.

• Authority: Leaving divine authority aside and approaching the matter in human terms only, authority is a central pillar.
• Ritual: A second normal feature of religion is ritual—the practices we perform for our faith.
• Explanation: The third aspect is explanation, which answers the profound questions in our minds.
• Tradition: Fourth is tradition, which helps us pass information and religious practices to future generations.
• Grace: A fifth typical feature of religion is grace—a belief often difficult to sustain in the face of harsh facts.
• Mystery: Finally, religion traffics in mystery. Not everything is fully explained;

Gulliver's Travels: A Satirical Exploration of Humanity

3rd Voyage: The Floating Island of Laputa

The King's Unique Policy

Even though the Laputians excel only in music and mathematics, they still desire world domination. This exemplifies human nature, as the King employs a peculiar tactic: if neighboring islands disobey, he hovers Laputa above them, blocking sunlight and rain while dropping stones until they submit.

Lost in Thought

Laputians are so engrossed in their internal world of deep thought that they require constant reminders of their actions. This serves as a metaphor for individuals consumed by their own thoughts, oblivious to the external world, and convinced of their own righteousness.

4th Voyage: The Land of the Houyhnhnms

Reason vs.

In order to achieve happiness

, Aristotle believed it is necessary to live our lives in accordance to reasons and virtues. Intelligence and virtue are these fundamental ideas he believed can help us become the “supreme good”. Furthermore, happiness seems to be more of a pursuit rather than a state of being. Hence, I believe his definition of happiness lies on the dependency of ourselves. If we were to choose a virtuous path, it can give us the best way to live our lives and more importantly, finding our true form of happiness in the process.

Eudaimonia

is the pursuit of true happiness in our lives. For Aristotle, he believed we should obtain good habits; helping others in need in order to bring greatness into our lives. By displaying many... Continue reading "Aristotle's Definition of Happiness and Acts of Kindness in the Story" »

Explain what the Success Theory of self-interest is, as described by Derek Parfit.

A theory of self-interest is a general answer to the question ‘what would be in a person’s interest?’ or ‘what would be best for a person? ’Or what would make a person’s life go for him, as well as possible? The success theory of self-interest is part of the desire-fulfillment theories, which claim that what would make one’s life go best is whatever would best fulfill one’s desires. What makes one’s life’s go better is whatever better fulfills their desires. The success theory restricts the relevant desires to be desires about one’s own life. Only desires that involve me will be relevant in determining whether or not my life is going better... Continue reading "Theories of Self-Interest and Virtue Ethics in Aristotle's Philosophy" »

Plato's Republic: Key Concepts

Virtues for Each Class

Producers

Artisans/producers should master temperance (control of desire) to maintain societal balance. Moderate enjoyment of material wealth prevents overproduction and laziness.

Auxiliaries

Warriors/auxiliaries require fortitude and courage. They must prioritize the city's safety over their own lives and bravely face challenges.

Rulers

Rulers need wisdom and knowledge of the good. They must discern the city's needs and guide citizens towards the common good.

The Role and Censorship of Poetry

Poetry plays a role in education, but Plato believes it should be censored. Its beauty and charm can mask harmful narratives.

The Importance of Music and Gymnastics

Music and gymnastics are crucial for education.... Continue reading "Plato's Republic: Virtues, Censorship, and Education" »

Economic Morality: A Comparative Analysis

Reciprocity: The Gift and the Obligation

In societies where reciprocity reigns, gift-giving carries a powerful obligation. Accepting a gift creates a debt that must be repaid, often leading to competitive gifting to maintain balance. Consider the tale of Nasrudin, who, feeling pressured by societal norms, upgraded his humble gift of turnips to grapes for the king, only to face ridicule.

Hierarchy: Power Imbalances and Their Manifestations

Contrary to reciprocity, hierarchical economic morality thrives on inequality. Two primary forms emerge:

Plunder

This form involves extracting resources from those with less power, often becoming habitual. An example is the historical practice of tribute paid to a king... Continue reading "Understanding Economic Morality: Reciprocity, Hierarchy, and the Illusion of Pure Systems" »

Concept of Society

The political community and civil society, although mutually connected and interdependent, are not equal in the hierarchy of ends. The political community is essentially at the service of civil society and, in the final analysis, the persons and groups of which civil society is composed. Civil society, therefore, cannot be considered an extension or a changing component of the political community; rather, it has priority because it is in civil society itself that the political community finds its justification.

Civil society is the sum of relationships and resources, cultural and associative, that are relatively independent from the political sphere and the economic sector. The purpose of civil society is universal, since it... Continue reading "Foundations of Society: Civil Society, Common Good, and Human Rights" »

True or False Statements

1. Are the following statements TRUE or FALSE? Copy the evidence from the text. No marks are given for only TRUE or FALSE. (Maximum score: 2 points)

a) A small minority of people cannot identify other people's faces easily.

TRUE: "In fact, about 2 percent of the population has prosopagnosia, a condition characterized by great difficulty in recognizing faces."

b) Super-recognizers are only able to recognize people who have the same appearance as when they met.

FALSE: "Often super-recognizers are able to recognize another person despite significant changes in appearance..."

Questions Based on the Text

2. In your own words and based on the ideas in the text, answer the following questions. Do not copy from the text. (Maximum... Continue reading "Facial Recognition: From Prosopagnosia to Super-Recognizers" »

Imagery and Symbolism in Infant Sorrow

The Child: Innocence, Sin, and Instinct

The interpretation of the child in William Blake's Infant Sorrow heavily relies on the reader's preconceived notions about children. During Blake's era, newborns were often viewed as symbols of innocence, as depicted in poems like Infant Joy and in Cradle Song. The New Testament, for instance, records Jesus stating that the Kingdom of God belongs to those who embody the innocence and humility of little children. Some Christians of the time believed children arrived fresh from God, retaining a memory of Him—an idea particularly popular among the Romantics. Consequently, children were seen as reflecting God's creativity and goodness.

Conversely, followers of Rousseau... Continue reading "William Blake's Infant Sorrow: Symbolism & Childhood Themes" »