Notes, abstracts, papers, exams and problems of Philosophy and ethics

From Myth to Logos: A Shift in Thinking

The transition from myth to logos signifies a fundamental shift in mindset: the capacity to conceive of myths yielded to the rational approach of Philosophy. This transformation in thinking unfolded in Greece during the Archaic period of its history (8th-6th centuries BCE). Throughout this era, certain individuals began to challenge both the mythical interpretations of reality and traditional mythical religion.

Mythical explanations of reality, presented as truths, gradually failed to satisfy human curiosity. Consequently, by the 6th century BCE, early philosophers emerged, who demanded objective testing and demonstration, essentially seeking rational explanations rather than narratives. The traditional... Continue reading "From Myth to Logos: The Rise of Rational Thought" »

The Body and Soul

Departing from the Pythagorean idea of the body as the soul's prison, St. Augustine, influenced by the incarnation of the Word, exalts the human body. Regarding the soul's origin, Augustine admits uncertainty between the prevailing theories of Tertullian's traducianism (parental generation) and St. Jerome's creationism. He believes, however, that the souls of Adam and Christ were divinely created.

The Soul and God

Central to Augustine's thought are the soul and God. Understanding humanity necessitates inquiring about God, as humanity is incomplete without God. The human soul, mirroring the Trinity, is also one and triune in its capacity for mind, knowledge, and love. "Therefore, the mind, its knowledge, and love are three,... Continue reading "St. Augustine's Philosophy of Soul and God" »

The Emergence of Philosophy in Ancient Greece

The appearance of philosophy in Greece coincided with a flourishing of trade and freedom of expression, particularly in relation to Egypt. The solar eclipse of 585 BC is often cited as a marker for the birth of philosophy.

Birth of Rational Discourse

The shift from Mythos to Logos (from myth to reason) marked the beginning of rational discourse focused on understanding the natural world.

• Egypt: Contributed writing, arithmetic, and astronomy.
• Greece: Focused on reflecting upon knowledge (filo-sofia).

Early Philosophers and Their Ideas

The first philosophers sought to understand the physical world using Logos, a rational approach to understanding things. They aimed to comprehend the natural world through... Continue reading "Ancient Greek Philosophy: Origins and Key Thinkers" »

Language in Communication

Language, an interpersonal communication system, serves three primary functions:

• Representative: Linguistic signs symbolize and represent states of affairs.
• Expressive: Linguistic signs manifest the speaker's internal states.
• Appellate: Linguistic signs act as signals, eliciting a reaction from the receiver.

Dimensions of Language

Words, as part of a linguistic code, form the basis of communication across all languages. Three core dimensions shape language:

• Syntactic: This dimension governs the relationships between signs. Syntactic rules dictate word order within phrases and sentences. For example, a sentence like "Transmit a dog does not bite me" is syntactically flawed.
• Semantic: This dimension concerns the relationship

Ethics

Ethics is an edge. Practicing it involves trafficking in human rights at the individual level.

Right is a capacity that humans have to freely choose between different possibilities, knowing the truth of something.

Freedom is a value that is synonymous with thinking and acting independently of any coercion. Freedom always supposes responsibility.

Disclaimer: This is a mean value of what we know to respond freely.

Morality: We have a set of rules that humans use to regulate their behavior and form their personality. For example: Friendship.

• Theoretical reason: "Things are like this" -> Science
• Practical reason: To make things sound! -> Ethics

Ethics: Interested in acts done by a subject with morality.

Values

Values are qualities that people... Continue reading "Ethical Principles and Values in Decision-Making" »

Thomas Aquinas: Reason and Faith

Thomas Aquinas explores the relationship between reason and faith. His theology is based on this relationship, asserting that knowledge beyond reason or experience is accessible through revelation and reason. Theology, therefore, becomes a paramount science.

Rationalized Theology of Thomas Aquinas

1. Faith and Reason are Distinct: Reason, based solely on experience, can solve problems within the realm of reality but cannot progress further without faith.
2. Common Truths: There are three common truths: the existence of God, the immortality of the soul, and natural law ethics.
3. No Conflict: Conflict between reason and faith is impossible. Apparent conflicts indicate either misinterpretation of reason or misunderstanding

Hume's Critique of Causality

The Empirical Basis of Causality

Hume's analysis of causality stems from empirical observation. He argues that causality is a relationship established by the mind, based on the psychological mechanisms of habit and custom. Repeated experiences create habits, which in turn form our beliefs about the future. We expect events to repeat in the future based on past occurrences due to habit.

Causality and A Priori Knowledge

Hume asserts that causal relationships cannot be known a priori. Reasoning alone, without experience, cannot reveal cause-and-effect relationships. For example, analyzing the concept of 'fire' doesn't inherently include the notion of 'pain'. Causal relationships are not between ideas; our knowledge... Continue reading "Hume's Empiricism and the Illusion of Causality" »

Plato: Life and Times

Plato was born around 428/427 BC and died in 347 BC in Athens. He was educated in the Spartan model. A disciple of Socrates, he witnessed his death. With the intention of combining philosophy and its application to policy, he left Athens and traveled to Egypt, where he assimilated mathematics. He also traveled to Megara and Syracuse, where he met Dion, who became his student. He founded the Academy in Athens, where he spent his last years, teaching music, mathematics, and the possibility of attaining absolute truth.

Political Vocation

Plato began searching for the ideal government because democracy was triumphant. Socrates' philosophical idealism clashed with the authorities, causing his unjust death. This drove Plato to... Continue reading "Plato's Life, Philosophy, and Impact" »

An Approach to Ethics and Morals

The Etymology of Ethics

The word ethics comes from the Greek and has two meanings. The first term comes from the word ethos, meaning custom or habit. Later, this originated from the word ēthos, which means way of life or character. Aristotle believed that the two words are inseparable. Ethics lies in the moral conscience of every human being and serves as an engine, brake, or steering wheel, as appropriate, for the time of action.

Understanding the Scope of Ethics

Ethics is a concept that encompasses a variety of meanings. The word ethos has a much broader sense than that given to the word ethics. Ethics includes the disposition of man in life, character, custom, and morals. We could translate it as "the mode or... Continue reading "Ethics and Morality: Understanding the Principles" »