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

Early Hominid Origins and Evolution

Definition of Hominid

• Bipedal: Walking on two feet.
• Non-honing Dentition: While humans have non-honing chewing, primates such as gorillas have a honing complex, in which their very large canines cut food. The upper canines are sharpened against the lower third premolars.

Skeletal Evidence for Bipedalism

Foramen magnum, pelvis, knees, feet: seven steps, position of the foramen magnum, shape of the spine, shape of the pelvis, length of the leg, valgus knee, longitudinal foot arch, opposable big toe.

Behavioral Advantages of Bipedalism

This helps to identify what species they were because not many can be bipedal.

Pre-Australopithecines (7-5 mya)

Example: "Ardi"

They have provided critically important information about... Continue reading "Early Hominid and Homo Evolution: A Deep Dive" »

Scientific knowledge (Overview and Basic Concepts)

Common sense knowledge is important, is generalized. Scientific knowledge has many steps that must be applied to determine if the hypothesis is true or situción. Do not generalize from one case.

Knowing is an intellectual process by which a relationship between the knower (actor) and the known object (reality).

There are glances of psychology:

1) Positivists: You must show, watch for it to be valid, measure, quantify, and so on. (It is science based on evidence).

a) Post-positivist Probalan is added, it may be or not. Deductive (general to particular).

2) Phenomenology: Is the experience, emotions, phenomena. Study what is not necessarily observable. Inductive method (particular to general)

Valuation of Ways

These passages are not original; Thomas organized and developed them. There are different reactions to these routes by commentator groups:

• Radicals: Exclude the possibility of new ways.
• Moderates: Support the possibility of new tracks.
• Thomists: Divided into "hard to validate separately" (think the demonstrative value comes from the set of all the evidence) and those who "prefer any route".
• Non-Thomists: Discard anthology, return to the argument of St. Anselm.
• Kant denies the value of things and proposes a practical way to justify rational faith.
• Atheists and agnostics reject the tract differently:
  • Atheism denies the existence of God.
  • Agnosticism denies the possibility of proving the existence of God for several reasons:
    • Skepticism

Philosophical Critiques of Descartes' "Cogito Ergo Sum"

Huet's Challenge to Cartesian Evidence

A critique, often attributed to Pierre Daniel Huet, questions the Cartesian "Cogito ergo sum." It posits that we cannot accept the existence of reason as self-evident if its establishment as the rule of evidence could have been manipulated by an evil genius.

Descartes' Answer: Descartes counters that reason is an intuitive truth that reveals itself; it does not merely validate a rule of evidence established on a provisional basis. On the contrary, finding that the existence of reason is an irrefutable truth is, in fact, legitimized by the rule of evidence (though, Descartes concedes, ultimately legitimized only by God).

Hume's Empiricist Critique of the

While some argue that zoos help protect endangered species, their conservation efforts are often *ineffective*.

Ineffective Conservation Efforts

• Only a small percentage of animals in zoos are part of genuine breeding programs for endangered species.
• Even fewer are ever released back into the wild.

If zoos truly wanted to protect endangered species, they would focus on reintegrating animals into their natural habitats instead of keeping them in enclosures. In many cases, zoos prioritize popular animals that attract visitors rather than those that need urgent conservation efforts.

Prioritizing Profit Over Protection

Instead of keeping animals in captivity, resources should be directed toward:

• Protecting their natural habitats.
• Enforcing anti-poaching

Defining the Security Dilemma

The Security Dilemma is a situation where the increase in one state’s security (e.g., military strength) leads other states to fear for their own security. Consequently, it can lead to an escalation of tension (war/conflict) involving one or more parties, producing an outcome which no party truly desires.

Butterfield: Fear as the Ultimate Source

Herbert Butterfield argued that “the greatest war of history can be produced without the intervention of criminals; it could be produced between two powers.” He mentioned several propositions:

• The ultimate source is fear leading states to protect themselves, deriving from the “universal sin of humanity.”
• It requires uncertainty over others' intentions.
• Its origin is

Doxa: In Plato's theory of knowledge, doxa is the lowest level of knowledge. Through the five senses, we obtain information about the Physical World in which we live. Episteme: In Plato's theory of knowledge, episteme is the highest level of knowledge. Through the faculty of reason, we gain knowledge of the Forms in the World of Forms. Allegory of the Cave: A metaphor used by Plato to explain how, through knowledge and education, we can escape the Physical World and reach the World of Forms.

Aristotle's Knowledge

Sensory knowledge (Aristotle): Through the knowledge provided by the five senses, we understand the accidental characteristics of beings: position, colour, weight, etc. These characteristics are related to matter (hyle). Rational knowledge

Concepts of God and Proofs of Existence

Here we define fundamental theological and philosophical concepts related to the nature and existence of God.

Deism

Deism posits that God exists and can be known through reason, but He is entirely detached from human affairs. This God neither intervenes in the world nor requires prayer. He is simply a necessary element to explain the world's existence and its inherent order.

Theism

Theism asserts that God exists and can be known through reason, but especially through faith. This God creates the world and actively cares for His creation. This is the God found in most religions.

Ontological Argument

The Ontological Argument is a proof of God's existence based on the idea of God we hold in our minds. We conceive... Continue reading "Essential Philosophical & Theological Concepts: Nietzsche, Augustine, Ancient Greek Ideas" »

Features of Cooperative Societies

Cooperative societies are characterized by voluntary membership, democratic management, limited liability, a service motive, and a focus on mutual benefit rather than profit maximization. Here are the key features of cooperative societies:

1. Voluntary and Open Membership

   Cooperative societies are open to anyone who uses and benefits from their services and is willing to accept the responsibilities of membership. Membership is voluntary, meaning individuals are free to join or leave. There are no restrictions on membership based on race, gender, religion, or economic status.

2. Democratic Management

   Cooperative societies are managed democratically, with members having a say in the organization's affairs. The principle

OECD Corporate Governance Principles

Contemporary discussions of corporate governance tend to refer to principles raised in Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) reports.

• Rights and Equitable Treatment of Shareholders

  Organizations should respect the rights of shareholders and help shareholders to exercise those rights. They can help shareholders exercise their rights by openly and effectively communicating information and by encouraging shareholders to participate in general meetings.

• Interests of Other Stakeholders

  Organizations should recognize that they have legal, contractual, social, and market-driven obligations to non-shareholder stakeholders, including employees, investors, creditors, suppliers, local communities,