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

Truth: Theories and Perspectives

2.4 Against the Problem of Knowledge and Truth

Parmenides distinguished two ways: truth and opinion. Connecting with this idea, Plato argued that there was a kind of true knowledge, while error belongs to the sphere of opinion. Marx and Hegel argued that error and falsehood are constituent elements of the process of knowledge. They signaled that there were false and ideological conceptions that have attempted to be presented as true.

Positions on the Subject-Object Relationship

• Idealism: The criterion of truth is about the subject that creates or constructs the object. Reality cannot be known directly. The cognitive structure of the human being is imposed and determines how to see things.
• Realism: The criterion of

Plato's Theory of Ideas

Plato accepted the existence of mathematical objects and values but doubted the existence of sensible things. It seemed absurd that vulgar things could be Ideas, as Ideas are perfect, unlike the imperfect sensible world. He established a hierarchy of Ideas. The Idea of the Good is supreme, followed by Beauty and Justice.

Platonic Cosmology

According to Plato, any explanation of the sensible world cannot be truly scientific, but rather a plausible narrative filled with guesswork. Initially, there was only Chaos. To transform it into the Cosmos, Plato introduced the Demiurge, an ordering intelligence. This intelligence needed a model, which it found in the World of Ideas. It is a teleological model, pursuing a specific purpose.... Continue reading "Plato's Philosophy: Ideas, Soul, and Knowledge" »

Case 9.

1. This case concerns a labor contract under which the contractor, SA Aerodynamicist, undertakes to implement a diffuser for Renault. Renault, in turn, agrees to pay a certain price for the work.

Regarding the first question, we set out the following:

The contract is perfected when Renault makes an offer and Aerodynamic Engineers conduct simultaneous acceptance (Art. 1262 CC). Acceptance is the willingness shown by Aerodynamic Engineers to whom the offer is made, giving their consent to it. This also applies the principle of autonomy, but more limited in supply, because when accepting the offer coincides with the contract is perfected. Acceptance may also be revoked, provided it has not been made known to the offeror.

The time and place... Continue reading "Labor Contract Case Study: Diffuser Manufacturing for Renault" »

Key Elements of Textual Composition

Textual Structure

Deductive/Inductive Synthesizing

This involves organizing information by moving from general principles to specific conclusions (deductive synthesizing) or from specific observations to broader generalizations (inductive synthesizing).

Thesis Formulation

Explicit/Implicit Thesis

A thesis is the main argument or central point of a text. It can be explicit (clearly stated) or implicit (suggested or understood without being directly stated).

Cohesion in Writing

Cohesion is the property a text must possess, ensuring all statements are interconnected and flow logically, creating a unified whole.

Lexical Cohesion Techniques

• Synonymy: Replacement of a word with another of similar meaning.
• Hyponymy: Replacement

What is a Natural Abortion?

A natural abortion, also known as a miscarriage or spontaneous abortion, is the spontaneous death of an embryo or fetus before it is developed enough to survive. This can occur even before a woman knows she is pregnant.

Most miscarriages occur during the first three months of pregnancy, before the twelfth week of gestation. A small number of natural abortions – less than 1% – are stillbirths, occurring after the twentieth week of pregnancy.

Symptoms of Abortion

Many women never even know they have had a miscarriage and interpret it as a particularly heavy menstruation.

Some women experience abdominal cramps, blood spotting, heavy bleeding, abdominal pain and/or pelvic pain, weakness, or back pain. A small amount of... Continue reading "Natural Abortion: Causes, Symptoms, and Types" »

World View of the Big Bang

The World View of the Big Bang breaks with the static idea of the universe and embraces the idea that it is continually evolving. It provides a starting point for the universe (the Big Bang) and a potential end point (Grand Pasgón). The expansion caused by the Big Bang generated new material, resulting in chemical elements and their clusters.

The Term "Sense"

Sense, purpose, or direction: From this point of view, human actions make sense when pursuing a purpose and are appropriate for it. The question of environmental concerns arises if they are appropriate means to the desired end. The term "meaning" is intended to assert that the universe has an ultimate goal, that the universe has a "why."

Sense makes sense as meaning... Continue reading "Big Bang and the Evolving Universe: Meaning and Value" »

What can be said of Nietzsche's philosophy is that it is based on freedom from the burden of God, to become a Superman who can do what he wants without being accountable to anyone. He considers how weak those who are subject to the laws of God are, which is demonstrated in many ways, as follows:

When in his The Birth of Tragedy he speaks of the Apollonian and the Dionysian, the Apollonian represents something harmonic and orderly, which is not too good for man, and the Dionysian is the essence of life. He also states that morality is anti-life, and that moral life should be condemned. Nietzsche criticized Socrates for having "invented" morality.

Nietzsche's Moral Distinction

Nietzsche makes a distinction between two types of morality:

• Slave Morality:

Tensions Between Individual and Society

5.1 Rejection

Rejection occurs when the majority social group does not accept or recognize certain individuals as full members. This depends on various factors, and social responsiveness can vary.

5.2 Self-Exclusion

Self-exclusion is the opposite of rejection. In this case, the individual does not identify with the group and therefore excludes themselves. The factors causing this lack of recognition are diverse and may be due to sudden changes in society or community.

5.2.1 Consequences

5.2.1.1 Marginalization

Marginalization results from both self-exclusion and rejection, fundamentally leading to a state of isolation.

5.2.1.2 Violence

Violence is both a cause and consequence of social rejection. The aggressiveness... Continue reading "Individual vs Society: Tensions, Exclusion, and Philosophical Views" »

Grammar Essentials

Pronouns: Singular and Plural

Singular vs. Plural:

• 1st Person: I, me / We, us
• 2nd Person: You / You
• 3rd Person: He, she, it, him, her / They, them

Demonstrative Pronouns

This, that, these, those, mine, yours, his, hers, ours, theirs.

Adverbs

• Place: Here, there, in front, behind.
• Time: Today, yesterday, still, afterwards.
• Manner: Well, wrong.
• Quantity: Very, little.
• Affirmation: Yes, well, sure.
• Negation: No, never.
• Doubt: Maybe, probably.

Prepositions

A, before, under, with, against, from, during, between, to, through, for, according to, on, after.

Literary Forms

Tragedy

Tragedy deals with serious or painful subjects. It produces wonder or compassion in the viewer, and the outcome is unfortunate.

Comedy

Comedy deals with happy, pleasant, or... Continue reading "Grammar Essentials and Literary Forms" »

Descartes

Descartes, a rationalist, believed that true knowledge comes from pure reason. He argued that the senses are misleading and do not provide a true vision of reality, citing illusory illnesses as an example. Geometry, based on pure reasoning, was considered the only reliable source of knowledge. Descartes also defended the existence of innate ideas—knowledge present from birth—such as the existence of God and infinity.

Hume

Hume, an empiricist, believed that experience is the only reliable source of knowledge. He likened the mind to a blank slate filled by lived experiences. Only what could be sensed was considered true and real, leading Hume to critique science, metaphysics, and religion.

Kant

Influenced by Hume, Kant sought to reconcile... Continue reading "Knowledge, Emotions, and the Human Experience" »