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

Ethics: Saint Thomas Aquinas and Aristotle

Saint Thomas Aquinas and Aristotle agree on Eudaimonia. Both raise an ethics based on the search for happiness and theologians consider an ultimate end. Man acts for an end, for a good, and the supreme good is happiness. Being happy, for Saint Thomas, is seeing the highest good, and the maximum happiness is to see God and be in Heaven.

We live on Earth, and God gives us laws to live this life. The divine law is the law of God revealed through the apostles. We must meet the eternal law, which only God knows completely. We know some of what God has revealed, but we cannot know all of His will. The law of nature has natural tendencies arising from it. Positive law depends on the natural law, and the moral

Mitosis: from a stem cell we have 2 cel. daughters with the same DNA and chromosomes of the parent cell. phases: prophase (the nucleolus divides the trancripcion between different chromosomes, chromosomes begin to condense and become visible with their 2 chromatids, citoeskeleto microtubules reorganize and build bone mitotic, end the fibrous lamina disintegrates and starts to disappear the nuclear envelope. Metaphase: mebrana disappears nuclear and mitotic hus extending from one pole to another, when a microtubule is polar with the kinetochore, catch it, the microtubules kinetochores put nel chromosomes and the spindle equatorial plane, thus, each chromatid look toward the pole of the cell, chromosomes aligned e nel form the equatorial plane

Understanding Philosophical Anthropology

Anthropology, at its core, refers to the study of humanity. Philosophical anthropology is a distinct discipline within philosophy that delves into the fundamental question: "Who is man?" While many disciplines, such as psychology, medicine, and cultural anthropology, also study human beings, philosophical anthropology differentiates itself by focusing on the essential characteristics and determinants of what it means to be human. It questions what makes a human being truly human, and how this distinguishes us from other entities. This field does not primarily reflect on the specific actions of human beings or the characteristics of what it considers real, but rather examines the very essence of human... Continue reading "Philosophical Anthropology: Socrates, Plato, Aristotle on Human Nature" »

Mathematization and Scientific-Technical Development

The speech proposes a method and a criterion of truth that are inherent in mathematics. Descartes thus believed that all science would gain similar assurance. The characteristic of mathematization is that from a saturated environment, it has permeated almost every field of Western science. From Cartesian axes to the design of particle accelerators, the same parameter persists: the real is considered mathematizable. The understanding of things is achieved by quantifying, i.e., reducing to quantity and then finding the relations between these quantities. Major discoveries in science (physics, biology, security, audio) and their technical applications (engineering, medicine, etc.) have been such... Continue reading "Cartesianism: Mathematization and Reason's Autonomy" »

The Quest for Arche: Early Greek Philosophers

What kind of reality is the unitary order that justifies the diversity of things in the world? The answers given to this question may seem naive, but what is important is not the answers, but the very wording of that question.

The Ionian School

A common characteristic unites these thinkers: All things share one and the same first principle, or arche. Their basic concern is to find the foundation that explains the common constitution of everything; that which informs us about *physis*, i.e., the physical world.

• Thales: He sees the arche in water, observing the different forms it takes and how water is the essential element of life.
• Anaximander: The first to use the word arche. He posits that the basic

Understanding Key Philosophical Concepts

Intuition: Intuition is direct and immediate knowledge, without reasoning, generally considered obvious.

Skepticism: Skepticism is questioning claims that are often taken for granted.

Phenomenology: Phenomenology studies events as they appear in consciousness, focusing on the relationship between facts.

Eidetic: Eidetic relates to essence and ideas, as opposed to factual or sensible matters.

Hermeneutics: Hermeneutics is the art of interpreting texts to determine the precise meaning of words and expressed thoughts.

Subjective: Subjectivity is based on the individual's viewpoint, influenced by interests and wishes, contrasting with objectivity.

Pantonomia: Also called universalism, pantonomia is the study of... Continue reading "Understanding Key Philosophical Concepts and Their Meanings" »

Philosophical Concepts of Happiness

Epicureanism: Happiness as Pleasure

For the Epicurean, all matter is composed, and happiness is defined as achieving the maximum possible degree of pleasure. This pleasure must be the end of life that guides humanity.

According to Epicurus, happiness is the consecution of passive pleasures (freedom from suffering in body and soul, known as Ataraxia and Aponia), and not necessarily active pleasures (which we actively pursue).

Three Types of Desires

• Natural and Necessary: They satisfy organic needs and trends.
• Natural and Unnecessary: Desires leading to unnecessary consumption.
• Neither Natural nor Necessary: Desires aimed at achieving glory and fame.

The wise person should seek the satisfaction of natural and necessary... Continue reading "Defining Happiness: Epicureanism, Utility, and Political Theory" »

1. Historical and Cultural Context

Ancient Greek philosophy flourished from the 7th century BC to the 1st century AD, encompassing three distinct periods:

A. Hellenic Period

Monarchies, the dominant form of government in the Greek polis until 650 BC, were replaced by oligarchies and subsequently by tyrannies that spread throughout the Mediterranean colonies. In the 5th century BC, Athens emerged as a prominent city, adopting a democratic constitution under Pericles. This era marked a golden age for Athens. Following victory over the Persians in the Median Wars, Athens led the Delian League, and its democratic system was emulated by other cities. However, Athens' prosperity sparked jealousy in Sparta, leading to the Peloponnesian War. Sparta's... Continue reading "Ancient Greek Philosophy: From Pre-Socratics to Plato" »

Kant and the Enlightenment

Why Kant is an Enlightenment Philosopher

• Kant embodies most of the features generally outlined in the previous paragraphs on the Enlightenment, directly related to the concerns illustrated.
• His Critique of Pure Reason is one of the most significant human attempts to prove that critical reason is the sole source of all human knowledge, being the main characteristic of man and his progress.
• Kant's philosophy is instantly recognizable in the priority given to reason as the supreme power and the only court that can dictate the truth. His judgments are subject to themes of religion, progress, society, morality, man, freedom, law, and, above all, one's duty to reason as the sole judge of all.
• Kant was consistent with the primacy

The Role of Myth in Ancient Greece

Mythology attempts to provide a comprehensive explanation of the universe, often based on the deification of natural phenomena, with explanations revealed by supernatural beings. Alternatively, it can be defined as a primitive explanation relying solely on imagination to find answers.

In ancient Greece, early poets like Homer and Hesiod composed myths. These poets were visionaries connected with nature, not philosophers. Their narratives reflected humanity's effort to formulate coherent answers to questions about reality, serving to organize societal conduct. Oral poetry, with its voice, sounds, and tone, expressed emotion and was inherently mythic or mythographical.

A key characteristic of mythic narratives... Continue reading "Ancient Greek Thought: From Myth to Rational Inquiry" »