Buridan’s ass
The traditional illustrative example, first found in Aristotle but now associated with Buridan, of the problem of decision making when there is no reason…
Encyclopedia
Find out our Encyclopedia of Philosophy, which a list of the most common philosophy concepts, ideas and theories, such as God, subjectivity, mankind, …
Intersubjectivity – Definition
Intersubjectivity is a recent concept in philosophy. In Hegel, the question of otherness had no place, solipsism (only the subject existed) prevailed in Descartes and…
Happiness – Philosophical Definition
How to define happiness ? How to achieve it ? The heart of Ancient Philosophy In ancient philosophy, the purpose of human life is…
Abstract Ideas – Definition
What is an abstract Idea ? Abstract ideas is a concept the peculiar nature has been a long-standing concern with philosophers. If words are…
The Principle of the Best: All is for the best
The principle of the best lies in Leibniz’s philosophy, whose think the absolute perfection of the world. This principle has been satirized by Voltaire…
Art – Philosophical Definition
What is art to philosophy ? Philosophy does not know what art is. Philosophy is only concerned about the function of art. In antiquity,…
Feelings
The feeling, in philosophy, is defined as anything that we feel, especially the low-intensity emotions and passions, and the general inclinations of man (moral…
What is Terrorism ? Derrida’s Answer
Here is atranscription of a french interview given by Jacques Derrida, a major contemporary philosopher, about the September 11 attacks and about terrorism. In…
Existentialism – Definition
What is existentialism? A Philosophical Definition Existentialism presents itself primarily as a way of philosophizing. The philosophy is chiefly aimed at exposing the man…
Agnosticism – Philosophical Definition
Agnosticism is the thesis that, contrary to what atheists and theists alike assume, it is either in practice or in principle imposible to know…
Television and Democracy: A Philosophical Analysis
TV and philosophers usually do not mix. The demonization of the media began in the fifties (ie from birth of the small screen) under…
The Philosophy of Education
What is education? Education was first advocated by the family in order to favor the socialization of kids. The school is the transmition of knowledge; The…
Philosophy in a Time of Terror by Habermas
Here is atranscription of a french interview given by Jürgen Habermas, a major german contemporary philosopher, about the September 11 attacks and about global…
Freud and Sublimation
Sublimation is a psychoanalytic concept invented by Sigmund Freud to describe the transformation of tendencies or instincts in lower rates and higher sentiments. For…
Is Kant a philosopher of the Enlightenment?
Yes, for two reasons: – Kant lived in the 18th century called the Age of the Enlightenment, or Age of Reason – Kant published an essay on the Enlightenment: What is Enlightenment? which provides the following response: Think for yourself.
Hedonism & Epicureanism
The difference between hedonism and Epicureanism reports to the pleasure: – Epicurus says that man must control his pleasures, delights in not only agreed to thenatural and necessary (basic needs) – Hedonists believe that man must maximize its pleasures, whatever they are.
Proletarian Dictatorship – Marx
What is the dictatorship of the proletariat in Marx? Definition Karl Marx’s philosophy is a philosophy of history. In other words, Marx believed that…
Machine-Animals
What is the theory of Descartes’ animal-machine? Descartes believed that animals have no mind and their movements are reduced to a set of purely…
Eudaemonism
What is eudaemonism? Eudaemonism (Greek eudemonia, happy) is a branch of moral philosophy that promotes happiness as the supreme goal of the human existence….
Epicureanism and Stoicism
There are many differences (moral conception of man, ontology, metaphysics, …) between Epicureanism and Stoicism, two of the most known philosophy schools: – Epicureanism advocates a minimum happiness, but a philosophy of the will. –…