Philosophy Essay Examples and Topics. Page 2

2,109 samples

Michael Sandel’s Objections to Utilitarianism

The moral and intellectual pleasures were considered to be "highest pleasures", and the experiences, that caused satisfaction of flesh were considered to be "lower pleasures". The pleasures of the majority, in that case, are considered [...]
  • Subjects: Ethical Philosophy
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 593

“On Functionalism and Materialism” by Paul Churchland

That being the case, the concept mainly focuses on the relationships between outputs and the targeted inputs. This knowledge explains why the two aspects of materialism will make it easier for individuals to redefine their [...]
  • Subjects: Philosophical Works
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 583

Reflection on Confucianism

Yao reacts against the constricted view of the philosophy, which comes from failure to open into the historical development of the philosophy and the role of the Confucian tradition as a whole in advancing Confucianism.
  • Subjects: Philosophical Theories
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 966

Philosophical Issues on Plato’s Phaedo

Weiss argues that Plato used the argument by Socrates that true philosophers hate the pleasures of the body, for example, drinks, sex, and food.
  • Subjects: Philosophical Theories
  • Pages: 8
  • Words: 2221

Marx and the Young Hegelians

Many of the writings of the Young Hegelians focused on the refutation of religion and need to replace religion with philosophy as the moral criterion for the society and means for understanding history.
  • Subjects: Philosophers
  • Pages: 7
  • Words: 1951

Sense experience is the only source of knowledge

Theories such as rationalism the Intuition/Deduction thesis and Innate Knowledge thesis which support the notion that there is the existence of intrinsic or instinctive knowledge or the subsistence of a priori knowledge, knowledge of necessary [...]
  • Subjects: Philosophical Theories
  • Pages: 8
  • Words: 2164

Cartesian Dualistic Theory of Pain

Cartesian developed the Cartesian Dualistic Theory of Pain to explain the relationship between physical and psychological types of pain. Therefore, Descartes developed the Cartesian Theory of pain to explore pain in the context of mind [...]
  • Subjects: Philosophical Theories
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 630

The Theory of Utilitarianism by Jeremy Bentham

According to utilitarianism, the greatest ethical action is the one that benefits society, and the value of each person is more significant than the value of a community.
  • Subjects: Ethical Philosophy
  • Pages: 1
  • Words: 329

The Meaning of Life by Richard Taylor

Among the seekers of the sense of life was the American metaphysician Robert Taylor, whose essay "The Meaning of Life" addresses the title issue in a thought-provoking way that involves a negative proof: in his [...]
  • Subjects: Life Philosophy
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1159

“Man is a Political Animal” by Aristotle

This is based on the fact that the philosophical ideas expressed by these scholars have proven to be greatly important in offering guidance to various facets of life-like cultural, social, political, and economic endeavors In [...]
  • Subjects: Political Philosophies
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1131

Philosophy Issue: Truth vs. Happiness

The only way the truth will be concealed and still lead to happiness is when the truth is substituted with a lie.
  • Subjects: Philosophical Theories
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 543

Are We Free or Determined?

A decision to do the right thing in the society, for example, is determined by the moral standards that have been set by the society.
  • 5
  • Subjects: Freedom Philosophy
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 1445

St. Augustine. Solution to the Problem of Evil

Augustine claims that the solution of evil is to do the right thing and to abstain from wrongdoing. He claims that evil results from a man trying to equal himself to God.
  • Subjects: Philosophical Concept
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 562

Locke’s and Rousseau’s Views on Freedom and Government

The first element on which the concepts of Locke and Rousseau are based is the state of freedom. In exchange for this safety, people would consent to forfeit some of their freedom and submit to [...]
  • Subjects: Political Philosophies
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1119

Marcus Aurelius’ vs. Machiavelli’s Ideal Ruler Concept

Concepts of the roles and duties have differed across civilizations and many discourses, books, and precepts have been offered to the young prince about how to conduct themselves in the affairs of the state.
  • Subjects: Political Philosophies
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 663

The Soul Ideas by Aristotle

Their organization is such that the top in the rank consists of all properties of the one at the bottom. The rational soul's ability to reason that is not in the other types of souls.
  • Subjects: Philosophical Works
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1074

The Role of Gods in Plato’s Philosophy

As Plato recounts the episode "Myth of Er" found in the republic dialogue phaedo and the story of time reversal in the statesman, a clear view of the hierarchical arrangement of the cosmos is illuminated.
  • Subjects: Philosophical Theories
  • Pages: 7
  • Words: 2081

Philippa Foot’s System of Hypothetical Imperatives

Foot argues that morality should be presented as a system of hypothetical imperatives due to the fact that morality does not differ from anything else, for example, etiquette.
  • Subjects: Philosophical Concept
  • Pages: 1
  • Words: 279

​Do the “Ends Justify the Means?”

When comparing the crimes that might be committed and the fact that the person will be late for work, it is clear that the lateness is not as important.
  • Subjects: Ethical Philosophy
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 859

“Oedipus Rex” by Sophocles Play Analysis

The plan to kill Oedipus takes a twist when his mother and the servant refuses to kill him, allowing the opportunity to live and later to fulfill the oracles.
  • Subjects: Philosophical Works
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 814

Karl Marx and His Contributions

This is due to the fact that individuals can effectively plan what is of necessity to them and the society in general.
  • Subjects: Philosophers
  • Pages: 7
  • Words: 2057

“Leviathan” by Thomas Hobbes

The part of Leviathan entitled "Of a Christian Commonwealth" addresses such religious controversies of the 16th-17th- century United Kingdom as state and church relationships and establishment of Church of England's position towards continental Protestants and [...]
  • Subjects: Philosophy of Religion
  • Pages: 8
  • Words: 2082

Aristotle’s Notion of Time and Motion

It is also pertinent that the concept of Time is comprehended in relation to the concept of Motion. In an analysis of the nature of Time, it is most relevant to remember that Aristotle was [...]
  • Subjects: Philosophers
  • Pages: 18
  • Words: 4229

Free Will and Argument Against Its Existence

Determinism is a theory which states that the course of the future is determined by a combination of past events and the laws of nature, creating a unique outcome.
  • Subjects: Freedom Philosophy
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 1508

Rationalism. The Theory of Knowledge

The allegory is preceded by the analogy of the divided line and metaphor of the son. Descartes is considered to be one of the greatest rationalists.
  • Subjects: Philosophical Theories
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 836

Philosophy: Roland Barthes as a Structuralist

Although Barthes had not contemplated anything of the sort, his efforts and the efforts of others led to the establishment of the structuralism movement in the 1950s and the 1960s.
  • Subjects: Philosophical Theories
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 340

Aquinas and Spinoza’s Philosophical Framework

With regards to the first point or the first method to prove the existence of God, Aquinas' arguments focused on the concept of causality, so that God is the first cause or the primary mover.
  • Subjects: Philosophy of Religion
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 975

Empathy: What Is It and How Does It Work

The feeling of empathy comes up when there is a clear difference between the person being empathetic and the one who is the subject of empathy.
  • Subjects: Philosophical Theories
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 1496

Freedom and Determinism

On the other hand, determinism theory explains that there is an order that leads to occurrences of events in the world and in the universe.
  • Subjects: Freedom Philosophy
  • Pages: 6
  • Words: 1716

Life After Death

In many religions across the world, people belief in life after death and also being born again in the world after an individual. Life after death is the belief in the continuation of life after [...]
  • 3.3
  • Subjects: Life Philosophy
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 1354

Nozick’s Entitlement Theory

The Entitlement Theory of Justice is intended to submit an explanation of what justice necessitates in relation to property and is divided into three doctrines which are; the principle of justice in rectification, justice in [...]
  • 4
  • Subjects: Philosophical Theories
  • Pages: 7
  • Words: 1969

The Concept of Interconnectedness in Science

We improve our ability to make friends and relate to others and recognize the importance of prioritizing the development of healthy relationships in all aspects of life, recognizing that this is the foundation for a [...]
  • Subjects: Philosophical Concept
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1108

Self-Ownership and Absolute Private Property Rights

Robert Nozick is one of the renowned libertarian thinkers of the twentieth century who proposed a variety of ideas and concepts related to the topics of individual freedom and rights.
  • Subjects: Philosophical Concept
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 896

Philosophy: Free Will of Aristotle and Lucretius

The philosopher says that every action having place under the influence of the external force is not a free will, which comes from the inner desire and motivation of an individual. Moreover, the movie is [...]
  • Subjects: Philosophical Theories
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 608

Thomas Hobbes’ and Classical Realism Relationship

Neo-realism on the other hand is the modern realism practiced in most of the nations today. One of the greatest contributions that Hobbes made in realism was the definition of power.
  • Subjects: Political Philosophies
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 557

Cosmopolitanism

According to Holinger, a world class citizen relates well with other groups, and all human beings: Cosmopolitan is about justice, which should be evident in all aspects and it must be the one governing the [...]
  • Subjects: Philosophical Theories
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 790

Kant’s Ethics: Objection to Lying

And as lying is a form of communication, and people know this fact, the only way out in order not to be defrauded is stop communicating.
  • Subjects: Philosophical Theories
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 1378

Meno by Plato: Philosophical Ideas

He had the view that individuals naturally possess knowledge and that what they need is a direction for them to come to terms with what they already knew. He seems to be of the opinion [...]
  • Subjects: Philosophical Theories
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 547

The Perception of the Self according to Socrates

The perception of the self, according to Socrates explains the nature of man and the rationale on which man thinks. The capacity of a man is a product of the self in him; this formed [...]
  • 3.7
  • Subjects: Philosophers
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 551

Michel Foucault: Views on Prisons and Psychiatric Hospitals

The main concern of Foucault consists in the way technology has influenced quest for power among the ruling class in the society, and also the reason as to why the society is violating the rules [...]
  • Subjects: Philosophical Theories
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1143

Rational Views: Nietzsche vs. Descartes

Nietzsche in the seventh maxim asks whether man is a result of the erroneous work of God or God is the error of man.
  • 1
  • Subjects: Philosophical Theories
  • Pages: 7
  • Words: 1772

The Book “Naming the Elephant” by James Sire

In the first chapter, tired "Camel, Kangaroo, and the Elephant, the author presents the list of the seven questions that help one form their worldview, which is arguably the most significant aspect of the book.
  • Subjects: Philosophical Works
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 923

Application of Aristotle’s Golden Mean

The doctrine of the golden mean is a request for a realistic moral axiom. The word "virtue" is used in some cases to denote a personal quality and, in others, as a generalized indicator of [...]
  • Subjects: Ethical Philosophy
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 651

Husserl’s and Descartes’ Philosophies

The differences in the concept of philosophy as a science between Husserl and Descartes relate primarily to the concept of intentionality and the method of intentional analysis.
  • Subjects: Philosophers
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 925

Saint Augustine and the Question of Free Will

Applying Augustine's idea of free will to the concept of an all-knowing God, one could think that after God deprived Adam and Eve of free will, the future choices we make are made by God [...]
  • Subjects: Freedom Philosophy
  • Pages: 1
  • Words: 319

“The Subject and Power” by Michel Foucault

Unlike the older versions of power which, although they did include modern thinking, like feminism, always argued that power was only for a dominant group in society, Foucault believes that it is quite silly to [...]
  • Subjects: Political Philosophies
  • Pages: 6
  • Words: 1657

“Washing Away Your Sins” by Zhong & Liljenquist

The participants in the third study were asked to repeat the recalling process of the first study after which they had to choose between a pencil and an antiseptic wipe as gifts.
  • Subjects: Ethical Philosophy
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1215

“Virtue Ethics and Adultery” by Raja Halwani

In my opinion, that in the context of marriage and adultery, there is a connection between love and sex. According to Halwani, adultery is permissible in situations where the partner does not demonstrate fidelity, including [...]
  • Subjects: Ethical Philosophy
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 678

Socrates: Unexamined Life Is Not Worth Living

By saying that "unexamined life is not worthy living", Socrates was referring to freedom, a state of making choices about your surrounding, a state of choosing your destination, having the freedom to criticize issues, setting [...]
  • Subjects: Ethical Philosophy
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 447

“The Fallacy of Success” by G. K. Chesterton

Chesterton, in his work The Fallacy of Success, also cogitates about this very issue, underlining the fact of uselessness of these books and outlining his own ideas connected with the issue of success.
  • 1
  • Subjects: Life Philosophy
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 555

Knowledge Role in People’s Lives

Even though knowledge is often forced upon people, especially children, and due to the deficiency of the human mind, knowledge is biased.
  • Subjects: Life Philosophy
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1119

Niccolo Machiavelli’s Philosophy

According to Machiavelli, it is the duty of the prince to protect his realm and to further enhance his sovereignty. He asserts that a prince should not be generous when spending the State's wealth as [...]
  • Subjects: Ethical Philosophy
  • Pages: 6
  • Words: 1704

Plato and Aristotle: Criticisms of Democracy

To speak of it in our present time, there are only a few people who are given the power of 'sound judgement about what is right and what is wrong' and should have the power [...]
  • Subjects: Political Philosophies
  • Pages: 8
  • Words: 2260

Comparison Between Confucius and Han Feizi

Apart from the fact that he said Confucianism was responsible for the wars that were beleaguering the country; he also was extremely critical of morals and societal rotting that he witnessed.
  • 3.7
  • Subjects: Philosophers
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 1346

What is Philosophy: Meaning and Importance

In the Euthyphro, Plato reveals the nature of philosophy through the dialogues of Socrates as he goes to face the trial against corrupting young men.
  • 5
  • Subjects: Philosophers
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 832

Plato’s Philosophy

The allegory of the cave can serve in revealing some of the key reasons to mistrust the views of the majority.
  • 3.3
  • Subjects: Philosophical Theories
  • Pages: 10
  • Words: 2719

Hobbes and Descartes: the Existence of Soul Debate

Descartes argued that the notion of the soul consist of all the perceptions of intelligence and the leanings of the human will, and is totally different from the notion of the body which concerns itself [...]
  • Subjects: Philosophical Concept
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 706

Changes in Life: Positive and Negative Effects

In this paper, I shall narrate one of the significant changes in my life so as to highlight the fact that our perception of the change does at times determine whether the experience will be [...]
  • 3.8
  • Subjects: Life Philosophy
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 628

Consequentialism and Deontology

In deontology, the outcomes and consequences may not justify the means to achieve a goal, while in consequentialism, the results determine the means, and significant benefit is expected for the greatest possible number of people.
  • Subjects: Ethical Philosophy
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1168

Deontology and Utilitarianism: Comparative Analysis

The idea of the purpose justifying the means is central to utilitarianism. Utilitarianism is dependent on consequentiality since it asserts that the most moral thing to do is to use happiness for the benefit of [...]
  • Subjects: Ethical Philosophy
  • Pages: 1
  • Words: 308

The Fundamental Traits of a Philosopher

Exposure to the concepts in philosophy helps scholars develop critical, analytic, and observational abilities that may be considered the most valuable in the greater scheme of life. All that is required is to choose our [...]
  • Subjects: Philosophical Concept
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 1456

How Socrates Influenced His World and the Future

Nevertheless, the fact remains undeniable that Socrates significantly influenced both his modernity and the future development of society, demonstrating his unsurpassed oratory, proposing his method of refuting statements, and making his splendid contribution to the [...]
  • Subjects: Philosophers
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 943

The Islamic Contribution to Philosophy

This paper will examine the works and ideas of the prominent Islamic thinkers, the sources of classical or early Islam Philosophy.
  • Subjects: Philosophers
  • Pages: 9
  • Words: 804

What It Means to Be a Philosopher

The ability to wonder about the world and construct these enduring questions is the first trait a philosopher should have. The presence of the Socratic Method, which is asking questions to improve conclusions and general [...]
  • Subjects: Philosophical Concept
  • Pages: 6
  • Words: 1697

Self-Awareness and Meaningful Living

Taylor emphasizes that the difficulty of the task and the amount of time needed to accomplish it are not relevant to the concept of meaninglessness. Therefore, it can be concluded that Taylor is the proponent [...]
  • Subjects: Life Philosophy
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 1382

Determinism Argument and Objection to It

The key idea behind this notion is that "everything that's happening now and that will happen in the future was already guaranteed to happen by things that happened in the distant past".
  • Subjects: Freedom Philosophy
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1103

Stephen Greenblatt’s Concept of New Historicism

New historicism is a conservative, establishment-type of approach to literature involving the strict, historical contextual analysis and background. This means that New Historicism is a modern perspective of understanding past events through the use of [...]
  • Subjects: Philosophy of Science
  • Pages: 20
  • Words: 529

Logic and Philosophy Questions

As a rule, a traditional logical inference has two basic elements, i.e, a premise and a conclusion. Therefore, A.
  • Subjects: Philosophical Concept
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 564

Socrates’ Critique of Cephalus and Polemarchus

They include the view of justice that forms the basis of Socrates' criticism and the reason why the philosopher found Cephalus and Polemarchus definitions and views of justice unsatisfactory.
  • Subjects: Philosophers
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 1384

Socrates as a Founder of Western Philosophy

The jurors argued that Socrates' ideas and teachings corrupted the minds of young people. Some scholars believe that Socrates' views and beliefs could have influenced the later works of Plato, particularly in literary writings.
  • Subjects: Philosophers
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1166

“The American Scholar” By Ralph Waldo Emerson

The author says that the scholar should explore the nature in themselves, and "he shall see, that nature is the opposite of the soul, answering to it part for part.
  • 2
  • Subjects: Philosophical Theories
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 498

The Consequences of the Time Travel

Thus, the time travel can lead to the intolerable and even threatening consequences because of influencing the principle of the cause and effect in relation to the past and future, and as a result, the [...]
  • Subjects: Philosophical Concept
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1129

“Is Justified True Belief Knowledge?” by Gettier

In addition, the article reveals that the concepts of 'the right to be sure that' and 'has adequate evidence for' only work if the element of 'justified true belief' is not introduced in an analysis.
  • Subjects: Philosophical Concept
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 576

Philosophy of Leisure and Recreation

Deriving from the above distinction, leisure is the time at one's disposal to perform the non-routine activities and is usually rooted in the mind.
  • Subjects: Life Philosophy
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 593

Aristotle on Human Nature, State, and Slavery

This should be done with restraint and caution in order not to compromise the validity of modern studies and to avoid bias, as evident in the studies of some historical philosophers in their quoting of [...]
  • Subjects: Philosophical Works
  • Pages: 14
  • Words: 3976

Plato’s Allegory of the Cave

In Plato's Allegory of the Cave, there is much darkness in the cave and only very little light can be found in this place and it is so hard for a person who is in [...]
  • Subjects: Philosophical Theories
  • Pages: 8
  • Words: 2172

The Analects of Confucius

Everyone, including the leaders was under the umbrella of proper morals, which he said, was the linen from which the peace of the country was to be made.
  • Subjects: Philosophers
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1458

Philosophy of Existentialism

The philosophy of existentialism though difficult and abstract gives explanation to most of the questions that we ask ourselves as we go through life.
  • Subjects: Philosophical Concept
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1078

Paulo Freire’s Life, Philosophy and Teachings

Apart from the liberation theology, which resulted in a political uprising in the country forcing him to left the country, the other works of Freire include 'The Pedagogy of the Oppressed' and 'Education as the [...]
  • 1
  • Subjects: Philosophers
  • Pages: 9
  • Words: 2427