Philosophy Essay Examples and Topics. Page 2

2,053 samples

Plato on Knowledge and Opinion

The primary division of Plato's classification is the division of knowledge into sensory and intellectual knowledge. The first category of knowledge, namely sensory knowledge, is perceived as a lower type, and intellectual knowledge is the [...]
  • Subjects: Philosophical Works
  • Pages: 1
  • Words: 363

Associationist Theories of Thought

The first doctrine is that the more recondite phenomena of the mind are formed out of simple parts. Associationism is the theory of psychology explaining the connection between thoughts and past experiences.
  • Subjects: Philosophical Theories
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 893

Divided Line and the Allegory of the Cave

It is necessary to underline the fact that the thinker strived to clarify common features of his Divided Line and the allegory of the Cave; the analysis of his philosophy gives an opportunity to realize [...]
  • Subjects: Philosophical Theories
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 624

Utilitarianism vs. Moral Relativism

If to assume that moral relativism is true, then it is impossible to discuss good and bad outside the specific situation. Thus, their actions were morally wrong according to the assumptions of moral relativism.
  • Subjects: Ethical Philosophy
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 1213

“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

Justice: A Natural Law or a Social Construction?

In the end, both Hobbes and Locke come to agree on a rather plan ground that, in the state of nature, human behaviors are supposed to be guided by the laws of nature.
  • Subjects: Philosophical Theories
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 1378

Aristotle’s Virtue Theory vs. Buddha’s Middle Path

The purpose of this paper is to review each of the two theories and develop a comparison between them. This term is in contrast to the paths of extremities described by eternalism and annihilationism that [...]
  • Subjects: Philosophy of Religion
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 323

Karl Marx’s Concept of Alienation

According to Marx, that is called the externalization of a worker in his product. A man does not choose the productive activity, he is a part of it only because he is forced to he [...]
  • Subjects: Philosophical Concept
  • Pages: 7
  • Words: 2028

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

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

A Defence of Thrasymachus Concept of Justice

As they argue with Socrates on the issue of injustice, Thrasymachus says that justice "is nothing more than the advantage of the stronger". According to them, the cardinal aim of Thrasymachus is to prove that [...]
  • 5
  • Subjects: Philosophical Theories
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1129

John Rawls’ Theory of Justice

1 This is a classless principle calling for justice equality promoting mutual understanding; nevertheless, taken the way it is, this principle would confuse people on some issues and this is why Rawls compliments it with [...]
  • Subjects: Philosophical Theories
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1188

Immanuel Kant Ethics

Kant argues that, "a person is good or bad depending on the motivation of their actions and not on the goodness of the consequences of those actions".
  • Subjects: Philosophical Theories
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 930

Philosophical movement

This is to mean that the life of a person is what makes up what is referred to as the person's 'essence'.
  • Subjects: Philosophical Concept
  • Pages: 6
  • Words: 1684

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

Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave” Analysis

It would not be an exaggeration to state that Plato's allegory of the cave only makes perfect sense if one views it in the light of the theory of forms.
  • Subjects: Philosophical Theories
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 836

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

Nature and Convention Relation

For harmony to prevail, human beings have to live in accordance to the two kinds of order; that is nature and convention.
  • Subjects: Philosophical Theories
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1124

Legitimacy in Machiavelli’s and Marx’s Works

In his book 'The Prince', Machiavelli evades the subject of legitimacy simply because of his rather cynical stand on the issue of legitimate governance.
  • Subjects: Political Philosophies
  • Pages: 9
  • Words: 2501

Intellect and Will in Descartes’ Philosophy

Rene Descartes is one of the main ideologists of the free will and the error inclination of the human intellectual knowledge, and his main idea penetrating all the aspects of his philosophic views is that [...]
  • Subjects: Philosophers
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1140

Immanuel Kant’s Life and Works

Immanuel Kant was largely affected by the death of his mother as he was only 13 years old at the time of her death.
  • Subjects: Philosophers
  • Pages: 9
  • Words: 2527

Chaos Theory Studying and Developments

Chaos theory explains the rationale of chaotic events in the world. Chaos theory explains the rationale of chaotic events in the world.
  • Subjects: Philosophical Theories
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1114

Bioethics and the Divine Command Theory

According to the Divine Command Theory, a character is ultimately based on the instructions or nature of God, and the course of behavior that God demands, or commands is morally right.
  • Subjects: Ethical Philosophy
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 1471

Avocado vs. Artichoke: Can Human Nature Change

The essence of the avocado vs.artichoke debate lies in the dynamic of opposing ideas of essentialism and proteanism in philosophy. Both views present quite polarizing extremes and have outdated pre-conceived notions, as in the case [...]
  • Subjects: Philosophical Theories
  • Pages: 1
  • Words: 368

The Essay “Nature” by R. W. Emerson

Firstly, nature is the source of human spirituality and love, and Emerson confirms this by stating that "a nobler want of man is served by nature, namely, the love of Beauty".
  • Subjects: Philosophical Works
  • Pages: 7
  • Words: 1413

Main Branches of Philosophy

This is the study of value that surpasses the ability of a man to reason over the universe and its state on the whole.
  • Subjects: Philosophical Theories
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 966

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

“Examined Life” in Socrates’ Thesis

In order to develop a sufficient understanding of what this proposition means, it is necessary to recognize the specifics of the philosopher's approach to philosophy and how it relates to practical life.
  • Subjects: Philosophical Concept
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 574

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

Pragmatic, Coherence and Correspondent Truth Theories

Can it happen that truth is a kind of agreement between a belief and a real life fact, or is it possible that a true belief should cohere with other true beliefs, or is it [...]
  • Subjects: Philosophical Theories
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 1410

Plato on Who Should Rule

From the above discussion, it is notable that Plato connects the idea of "justice" to the "Form of Good". Such kings will apply practical theories and ideas in order to address the needs of the [...]
  • Subjects: Philosophical Theories
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 853

Humanism of Renaissance Era

Platonic philosophy, precisely the concept of world of forms, had dominated the medieval era that subjected the human body, as a shadow of a real body in the world of forms, to little or no [...]
  • 5
  • Subjects: Philosophical Theories
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 1248

Greek Philosopher Socrates

In the era of ancient Greece, approximately forty years before the commencement of the Peloponnesian battles, an infant by the name of Socrates was brought into the world.
  • Subjects: Philosophers
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 1511

Nozick Entitlement Theory of Justice

It is from deduction of this principle that gives rise to the third principle of rectification in which Nozick brings forth suggestions of solutions that should be adopted to rectify the unjust distribution and ownership [...]
  • Subjects: Law Philosophy
  • Pages: 15
  • Words: 4011

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

Yin-Yang Philosophy and Parallels with Western Thinkers

Thus, the recurrent themes similar to the Chinese philosophy of Yin-Yang and Western philosophy are the constant transformation, balance, and interconnectedness of all elements in the universe.
  • Subjects: Philosophical Concept
  • Pages: 8
  • Words: 2198

The Search for Meaning or Purpose of Existence

It is not individual achievements but rather the feeling of having contributed to a general human goal and becoming a better person that grants life meaning.
  • Subjects: Life Philosophy
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 891

“What do Murderers Deserve?” by David Gelernter

The author's identity is very important in the essay, he was personally attacked by a criminal and this is why the author wants to ensure that justice prevails in the society, a clear picture of [...]
  • Subjects: Philosophical Works
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 761

The Virtuous Life Importance

It may be supposed that justice and honesty as the one unqualifiedly moral virtue, could fulfill the role of the fundamental virtue as it can also be noticed in the case of righteousness, the general [...]
  • Subjects: Life Philosophy
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 830

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

Nielsen’s Free Will and Determinism: An Analysis and Critique

Despite the proof that Nielsen provides for the fact that determinism and freedom can actually coexist and, moreover, complement each other, Nielsen makes it clear that the existence of moral luck defines the boundaries of [...]
  • Subjects: Freedom Philosophy
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1166

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

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

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

St Augustine’s Philosophy

God's presence in an individual enables him/her to achieve goals that are consistent with the provisions of the church. They belong to the city of the damned and are responsible for their actions.
  • Subjects: Philosophers
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 825

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

Immanuel Kant: Pure and Empirical Knowledge

Kant proceeds to identify a philosophical gap in the form of the lack of a means to determine the possibility, principles, and scope of pure knowledge.
  • Subjects: Philosophers
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 429

Thomas Hobbes’ Views on Human Nature

Generally, peace is achieved by creating a government and forsaking individual rights in favor of one entity to ensure humans' chaos-less existence.
  • Subjects: Philosophical Theories
  • Pages: 1
  • Words: 298

George W.F. Hegel: The Role of Family

According to Hegel's concept of the ethical life of the family, it is very essential to have the love which is said to be the spirit of feeling of ones own strength of mind of [...]
  • Subjects: Philosophical Works
  • Pages: 13
  • Words: 3623

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

Money, Happiness and Relationship Between Them

The research conducted in the different countries during which people were asked how satisfied they were with their lives clearly indicated the existence of a non-linear relationship between the amount of money and the size [...]
  • Subjects: Life Philosophy
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1128

Money, Success, and Relation Between Them

In particular, the modern generation attaches so much importance to money in the sense that success and money are presumed to be one and the same thing.
  • Subjects: Life Philosophy
  • Pages: 8
  • Words: 2255

Unethical Treatment of Animals

The fact that there is a long tradition involving the slaughter of animals for food does not justify the killing of animals.
  • 5
  • Subjects: Philosophical Theories
  • Pages: 7
  • Words: 2004

Views on Internet and the Human Brain by Nicholas Carr

In his argument, the writer notes that the Internet is taking over the human mind. The audience is also able to relate the issues in the argument with the effects caused by computers.
  • Subjects: Philosophical Theories
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 884

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

Philosophy of Religion

The major question about this argument is what is the appropriateness and success of using the philosophical tools to show the existence of God in a probable way.
  • Subjects: Philosophy of Religion
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1208

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

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 Mind and the Body

The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the consequences and key concepts involved in the development of the mind-body philosophy and offer personal suggestions or opinions over the issue of relationship between the [...]
  • Subjects: Philosophical Concept
  • Pages: 12
  • Words: 3265

Studying Philosophy: Drawbacks

The change of character, social rejection, and ultimate despair can be possible negative implications of the philosophy investigation. Therefore, the philosophy exploration can lead to the despair caused by a clear understanding of the world's [...]
  • Subjects: Philosophical Concept
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 595

The Concept of Unconsciousness by Eduard von Hartmann

The Philosophy of the Unconscious is the most important encyclopedic work of Eduard von Hartmann, in which the phenomenon of the unconscious is subjected to careful analysis not only from a biological and psychological, but [...]
  • Subjects: Philosophical Concept
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1143

Beach: A Review of the Term

All in all, the mention of the term 'beach' invokes images of serenity and exquisite joy in the minds of people.
  • Subjects: Life Philosophy
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 489

Rene Descartes: A Brief Perspective

However, as any numerologist would predict, born on the 31st of the month, a number 4, destined Descartes to search for the esoteric and the 'opposing' point of view.
  • 5
  • Subjects: Philosophers
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 515

Eros in Plato’s Symposium and Sappho’s Poems

The truth of love is to follow the way of love like philosophical way and see the soul behind the body, everlasting beauty of virtue, and idea behind the beauty of transient love.
  • Subjects: Philosophical Concept
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1355

Plato’s Theory of Natural Depravity

Even in times of ancient Jews and peoples which surrounded them the core accent consisted in the purity of spirit, soul and body, but most of all they emphasized the concept of spiritual life minding [...]
  • Subjects: Philosophical Concept
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 585

Mahatma Gandhi’s Satyagraha and Swaraj Concepts

In addition to that, the applicability of his ideas to the problems of international community is discussed. The purpose of satyagraha is not to destroy the enemy but to find the solution which can suit [...]
  • Subjects: Political Philosophies
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 747

Bentham’s and Mill’s Theory of Utility

In other words, his theory of utility is based on the principle of moral obligation: the greatest pleasure for the greatest number of people who are involved or affected by the action performed by one [...]
  • Subjects: Philosophical Theories
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 636

Metaphor in “Lifeboat Ethics” by Garrett Hardin

As the relevance and the appropriateness of the metaphor are established, it is of paramount significance to consider the different aspects of the question in a meaningful and judicious manner.
  • Subjects: Philosophical Works
  • Pages: 8
  • Words: 2004

“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

Ethical Theories and Nepotism Relationships

Relating to the ethical theory of ethics of justice to nepotism, it should be mentioned that justice is considered to be fair on the basis of various human considerations.
  • Subjects: Ethical Philosophy
  • Pages: 7
  • Words: 1925

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

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

Strong Encryption and Universalization Principle

There is a kind of ethical dilemma, and Kant's Principle of Universalization offers one of the possible solutions to treat strong encryption as a morally permissible concept that is wrong to prohibit or make obligatory.
  • Subjects: Ethical Philosophy
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 577

Why Did Plato Hate the Sophists? – Philosophy

He claimed that the sophists were selling the wrong education to the rich people. The methods of teaching that the sophists portrayed in Athens were in conflict with Plato's school of thought.
  • 5
  • Subjects: Philosophical Theories
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 558

Plato’s Philosophy in “The Republic”

In his description of the ideal society, Plato explains that people in the society are not advised to act without knowledge such that before a city is erected, full understanding of justice should be known.
  • Subjects: Philosophical Theories
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 772

Harm Principle

Thus, according to the principle, an individual has the right to do whatever he or she wills unless the action brings harm to others and that is the only time power should be used to [...]
  • 3.5
  • Subjects: Philosophers
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1153

The Concept of Justice

Socrates and Euthyphro show that the application of justice in different societies is not always fair. Plato's arguments are ambiguous because they do not offer a rational basis about how religion can be used to [...]
  • Subjects: Philosophical Theories
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 591

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

Aristotle, His Life and Philosophical Ideas

Later on at the age of eighteen, he moved to Athens to study and this became his home for the next twenty years, after which he moved to Asia after the death of Plato where [...]
  • Subjects: Philosophical Works
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 1361

Truth: Absolute or Relative?

Another way of understanding the concept of truth is through looking at it on the grounds of whether it is absolute or relative.
  • Subjects: Philosophical Concept
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1087

Success of Socrates’ Defense

Fist, he does not appear to be apologetic and to the contrary confirms the general opinion held by majority of his jury that he thinks he is the wisest.
  • Subjects: Philosophers
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1113

Importance of Self-Identity

Self-knowledge is very necessary as it helps one to identify the strengths and weaknesses that one has in the view of imminent challenges in life.
  • Subjects: Philosophical Concept
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1079

The Matrix Film and Plato’s Allegory of the Cave

Partridge investigates the film's fundamental coherence with Plato's text and the numerous superficial connections between Plato's cave-dwellers and the humans trapped in The Matrix.
  • Subjects: Philosophical Theories
  • Pages: 1
  • Words: 359