Ethics of the whole
In this paper, I will observe if we can apply classical ethical concepts to the whole and if humanity is able to judge its actions on a holistic realm. More precisely, I will see if Mill’s utilitarianism and Kant’s deontology can be applicable in justifying actions based on unity and integral wholeness. For this, it […]
Bacon’s Idols of the Mind
Sir Francis Bacon (1561–1626) was a successful English lawyer, politician, scientist, orator and philosopher. His works were enormously influential during a scientific revolution, in which Bacon proposed a great reformation of all process of knowledge. He popularized a scientific knowledge, often called the Baconian method, based only upon inductive and careful observation of events in […]
Strawson’s Concept of a Person
In this paper, I will lay down the main argument presented by Strawson in the third chapter “Persons” in his book Individuals. Before getting involved into the Strawson’s abstract world, I will cover some parts of the method that Strawson uses for an investigation of our thinking about how we are different from what we […]
Utilitarianism vs Deontology
In this argument I will fight with utilitarianism and will defend Kant’s Principle of morality. If we focus on the issue of rights, justice and fairness we can easily identify weaknesses of the utilitarianism compared to Kant’s principle. For instance, in the utilitarian society rights of the individual can be easily revoked because the main […]
Mill’s Utilitarianism in Questions and Answers
Explain Mill’s “principle of utility”? Why do you think Mill feels compelled to defend it in such great detail? Mill’s “principle of utility” consists in justifying actions by producing happiness and reducing its reverse. The reason why Mill defends its “principle of utility” in such great detail is that many of those who argue against […]
Locke on Time
In the Essay Concerning Human Understanding, Locke explains how we come out with ideas of duration, eternity and time. We receive ideas of duration and measures of it from reflection and sensation, two foundations of knowledge. First, we observe how our ideas are formed in our minds: some begin to appear, others vanish. So, […]
Locke on Active and Passive Power
According to Locke, power is two-fold. Active power is able to make any change, while passive power is able to be changed. For example, fire has a power to meld gold, while gold has a power to be melted. Similarly, the sun has a power to blanch wax, while wax is able to be blanched […]
Locke on Personal Identity
In the chapter XXVII of the Essay Concerning Human Understanding, Locke reflects on what identity consists in. He starts with identity of substances which can be divided into three sorts: God, finite intelligences and bodies. God’s identity cannot be questionable as he is eternal, unalterable and everywhere. Identity of finite intelligences is defined by relation […]
Locke on Simple and Complex Ideas
For Locke, men do not have native ideas. Our minds are furnished with ideas either through perception of external sensible objects or through the internal operations of our minds, perceived and reflected on by ourselves. So, sensation and reflection are two fountains of knowledge from which come all the ideas such as whiteness, sweetness, thinking, […]
Locke on Essence
Locke distinguishes the real essence from the nominal one. The real essence is some unknown insensible constitution of things on which their sensible qualities depend. In other words, it is a foundation from which all properties of things flow. For instance, the real essence of a gold ring is a constitution of its parts, on […]