Essays and Research Papers on More Philosophers

(3pp) Socrates could understand the difference between the visible world and the intellectual world and believe that the mind is the cause of all things. He also believed that to truly know what is good is to do it, without separating ideas and knowledge from the lives and actions of people. ...

This 5 page paper considers the arguments of Thomas Nagel regarding the views of David Hume, and assesses how convincing Nagel's suggestion is that a Humean is generally committed to calling certain prudential acts irrational. This paper integrates some of the central arguments of both Nagel and Hume in developing this a perspective on ...

This 5 page report discusses the assumptions made in a hypothetical argument regarding Waymarsh State College who go to their state legislature to protest budget cuts. The “logic” used by the legislature in ignoring the students was that since only 200 students protested at the capitol, the remaining 11,800 students must not care about either the issue or their education. The argument ...

A 5 page paper which discusses how some of the great minds in history have addressed the aspect of a meaningful life. Those discussed in these terms are Viktor Frankl, Plato, Nietzsche, and Albert Camus. The aspect of a meaningful life is examined in how the great minds look at life, addressing if it has a purpose, and who ...

A 5 page paper which discusses the teleological and mechanistic world views and discusses how the define, or involve, God and/or purpose in life. They are discussed briefly as they involve ontological arguments, and then presented in relationship to how three separate philosophers fit in to one particular view or another. The philosophers are Frankl, Descartes, and Nietzsche. The works ...

This 10 page paper outlines Kant's critical philosophy, exploring concepts such as transcendental knowledge and the transcendental unity of apperception. The 1787, or 'B' version, of his Critique of Pure Reason is used. Bibliography lists 5 sources.

A 5 page paper which addresses whether Thomas Aquinas was a direct realist or not. The paper presents the argument that Aquinas was not a direct realist. Bibliography lists 2 sources.

A ten page paper explaining the philosophies of these three seminal thinkers in great detail, and speculating about their opinions on the issue of drug abuse in our own day. The paper concludes that Aristotle provided the best way of looking at the situation from a broad, organizational level, while a combination of the Platonic ...

A 5 page paper which discusses the line, "so you think that money is the route of all evil...... have you ever asked what is the route of all money," as seen in Ayn Rand's "Atlas Shrugged." No additional sources cited.

This nine page paper is in two parts. The first looks at the contradictions between philosophy, myth and religion to examine whether these contradictions are real or just common misconceptions. The second part of the paper looks to the early philosophers and considers the way in which they consider the contradictions in philosophy such ...

This 5 page report discusses Cultural Relativism and whether or not it serves as a truly valid argument in terms of philosophical argumentation. It is important to understand that in actually constructing a meaningful argument one must present the statement or the premise and then carefully substantiate how and why the conclusion is reached that leads to such an assertion. ...

This 5 page report discusses the ideas of two contemporary philosophical writers regarding the interdependence of beliefs and how it is applicable to the debate that rages on regarding creationism versus evolution. Belief is repeatedly shown to be based on various constructs such as faith and hope where there is no ostensibly “logical” proof for holding that belief. However, the same ...

This 5 page report discusses how B.F. Skinner brought into question the motivations that lead people to modify their actions, as well as the ways in which “determinism” is responsible for human thought and action. In comparison, the lesser-known George Edward Moore directed his area of research toward the free will of human beings and the idea that individuals have free ...

This 20 page paper provides an overview of a range of questions on philosophy, including questions concerning Socrates, Descartes, Kant's Categorical Imperative, the Stoics, Mary Daly and Robert Nozick. Bibliography lists 8 sources.

This 5 page report discusses the 20th century philosophical writer John R. Searle’s “Chinese Room Argument” and the ways in which “Strong AI” (artificial intelligence) is actually a faulty premise. The point he makes is that it may be possible hand out the appropriate and even accurate answers and that those responses may serve to connect with the expectations of those ...

A five page paper looking at the very different contributions made by these four Enlightenment thinkers. The paper notes that although Smith wrote about economics, Locke about politics, Wollstonecraft about feminism, and Kant about morality, they all used reason as the foundation for their thought. Bibliography lists four sources.

This 8 page report discusses Niccolo Machiavelli’s 16th century classic “The Prince.” It is important to understand that there are certain key factors to be kept in mind in any analysis of Niccolo Machiavelli’s most famous work. For almost five hundred years, critics have praised Machiavelli for his explicitness, sophistication, authenticity, subtlety, and satire. Bibliography lists one source. ...

This excellent 5 page paper discusses the fact that philosophy is an academic arena which most view as having little to do with the real world. In viewing the presidential hopefuls, however, and studying their party platforms, we can see how some of their policies and views reflect statements and ideals set by such philosophers as Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, ...

5 pages in length. The meaning and style of hermeneutics inherently includes the nature of understanding and in the broadest possible terms asks: What is understanding? What happens when I say, "I understand"? Understanding is most relevant to hermeneutics when it takes live experience -- the event of understanding -- as its ...

An 8 page paper which discusses how all human beings are prone to involve themselves in life looking out for their own interests. Self-interest, from this perspective, seems almost inherent, and thus is clearly related to politics, where self-interest is very much a part of any policy. In discussing the self-interest of mankind and of politics, the paper discusses ...

A 5 page paper that argues the fact that Aristotle's ancient view of the inherent state of human nature, a state which posits that man is born into a natural state of civilization that nurtures the cause of the common good, is a more fitting assumption of man's nature as it was intended than is ...

A 14 page paper which defines Confucian thought, explains its principles, how ancient dynasties played a significant role in its development, how Confucius searched for a ruler to create the society he envisioned, the way of goodness, its impact upon the development of Chinese medicine, and considers the revival of Confucianism in modern China. ...

A 3 page paper which contemplates what Bertrand Russell would think of Plato's attempts to account for our knowledge of the nature of reality. Bibliography lists 3 sources.

A 10 page paper which discusses various philosophical issues as presented primarily from Hobbes, and secondarily by Rawls. Issues addressed concern the fool's argument in Hobbes' Leviathan, Hobbes' notions of personal contract, the prisoner's dilemma and assurance game, and Rawls' opinions regarding aspects of justice. The works used are Hobbes' Leviathan and Rawls' "A Theory of Justice." No additional sources ...

A 10 page paper which attempts to determine what philosophy is, based primarily upon Louis P. Pojman's text, "Philosophy: The Quest For Truth." A specific definition of philosophy is provided, and such concepts as the philosophy of religion, teleological arguments, epistemology, empiricism, philosophy of the mind (mind/body problem), dualistic interactionism, and moral ethics are also considered, with ...