When writing a philosophy paper, it is essential to remember that your task is to convince your reader of your point of view. You will need to use evidence and reasoning to do this. A good way to learn how to do this is to read philosophy papers written by other people. You can find examples of philosophy papers in the EduFixers database.
Reading these papers will give you an idea of what a successful philosophy paper looks like. Another vital thing to remember when writing a philosophy paper is that your education is not only about learning the answers to questions but also about learning how to think for yourself. This means that you should not simply regurgitate what you have read in your sources. Instead, you should take the time to think about the issue at hand and form your own opinion.
The progressivism philosophy essentially states that scientific discoveries and economic developments are advances that can help improve human life. Progressivism supported using the available technology to bring about positive changes and increase the government’s role in the social and economic lives of Americans. The greatest advocates of the movement were...
For Plato, the definitions of knowledge, tradition, and true beliefs were critical since men’s philosophical intentions were to study the world in depth. Plato commented that people often confuse these categories and live in ignorance, substituting fundamental knowledge for traditional beliefs. Thus, the deliberate classification of the three aspects of...
Finding the connection between knowledge and true opinion is an essential part of Socrates’ philosophy. Nevertheless, it must be admitted that a thorough knowledge of Socrates’ ideals and the truth is impossible because of the small number of primary sources which have preserved the philosopher’s views. Most of the worldviews...
Friedrich Nietzsche criticized the ideas of the Enlightenment as the intellectual and cultural tradition. Despite the Enlightenment view of human nature as the free choice to use one’s intelligence, Nietzsche indicated that all human actions are driven by the same psychological impulses. All people react in the same way. All...
According to Plato, the soul of a human being is divided into three parts. These are parts that control and manage our brain, and the three are appetite, spirit, and reason. Though each of these parts plays a particular role, Plato believed that only reason should be let to rule....
Karl Marx identified several factors that promoted the advancement of capitalism. To begin with, capitalism was promoted by the exploitation of workers. Exploitation enabled capitalists to generate surplus value, which was necessary for the growth of capitalism. Increasing absolute or relative surplus value allowed capitalists to increase their profits and...
The search for the meaning of life has been going on since the world’s creation. At different stages of human development, religions and philosophical currents tried to explain it, and the best minds interpreted this concept from different points of view. According to the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle, the meaning...
Aristotle’s main focus in moral philosophy was the human character, and what it takes for an individual to become a good person (Kemerling, G., 2002). He gave the thought that all human activities are carried out for a reason, having an aim, and mostly this aim is to achieve some...
The link between religion and morality has been the subject of numerous debates for a while. In his book, James Rachels questions whether morality depends directly on one’s religious beliefs by scrutinizing the nature of the subject matter. Furthermore, Rachels posits that morality should be viewed as independent from religion....
Plato finds the ascent to truth confusing and painful because the ascent is different from what ordinary minds have learned through the experience of reality. According to this parable, the initial mind is in a cave, and what it perceives as reality are only images or shadows of what is...
Plato’s Republic revolves around a simple question whether its better to be just than unjust. Socrates, in responding to this question, sketches the account of a good city on the grounds that a good city would be just and that defining justice as a virtue of a city would help...
Categories of philosophical doctrine describe many components of social being, among which tradition occupies a special place. The attitude toward traditional beliefs and faiths forms an integral part of Plato’s philosophy. From extant writings, it is inevitable that Plato was not a supporter of direct traditionalism, preferring to it an...
The cardinal difficulty with naturalism, in the opinion of Lewis, is that if it is true that everything or events should be explained with due regard to the Total System, then it is hard for it to expect other things to start happening under the system. These, in this case,...
Determinism can be conceived as a theory that purports that human beings are determined to act in a certain manner and they have no freedom to exercise free will of choice. This theory is based on the principle that we as humans inherit some values from the past and we...
Language is a very important aspect of human life. Language forms the essential part of understanding the world in which man lives. Language creates important relations between what is in the environment that forms experiences and an understanding of the experiences that forms knowledge in human beings. After identifying and...
In Russell’s argument, knowledge is acquired through the various scientific stages. First of all, these stages involve observation of the significant facts or events that are vital for memory purposes. Then it follows the process of building a hypothesis about the facts just observed. If at all a hypothesis becomes...
Hume in a sentence has made an endeavour to combine all his natural characteristics which tells the reader about his natural abilities to act and react accordingly. If we take into account those entire intellectual endeavours that Hume experienced through logic, ethics and metaphysics we would summarize those efforts of...
The Sartrean claim that existence precedes essence may be interpreted as yet another philosophical contribution to the classical nature v. nurture debate. A more traditional thesis claims that essence prevails over existence. A prime example would be the notion of humans’ innate rational egoism that pushes them to always pursue...
For Plato, the state is legitimized by its ability to enforce reason through just laws adopted by the community. If philosophers govern, this precondition can adhere. Hobbes is legitimized by its capacity to enforce order and law on the populace. Though the state is a monstrous Leviathan, it can form...
In chapter five of the Second Treatise of Government, John Locke describes property as one’s life, liberty, and estate. According to Locke, individuals have dominion over themselves and as a result, own the rights to their freedom. Individuals also have authority over physical property that they acquire during their lifetime....
Mencius, a famous and respected Confucianism teacher, often argued with other philosophers and statespeople. Similar to other ancient thinkers he often used logic and the power of words to construct his arguments. The analogy was one of his most frequently used techniques for convincing an opponent. Thus, in response to...
Jacques Rousseau’s thoughts and writings are very highly characteristic of enlightenment beliefs. These latter thoughts and opinions were of the progressive-minded and liberal members of the society who wanted to see the constituents of society in good health and well-being, devoid of illness or despondency. It was also striking that...
Comparing Plato’s philosophy and Hobbes’ perception of the world, the concepts presented by both are rather controversial. In particular, the most contradicting questions are the philosophers’ deliberations on the human nature and knowledge, on the definition of justice, on politics, and on the social and ethical issues. Considering their vision...
Though warfare and terrorism are defined as the forms of armed conflict, the aim of which is to defeat an enemy, the difference between them, including the frequency and intensity of violence, cannot be neglected. Compared to war, terrorism is characterized by asymmetrical nature without a clear beginning and end....
Jean-Jacques Rousseau was a major philosopher, writer, and composer. He successfully composed a number of musical selections and wrote a number of historical pieces. Rousseau was one of many famous philosophers of the Jacobin Club. The majority of his work was founded on the concept of a hypothetical state of...
John Locke was a British born philosopher. Locke was important because he was original. He was a revolutionary thinker who opposed the tyranny of prejudice, dogma, opinion, and ignorance. Though his philosophy has been subject to criticism over the years it is no doubt that it has had a great...
Philosophy has many concepts that explain the nature of the world, human, and universal processes. At the same time, many theories are opposed to each other, since philosophers have different views on things that can be applied and appropriate from different perspectives. The ideas of physicalism and the Knowledge Argument...
Marx explains that there is a connection between alienation or estrangement and the money economy. Private property, avarice, and the separation of labor, capital and landed property, between exchange and competition, value and the devaluation of men, monopoly, and competition, are all interconnected. Man’s labor has put him into estrangement...
The term philosophy originates from the Greek word philos, which denotes fondness, and the word sophos which means understanding. In literal terms, philosophy refers to an individual’s passion for wisdom. According to Sober, philosophy refers to the study of the subsistence, understanding, and realism of objects. It deploys the supremacy...
Plato and Aristotle have diverse speculations concerning the soul and body. Plato believes that the body and the soul are separate entities within a person. Aristotle upholds a contrary opinion. Plato asserts that the soul is irrelevant and that it belongs to the ‘humanity of appearance’. Jackson confirms Plato’s belief...
People undergo different stages in their life. The paper has discussed Kierkegaard’s three stages of life, namely aesthetics, moral, and spiritual phases, with three colleagues aged 21, 33, and 56. I then asked them to identify the stage they were in as I noted the various insights about the stage....
The identification of the core of courage was essential to the philosophy of Socrates and Plato. Socrates never explicitly stated his thoughts on any philosophical category but used his own maieutic techniques to bring his interlocutor to a deep understanding of the knowledge under discussion. Thus, one of Plato’s most...
Integrating the ideas of traditional beliefs and definitions of courage, it is pertinent to note causal connections with Plato’s Dialogues. In particular, this concerns the Laches, in which two generals discuss the nature of courage and bravery. First of all, according to Plato, it should be recalled that traditional faith...
Margaret Brodie describes the gender inequality in Canada and attributes it to the efforts of the government to change the political and social order. She claims that the philosophy’s treatment of matters such as gender and race is contradictory and may prove to be its fatal weakness. Welfare is used...
Utilitarian and deontological ethics explain whether an action should be regarded as right or wrong. The difference is that utilitarianism argues that the consequences of an action matter, whereas Kantian ethics suggests that they should not be considered. Thus, for utilitarianism, an action is right only if it leads to...
Philosophy concerns a general study on so many things ranging from existence, reality, truth, rationality, and many other important aspects of human beings. Without philosophy, proper explanations as to why some of the things are the way they are would not have been there. In my view, philosophy is a...
Wittgenstein was one of the most influential philosophers of the 20th century, and his views have contributed a lot to the way modern philosophers argue their points. In his views, Wittgenstein pointed out that there are simple structures from which the complex ones emerge so as to form knowledge in...
Ethics of care may be described as a separate current in modern ethical theories which is essentially different from such previously popular and influential branches as deontological and consequentalist ethics. It was developed as an opposition to dominant normative and universal approach developed within Christian Enlightenment traditions paying more attention...
Some philosophers have claimed that there is gratuitous evil in the world, and that the existence of gratuitous evil entails that God does not exist. First, explain what a “gratuitous evil” is—what distinguishes a gratuitous evil from a non-gratuitous evil? Second, explain why some philosophers think that the existence of...
The notion of freedom has been the focus of numerous debates and one of the foundational constructs in most philosophical theories. The importance of freedom and free will as a notion can hardly be denied since its study helps shed light on the problem of freedom as a concept. Particularly,...
Applied to religion and personal character, the entire concept of Being is a difficult one for most people to understand. This is because Being, in an existential sense, is an experience that demands no specific form of action—one does not have to do to be. In a culture consistently emphasizing...
Plato’s theory of recollection is revealed in his dialogue between Meno and Socrates where the learning process are based on the prenatal knowledge given to a person from his/her birth. In the dialogue, there is a dispute concerning the meaning and definition of virtue which, according to Socrates, cannot be...
Ethical relativism is the view that what is ethically right or wrong is determined by the culture. What the culture says is ethically right and what is truly ethically right is one and the same thing and what the culture says is ethically wrong and what is truly ethically wrong...
Criticism has been leveled against the Realist School. The centric view of the school with regards to power is obviously at the heart of such criticism. There have been calls to downplay the quasi-exclusive focus on the state and material capabilities. State in the Realist world view is centric because...
Pico Della Mirandola’s “Oration on the Dignity of Man” is considered a manifesto of the Italian renaissance. This manuscript more forcefully, expressively, or clinically draws human nature. Pico Della Mirandola is one of the well-known renaissance philosophers and is also recognized as a Neo-Platonist and a humanist. “His work synthesizes...
Utilitarianism is distinguishable from other ethical theories based on its fundamental tenets. Firstly, one of the major views of utilitarianism is that satisfaction or contentment forms the only element that bears the intrinsic factual worth. Secondly, this school of thought also regards deeds as ethically acceptable if they enhance people’s...
Plato was a sharp man who knew very well how to use analogies to explain his points. For example, the allegory of the cave was an analogy that he used to illustrate his ideas to his students. He was talking of men who have been chained for quite some time...
Rousseau will accept neither Hobbes’s transference οf will, οf willing not to will, nor Locke’s giving οf it, on trust. Starting from the assumption that all nature is harmony, all men have a real will which is identical in all men. This will which is common to all men is...
Counseling psychology is one of those spheres of life, which help to define and analyze human problems and present a worthwhile suggestion in order to continue enjoying this life. In fact, not much is known about the ways in how spirituality incorporates into dreamwork in practice. According to Lyon and...
A leader does not need to be generous and liberal-minded throughout his stay in power. According to Machiavelli, liberality and generosity are among the desirable qualities in a leader, but “the reputation for liberality or generosity is better than the practice thereof.” The important thing is he acquires a reputation...
Albert Einstein, the great scientist once wrote about Mahatma Gandhi, ‘Generations to come will scarcely believe that such a person in flesh and blood ever walked upon this earth’ (Sorkhabi, 2005). This statement in a nutshell describes about the unique character of Mahatma Gandhi. Coming from a middle class family...
Immanuel Kant describes phenomena as that which appears to humans or our experiences. Kant describes noumena as the things in themselves which make up reality. According to Kant, humans are incapable of knowing noumena. While we can experience phenomena through our senses, noumena is a “higher reality” unknowable. These two...
The object is the product or the commodity the worker has produced. Objectification is the “loss of and bondage to the object, and appropriation as estrangement, as alienation”. The worker is reduced into an object, or he becomes a slave to the object he has created. He is alienated from...
According to Hobbes, human being ought to avoid the state of nature. He asserts that if one is concerned to avoid violent death, then he should avoid the state of nature. Human have a duty to do what he can to avoid this situation or to end it. Hobbes view...
Since the commencement of the Constitution in America, there have been two schools of thought in the Supreme Court. They pertain firstly to the invocation of judicial restraint as a court policy which implies that greater power and autonomy is given to lower courts and political bodies in taking decisions....
A good government needs to resolve issues relating to social injustice, inequality, slavery and other social evils. Rousseau was also equally vociferous against private property and wealth amassing terming it as against common social laws, where a socialistic pattern of society needed to be enforced. Coming to the aspects of...
One distinct group is the utilitarians, who find that distributive justice under the difference principle is disappointing on the grounds that a massive consequence in total welfare may have to be compensated to bring into being a comparatively small benefit for the worst off. Utilitarianism believes in the maximization of...
Phaedo is one of the most important Plato’s dialogues where Socrates speaks about the mission of philosophy, philosophy, the distinction between body and soul. One of the crucial arguments Plato puts forward through Socrates’ words is that philosophers are amongst the most virtuous people in the world. After their death,...
People take multiple steps to understand the components of the universe, as well as nature and the role of its creator. According to Rowe, the design argument is based on the idea that many things exist in specific order, design, and condition. With time, this position can be reinforced due...
Glaucon had a radical idea that the institution of justice did not arise from the desire to do good but it came out as a means to an end and that to his mind it is a compromise between good and evil. Therefore, the institution of justice arose from the...
Socratic virtue is equated with justice and moral excellence. It is the doing of good and the refraining from evil. It is the desire to do what is right and doing ones best not to cause harm to others. It the wonderful things that one can expect from a good...
Theoretical tools used in ethics are very convenient in real life, as they help understand oneself when making an important decision. For example, applying theories related to the schools of ethics allows one to evaluate the causes and consequences of choices. Ethical tools, such as Lonergan’s operations of consciousness, enable...
It is not easy to spot idealists’ reflections in today’s modern society. Nevertheless, the idealists’ doctrine is reflected based on the interpretation of what modern idealism is. The preservation of peace in the whole can be seen as a reflection of idealism, and in that regard, the foreign policies of...
According to the great thinker Plato, the ideal city being riled by the philosophers is considered to be based on the aristocratic form of government, depriving the citizens of their basic rights, worship, and choice of freedom. The thinker’s aristocratic form of government is characterized as intelligent, wise, and strong,...
Studies point out three basic forms of justice from which individuals can make their decisions. These are communicative justice, distributive justice and social justice. Communicative justice champions for the respect of dignity for every individual when making decisions in economic transactions, promising or making contracts. For example, while workers must...
In his work Leviathan, Hobbes states that the knowledge about the surrounding world is acquired through five original senses of the body or object, “which presents the organ to each sense, either immediately, as in the taste and touch, or mediate, as in seeing, hearing, and smelling”. The sense is...
Hobbes defines Commonwealth as the multitude consolidated into one person, which he calls Leviathan. At this point, commonwealth can be also regarded as one person, of whose acts a great multitude, by mutual covenants one with another, have made themselves every one the author, to the end he may use...
Michel Foucault is mostly revered for his rather controversial ‘technologies of the self.’ He is an eminent philosopher who most contemporary social scientists and enthusiasts draw on for intellectual stimulation on matters of society and culture. Specifically, his concentration on sexuality appears intricate to an average mind. Foucault is undeniably...
In Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes the author advocates for a social contract that is ruled by the sovereign. Hobbes presents this contract as a way of escaping the state of nature which leads to acts of violence and civil war. Although some have argued that Hobbes presents the sovereign as...
The majority of people imagine the model of Utopia as almost similar. An ideal state should provide the benefits of citizens’ lives: decent wages, confidence in the future, housing, the ability to influence life in the country, participation in elections to government bodies. I also want to include all these...
According to Kant’s theory, animal cruelty can be justified if it is for survival purposes but not for entertainment. However, humans and other animals are similar in their biological functions, especially in sharing basic instincts and feelings. Kant’s conclusion about ethics and morality in his deontological theory is clear –...
The philosophy of the New Age after the Renaissance and the Dark Middle Ages brings an entirely new look at the man and his meaning of being on Earth. Philosophers of the new time rationalized man ruined the dualism of the divine and the human, and passed to the duality...
Freedom has always been one of the greatest values for people of different eras, religions and countries. The ancient philosophers were, perhaps, the most interested in the specific problem of the relationship between freedom and power. Since the era of antiquity, and throughout history, there has been no common understanding...
Introduction Plato’s work The Republic is a comprehensive document, which discusses a wide range of critical topics, such as politics, philosophy, morality, society, power, virtue, and individual human right. The emphasis of the given reflection and analysis will be put on the aspects of acquired knowledge application and reality observation...
In Plato’s dialogue Euthyphro, Euthyphro and Socrates discuss the dilemma of whether the pious is loved by gods because it is pious, or is it pious because it is loved by gods. Initially, the speakers posit that they should perceive the pious as something loved by all gods. Then, they...
Ancient philosophy refers to the early Greek and Roman thoughts from classical periods which developed during the fifth century BC. Several philosophers contributed to the people’s understanding of concepts by expressing their minds on human anatomy, the nature of the world, and the perceived value of life. Examples of popular...
Introduction The morality system helps determine the right or the wrong conduct and is inherently connected to ethics, the philosophical study of one’s moral performance. The essence of moral and ethical studies is based on the canon of Western philosophical ethics, which are primarily developed in Aristotelian and Kantian theories....
Determinism Determinism is the phenomenon proposed by psychology which states that all actions and events that take place including the human decision-making and comprehension process are derived by a chain of prior occurrences. It also pertains to the thesis which depicts that for every action at a given time, there...
Aristotle is known as one of the outstanding thinkers revealing the ideas of eternal wisdom to humanity. No wonder that his ethical ideas on civic relationships still find their reflection in modern-day conceptions of a successful life. In the following paper, Aristotle’s ethical findings on the best way of living...
Euthanasia from a general perspective is simply defined as mercy killing. In this case, the two divisions of mercy killing recorded as passive and active euthanasia require a vital investigation. Based on this it can be argued that passive euthanasia is at times allowable while active euthanasia is always prohibited....
Philosophical life is the spiritual harmony between physical, emotional and spiritual human needs. People who are able to find the golden middle between these needs and satisfy the necessary physical needs and enlarge their spiritual world lead a valuable life. Those people who lead a philosophical life are really rich...
Introduction Buddhism is one of the most influential religions in the world. Buddha, otherwise known as Siddhartha Gautama, reached awakening under the Bodhi Tree. Upon his enlightenment, Buddha gained profound knowledge of the circle of rebirths, the nature of karma, and the four noble truths (Harvey 32). According to Anderson,...
Education is an important part of life and many philosophers had ideas about the best education. Plato is one philosopher who thought that early education is important and people must work for the benefit of the country. Aristotle, Plato’s student, had a more personal view on education and what role...
Introduction The Euthyphro problem originates from the conversation Socrates has with Euthyphro is one of Plato’s earlier dialogues titled “Euthyphro”. Set outside the courthouse in Athens, the conversation between Socrates and Euthyphro revolves around the concept of ‘piety’. Through the exchange of dialogues, Socrates tries to arrive at a convincing...
Allegory of the cave is one of the most interpreted and reflected upon among the thoughts of Plato. It is one of the far-fetched analogies in the history of philosophy. Plato’s cave analogy arises in the conversation between Socrates and Glaucon, Heidegger, and Sadler (1988) claim that “Plato introduces the...
Introduction The book provides an insight into religion. The first chapter of the book points out that many religious beliefs have developed since civilization. Religions have highly developed concepts of ultimate reality. Some people are pagans and others are atheists. The book provides a hint to the definition of religion,...
Since ancient times, philosophers have been trying to provide people with answers to the questions of the meaning of life and the role of human beings in the world. Even though they all attempted to fill the life of individuals with purpose and make it easier and more explainable, the...
Ignatius of Loyola (1491 – July 31, 1556) was a historic figure who altered the history of Spain much due to the Catholic Reformation that was basically held due to his contribution also. He was a Spanish knight. Origin – Basque noble family. He studied Latin in Spain and then...
As the technological age continues to improve and better the lives of human beings, more controversial issues seem to crop up. Controversial positions have been taken as a result of diverse philosophical approaches that tend to favour one position over another. This has led to the rise of the term...
Introduction Karl Marx was arguably one of the brightest minds in the 19th century. He developed an idea together with his friend Engels, that the modern age is ripe for a revolution. This revolution is a natural outcome of human struggle. This struggle will produce an egalitarian society where there...
Introduction Religion can be studied from a variety of paradigms. One of the paradigms is the reductionist vs. anti-reductionist approach. Eliade is one of the religious scholars who subscribe to the anti-reductionist religious-philosophical school of thought. Eliade and other anti-reductionists hold that religion cannot be explained as by-products of some...
Introduction The mysterious changes consuming the globe in the contemporary decades have been behind human imagination and no one is well positioned to explain what resulted in such alterations. The interpretations of nature, divinity, and the way religions and cultures undertake their spiritual and holy activities are quite different and...
Introduction It is rare to define good and evil without mentioning morality. In essence, goodness is termed as acting in accordance with the nature of doing things. However, such must be deemed to complete an individual’s fullness as a human being. On the other hand, evil is perceived as acts...
Introduction The Spirit of Laws is a discourse on political theory. The book was initially published anonymously in 1748. The rationale for the anonymous publication was because Montesquieu’s work had been placed under censorship. The influence of the book outside France led to its translation into different languages. The first...
Introduction Traditionally, the topic of leadership ethics was narrowly covered and thus it only received the attention of theorists who wrote texts on ethical leadership. However, the contemporary leadership is covered in moving pictures, films, acted by various artists. Proponents of films as an important source of information regarding ethical...
Introduction In the current competitive business environment, companies are struggling to find ways of making radical shifts from what is considered conventional, to new approaches that can manage the emerging threats. According to Collins (2005), many companies are always striving to achieve good performance. The managing directors and other relevant...
Introduction In his famous book Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences’, Howard Gardner came out strongly to analyze human intelligence. To achieve this, Gardner used psychometric testing as the main method of inquiry. He set out to explain that intelligence is not one single entity, but rather there...
Introduction Although democracy in general and liberal democracy, in particular, is subjected in the public view as a type of state organization that allows maximum inclusiveness of all people in the political system, there are still some limitations and dilemmas, which can relate both to the specific historical circumstance and...
The question of law and morality are the same thing and where does law meet morality has been plaguing the legal philosophers for quite some time. Trying to resolve the issue of the compatibility of law and morality, one might find oneself adrift among the plethora of arguments – and,...
Abstract This paper is a critique of a book on the principles that characterize the journey towards high performance ethics. It provides a set of ten ethical principles that, if embraced, built character and create a high-performance culture in the organization. Three ethical perspectives that relate to the ideas in...
The ontology may have various explanations and definitions (Bhattacherjee 2012). Social science researchers could explain ontology as a branch of metaphysics that aims at identifying the things that exist in this world. It is the philosophical assumption that helps to comprehend how people see the world, accept changes, and live...
The actual reason why Immanuel Kant is being considered the one of Western greatest philosophers is that, even in the light of the realities of today’s living, his philosophical legacy appears discursively relevant. The validity of this statement can be well illustrated in regards to Kant’s idea as to what...