Abstract This paper compares and contrasts the political beliefs of the two philosophers and theorists Thomas Hobbes and John Locke. It looks at how Hobbes' political theory is illustrated in the Leviathan which discusses the matter, form and power of a commonwealth. Hobbes was a social contract theorist who believed that a commonwealth was "but an artificial man?. It shows how Locke was also a social contract theorist who believed that the purpose of government was to protect the lives of subjects.
Outline
Hobbes
Locke
The Most Fundamental Differences
Weaknesses and Strengths
From the Paper "Though both of these philosophers are social contract theorist there are some small differences in their ideals. Hobbes believed that once subjects gave consent to be governed they must abide by the laws set forth by that sovereign. He believed that subjects should be certain that the sovereign is going to do everything in his power to preserve their lives before they transfer their rights and wills to him. Once the rights and wills of the subjects are tranfered the sovereign becomes the voice of the commonwealth and his authority must be respected--the sovereign was the supreme power."
Abstract This paper explains that the nature-nurture controversy is the continuing debate over whether the individual's various traits and characteristics are influenced more by inborn factors, or nature, or by cultural influences and other aspects of experience, or nurture. The author points out that, today, scientists view human development as a combination of nature and nurture, while the British philosopher, John Locke, in the 1690s, suggested that the human infant is like a blank slate, or "tabula rasa", on which experience in the form of human learning writes messages on the infant's unformed mind. The paper relates that Sigmund Freud's theory of development states that human development is the product of both internal urges and external conditions, particularly children's sexual and aggressive urges, and how parents handle them.
From the Paper "Many professions have solicited the assistance of psychologists in trying to predetermine the psyche of potential persons for areas such as employment and placement. The legal profession has sought out psychologists on both sides to prove their theories of the mental abilities, behavior explanations or predictions of behavior of a defendant or plaintiff. "Society has let the pendulum swing wildly back from nurture to nature, leaving behind a number of bewildered social scientist. Yet we still love to phrase everything in terms of one influence or the other, rather than both." In the educational profession, understanding the balance or affect of both nature and nurture is essential to designing an effective plan for each pupil's advancement."
Abstract This paper examines three logical fallacies namely: Begging the Question, Hasty Generalization and Appealing to Emotion. It presents examples of such fallacies in contemporary society and ties them into the concept of critical thinking.
From the Paper "The Appeal to Emotion fallacy is committed when someone manipulates peoples' emotions in order to get them to accept a claim as being true (Labossiere, 1995). This is very common in politics and it serves as the basis for a large portion of modern advertising. Most political speeches are aimed at stirring and steering feelings in people to get them to vote or act a certain way. In the case of advertising, the commercials are aimed at evoking emotions that will influence people to buy specific products."
Abstract This paper compares the qualities of the tragic hero found in Aristotle's "Poetics" with the character of Hamlet, and also contrasts how the two differ.
This paper analyzes Aristotle's "The Rhetoric" and summarizes what rhetorical theory is and applies those conditions to persuasive writing, specifically marketing and advertising.
1,400 words (approx. 5.6 pages), 5 sources, 2000, $ 46.95
Abstract This paper discusses rhetorical arguments as set forth by Aristotle. Also discussed is the writing of Toulmin as it applies to Aristotelian logic. The author presents various criteria necessary in rhetorical argument.
From the Paper "Advertising and public relations are part of everyday life. Commonly, the messages these trades convey intend to persuade and influence human behavior. This intent does not happen by accident. Public relations and advertising rely on words and meaningful symbols to communicate with various publics. In order to assure success in arguing for causes, products, or even persons, it becomes imperative for the speaker to understand theoretical foundations of persuasion and form arguments with human responses and attitudes in mind. By paying close attention to rhetorical theory, principles of human behavior, and language manipulation, relating to the public becomes an easily managed process. When presented correctly, rhetorical arguments can elicit certain reactions and behaviors by the public."
Abstract In this essay the author goes head to head with Karl Marx's view of alienation. The contradictions which Marx makes on alienation of labor are pointed out and used to figure out what conception of the human essence Marx uses to rest his theory on. The author points out flaws in Marx's essay and offers alternative solutions.
From the Paper "Karl Marks who lived between 1818 and 1883 wrote the Estrange Labor manuscript in 1844. Being only 26 years of age he challenges the works of the great philosopher Hegel. In his manuscript he considered himself to be a young Hegelian philosopher. Marx explains his beliefs on what he believes to be the key elements of estranged labor, mainly alienation from nature, alienation from product of labor, alienation from the activity of labor, and alienation from species. Hegel believed that trough the use of labor to create objects we could satisfy our bodily needs. He believed that our reason allowed for criticism to improve upon the objects, which allowed the mind to evolve toward pure reason and ultimately freedom. Hegel also noted that freedom was the essence of freedom. Marx does not completely agree with Hegel because he felt his theory was too abstract and ignored important concepts of social organization for production. Marx believes that philosophy in the past had mystified the real contradictions of human existence."
Abstract This paper discusses the controversial issue of cloning. It analyzes the moral and ethical implications of cloning and whether it is correct to conduct cloning at all. The paper describes the origins of cloning, the methods currently used and the problems with the process.
From the Paper " Cloning can basically be described as the copying of genes and other pieces of chromosomes to generate identical material. Two other types of cloning produce complete, genetically identical animals. Blastomere separation (sometimes called "twinning" after the naturally occurring process that creates identical twins) involves splitting a developing embryo soon after fertilization of the egg by a sperm (sexual reproduction) to give rise to two or more embryos (Wilmut, 998). The resulting organisms are identical twins (clones) containing DNA from both the mother and the father. The second type of cloning that is more controversial in terms of its moral and ethical implications is when the identical material that has been generated consists of the DNA of only one parent. With the innovation of the second type of cloning that came primarily with the birth of Dolly, a number of moral, social, ethical and legal issues were raised with regard to it. Religious and social organizations were outraged at the prospect of creating animals (not to forget humans) that did not involve the natural process of conception. The right to create a life, they claimed was after all ultimately in the hands of the Creator and to play around with that was tantamount to interrupting the path of Nature (Wilmut, 1998). However before one moves on to discuss the moral and ethical dilemmas of cloning, it is important to briefly study the history of this controversial process."
Abstract This paper examines the roots of monotheistic and polytheistic religions, and the different gods worshipped over time. The author uses such examples as the gods of ancient Greece, the Code of Hammurabi, The Epic of Gilgamesh, and the Bible.
From the Paper:
"There is no doubt that having belief in a supernatural being or beings is healthy for the human soul. Whether it be one God or a family of gods and goddesses, religion allows the human essence to have something to help cope with emotions, give blame for the unjust, and rejoice in a celebrate life. Truth, indeed, is finite, and the roads that lead to it are numberless.?
Abstract The following paper examines why many theorists reject the existence of natural law as well as why many agree to its being defined as a set of innate moral principles which are common to all human beings. It is the aim of this paper to identify and discuss the important similarities and differences that exist between the two theories making reference to the theories of Thomas Hobbes (1588 - 1679) and St.Thomas Aquinas (1224/25 - 1274).
From the Paper "Aquinas proposed that the essential quality setting human beings apart from the rest of the animal world was that of reason. In a development of Aristotle's theory.Aquinas asserts that all men naturally possess an internalized divine spark of reason,which serves as the guide to an autonomous and responsible decision making process."
Abstract This essay is a comparison study of the works and views of Plato and Aristotle. The author explains that one of the basic ideas that these two great minds disagreed on was the value of art and of poetry, especially the merits of the Greek tragedy. Aristotle believed that art in all of its forms was a beneficial and necessary outlet for the expression of man's innermost feelings and fears. On the other hand, Plato condemned art and poetry. This paper examines the different ways in which these two great minds interpreted the arts and their purpose allows for a greater understanding of the workings of these two great minds and the two great channels of philosophical thought which they produced.
From the Paper "Three and a half centuries before the birth of Christ, an ancient Athenian known as Plato expressed this negative view of the value of poetry and the arts in an essay he called The Republic. To the occupants of ancient Greece, drama and tragedy were considered part of the poetic arts, and to Plato, the most revered and respected of ancient Grecian philosophers, poetry and art misrepresent heroes, encouraged moral weakness and went against the principles of his notion of the ideal polis, or state. In The Republic, Plato condemns not only the value of poetry, but also the value of art in general. This condemnation was eventually to be refuted in the year 350 BC in an essay entitled The Poetics, an essay written by Plato's philosophical prot?g?, Aristotle."
From the Paper "In Epistemology: Becoming Intellectually Virtuous W. Jay Wood defines epistemology as "that branch of philosophy dedicated to reflecting on our lives as intellectual beings" (p. 10). In his first chapter he shows how the questions raised by epistemology are of vital importance in everyday life. Epistemological questions cover a great deal of ground including such areas as how beliefs are acquired, whether beliefs are true, whether a belief is rational, or if a belief should be reconsidered in the light of criticism. In fact nearly every question related to acquiring and maintaining beliefs comes under the purview of epistemology--including the sources of knowledge itself ranging from the evidence of the senses to "whatever faculties of understanding we may have that allow us to grasp truths independently of sense experiences" (p. 15)."
Abstract This paper explores the works of philosophers Friedrich Nietzsche and Sigmund Freud (""Twilight of the Idols" and "Civilization and Its Discontents" respectively). It outlines and compares their views on science, religion, nature, the individual and society. The paper also focuses on the subject of instincts/passions vs. reason.
From the Paper "In the midst of so much confusion, so many contrasting affirmations, opinions and perspectives, what conclusions can be drawn? What lasting truths can one hold on to? Sigmund Freud, in his Civilization and Its Discontents, and Friedrich Nietzsche, in Twilight of the Idols, offer a good summary of many of their views. Freud and Nietzsche, both complex men of enormous egos, share many of the same ideas on the topics of science, religion, the individual and society, with the exception of a few minor differences."
Abstract Discusses problems of thinking and problem solving. Basic methods of thinking (logical, analytical, scientific, ratiocinative, emotive, intuitive). Major forms of thinking processes. The logical thinker. The critical thinker. The counterfactual thinker. Barriers to achieving high levels of critical thinking skills. How people acquire, structure and process information.
From the Paper "Critical Thinking Styles and Forms of Influence
Introduction
"An excellent thinker is a person who can approach an analysis with an open mind; one who can digest the information presented, separate the relevant from the irrelevant, and come to logical conclusions regardless of any prior knowledge about a situation or any perceptions, pet ideas, or biases" (Altier, 1999). This quote from William Altier,in his book, The Thinking Manager's Toolbox, defines the challenge of providing a concise guide to the problems of thinking and problem solving.
There are, says Altier, as many ways of thinking and analyzing problems as there are people. Some of the basic methods of thinking are logical, analytical, scientific, ratiocinative, emotive, intuitive, and so on. However, there are certain ..."
The paper analyzes the relevance of social philosopher John Dewey's seminal work, in the light of the fact that many of his ideas have been misinterpreted today.
Abstract The paper claims that a thorough reading of Dewey's book is necessary to determine what he believed was essential in the concept of educating for democracy. The paper argues that much of the ensuing criticism against Dewey's book would have been averted if he had used different terminology to explain key concepts. Dewey's flaw was writing about democracy as if it were a real fact, verifiable in human experience, instead of as an ideal.
From the Paper "Only the most hardened cynic would attempt arguments against Dewey's supposition in Chapter 7, (when he begins tying his generalized thoughts into more specific assumptions) that "education is a social function, securing direction and development in the immature through their participation in the life of the group to which they belong, is to say in effect that education will vary with the quality of life which prevails in a group" (p. 81). Yet educators and social commentators took issue with that premise, since the very concept of variability was anathema to the prevailing educational beliefs."
Abstract There are several ground rules that should be considered in the decision-making process, when ethics are concerned. Ethics operate according to a certain set of moral criteria acceptable to society at a given time or in a given place. The paper shows that ethics or morals dictate how we as human beings should conduct our lives. They determine the standards of right or wrong actions in terms of the truly human life. A further aspect of ethics is admitting where society's ethics fall short in terms of concerns that are minimized or ignored. The paper explains that the ultimate consideration in a decision-making process is not primarily one of religious or legal importance, but of social and human importance. The paper uses euthanasia as an example of using ethics in a decision-making process.
From the Paper "The most pressing issue appears to be dignity. The argument is that people should have the right to die with dignity, which presumably is not the case if they are, for example, kept alive by machines. There is, however, an opposite point of view stating that death with the aid of a physician is not guaranteed to be dignified. Others approach the issue from a philosophical point of view, saying that meeting death with dignity is the natural result of living life with dignity. This then separates the issue entirely from the way in which a person dies. When all factors are taken into account, the conclusion is that a dignified death requires more than simply a legal right. A dignified death would require a large amount of courage and faith from a number of involved persons."
