From the Paper "The purpose of this research is to examine the ideas of the good in human experience in the Confucian and Aristotelian traditions. The plan of the research will be to set forth the context in which the Greek and Chinese versions of the concept emerged, and then to compare and contrast the content of the views of Confucius and Aristotle.
Aristotle's conception of what makes a good man or woman surfaced in the fourth century B.C., just following the Periclean Age of Greece, and partly in response to the views of his teacher Plato. The conception is elaborated in his theory of ethics as one of the practical sciences, which is to say that ethics is something that has application to real life, beyond the merely theoretical. Ethics therefore involves action as well as a discussion about contingent ethical decisions. Just as ethics ,,,"
A review of the psychotherapist's work on dehumanization and the relationship between conditioning and spiritual dimension of freedom and meaning, based on logotherapy.
1,575 words (approx. 6.3 pages), 1 source, 2000, $ 55.95
From the Paper "Viktor Frankl, in Man's Search for Meaning, examines the relationship between human conditioning and the human spiritual dimension of freedom and meaning. As a psychotherapist, Frankl does not offer religious solutions, but he clearly believes that the individual seeking freedom and meaning in his or her life must connect with some cause beyond himself or herself, or with some person other than himself or herself, if he or she is to overcome the dehumanizing and unhealthy forces of conditioning in physiological, social and psychological terms. Frankl also believes that it is the responsibility of the individual to recognize his or her freedom of choice, despite the conditioning circumstances which prevail, and to take action based on that freedom which will transcend that conditioning and lead to a connection with another human being and/or with a cause which..."
From the Paper "Several of the dialogues of Plato recount the trial, sentence, and execution of Socrates, with his friends gathered around. An image of the man emerges from these dialogues showing him to be a person of fierce integrity, a man who would rather die than consider himself dishonored, and a man who charges his friends to allow him to live life as he sees fit. Even as Socrates challenges aspects of the society of Athens, he demonstrates the importance of certain values in that society both in his own person and even in the charges brought against him, however incorrect those charges may be. Socrates believes the unexamined life is not worth living, and if he accepts the right of the court to judge his thoughts, he has lost his integrity. Socrates is a poor man who is rich in intellect and in dedication. His followers carry on his ideas for him, and..."
From the Paper "Background
The Big Bang Theory is an explanation for the beginning of the universe. The universe today is expanding, as can be seen in the way all matter is moving outward. Tracing this movement back through time takes all matter to a single point, leading to the view that at one time all matter was concentrated in a singularity which for some unknown reason exploded, throwing all material now seen in the universe outward from that central point. There are various corollaries to this theory, such as the issue of whether the expanding universe will continue to expand forever or will eventually reach an end point and fall back on itself. There are also various consequences of the Big Bang which can be used to determine if the theory has validity. A number of researchers have examined aspects of the Big Bang theory and developed ideas..."
From the Paper "This study will examine the concept and the importance of religion in the perspectives of Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim, Sigmund Freud, and Max Weber. The study will consider how each theorist views the relationship between religion and social stability, on the one hand, and religion and social change on the other, how each theorist sees the relationship between religion and modernization, and the strengths and weaknesses of each theorist's views, and will argue that Marx's views are most convincing.
Marx deals with the alienation which society produces in the individual, and argues that religion, which aims at healing this alienation, in fact masks its economic causes. The other theorists will be shown to take too lukewarm a view of the ills of society and the role religion plays in society, although..."
Abstract This paper details the psychological theory of Abraham Maslow. The paper discusses his hierarchy of needs, listing each need and providing examples, as well as showing how the hierarchy is built. There is an expanded section detailing what is meant by self-actualization as well as what Maslow called "peak experiences". A full listing of the B ? values are given, as well as numerous other traits and characteristics of self-actualized people. Also explained are Maslow's other hypothesized needs, such as the cognitive, aesthetic, and neurotic needs, and how these all interact with his hierarchy of needs. The paper introduces Maslow as a visionary and pioneer of humanistic psychology who came from a world dominated by psychoanalysis and behaviorism and emerged to provide the world with a more positive, instructional, and human view of mankind and his place in nature.
From the Paper "These theories shared in common an approach to understanding human nature and behavior that were based directly outside the subjective needs, beliefs, and values of the individual. In grossly simplified terms, the individual was viewed either as a locus in the environment where current stimuli reacted with past reinforced behavior patterns to produce a response or as an almost helpless entity, where deep in the primitive recesses of the human brain a battle was fought for psychological control. Where forces of the good "superego" were beating back the evil armies of the "id" (sex and aggression) and whichever side was winning the battle at any given time would manifest itself in the person's overt behavior. Abraham Maslow was a visionary who pioneered the field of "humanistic" psychology. Aptly named because its primary goal was to center the field of psychology around the individual person ? to treat them as wanting, feeling, needing, spiritual, and unique beings and to guise psychological theory in terms that took this into account."
Analyzes the philosopher's description of faith in his work on Abraham. Examines the issues of religious paradox, universal morals and obedience to God.
2,025 words (approx. 8.1 pages), 1 source, 1989, $ 71.95
From the Paper "Abraham and the Paradox of Faith
"The paradox of faith, then, is this: that the single individual is higher than the universal, that the single individual . . . determines his relation to the universal by his relation to the absolute, not his relation to the absolute by his relation to the universal" (Kierkegaard, 69).
This statement on faith made by S.ren Kierkegaard expresses a difficult concept: the paradoxical nature of faith. Kierkegaard believed that people should not get caught up in the big ethical question of performance; rather, they should concentrate solely on their duty to God. This was the only way their actions could be called right. For Kierkegaard, Abraham..."
From the Paper "China made an intellectual journey from Confucianism to Communism in the century between the middle of the nineteenth century and the middle of the twentieth century. In the Taiping era, Confucianism prevailed, while by the middle of the next century Confucianism was rejected in favor of a new and foreign (though modified to the Chinese situation) ideology, that of Marxism. Confucianism was long the primary influence in Chinese thought, challenged by different strains of religious and philosophical thought at different times, but hardy enough to persist. It would be a major target for the Communist regime after 1949, being seen then as an unnecessary remnant from the past and as an ideology that conflicted with the Communist thought promoted by Mao and his followers."
Confucius introduced a strong and lasting philosophical syste
This paper is a critical analysis of Glenn Tinder's "Political Thinking" about the philosophy of politics, human nature, good and evil and nature of thought.
1,575 words (approx. 6.3 pages), 1 source, 1990, $ 55.95
From the Paper "Glenn Tinder, in his work Political Thinking: The Perennial Questions, is as much about the philosophy of life as it is about the philosophy of politics. It is a book concerned not only with the major questions of politics but the major questions of life--the nature of human existence, good and evil, death. Tinder means to help himself and his readers reconsider the very nature of thought itself, to learn or relearn how to think.
What gives Tinder's book its special strength, aside from the fact that he does inspire fresh thoughts about life and politics, is the humility with which he approaches his monumental subjects.
He writes, for example, that "the lack of finality" in his book with respect to the perennial questions "is connected with the primary intent of the book. My purpose is to provide an ... "
From the Paper "In his book Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Robert M. Pirsig offers an assessment of the idea of quality and applies this to life, using as his platform the maintenance of a motorcycle. He uses the quality of a mechanical object and the relationship of that object to himself as a thinking human being as a way of finding a unity with the idea of quality in every life experience. The motorcycle is more than just his tool for accomplishing this. It is a physical object that is also a mental construct. It is an object of art and an object of technology at one and the same time, and it is through Pirsig's direct work on the motorcycle that he is able to see the unity in what are sometimes set forth as opposites--technology and art, classical and romantic, the internal and the external.
The book has as its overt subject one man's quest for truth..."
Abstract Speculates that Arittotle and Plato would likely have been opposed to abortioin as not morally permissable. Discusses the ethical arguments of Aristotle, and his moral philosophy: good of the individual vs. good of the community. Plato's moral philosophy. His emphasis on community over the individual. What determines moral and just acts. Role of the State.
From the Paper "Both Plato and Aristotle would likely be opposed to abortion, based on The Republic and Nicomachean Ethics, respectively. There are ideas in Aristotle's ethical arguments which might allow more leeway for the act of abortion than is found in Plato, but in general the great weight of both philosophers' arguments would seem to be against abortion as not morally permissible.
Neither man discussed abortion directly, which makes this study speculative. Considering Aristotle's golden mean, and his greater emphasis on freedom for the individual as opposed to the power of the state, one might find room for some behavior which would not be permissible in the more strict moral world of Plato as described by Socrates. In addition, a feature of Aristotle's moral philosophy is the tenet that every individual believes his..."
Abstract This paper is written about Friedrich Nietzsche. Nietzsche very much believes that humans have a profound interest in making mankind sick and in blurring the values of what it means to be "good" and "bad". In other words, there is a stake in moral relativism.
Abstract This six-page undergraduate paper discusses "The Allegory of The Cave" in Plato's "Republic", and tries to unfold the messages Plato wishes to convey with regard to his conception of reality, knowledge and education.
Abstract This paper summarizes and analyzes the self-defense Socrates presented at his trial and explains how Socrates was condemned to die not because he did not mount a successful defense, but because his accusers were threatened by Socrates's wisdom and perseverance. The paper concludes by pointing out that Socrates defended himself successfully by proving he was not an evildoer and that he never intentionally corrupted the youth and that God alone is wise.
From the Paper "Socrates was known as one of the most influential Greek philosophers of his time. "The Apology of Socrates" offers a self-portrait based not on false gods or corruption, but rather on a vigilant attention to and exposure of common thinking and false wisdom. Socrates strongly believed that just behavior was better than injustice, and that living morally correct would bring about happiness and well-being. For his life, that is proven to be true. Socrates lived a righteous life, and died a happy man. Throughout the "Apology", Socrates is falsely accused of being a "doer of evil, who corrupts the youth; and who does not believe in the gods of the state" (733). Socrates? self defense was a success because throughout his trial, he was able to prove he was not an evil doer, that he did not corrupt the youth, and that there was no man wiser than God."
Abstract This paper presents Rene Descartes's philosophical approach to proving God's existence. The paper explores how Descartes takes us down a path of reasoning, which provides the logical proof for God's existence, not only persuading us with his ultimate definition of God and the proof provided for existence, but demonstrating the importance of skepticism and inquiry as the path to knowledge.
From the Paper "Those of us who believe in the existence of God, accept His existence unquestioningly. We have been raised to believe in the reality of His existence and do not have the courage to question. We assume that if we allowed ourselves the freedom of questioning we may conclude our reflections by doubting His existence or even denying it. Our denial would emerge from an awareness of the logic of scientific and logical evidence to prove the existence of God beyond a shadow of a doubt. However, where we might fear questioning, was questioned by Rene Descartes and, in fact, subjected to an intensive examination. However, instead of concluding that examination with a denial of God's existence, Descartes affirmed it. Although one may initially react to Descartes' questioning of the existence of God as potentially dangerous due to our assumption that it cannot be proven, either through reference to science or logic, Descartes takes us down a path of reasoning which provides the logic proof for that existence, not only persuading us with his ultimate definition of God and the proof provided for existence but demonstrating the importance of skepticism and inquiry as the path to knowledge."
