Explain the first formulation of the Categorical Imperative The first formulation of the categorical imperative states; “Act only according to that maxim by which you can at the same time will that it would become a universal law.” Kant invented a phrase‚ “categorical imperative‚” that makes the above point in a different way. He distinguishes “the categorical imperative” from so-called “hypothetical imperatives.” A hypothetical imperative is a directive to the effect that if you wish to
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Certainty and Doubt Argumentative Essay The concept of certainty and doubt has been explored by a multitude of individuals throughout the years. William Lyon Phelps‚ an American educator‚ journalist‚ and professor‚ believed that certainty is the key “to accomplish[ing] virtually anything.” On the opposite side of the continuum‚ Bertrand Russell‚ a British author‚ mathematician‚ and philosopher‚ believed that “we ought always to entertain our opinions…with doubt.” Both men are correct‚ but only partially
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Rene Descartes‚ a 17th century French philosopher‚ created the idea of Substance dualism. Descartes states that the mind and the body are two separate entities that possess different characteristics. The mind‚ a theoretical substance‚ cannot be viewed in space as a material substance using tradition measuments such as height or weight. Because of this‚ only the physical body can be extended‚ not the mind‚ separating the two into the theory of substance dualism. Throughout the many Meditations‚ multiple
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Descartes vs. Pascal For centuries‚ human beings have been debating over the validity of the use of reason. This is a very‚ very difficult subject to discuss‚ as one is forced to study something which is at that moment being used in their study. Two classic thinkers who contrasted on their view of reason were Descartes and Pascal. Though both saw reason as the primary source of knowledge‚ they disagreed over the competence of human reason. Descartes‚ the skeptic‚ said that we could use reason
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Descartes’ "Wax Passage" Later in his second meditation‚ as Descartes begins to doubt his own conclusion that he exists as a thinking thing‚ he goes into an elaborate analogy known as his "wax passage". Comparing the wax to his knowledge of himself‚ he begins by discussing the physical characteristics which can be known by means of the senses. However‚ the importance lies in the fact that by heating‚ the wax can be altered and the sensible properties are no longer the same. He then goes on to
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Meditation is a private devotion or mental exercise consisting of a number of techniques of concentration‚ contemplation‚ and abstraction to heighten spiritual awareness. It has also been defined as‚ "Consciously directing your attention to alter your state of consciousness." Meditation has been practiced around the world since the ancient times. It was used back then and still used today for spiritual growth (becoming more conscious). Meditation is mostly concerned about your attention‚ where
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Descartes famously proposed the conception of the mind and body as two distinct substances. Substance dualism is one of his famously philosophical stances. According to this philosophical position‚ the mind and body can exist as two separate substances that can exist independently. Descartes commences by noting that the basis of his opinions have been his senses and we cannot be sure that our minds are not deceiving us. It is as such because we cannot be sure that our exciting thoughts of the world
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Sajune Blanchard Introduction to Philosphy Descartes vs Hume Epistemology is a branch of philosophy that focuses on the theories of knowledge and justified beliefs. There are various methods that philosophers choose to arrive at knowledge and detect what can be true. Some of the philosophers that have played an important role in epistemology are René Descartes and David Hume. Even though they had spent their time doubting the sources of human knowledge‚ their approach was different although they
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Transcendentalism and Transcendental Meditation "The Transcendentalist adopts the whole connection of spiritual doctrine. He believes in miracle‚ in the perpetual openness of the human mind to new influx of light and power; he believes in inspiration‚ and in ecstasy."(Emerson 196). These two lines written by Ralph Waldo Emerson exemplify the whole movement of transcendentalist writers and what they believed in. Though to the writers‚ transcendentalism was a fight for a belief‚ unknown to them
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When Descartes decided to tear down his beliefs and start fresh‚ he needed a foundation upon which to build his ideology. When judging what reality is‚ God must be considered. He/she must be taken out of a religious concept and proven to exist‚ exist in a way in which we cannot be deceived into only thinking is real. The proof of the existence of God in this way forms the backbone of Descartes’ further forays into proving what is reality. God‚ being the supremely powerful‚ all-knowing all-seeing
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