Teaching

Anti-Nepotism

Philosophy, Philosophy, 2019

A 17th century Enlightenment philosopher named Thomas Hobbes sought out to define the relationship between the sovereign and the citizens of the state. Hobbes begins by investigating the state of nature, which is a state of society prior to the emergence of a sovereign. In such a state, individuals seek only to maximize their self-interest. Hobbes believed that this was a pathway to an inevitable state of war and destruction. Without a sovereign present to mediate between individuals, they could do as the please. Individuals could therefore commit acts of mere savagery in attempt to maximize resources and follow self-interests. The fundamental self-interest present in individuals is self-preservation. A state of nature becomes a circumstance of mere survival, where survival and propagation become of upmost priority. We may say that we have a natural right to follow our self-interests, however, this opens the pathway to an inevitable doom. Consider Person A, who has a self-interest to posses resources, however no sovereign is present to protect his rights. His rights may not be respect by fellow individuals whom may steal the resources he believes belong to him. Without the sovereign present, moral authority belongs at the level of the individual, leaving each individual to classify what they believe is morally right and wrong. Therefore, it is only with the emergence of a sovereign that society may progress from a state of chaos and instability to a state of order and security. The Hobbesian approach isn’t the only way of reasoning for the formation of a sovereign, in the next few paragraphs the necessity for a higher moral authority will be discussed. 

John Locke - Philosophize This!

Philosophy, Philosophy, 2019

• Founding fathers of America used his philosophy to constrcut the constitution
• • Two Treatise of government were was where he indicated his political philosophy
  • Second one was the one that affect the founding fathers
  • He was responding to Robert Filmer
• Robert Filmer used christian theology to back his claim of a natural state of monarchy in the world ~ patriarchalism
• • Where man was appointed by the lord himself to rule over all the constituents of the world
  • Born unfree children under the dominion of the lord
• Locke firmly opposed this view of patriarchalism propelled by Filmer
• We are born helpless; we need the guidance of our parents, therefore we are not born free
• • Locke opposed this by stating what we are born free but just are unable to exercise it at birth/childhood
  • Give an example:
  • • We are born unable to exercise our rational at birth, would they concede to say that we are therefore born irrational beings.
    • For the correct stance is that we are born rational beings, however we are just unable to express it
• Lockes says Filmer has misinterpreted the Bible
• And that we should not use the Bible as a source of political guidance, instead we should use or rational, because then we don’t have to worry about misunderstandings.
• Using reason we can deduce universal truths
• Who’s own ur body
• • Most people feel self owned; sense of autonomy that accompanies it
  • That we can make decisions for our self; we are not slaves to someone else
  • We have a life given to us; and we have the liberty to control that life
• Locke believes that you are entitled to property; you are entitled to the fruits of your labor
• • When we use our liberty to work hard; we deserve the results it yields
• If we are forced to use the resources of the world, who owns those resources?
• • More importantly, who controls them?
• Some methods of managing the resources:
• 1. Assign a group of people to oversee these resources; They are assign to distribute the resources of the world with equity
  2. Free for All; take and use these resources at liberty
  3. • Not consistent with human nature/reality; humans want more
• Lockes solution is that you have a natural right to the fruits of your labor
• • Allows people who want to work hard and live better achieve desired results
• Government exists to protect your natural rights of life, liberty and property
• It follows then that if the government isn’t doing its job, the citizens can overthrow it

Postmodernism - Philosophize This!

Philosophy, Philosophy, 2019

• Modern is in reference to enlightenment period
• • Reason, Induction, Scientific Truth
  • There is an objective reality
  • • Science, when carefully utilized can tell us about this objective reality

Euthyphro - Plato

Philosophy, Philosophy, 2019

• Enter the conservation with socrates being accused of leading the youth Athens astray. Corrupting the youth. Introducing new gods and misleading the public religiously.
• They run into each other and socrates explains the legal charges being held against him.
• Asks why euthyphro is here. To which he replies:
• • He is brining charges against his own father
  • • Murder; of helper; Helper killed a servant; Father throw helper into a ditch tied up where he died of starvation and dehydration
    • Euthyphro says that what his father has done has gone against divine law; therefore even though helper isn’t related its still wrong
• Socrates claims that euthyphro must truly know what is holy; and wants to be his student to learn
• Euth states what is holy is what is agreeable to the gods
• Soc the gods themselves don’t agree; e.g they are always fighting in greek mythology; gods cannot themselves agree what they want
• Euth states holy is what is agreeable to all the gods
• Soc; is the holy approved by the gods because it is holy; or is it holy because its approved
• Euth; gods approve of it because its holy
• Soc says that there must be a distinction between what is holy and what is approved of the gods. Because if what was holy existed before it was approved by them then they are separate in nature.
• • The other side of the dilemma is avoided because if that is the case then there exists the ability holy being in a changing/dynamic state
• Euth agrees upon a definition: what is holy is just.
• Soc: what species of the just is holiness
• Euth: that which looks after the gods; allows them accomplish their purpose
• Soc: what is the goal of the gods
• Euth; holiness is that which allows us to see what is agreeable/gratifying to the gods
• Soc; holiness is science of requests and donations to the gods; sacrifices and prayers; What is it that the gods get
• Euth; Gratification is that which they get
• Soc; Holiness is not science of requests and donations; instead that which pleases the gods; or that is agreeable
• Soc finishes the discussion with saying that we have come full circle; the original answer was is that is holy is what is agreeable to the gods and ended with the same conclusion.

Infinity ~ The Quest to Think the Unthinkable - Brian Clegg

Non-Fiction Book, Mathematics, 2019

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