...Thomas Hobbes's political thinking and worldview are surprisingly original and still remarkable in contemporary politics. Their main concern is the problem of social and political order how human beings can live together in peace and avoid danger and fear of civil conflict. Hobbes has a negative anthropological view of man. He thinks that man in his state of nature is governed simply by the desire to fulfill his desires, man has a right to everything that is reserved, his inclination to his own desires never culminates because they follow one another. For him ethics does not exist, the reason is only a means to get the maximum benefits possible, to calculate advantages and/or disadvantages. The only end of man is self-preservation, he flees from what threatens him, the man comes into the world to survive and to satisfy what is needed for this conservation....
Words: 473 - Pages: 2
...throughout history, such as Thomas Hobbes, have offered their viewpoints of human nature, eventually reaching Sigmund Freud and other modern philosophers. However, in A Clockwork Orange, Anthony Burgess writes a story of a dystopian future version of Britain with the story revolving...
Words: 1191 - Pages: 5
...Research Paper on John Rawls Roy Love Pol 462-01 Dr. Rose Tuesday, April 17, 2012 INTRODUCTION The philosopher and political thinker that I am doing my research paper on is John Rawls. John Rawls is world renowned as an American philosopher and a leading figure in moral and political philosophy. He was a student, professor, and an icon that achieved kleos apthiton to the highest regard. Mr. Rawls worked on many projects and wrote many books that we still use and reference today. Some of his works include: Justice as Fairness (2001), A Theory of Justice (1971), Political Liberalism (1993), and The Law of Peoples (1999). The most famous and influential work was the Theory of Justice, which was one of his first pieces of work; many say that book was his masterpiece. His work was so famous with the millions that read his work, that his work was nicknamed ‘Rawlsianism’. His work has been echoed through the ages and is quoted without people knowing who they are quoting. For example, the term veil of ignorance is used to describe the morality of an issue, like slavery. I have heard professors and others use that term without ever knowing where it came from. John Rawls has been the receipted of many awards, and according to the 42nd President of the United States, Bill Clinton, he helped a whole generation of learned Americans revive their faith in democracy itself (B. Clinton 1999). One of his famous students, Samuel Freeman, wrote a book in 2007 that will show some insight on...
Words: 1073 - Pages: 5
...Logic Main article: Logic Logic is the study of the principles of correct reasoning. Arguments use either deductive reasoning or inductive reasoning. Deductive reasoning is when, given certain statements (called premises), other statements (called conclusions) are unavoidably implied. Rules of inferences from premises include the most popular method, modus ponens, where given “A” and “If A then B”, then “B” must be concluded. A common convention for a deductive argument is the syllogism. An argument is termed valid if its conclusion does indeed follow from its premises, whether the premises are true or not, while an argument is sound if its conclusion follows from premises that are true. Propositional logic uses premises that are propositions, which are declarations that are either true or false, while predicate logic uses more complex premises called formulae that contain variables. These can be assigned values or can be quantified as to when they apply with the universal quantifier (always apply) or the existential quantifier (applies at least once). Inductive reasoning makes conclusions or generalizations based on probabilistic reasoning. For example, if “90% of humans are right-handed” and “Joe is human” then “Joe is probably right-handed”. Fields in logic include mathematical logic (formal symbolic logic) and philosophical logic. Metaphysics Main article: Metaphysics Metaphysics is the study of the most general features of reality, such as existence, time, the relationship...
Words: 1835 - Pages: 8
...Federalist Papers * John Locke * Authoritarianism * The Two Treatises Of Government * The Social Contract Theory * Thomas Hobbes * Nominalism * Materialism * Method Reading Summary or Overview The Federalist Papers were written and published in New York state newspapers between 1787 and 1788. Its purpose was to convince New Yorkers to ratify the proposed Constitution. The authors of The Federalist or The Federalist Papers were among the "founding fathers" of the United States of America. This term is used to refer to the men whose actions were responsible for creating the United States of America and the United States Constitution. View this introductory presentation on the authors of The Federalist Papers. Then, read the internet resources on The Federalist Papers. Internet Resources KAPLAN LIBRARY The "KU Online Library" link is on the left Navigation area of your course Home Page once you log in. You will be able to locate the articles below by placing the title of the article into the search engine. For any Supreme Court cases or other legal cases, once you go into the Kaplan Library, on the right side of the page you will see “databases.” Once in “databases” scroll down to “Westlaw Campus Research” and there you will be able to access the full text of court opinions, statutes, and regulations from state and federal governments. The Federalist Papers Jay, J., Goldman, L., Hamilton, A., & Madison, J. (2008). The Federalist Papers. Oxford:...
Words: 2296 - Pages: 10
...Cognitive Psychology Definition Paper PSY/360 July 21, 20xx xxxx Cognitive Psychology Definition Paper Defining Cognitive Psychology Cognitive psychology focuses on the way human’s process information, looking at how we treat information that comes in to the person, better known as stimuli, and how this treatment leads to responses (McLeod, 2007). Cognitive psychologists study internal processes including perception, attention, language, memory and thinking. In ancient Greece, cognitive psychology created the need to understand how the mind works and what processes are involved in learning. Philosophers and early psychologists studied the mind, however the ancient Greeks knew little about the human mind and the mental process. Cognitive psychology is the field of psychology that emphasizes the study of mental processes (Galotti, 2014). These processes include thinking, language, problem solving, knowing, reasoning, judging and decision making. Cognitive psychology concluded that humans were not pushed or pulled by environmental factors. Cognitive psychology also studied how people view and understand the world. Subjects wanted to describe the patterns and irregularities during the operation of his or her mind. There were several key milestones in the development of cognitive psychology. Key Milestones in the Development of Cognitive Psychology Developmental milestones began in ancient Greek times have set a precedent in today’s views of cognitive psychology...
Words: 823 - Pages: 4
...the definition presented by Max Weber. In short, Weber defined bureaucracy as an organizational system with a clearly defined chain of command, where employees set aside their own personal opinions in favor of neutrality and impartialness. Rules are clearly defined and followed, to ensure the elimination of nepotism and the employee is required to adhere to the orders of their superiors who in turn have to operate under the structure and rules of the organization (Weber, 1946). When looking at how bureaucracy is used and implemented across the globe, it is clear that there are huge differences in how efficiently organizations and governments are being run, despite the fact that they are all working within a bureaucratic structure. In this paper we will look at public administration and question whether or not the bureaucratic ideal of the impersonal worker is still valid today. Is the strict adherence to regulations and formalities a concept which is no longer needed in our modern society? Traditional bureaucracy To many, bureaucracy is seen as a very stringent and almost soulless system, which does not allow for personal expression and renders the bureaucrat as nothing more than a cog in the machine of an organization. One will often hear the term ‘red tape’ (referring to the tape which was once used to bind official documents) being used in context where the administration of a certain matter is handled with a perceived excess of regulations and formalities. As the foundation...
Words: 1683 - Pages: 7
...to the webliography. Provide an overview of the website and assess its usefulness for research. You must choose a different site than your classmates, so check what has been posted before adding your own. Grading Rubric Description Possible Points Usefulness of site for research 10 Quality of written description 10 Grammar/spelling 5 Total Week 2 Reflective Paper Choose an individual: Sir Isaac Newton, Descartes, Bacon, Spinoza, Locke, Hume, Hobbes, Montesquieu, Voltaire, Rousseau, Adam Smith, Immanuel Kant, Hegel, Edmund Burke, Owen, Edward Baines, Chadwick, John Stuart Mill, Comte, de Tocqueville, Fourier, Saint-Simon, de Maistre, Feuerbach, or Herbert Spencer. Write a 500-word reflective essay connecting the individual to a TCO for the course. Papers are required to contain at least two outside resources and the textbook. All sources need to be cited using APA citation. The paper should have at least five in-text citations using proper APA format (no URLs for in-text citations). Week 3 Webliography Activity Find websites devoted to Nietszche, Freud, Einstein, psychoanalysis, new physics, and other topics covered in the two chapters above and post it to the Webliography (see tabs across the top of the course shell). Provide an overview of the website (in your own words, nothing copied from the site) and assess its usefulness for research for this class. You must choose a different site than your classmates,...
Words: 1191 - Pages: 5
...For centuries man’s fascination with themselves and each other has led to various theories. Most important the fascination with human nature has led to the development of the science of psychology. Psychology’s answer to man’s fascination and wondering has come about through the roots in other discipline; disciplines such as philosophy, biology, and physiology. This led to a science that aims to describe and explain how human thinks, how human feel, and how human acts. Psychology is the scientific study of human behavior and mental processes. The science of psychology has a history that goes back to ancient past. Back to the time of Plato and Aristotle but began to flourish and take shape in the 1600’s. For one to have an appreciation for this science he or she must consider the root and various perspectives of psychology. Modern psychology has come a long way since Rene Descartes and john Locke in the 16th century. The science of psychology began to flourish in the 1600’s with philosophers Descartes and Locke contributing significant theories on human behavior, impacting the rise of modern psychology. “As a science psychology evaluates competing ideas with careful observations and vigorous analysis” (Myers, 2007. p. 2). Rene Descartes was a French philosopher and mathematician who became influential and well-known in the field of psychology. He is the father of the mind-body interaction also known as the dualism theory. According to the dualism theory the mind and body are...
Words: 799 - Pages: 4
...of this particular study in science. In this particular paper, the main concepts that is being explored is philosophers that historically relate to the beginnings of psychology as a formal discipline, major philosophers in the western tradition that were primary contributors to the formation of psychology as a discipline, and the development of the science of psychology during the 19th century. History of Psychology Psychology was not well known as a separate discipline until the late 1800’s, its initial history can be traced back to the era of the early Greeks. All throughout the 17th century, Rena Descartes, a French philosopher, introduced the first idea of dualism, which is the explanation that the mind and body are separate parts that work together to create the human experience. “Many other issues still debated by psychologists today, such as relative contributions of nature vs. nurture are rooted in these early philosophical traditions” (Citizendium, 2010). Psychology has been often mistakenly viewed as a young discipline, in all actuality Psychology has roots extending from ancient Greece. The father of psychology is known as Aristotle, he wrote his thesis “ De Anima, Parva Naturalia approximately around 350 CE. Aristotle’s thesis is commonly regarded to as the first codification of psychology as a formal discipline. “ The foundations of modern psychology were laid by the 17th century philosopher Thomas Hobbes, who argued that scientific causes could be established...
Words: 876 - Pages: 4
...When a social system and its productive relation are no longer compatible with its demand for productivity development, people are going to overthrow that system and introduce a new one suitable to current economic situation. In the case of Europe, when history rolled its wheel to 1500’s, such a situation applied. In this century, alongside the great discovery, the activities of Europeans was suddenly not confined to the continent and the neighboring waters, but reached great remote oceans and any corners of the world with their vessels and compasses. Trade and commerce grew exponentially as several small nations like Spain, Portugal, and later Holland became masters of the sea and the route of their vessels reached more and more land and the people on it. The great discovery changed, to a great extent, the people’s outlook on the world and the development of trade and commerce facilitated by this discovery increased substantially the riches of European countries and their people, propelling the economic development to such a point that the old social structure became compatible no more. On the other hand, the Renaissance emancipated people’s mind and facilitated the spread of ideas as freedom, equality and democracy which are essential to the founding of modern society. If the great discovery updated people’s physical outlook on the world, the Renaissance transformed their conception upon society and human beings. They became more conscious of the position they were in and...
Words: 1912 - Pages: 8
...|Objectives | | |By the end of this lesson, students will be able to: | | |describe the scientific method and its effect on Western Europe | | |distinguish between the scientists Copernicus, Kepler, Galileo, Newton, and Harvey and their works | | |compare the political theories of Hobbes and Locke | | |explain how science and philosophy influenced one another during the Enlightenment | | |explain the term enlightened despot, using the model of Frederick II of Prussia | | |Click here for the course glossary | | |Click here for a Timeline of The Enlightenment and Scientific Revolution | | |This lesson discusses European society between 1600 and 1800--an era marked by the power of ideas and rational | | |thinking. The term Scientific Revolution is used to describe the growing acceptance and influence of the scientific| | |method and the belief that...
Words: 7624 - Pages: 31
...University of Massachusetts Lowell Philosophy Department Introduction to Philosophy Philosophy 45. 201.201/02S Spring 2013 Syllabusi Conference Time and Location Tu & Th 3:30-4:45PM Class meet at SOU 403 NC Instructor: Andrés Paniagua andres_paniagua@uml.edu Office Hours T&R 3:00-3:25PM & W. 6:00-6:25 Office TBD Course Description. The practice and study of philosophy constitute one of the most distinctive strands of Western intellectual tradition. In order to understand-even simply recognize-the deepest assumptions we make as a culture we must turn to philosophy and to those thinkers whose ideas have shaped our assumptions. We will approach the study of philosophy as a conversation among the greatest thinkers of all the time, Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, Locke, Hume, Kant, Hegel, Marx, Nietzsche, Heidegger and Sartre. Our focus will be on each philosopher’s ideas and their impact on Western Civilization. We will also delve briefly into the cultural and historical context of each philosopher, evaluate weather their ideas are still relevant and some of their argument remain compelling. Course outline. The approach of this class is hybrid. The first part following an historical and chronological sequence, the second part follows a topical approach. Part I (a), Ancient philosophy, with our main focus on Plato and Aristotle. Part 1 (b) Late Renaissance and to Kant. Part II Empiricism and Positivism and part II (b) Existentialism. We will wrap the class pointing to some recent...
Words: 1207 - Pages: 5
...Introduction Social orientation is the recognition of human psychology and behavior. The emphasis on human thought, emotion, and behavior was to represent the thought, emotion, and behavior of members of a social group. Thomas Hobbes declared that the social groups are nothing more than a collection of individuals and that of social thought, emotion, and behavior, governed by the pursuit of pleasure and avoidance of pain (Greenwood, 2009). Cognitive psychology represents the distinction amongst the human mind and a computer that suggest that humans have the ability to process information from around the world just as computer. Cognitive psychology is not old but the newest part of psychology where the information we receive through our senses is then administered through the brain. Cognitive psychologists try to develop explanations of cognitive development, memory, attention, artificial intelligence, perception, and social cognition. The laboratory methods used to determine the outcome of a controlled circumstance are memory test and research studies. During the early 21st century, it appears that experimental psychology is healthy and growing; likewise the crisis in theories and progress is of discern. At this time there is not a crisis in psychology, nevertheless psychology can be described as an interregnum period, with much activity and no major leading directions or theoretical commitments (Mandler, 2011). The first crisis shown in psychology was seen in 1899. There...
Words: 1716 - Pages: 7
..."to provide more accurate information, more powerful, and more relevant answers" to the roots or causes of peace and war (Brecher& Harvey, 54). At the same time, many features of the current realist paradigm can be traced back to the time of Thucydides, Niccolo Machiavelli and Thomas Hobbes. Among contemporary thinkers recognized as major writers and contributors to the realist tradition are Hans Morgenthau, Edward Carr and Kenneth Waltz (Freyberg-Inan, 8). What are then the basic tenets or common features of a realist thinker? Machiavelli would acknowledge that to be a realist one has to look at history as "a sequence of cause and effect whose course can be analysed and understood by intellectual effort, but not directed by imagination" (Carr, 64). Hobbes would persist in the same train of thought and insist that to be a realist thinker one must look at things as they are and not as they should be (Warner, 37). Thus, both of these thinkers direct us to the idea that the creation of the realist paradigm and theories are in fact an inductive process whereby "theory does not create practice, but practice theory" (Carr, 64). Suggestive and provocative declarations such as those of Machiavelli and Hobbes not only make the...
Words: 17639 - Pages: 71
