Aristotle, Determinism, and Moral Responsibility
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Autonomy and Republicanism: Immanuel Kant's Philosophy of Freedom Author(S): Heiner Bielefeldt Source: Political Theory, Vol
Autonomy and Republicanism: Immanuel Kant's Philosophy of Freedom Author(s): Heiner Bielefeldt Source: Political Theory, Vol. 25, No. 4 (Aug., 1997), pp. 524-558 Published by: Sage Publications, Inc. Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/191892 Accessed: 25-05-2018 14:18 UTC REFERENCES Linked references are available on JSTOR for this article: http://www.jstor.org/stable/191892?seq=1&cid=pdf-reference#references_tab_contents You may need to log in to JSTOR to access the linked references. JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected]. Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at http://about.jstor.org/terms Sage Publications, Inc. is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to Political Theory This content downloaded from 81.157.207.121 on Fri, 25 May 2018 14:18:33 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms AUTONOMY AND REPUBLICANISM Immanuel Kant's Philosophy of Freedom HEINER BIELEFELDT University of Bielefeld INTRODUCTION: THE PARADOX OF LIBERALISM Since its origins in early modernity, liberalism has always been a hotly debated issue. A charge frequently brought forward is that liberalism mirrors a lack of ethical substance in modern society, a society which seemingly loses its inner normative cohesiveness and hence can be held together only by a set of abstract procedural rules. -
Life with Augustine
Life with Augustine ...a course in his spirit and guidance for daily living By Edmond A. Maher ii Life with Augustine © 2002 Augustinian Press Australia Sydney, Australia. Acknowledgements: The author wishes to acknowledge and thank the following people: ► the Augustinian Province of Our Mother of Good Counsel, Australia, for support- ing this project, with special mention of Pat Fahey osa, Kevin Burman osa, Pat Codd osa and Peter Jones osa ► Laurence Mooney osa for assistance in editing ► Michael Morahan osa for formatting this 2nd Edition ► John Coles, Peter Gagan, Dr. Frank McGrath fms (Brisbane CEO), Benet Fonck ofm, Peter Keogh sfo for sharing their vast experience in adult education ► John Rotelle osa, for granting us permission to use his English translation of Tarcisius van Bavel’s work Augustine (full bibliography within) and for his scholarly advice Megan Atkins for her formatting suggestions in the 1st Edition, that have carried over into this the 2nd ► those generous people who have completed the 1st Edition and suggested valuable improvements, especially Kath Neehouse and friends at Villanova College, Brisbane Foreword 1 Dear Participant Saint Augustine of Hippo is a figure in our history who has appealed to the curiosity and imagination of many generations. He is well known for being both sinner and saint, for being a bishop yet also a fellow pilgrim on the journey to God. One of the most popular and attractive persons across many centuries, his influence on the church has continued to our current day. He is also renowned for his influ- ence in philosophy and psychology and even (in an indirect way) art, music and architecture. -
Existentialism
TOPIC FOR- SEM- III ( PHIL-CC 10) CONTEMPORARY WESTERN PHILOSOPHY BY- DR. VIJETA SINGH ASSISTANT PROFESSOR P.G. DEPARTMENT OF PHILOSOPHY PATNA UNIVERSITY Existentialism Existentialism is a philosophy that emphasizes individual existence, freedom and choice. It is the view that humans define their own meaning in life, and try to make rational decisions despite existing in an irrational universe. This philosophical theory propounds that people are free agents who have control over their choices and actions. Existentialists believe that society should not restrict an individual's life or actions and that these restrictions inhibit free will and the development of that person's potential. History 1 Existentialism originated with the 19th Century philosopher Soren Kierkegaard and Friedrich Nietzsche, but they did not use the term (existentialism) in their work. In the 1940s and 1950s, French existentialists such as Jean- Paul Sartre , Albert Camus and Simone de Beauvoir wrote scholarly and fictional works that popularized existential themes, such as dread, boredom, alienation, the absurd, freedom, commitment and nothingness. The first existentialist philosopher who adopted the term as a self-description was Sartre. Existentialism as a distinct philosophical and literary movement belongs to the 19th and 20th centuries, but elements of existentialism can be found in the thought (and life) of Socrates, in the Bible, and in the work of many pre-modern philosophers and writers. Noted Existentialists: Soren Kierkegaard (1813-1855) Nationality Denmark Friedrich Nietzsche(1844-1900) Nationality Germany Paul Tillich(1886-1965) Nati…United States, Germany Martin Heidegger ( 1889-1976) Nati…Germany Simone de Beauvior(1908-1986) Nati…France Albert Camus (1913-1960) Nati….France Jean Paul Sartre (1905-1980) Nati….France 2 What does it mean to exist ? To have reason. -
SPINOZA's ETHICS: FREEDOM and DETERMINISM by Alfredo Lucero
SPINOZA’S ETHICS: FREEDOM AND DETERMINISM by Alfredo Lucero-Montaño 1. What remains alive of a philosopher's thought are the realities that concern him, the problems that he addresses, as well as the questions that he poses. The breath and depth of a philosopher's thought is what continues to excite and incite today. However, his answers are limited to his time and circumstances, and these are subject to the historical evolution of thought, yet his principal commitments are based on the problems and questions with which he is concerned. And this is what resounds of a philosopher's thought, which we can theoretically and practically adopt and adapt. Spinoza is immersed in a time of reforms, and he is a revolutionary and a reformer himself. The reforming trend in modern philosophy is expressed in an eminent way by Descartes' philosophy. Descartes, the great restorer of science and metaphysics, had left unfinished the task of a new foundation of ethics. Spinoza was thus faced with this enterprise. But he couldn't carry it out without the conviction of the importance of the ethical problems or that ethics is involved in a fundamental aspect of existence: the moral destiny of man. Spinoza's Ethics[1] is based on a theory of man or, more precisely, on an ontology of man. Ethics is, for him, ontology. He does not approach the problems of morality — the nature of good and evil, why and wherefore of human life — if it is not on the basis of a conception of man's being-in-itself, to wit, that the moral existence of man can only be explained by its own condition. -
The Thought of St. Augustine Churchman 104/4 1990
The Thought of St. Augustine Churchman 104/4 1990 Rod Garner St. Augustine, also known as Aurelius Augustinus, was born in AD 354 and died in 430 at Hippo, North Africa, in a region now better known as modern Algeria. He was raised in a town called Thagaste. There he suffered the twin misfortunes of the early death of his father, Patrick, and an impoverished education which did little to foster his knowledge and understanding. His mother, Monica, influenced him deeply and remained his best friend until her death in 388. Three years later (and against his wishes) Augustine was ordained presbyter for a small congregation at the busy seaport of Hippo Regius, forty five miles from his birthplace. His reluctance could not mask his outstanding abilities and it was not long before he was consecrated bishop of the province. For thirty four years his episcopal duties engaged him in a constant round of preaching, administration, travel and the care of his people. Despite the demands on his time, and the various controversies which embroiled him as a champion of orthodoxy, he never ceased to be a thinker and scholar. He wrote extensively and his surviving writings exceed those of any other ancient author. His vast output includes one hundred and thirteen books and treatises, over two hundred letters, and more than five hundred sermons. Although a citizen of the ancient world whose outlook was shaped by the cultures of Greece and Rome, Augustine is in important respects our contemporary. His influence has proved pervasive, affecting the way we think about the human condition and the meaning of the word ‘God’. -
What Is Philosophy.Pdf
I N T R O D U C T I O N What Is Philosophy? CHAPTER 1 The Task of Philosophy CHAPTER OBJECTIVES Reflection—thinking things over—. [is] the beginning of philosophy.1 In this chapter we will address the following questions: N What Does “Philosophy” Mean? N Why Do We Need Philosophy? N What Are the Traditional Branches of Philosophy? N Is There a Basic Method of Philo- sophical Thinking? N How May Philosophy Be Used? N Is Philosophy of Education Useful? N What Is Happening in Philosophy Today? The Meanings Each of us has a philos- “having” and “doing”—cannot be treated en- ophy, even though we tirely independent of each other, for if we did of Philosophy may not be aware of not have a philosophy in the formal, personal it. We all have some sense, then we could not do a philosophy in the ideas concerning physical objects, our fellow critical, reflective sense. persons, the meaning of life, death, God, right Having a philosophy, however, is not suffi- and wrong, beauty and ugliness, and the like. Of cient for doing philosophy. A genuine philo- course, these ideas are acquired in a variety sophical attitude is searching and critical; it is of ways, and they may be vague and confused. open-minded and tolerant—willing to look at all We are continuously engaged, especially during sides of an issue without prejudice. To philoso- the early years of our lives, in acquiring views phize is not merely to read and know philoso- and attitudes from our family, from friends, and phy; there are skills of argumentation to be mas- from various other individuals and groups. -
Nietzsche's Naturalism As a Critique of Morality and Freedom
NIETZSCHE’S NATURALISM AS A CRITIQUE OF MORALITY AND FREEDOM A thesis submitted to Kent State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts by Nathan W. Radcliffe December, 2012 Thesis written by Nathan W. Radcliffe B.S., University of Akron, 1998 M.A., Kent State University, 2012 Approved by Gene Pendleton____________________________________, Advisor David Odell‐Scott___________________________________, Chair, Department of Philosophy Raymond Craig_____________________________________, Dean, College of Arts and Sciences ii TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS....................................................................................................................v INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................................... 1 CHAPTERS I. NIETZSCHE’S NATURALISM AND ITS INFLUENCES....................................................... 8 1.1 Nietzsche’s Speculative‐Methodological Naturalism............................................ 8 1.2 Nietzsche’s Opposition to Materialism ............................................................... 15 1.3 The German Materialist Influence on Nietzsche................................................. 19 1.4 The Influence of Lange on Nietzsche .................................................................. 22 1.5 Nietzsche’s Break with Kant and Its Aftermath................................................... 25 1.6 Influences on Nietzsche’s Fatalism (Schopenhauer and Spinoza) -
TAO TAO/ Fate in Confucian Virtue Ethics and Its Contemporary
FATE IN CONFUCIAN VIRTUE ETHICS AND ITS CONTEMPORARY SIGNIFICANCE Tao Tao Abstract:Based on the concept of fate in Confucian virtue ethics, this paper discussed three questions successively: (1) What is inevitable or unchangeable? (2)Facing fate, what we can do?(3)Are we able to achieve happiness? Or what are the relations between virtues, external goods, and happiness? To the first question, this paper mentioned four aspects: the natural world and its laws, the natural life process, the ethical nature of human beings, and the conventional environment. To the second, this paper analyzed four actions in Confucianism: to understand fate, to go along with fate, to respect fate, and to rejoice in accepting fate. To the third, this paper distinguished two kinds of happiness: one with external goods, the other with virtues, and only the latter one is real and self-sufficient. The final conclusion is that: the gentleman in Confucianism who knows to go along with and respect fate, will accept the arrangement or consequence of actions with tranquility, or even a joyful mind; meanwhile, he will pursue virtues for entire lifetime, because he knows virtues or the Way are a person’s real end or happiness. By nature, or by fate, we are able to or must be moral. Life and death are governed by fate, wealth and honor are determined by Heaven. (Analects 12.5) 1 Undoubtedly, we are all powerless to solve specific problems or change circumstances burdened by unfavorable conditions. Whatever has happened to us has happened; no matter good or bad, we cannot change or ignore it. -
Fatalistic Beliefs
SCRIPTA INSTITUTI DONNERIANI ABOENSIS II FATALISTIC BELIEFS IN RELIGION, FOLKLORE, AND LITERATURE Papers read at the Symposium on Fatalistic Beliefs held at Åbo on the 7th-9th of September, 1964 Edited by HELMER RINGGREN ALMQVIST & WIKSELL STOCKHOLM Fatalistic beliefs Fatalistic beliefs in Religion, Folklore, and Literature Papers read at the Symposium on Fatalistic Beliefs held at Åbo on the 7th-9th of September, 1964 Edited by HELMER RINGGREN ALMQVIST & WIKSELL STOCKHOLM Printed in Sweden by Almqvist & Wiksells Boktryckeri AB, Uppsala 1967 Contents HELMER RINGGREN The Problem of Fatalism 7 CARL-MARTIN EDSMAN Divine and Demonic Necessity in the Oresteia 19 JAN BERGMAN "I Overcome Fate, Fate Harkens to Me" 35 HELMER RINGGREN Islamic Fatalism 52 ÅKE V. STRÖM Scandinavian Belief in Fate 63 MATTI KUUSI Fatalistic Traits in Finnish Proverbs 89 ROLF WILH. BREDNICH Die osteuropäischen Volkssagen vom vorherbestimmten Schicksal 97 CARL GUSTAV DIEHL Instances of Belief in Fate in South India '18 GUNNAR SJÖHOLM Observations on the Chinese Ideas of Fate 126 IVAR PAULSON Die Schicksalsseele 133 HALFDAN SIIGER Fate in the Religion of the Lepchas 15c OLOF PETTERSSON Divinity and Destiny in the Religion of Ruanda-Urundi 158 MOGENS BRØNDSTED The Transformations of the Concept of Fate in Literature 172 K. ROB. V. WIKMAN C. Linnæus' Ideas Concerning Retribution and Fate 179 GUSTAV HENNINGSEN Fatalism in Systematic Aspect and Fatalism in its Functional Context 183 The Problem of Fatalism By HELMER RINGGREN It seems that the hardest task in the study of religion is to define its object, in other words, to determine what religion is. A new work in the history, psychology or sociology of religion almost inevitably begins with a new and original definition of the concept of religion. -
Fatalism, Beliefs, and Behaviors During the Covid-19 Pandemic
NBER WORKING PAPER SERIES FATALISM, BELIEFS, AND BEHAVIORS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC Jesper Akesson Sam Ashworth-Hayes Robert Hahn Robert D. Metcalfe Itzhak Rasooly Working Paper 27245 http://www.nber.org/papers/w27245 NATIONAL BUREAU OF ECONOMIC RESEARCH 1050 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge, MA 02138 May 2020, Revised September 2021 We would like to thank Simge Andi, Luigi Butera, Rena Conti, Zoe Cullen, Keith Ericson, John Friedman, Tal Gross, Nikhil Kalyanpur, Rebecca Koomen, John List, Mario Macis, Paulina Olivia, Ricardo Perez-Truglia, Jim Rebitzer, Cass Sunstein, Dmitry Taubinsky and Jasmine Theilgaard for helpful suggestions. We thank Senan Hogan-Hennessey and Manuel Monti- Nussbaum for their valuable research assistance. Any opinions expressed in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the institutions with which they are affiliated. AEA Registry No. AEARCTR-0005775. This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors. Correspondence: [email protected] The views expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Bureau of Economic Research. NBER working papers are circulated for discussion and comment purposes. They have not been peer- reviewed or been subject to the review by the NBER Board of Directors that accompanies official NBER publications. © 2020 by Jesper Akesson, Sam Ashworth-Hayes, Robert Hahn, Robert D. Metcalfe, and Itzhak Rasooly. All rights reserved. Short sections of text, not to exceed two paragraphs, may be quoted without explicit permission provided that full credit, including © notice, is given to the source. -
Quantum Mechanics and Free Will: Counter−Arguments
Quantum mechanics and free will: counter−arguments Martín López−Corredoira Astronomisches Institut der Universitaet Basel, Venusstrasse 7, CH−4102−Binningen, Switzerland E−mail: [email protected] Abstract Since quantum mechanics (QM) was formulated, many voices have claimed this to be the basis of free will in the human beings. Basically, they argue that free will is possible because there is an ontological indeterminism in the natural laws, and that the mind is responsible for the wave function collapse of matter, which leads to a choice among the different possibilities for the body. However, I defend the opposite thesis, that free will cannot be defended in terms of QM. First, because indeterminism does not imply free will, it is merely a necessary condition but not enough to defend it. Second, because all considerations about an autonomous mind sending orders to the body is against our scientific knowledge about human beings; in particular, neither neurological nor evolutionary theory can admit dualism. The quantum theory of measurement can be interpreted without the intervention of human minds, but other fields of science cannot contemplate the mentalist scenario, so it is concluded that QM has nothing to say about the mind or free will, and its scientific explanation is more related to biology than to physics. A fatalistic or materialist view, which denies the possibility of a free will, makes much more sense in scientific terms. 1. Definition of free will First of all, we must clarify the meaning of the term to which we refer: Free will: a source totally detached from matter (detached from nature) which is the origin (cause) of options, thoughts, feelings,.. -
Nietzsche's Ethic
Nietzsche’s Ethic: Virtues for All and None? A thesis submitted To Kent State University in partial Fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts by Daniel Robinson May 2015 ©Copyright All rights reserved Except for previously published materials Thesis written by Daniel Robinson B.A., University of South Alabama, 2012 M.A., Kent State University, 2015 Approved by Linda Williams, Associate Professor, Masters Advisor Deborah Barnbaum, Chair, Department of Philosophy James Blank, Associate Dean, Dean of Arts and Sciences Table of Contents Introduction……………………………………………………….……………......01 Chapter I. Solomon’s Nietzsche: A Summary………………….………….....04 Introduction…………………………………..………...………….04 Concern for Character …………………………………………….05 Passion as the Root to the Virtues…………………………..……..15 Building Nietzsche’s Ethic: Virtues for All……………….….…...22 II. Nietzsche on Ethics……………………………………...……..….32 Introduction………………………………………………………..32 Custom & Natural Morality……………………………………….35 Master-type and Slave-type Moralities…………………………...41 Slave-type’s Universalization ……………………………………48 Nietzsche on Virtue and Virtues …………………….……………52 III. Ethical Contortions: Fitting Nietzsche into Virtue Ethics……...…59 Introduction…………………………………………………….…59 Against a Prescriptive Interpretation……………………….….….60 Redefining Virtue and Ethics……………………………….….…64 Nietzsche’s Individualism …………………………………..…....74 Relevant Bibliography…………………………………………………………….83 i Introduction A year ago I read Robert Solomon’s Living with Nietzsche: What the Great “Immoralist” Has to Teach Us for the first time with the hopes of finding a greater understanding of both Nietzsche and virtue ethics. I was undecided on whether Nietzsche was a virtue ethicist, but I was considering it, simply because of how frequently he mentions virtue and because Aristotle was one of the few major philosophers I knew of that Nietzsche didn’t routinely, vehemently reject. The beginning and middle of Solomon’s text made me very hopeful for his conclusion.