1.What is epistemology and why does it matter? Epistemology is the study of knowledge. It matters because without a firm foundation for knowledge‚ every academic endeaver begins to collapse. 3. What is Rationalism? Rationalism is the part of philosophy that our foundation for knowledge is found within reason. 4. Who are the three main Rationalists and where did they come from? Rene Descartes‚ Baruch Spinoza‚ Gottfried Leibniz. Descartes was French and from the Dutch Republic. Spinoza
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Defends Rationalism Plato was a highly educated Athenian Philosopher. He lived from 428-348 B.C. Plato spent the early portion of his life as a disciple to Socrates‚ which undoubtedly helped shape his philosophical theories. One topic that he explored was epistemology. Epistemology is the area of philosophy that deals with questions concerning knowledge‚ and that considers various theories of knowledge (Lawhead 52). Plato had extremely distinct rationalistic viewpoints. Rationalism is the
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Review of symbols from last week -We imbue them with meaning --Arbitrarily: no necessary connection between word and thing/meaning --Conventionality: build connections over time --Differentiality Structuralism vs. Empiricism and Pragmatism -Main differences --Empirically: all words refer to things or mental images of things (no assumptions) --Pragmatism: the use of a word is its meaning (no underlying meaning) --Structuralism: (According to Phillips) -Language examined independently
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Critically discuss the concepts of empiricism and empirical methods and their use in geography. Empiricism is a philosophical doctrine that our knowledge only comes from experiences. It can be described as a central role of observation. Empiricism was eventually somewhat replaced around the 1970’s by Positivism‚ Humanism‚ Marxist‚ Feminism and Post-Colonialism. However it still plays an important role today’s society‚ for example in the cataloguing of species. There is about 1.7 million species
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British philosopher John Locke in the late 17th Century created the doctrine of Empiricism. Locke argued that human nature was mutable and that knowledge was gained through accumulated experience rather than by accessing some sort of outside truth. In his work “An Essay Concerning Human Understanding” he claimed that the mind begins as a clear slate and experience shapes it. He does not support the claim that humans have ideas that are innate. Locke believed in order for humans to know anything
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Although Connie works hard to present the appearance of being a mature woman who is experienced with men‚ her encounter with Arnold reveals that this is only a performance. She has created an attractive adult persona through her clothing‚ hairstyle‚ and general behavior and gets the attention she desires from boys. But Connie confuses her ability to command attention from boys with her desire to actually have them pursue her in a sexual way. The love and romance evident in songs she listens to and
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David Hume’s thoughts on Empiricism One of the most notable figures in the history of western philosophy was Scottish philosopher David Hume. Hume was widely known for his views on Empiricism. Empiricism has been pondered since the beginnings of philosophy by many famous figures‚ from Aristotle to John Locke. (Wikipedia) Empiricism claims that human knowledge is founded on observation and use of the five senses. Hume published a literary work titled Enquiry concerning Human Understanding. This
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Rationalization of Failure Aesop’s short story "The Fox and the Grapes" tells of a fox failing to find a way to reach some grapes hanging high up on a vine. The story deals with the rationalization of the failure to attain a desired end. Rather than accept a personal failure by acknowledging our shortcomings or by unemotionally evaluating the circumstances that surrounded the failure‚ we rationalize and come up with an immediate excuse. We need to convince ourselves and everybody else who witnessed
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In the journal article “The Robustness of Authoritarianism in the Middle East‚ Exceptionalism in Comparative Perspective” by Eva Bellin is an article that is critically acclaimed. Eva Bellin tries to answer the question why the Middle East and North Africa is overwhelmingly Authoritarian and is resistant to the third wave of democrazation. The author finds that despite the MENA (Middle East and North Africa anagram) region not meeting the “prerequisites” of democracy‚ the region is able to use coercive
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Locke‚ John (1632-1704) English philosopher‚ who founded the school of empiricism. Locke was born in the village of Wrington‚ Somerset‚ on August 29‚ 1632. He was educated at the University of Oxford and lectured on Greek‚ rhetoric‚ and moral philosophy at Oxford from 1661 to 1664. In 1667 Locke began his association with the English statesman Anthony Ashley Cooper‚ 1st earl of Shaftesbury‚ to whom Locke was friend‚ adviser‚ and physician. Shaftesbury secured for Locke a series of minor government
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