Asks whether any form of dualism can be defended as an acceptable theory of the mind.
Essay # 24031 |
2,701 words (
approx. 10.8 pages ) |
6 sources |
MLA | 2002
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$ 59.95
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Abstract
This paper concerns the philosophy of the mind and attempts to answer the question of whether dualism provides an acceptable account of the mind. In doing so, the fundamental arguments and problems associated with dualism are discussed and analyzed. This paper assesses the plausibility of a number of different forms of dualism such as Descarte's cartesian dualism, property dualism and epiphenomenalism.
From the Paper
"For centuries, philosophers have debated the ontological problem of the mind. Through introspection, we know that we, and believe others possess a conscious intelligence that has the ability to register emotions, interpret sensations and perform reason. But where do such abilities originate? In what medium do they take place and how is it that our mental phenomena such as desires and beliefs seem to be able to causally act on the physical world? Dualism is just one of many theories that have sought to find answers to such intriguing questions. Unlike materialist theories that optimistically asserts that all mental phenomena can eventually be explained through physics and neurological science, dualists argue that mental phenomena is so far removed from anything physical that it requires the existence of a non-physical entity or property. Since, as yet science is unable to fully explain all mental phenomena such as consciousness, perhaps dualism is a plausible alternative. Is any form of dualism plausible?"
Tags:cartesian, causation, descartes, epiphenomenalism, intelligence, mind, ockham
This paper examines the "Allegory of the Cave" by the scholar, Plato, and why metaphors are used and what they represent.
Essay # 24048 |
1,913 words (
approx. 7.7 pages ) |
0 sources |
2001
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$ 39.95
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This essay focuses on Plato's clever use of metaphors in the "Allegory of the Cave". This essay discusses Plato, his philosophy, his teaching and why the "Allegory of the Cave" was so good at explaining his ideas. The author explains the Platonic theory of the Forms. Also examined are possible critiques and strengths in terms of criticism to human understanding.
From the Paper
"Plato believed in the Platonic theory of the Forms. The world in which we ourselves live in, which we would class is real, is in fact not real at all. It is merely a shadow of the real world, the world of the Perfect Forms. He believed that the world is constantly changing, but the reality, the forms behind are constant. He taught that the world we live in and believe is real is nothing more than a materialistic world and everything in it is an imperfect copy of the perfect forms. "The world that we see is not the real world, the true world is beyond our physical senses.""
Tags:dualism, forms, philosophy, shadows, world
A discussion of whether science and religion are fundamentally opposed. The paper is based on F. Turner's work on the professionalization of science in 19th century Britain.
Essay # 25455 |
2,059 words (
approx. 8.2 pages ) |
3 sources |
APA | 2002
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$ 49.95
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This paper examines the emergence in 19th century Britain of science as a respected body of professionals, rather than as an amateur hobby of the idle rich. The paper reviews the article "The Victorian Conflict between Science and Religion: A Professional Dimension" by F. Turner. It looks at how the drive to raise professional standards within the new disciplines led to an increasing refusal to compromise scientific integrity to fit in with Church doctrine. This paper examines whether this conflict was caused by a fundamental opposition of science and religion or merely by individuals trying to resist or encourage the huge social changes occurring at the time.
From the Paper
"At the beginning of the nineteenth century, the clergy had a huge amount of influence on British society in terms of government, school and University education, patronage and the prestige, authority and reverence given to them by all social classes. Science, on the other hand, was nothing but a disunited collection of amateurs, who were not even granted their own collective noun. The term "scientist", although coined in 1834 by Reverend Whewell, did not come into popular use until the 1890s. Science in this early period was very much influenced by religion and many (though increasingly not all) both within and outside the scientific community considered it perfectly acceptable and natural for research to be conducted under the authority of and be limited by Church doctrine."
Tags:church, clergy, social, upheaval
An analysis of the influence of the work of others and general trends in the nineteenth century on the theories of Sigmund Freud.
Essay # 45936 |
1,627 words (
approx. 6.5 pages ) |
5 sources |
MLA | 2003
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$ 39.95
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This paper discusses how Freud has been regarded as one of the most influential figures of the twentieth century and how his published works and theories still remain as a major source of inspiration and contention for modern day psychiatrists and psychotherapists and continue to be widely discussed and queried by scholars and practitioners. It looks at how his ideas and theories have filtered into the mainstream and become an accepted part of modern psychology. It also discusses how he reached his beliefs, how his predecessors and contemporaries influenced him and how his theories became so widespread.
From the Paper
"He further proposed that infants enter the world as fully sexualised beings without inhibition (the incarnation of the id) and then, as they go through the growing up process, defined in the psychodynamic stages of development, slowly become educated into repressing these desires and become a civilised member of society. These stages all correspond to an erogenous zone, which the child needs to satisfy and repress before moving to the next phase in order to maintain a functional personality. According to Freud, incomplete repression at any stage of these desires will result in either perversion (a term used by Freud to include homosexuality and masochism), hysteria, or unhappiness. These people become trapped by their infantile appetites, fixated at a particular stage, unable to move forward until they have dealt with these feelings through psychoanalysis by rationally condemning them."
Tags:breuer, catharsis, charcot, ego, hypnosis, psychoanalysis, psychology, repression, resistance
This paper looks at Victorian moral values and how they were applied differently in different sections of society.
Term Paper # 107199 |
823 words (
approx. 3.3 pages ) |
5 sources |
MLA | 2008
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$ 19.95
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In this article, the writer assesses the nature and characteristics of Victorian moral values. The primary values are highlighted and examined in turn. The work specifically shows, however, the extent to which such values were not equally applicable to all. The writer discusses that differing social, economic and legal conditions dictated that certain sections of Victorian society were removed from this system of values. As such, the writer maintains that it was the unequal nature of Victorian society that guided the extent to which individuals would adhere to the fundamental values of the day.
From the Paper
"However, although in principle such moral values were intended to equally apply to the full cross-section of Victorian society, practically this was impossible due to the extreme social, economic and legal conditions in which many people were forced to exist. On the one hand there existed a sincere willingness to instil a common public morality, but this was often contradicted by the very real poverty and statutory discrimination that was engrained into certain sections of Victorian society. A clear example of this disparity is provided with the issue of women. The two primary texts of analysis used here are Henry Mayhew's observations about the plight of London's needlewomen, published in the Morning Chronicle, 1849 and John Stuart Mill's work on The Subjugation of Women, 1869. Both provide validation to the claim that in many cases; economic, social and legal limitations dictated that Victorian women were simply unable to pursue the moral societal aims of their male counterparts. Each work is discussed individually."
Tags:social, conditions, poverty, discrimination
Looks at how ideological narratives express themselves within contemporary musical culture.
Term Paper # 744 |
2,145 words (
approx. 8.6 pages ) |
6 sources |
2000
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$ 49.95
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This essay applies the thoughts of critical theorists such as Barthes and Eagleton to the concept of music and it?s cultural roots and present day entity.
Tags:barthes, eagleton, elton, john, lennon, tempest
An overview of act and rule utilitarianism and a discussion on which version is more plausible according to John Mill.
Analytical Essay # 54208 |
1,457 words (
approx. 5.8 pages ) |
5 sources |
MLA | 2004
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$ 29.95
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This paper examines how act utilitarianism is a direct moral theory and how the morally right action is the one that maximises happiness. In comparison, it looks at how rule utilitarianism, while concerned with actions, is a more indirect theory in which the morally right action is not the one that necessarily maximises happiness in every situation. It considers whether John Mill is an act or rule utilitarian, using Mill's idea of customary morality and evaluates which version of utilitarianism is more plausible.
From the Paper
"Rule utilitarianism is not then very plausible as a form of utilitarianism, but it does at least offer answers to some of the problems with act utilitarianism. If one is to maximise happiness then in theory one has to calculate the welfare values associated with every potential action. This is obviously not realistic as one would have to spend a good deal of one's live calculating such values, which itself would surely not lead to happiness being maximised as these calculations themselves can not be described as particularly pleasurable. Indeed would someone really stand on the shore contemplating the consequences of saving a drowning man for more than a split second before acting?"
Tags:morality, worship, happiness
A look at the controversial debate between the two major methods of implementing practical utilitarianism.
Term Paper # 59864 |
2,004 words (
approx. 8 pages ) |
6 sources |
MLA | 2005
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$ 49.95
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The paper first defines act- and rule-utilitarianism before discussing their relative merits. It moves through the debate using a series of famous examples and counter-examples designed to highlight the faults of each method. For example, the accusation of "rule-worshiping" is contrasted with the idea that act-utilitarianism allows people to break promises, or is too demanding. The paper ultimately finds that rule-utilitarianism is all too likely to slip into act-utilitarianism if it is to avoid potentially dangerous rule-worship.
From the Paper
"The first principle of utilitarianism is acceptable enough, partly because Mill specifically spends much time discussing its proof in Utilitarianism, and partly because happiness as an ultimate end in life seems to the vast majority of people to be reasonable enough. However, there is great controversy between the opposing schools of utilitarianism about how exactly the individual utilitarian should make their moral decisions. The choice is between the principles of act-utilitarianism, which dictates that the rightness or wrongness of a single action is to be judged by the action's consequences, and those of rule-utilitarianism, which dictates that the action should be judged by a set of established rules, which are designed to produce the best consequences. It should also be noted that writers in both sides have cited passages in Mill's text which appear to support their point of view."
Tags:bentham, happiness, mill, pain, pleasure, utility
An analysis of Thomas Aquinas' "Summa Theologica".
Analytical Essay # 57498 |
2,783 words (
approx. 11.1 pages ) |
4 sources |
APA | 2004
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$ 59.95
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This paper uses both the original Latin and English translation to examine the text of Thomas Aquinas' "Summa Theologica" and how it deals with questions about the existence of God.
From the Paper
"The problematic word in this phrase is omnes ("everyone") because it is never defined. What exactly does Aquinas mean by "everyone"? One possible answer to the question, seen for example in Velecky, is that he means "everyone who was anyone" - all well-known, respectable people. However, an alternative take on this word would be to say that Aquinas meant Deum ("God") to be a standard language device, used to refer to the Christian theistic metaphysical being, even if one did not believe. If a non-believer was to talk about Christian belief, they would have to use the word Deus (or its cognates) to refer to their supreme being."
Tags:dominican, medieval, monk
A discussion of the inherent flaws of utilitarianism and the problems with employing the theory as a practical moral system.
Analytical Essay # 45587 |
1,058 words (
approx. 4.2 pages ) |
4 sources |
MLA | 2003
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$ 29.95
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This paper examines the principles of utilitarianism, a deontological theory that assesses morality by looking ahead to the end result and the consequences that it will cause in terms if the happiness generated. It outlines some of the criticisms leveled at utilitarianism as a theory- such as those of ignoring personal factors, being too complex to undertake,and not allowing for any concrete intrinsic moral values.
From the Paper
"It is also not possible for an individual to be able to fully envisage all of the possible consequences an action might lead to. The decision made may therefore not be fully informed and could have disastrous unforeseeable results. As a deontological theory then, it becomes redundant. The act of calculation itself becomes too complicated to be able to employ in everyday life. People are not able to contemplate any result that could arise from any action they consider in terms of the happiness benefit. This hugely undermines the practicality of such a theory, as it would unrecognizably transform a persons life."
Tags:consequentialism, ethics, mills, morality, philosophy, rawls, theory, williams