Enlightenment is appealing for all the positive connotations it has. When we think of enlightenment, what comes to mind is the image of a sage or monk. Furthermore, we also believe these individuals are without faults; that they have discovered a certain existentialism that enables them to achieve true happiness. However, we don’t hear often … Read more
Aristotle, a famous Greek philosopher, had a theory of trying to simplify the task of arguing by dividing and classifying arguments into three types. The three types are called Logos or logic-base, Pathos or emotion based, and Ethos or credibility based. The two classic essays, “Life Boat Ethics” by Garrett Hardin and “A Modest Proposal” … Read more
The word enlightenment is a very broad word that usually means, ‘happiness, truth, reaching full potential. However, it turns out new knowledge doesn’t come easily without the pains, rupture, awkwardness, and estrangements that come when seeking superiority. There are two main pieces, “Allegory of the Cave” by Plato and “Learning to Read” by Frederick Douglass, … Read more
The artistic display at the Albright-Knox Art Gallery of Hanne Darboven titled, “Clockwise from right”, proves to bring light upon the thoughts of Friedrich Nietzshe. One of Nietzsche’s important topics includes the idea of a rational and intuitive man. This essay will explore the question of whether Nietzshe was right when he said that rationality … Read more
When identifying and articulating ethics, one may conclude that the best way to express one’s values is through speech or literature, bluntly stating what they believe. However, this is simply untrue, for there are limitless theories, and a multitude of ways to express them. The Greeks, for example, exhibited their values in multiple ways. The … Read more
Plato describes a cave where people are chained up and can only see shadows cast on a wall. He parallels these shadows to the things that people see in the world around them, the materialistic reality that most people base their lives on. He parallels the chains to norms, customs, traditions, habits, etc. Plato believes … Read more
Plato’s works, perhaps the most consistently popular and influential philosophic writings ever published, consist of a series of dialogues in which the discussions between Socrates and others are presented with infinite charm. Most of our knowledge of Socrates is from these dialogues, and which views are Socrates’ and which are Plato’s is anybody’s guess. (Plato … Read more
