A Kantian Critique of Grotius

Author(s): Macarena Marey / Language(s): English / Issue: 95/2019

During the last few years, it has become usual to turn to some seventeenth century readings of the traditional idea of an original common possession of the earth for philosophical aid to explain and support the rights of persons in situations of extreme need, including refugees. Hugo Grotius’s conception of this idea is one of the most cited ones. In this paper, I hold that a Grotian reading of the idea of an original common possession of the earth is not a fruitful principle if we want to elaborate a solid defence of the rights of the ones in need. I reconstruct and analyse the role this idea has in Grotius’s theory of private property and present objections to it from a Kantian perspective.

Abbagnanowska krytyka tradycyjnej filozofii: Augustyn, Descartes, Kant

Author(s): Jakub Bartoszewski / Language(s): Polish / Issue: 1/2016

The article discusses the issue of possibilities in the context of Abbagnano’s perspective on traditional philosophy. Following the founder of the philosophy of possibilities, certain philosophers were selected who in the opinion of the Italian existentialist had a significant impact on culture and philosophical tradition. Therefore, only three figures are discussed: Augustine, Descartes and Kant.

ABSOLIUTIZMO IR RELIACIONIZMO KONTROVERSIJA: NEWTONAS VS. LEIBNIZAS

Author(s): Jonas Ciurlionis / Language(s): Lithuanian / Issue: 90/2016

The article deals with a controversy between absolutist and relationist conceptions of space and time. Comparison between Newton’s and Leibniz’s theories is drawn. Points of view of other philosophers who took part in the discussion are also analysed. Strong and weak parts of both theories are revealed. The article is not aimed at taking sides in the debate rather it provides the reader with a possibility to construct his own assessment. The publication states that premises of both conceptions of space and time are metaphysical rather than physical. However, this classical debate is still relevant in today’s modern scientific context.

Adornova i Horkheimerova kritika masovne industrijske kulture na temelju prosvjetiteljskih ideja slobode, uma i jednakosti

Author(s): Mirela Karahasanovic / Language(s): Bosnian / Issue: 22/2014

Adorno’s and Horkheimer’s understanding of the reality of the modern man, and a critical attitude towards the same shows a tendency which brings to the attention the consistency of destructive tendencies of the 20th century, but also finds the causes of such destructiveness much earlier, first in ideas that were viewed by the Enlightenment. The ideas of the Enlightenment, mind, freedom and equality, losing their original goal of human nature, have created a new cultural-historical epoch, based on the enslavement of man and nature, but also dehumanizing ideologies such as National Socialism and Fascism. The key question that Adorno and Horkheimer ask is the question of how the world has ever come to the present condition, if the Enlightenment and tendencies that it brings promised a better world for man. How did it come to the situation that progress in civilization at the same time also means a return to barbarism? The aim of this paper is certainly not only to display the questions and dilemmas that Adorno and Horkheimer set, but also to draw attention to Adorno’s and Horkheimer’s solutions of the crisis, which are based on the critical examination of the Enlightenment and Enlightenment ideas.

Ahlat Ağacı ve Var-Kalma Çabası

Author(s): Harun Mustafa Töle / Language(s): Turkish / Issue: Sp. Iss/2019

This study analyzes the film, Ahlat Ağacı (Nuri Bilge Ceylan, 2018), through the concept of “the inclination to persist in its own being [conatus]” which occupies a significant place in the philosophy of Spiniza. The aim of the study is to examine the relation between the film and the concept of conatus. The study, discussing the concept of conatus over the last film of Ceylan who is among the most prominent director in Turkish cinema, reveals that there can be connections between the film and the philosophy of Spinoza by tracing the main characters’ conatus in the province, their wills, confrontations, happiness and sadness with the fundamental concepts of the philosophy of Spinoza.

Animalism and the Vagueness of Composition

Author(s): Radim Belohrad / Language(s): English / Issue: 2/2019

Lockean theories of personal identity maintain that we persist by virtue of psychological continuity, and most Lockeans say that we are material things coinciding with animals. Some animalists argue that if persons and animals coincide, they must have the same intrinsic properties, including thinking, and, as a result, there are ‘too many thinkers’ associated with each human being. Further, Lockeans have trouble explaining how animals and persons can be numerically different and have different persistence conditions. For these reasons, the idea of a person being numerically distinct but coincident with an animal is rejected and animalists conclude that we simply are animals. However, animalists face a similar problem when confronted with the vagueness of composition. Animals are entities with vague boundaries. According to the linguistic account of vagueness, the vagueness of a term consists in there being a number of candidates for the denotatum of the vague term. It seems to imply that where we see an animal, there are, in fact, a lot of distinct but overlapping entities with basically the same intrinsic properties, including thinking. As a result, the animalist must also posit ‘too many thinkers’ where we thought there was only one. This seems to imply that the animalist cannot accept the linguistic account of vagueness. In this paper the author argues that the animalist can accept the linguistic account of vagueness and retain her argument against Lockeanism.

Antonio R. Damasio, Descartesův omyl

Author(s): Mária Strelková / Language(s): Slovak / Issue: 2/2002

Review of: Antonio R. Damasio, Descartesův omyl, Mladá Fronta, Praha 2000. 259 s.

ARISTOTLE – KANT CANON

Author(s): Mihai D. Vasile / Language(s): English / Issue: 3/2016

There is much talk about “Plato-Kant canon”, but it is no less legitimate discourse about the “canon of Aristotle-Kant”. This communication aims to support the thesis about “Aristotle-Kant canon” with arguments from Aristotle’s work influences history on European metaphysics.

Ateistyczne nurty filozofii Oświecenia. Wpływ skrajnego materializmu i racjonalizmu

Author(s): Konrad Szocik / Language(s): Polish / Issue: 1/2013

This paper presents the development of the basic ideas of the European enlightenment. e philosophy of the enlightenment focused on rationalism and empirical materialism. These concepts had emerged from philosophical atheism. Human reason was brought to the fore, as a new basis for ethical, ontological and epistemological authority. We can find sources for these ideas in the philosophy of Cartesian and Spinozistic rationalism, and in the empiricism and mechanism of English and French philosophy.

Aydinlanmayi Yeniden Düşünmek: Horkheimer Ve Adorno

Author(s): Mehmet Kocaoglu / Language(s): Turkish / Issue: 03/2018

On one hand the Enlightement provided an opportunity for many scientific discoveries in a critical and free environment, and on the other hand, it led to the demolition of any mythological or metaphysical component in the social and political arena that resulted in the enslavement of people. On one side of the coin, the scientific developments, and social and political institutions that entitled the people to their freedoms were created by the Englightenment. On the other side of the coin, enlightenment led to another scenario that included a new set of relations by producing and sustaining suppression and domination. The main purpose of this study is to examine this latter scenario that reproduced superiority relations by taking into consideration Horkheimer’s and Adorno’s thoughts on Englightenment. First, the study explains the main arguments of the Enlightenment. Second, the role of the Frankfurt School that shaped Horkheimer’s and Adorno’s perspectives is discussed. In the final section, the criticisms of both philosophers are scrutinized through Odysseus’ adventures.

BAROK W MISTYCE – HIPERTROFIA MYŚLI I EMOCJI? (2)

Author(s): Krzysztof Matuszewski / Language(s): Polish / Issue: 39/2017

In the stage of illumination, the soul is dying from the longing for the Spouse. It finds the most efficient way of moderating the pain of inevitable temporal separation in contemplative solitude. Since this solitude does not eliminate the distance, the soul craves for death, which promises it a beatifying meeting. It becomes the supreme goal for the soul and is presented by mystics as a fulfilled communication, or unification. The soul tends to it in a desperate trust in God, filled with a desire for self-loss. The soul tries to overcome with love the uncertainty, which shrouds its relation with the hidden God. This love incites in the soul the desire to see here and now, the impossibility of which is overcome by the ecstasy granted by grace. An ineffable inspiration, which allows the soul to communicate with God, is articulated in the mystical communication thanks to the gift of writing (charisma affabilitatis) and successful use of the metaphor.

Barono D’holbacho Pėdsakai XVIII A. Lietuvoje. Libertiniški Ldk Pabaigos Kontekstai

Author(s): Dalius Viliunas / Language(s): Lithuanian / Issue: 74/2013

The article analyzes the religious worldview in Lithuania at the end of 18th century. This worldview en gross could be extrapolated into two major alternatives – catholic traditionalism, that is traditional theism and, second, deism related conjoined with the ideas of the Enlightenment. The problem is raised: Does the more radical alternative to deism, that is, atheism exist at this time? The article attempts to answer in the affirmative. A radical libertine trend in the worldview existed in Lithuania. The works of the best known French atheist D’Holbach were acquired. The article presents a manuscript copy of the text of d’Holbach and considers some ideas related with the fact of its presence.

BEFORE OBJECTIVITY: THE CONCEPT OF DISTRIBUTIVE KNOWLEDGE IN EARLY MODERN METAPHYSICS

Author(s): Lada Shipovalova,Eugeny Malyshkin / Language(s): English / Issue: 89/2016

The paper discusses the concept of distribution of ideas and, accordingly, of knowledge, which can be found in the early modern metaphysics. This concept was not completely developed and was overshadowed by the concept of objectivity. An attempt to formalize the distributivity is made. The role played by the idea of distributive knowledge in pre-Kantian metaphysics is demonstrated with a special attention to Leibniz’s doctrine. We argue, that the events of communication between individuals are based on points of distributive knowledge.

Benedikt Spinoza: Renati des Cartes Principia philosophiae more geometrico demonstrata / René Descarta Principy filosofie způsobem užívaným v geometrii vyložené

Author(s): Jan Palkoska / Language(s): Czech / Issue: 2/2006

Review of: Benedikt Spinoza: Renati des Cartes Principia philosophiae more geometrico demonstrata / René Descarta Principy filosofie způsobem užívaným v geometrii vyložené, Přeložil Martin Hemelík, Filosofia, Praha 2004, 244 s.

Benžamen Konstan

Author(s): Slobodan Jovanovic / Language(s): Serbian / Issue: 02/1931

Decembra 1930 navršilo se je sto godina od smrti Benžamena Konstana, ≫oca parlamentarnog liberalizma i psihološkog romana ≪, kako ga nazva jedan njegov skorašnji biograf.

Bergsono “Pozityviosios” Metafizikos Santykiai Su Vakarų Mąstymo Tradicija

Author(s): Antanas Andrijauskas / Language(s): Lithuanian / Issue: 56/2008

The article considers how the concept of “positive” metaphysics of Henri Bergson is related to the tradition of classical as well as non-classical philosophy. It also analyzes the leading ideas and doctrints of intuitivistic philosophy. The influence of the main leading philosophers on Bergson’s thinking and teaching is concisely discussed, focussing attention on such non-classical thinkers as Arthur Schopenhauer and Friedrich Nietzsche. Relaying on the analysis of Bergson's philosophical texts, the peculiarities of his “positive” metaphysics is shown.

BERNARD MANDEVILLE’İN ARILARIN MASALI ADLI ESERİ HAKKINDA BİR İNCELEME

Author(s): Recep Batu Günör / Language(s): Turkish / Issue: 22/2016

Bernard Mandeville is a Dutch thinker, known especially for his own works on ethics and economics. His magnum opus is ‘The Fable of the Bees or Private Vices, Publick Benefits”. In this work, Mandeville argues that all people actually are selfish and this selfishness is both natural and virtuous. In accordance with Mandeville, qualities like kindness and honesty, instead of contributing the improvement of the society, it regrets the progress. Vices appeared even in the smallest part of a society, allow almost all to live in the paradise. The most obvious indicator of this is the prosperty and happiness of the societies in which all people are selfish. Because of everyone from lawyers to doctors and from barbers to clerics are thinking themselves in a selfish manner, an unbelievable prosperity is being appeared in the society. Accordingly, behaving that are benevolent to give rise to a society in which life is impossible. The most obvious reason for that is the pursuing of selfish purposes of oneself creates a sponteneous order. With this concept of spontaneous order Mandeville has influenced Adam Smith and given him a ground for his ‘homo economicus’.

Blogis, Gėris Ir Laisvė Geriausiame Iš Galimų Pasaulyje

Author(s): Ruta Marija Vabalaite / Language(s): Lithuanian / Issue: 64/2010

The article deals with problems of evil, good, necessity and freedom in the philosophy of Leibniz. It also compares Leibniz‘s thinking with that of other philosophers. My considerations are based upon Leibniz‘s “Theodicy. Essays on the Goodness of God the Freedom of Man and the origin of Evil”, “New Essays on Human Understanding” and other shorter texts of Leibniz. My article highlights the justification of metaphysical, physical and moral evil. It analyzes the differences between the absolute and the hypothetical, metaphysical and moral necessity, and the relations between determination, freedom and necessity. The free will and the principle of the best that motivates intelligent beings are analyzed. Finally, it examines the concept of good as pleasure that motivates the will. Here special attention is paid to the original concepts of semi-pleasure and semi-suffering.

CÂTEVA CUVINTE DESPRE IMPORTANȚA FILOSOFICĂ A PRIMULUI TRATAT DE MEDICINĂ ÎN LIMBA ROMÂNĂ

Author(s): Drago? Popescu / Language(s): Romanian,Moldavian / Issue: 4/2019

Characteristica universalis: Лайбниц и Декарт

Author(s): Kamen Lozev / Language(s): English,Bulgarian / Issue: 1/2017

The paper discusses Leibniz’s project for a lingua universalis undertaken in his first period, 1666- 1679, when he was enthusiastic about the possibility of creating a universal language based on the “alphabet of human thought”, which he viewed as the “most important instrument for the perfection of the human mind”. The article analyzes the main issue confronted by the young Leibniz, i.e., the creation of a list of “primitive notions”, also discussed by Descartes in his letter to Mersenne from 20th November 1629. Leibniz’s response to the issues raised by Descartes is outlined together with how he resolved them by means of the theory of so-called “blind thought” (cogitatio caeca). The article concludes with a brief account of the influence these ideas in Leibniz’s work had on the 19th century pioneers of modern logic.