The Role of Philosophy in Personal Life - Research Paper Example

Journal Philosophy To me, philosophy is a pursuit of wisdom through activities of thoughts, and as a practice, it works as an action which reacts to society's yearning for wisdom (Sinclair 4). That is combining all that is known in order to attain what individual’s value. Therefore, philosophy comprises activities involved in human growth, hence making it an integral and essential component of education process. Philosophy is decisive and broad thought and this makes it to be the most essential and complete manner of thinking by humans as it entails not just analytic thinking but also synthetic thinking processes.  It entails evaluating worldviews so as to determine confusion, while unmasking assumptions through enlightening on presuppositions and testing positions before correcting distortions. Furthermore, it entails questioning conceptual structures so as to dismiss ignorance by enriching our understanding, and broadening experiences (Sinclair 10). I know what it is when I encounter it through common sense, interpretation and history. Furthermore, I know what it is when I encounter it if I presume that the source of information can be reliable or trusted. This is because I do not judge to know the truth otherwise, and also I do not want to entrust neither to the reality nor to the invalidity of that which I come across. In particular, since the environment can only be viewed through our brain, the things we come across can only be known or interpreted subjectively. Plato’s Myth of the Cave I hold the view that if we as human beings did not have reason then we would not be proficient to live better.  As Plato noted, inside man dwells two very powerful aspects, that is an appetitive aspect and the spirit aspect (Reale 231).  For that reason, the world of ideas was always there, that is why the only approach we can truly make sense of it all involves uncovering by our self. Knowledge cannot be affected any more than individuals can and it is only reason which can help a person to decide. Without reason we take steps in a manner which pay no attention to rational sense. Therefore, the initial step is to recognize that knowledge goes beyond what is simply present in experience, and then recognize that there exist notions which can only be acquired through hard thinking. An example in my life is the Goldfish in my tank, since the Goldfish cannot reason, I usually feed it what it ought to eat and if I give it more food than what it is required, it will continue feeding until it eats a lot than it can withstand and finally die. Thus, the goldfish does not possess the capability to think, or to reason, and this supports Plato view that the ability for enlightenment rests within the soul and knowledge or education are not issues of native capacity but they are of moving from the cave or generating things to focusing on eternally ideal nature or real things or knowledge . Reason Human nature is defined by reason since human beings are not merely in steady interaction with the environment, but also under constant interaction with their inner reality. Therefore, reason entails individual’s reactions to life stresses arising from diverse nature (Velasquez 53). Reason possess higher stature in determining human nature, since it is something that people share with nature itself, even as it connects the apparently immortal aspect humans mind with the universal order. Reason is the natural sovereign which presides over other human parts like spiritedness or emotions. As Aristotle put it, the highest level of human happiness lived consistently, exceptionally and wholly is in agreement with reason. The source of reason is the environment since the human environment offers certain callous demands or incentives, and when their concentration and occurrence are inside the confines of human tolerance, then they can stimulate a person motivation and improve the capacity to make sense of things (Reale 30). This is because reason is the capability to consciously make sense of issues, and then applying logic when ascertaining and validating facts. Nevertheless, the formation of reason is upset when environmental demands turn out to be excessive and scarce. This is because it upsets inducement for creativity as incentives are not compatible or favorable to healthy and justifying practices or beliefs. Self Deception Even though Sartre observed that those individuals not actively selecting their own individual human nature are actually deceiving themselves as a result of “bad faith” in themselves, I consider myself not to be such. This is because self-deception through rationalization is affected by a various factors like socialization, individual biases, personal fears and even cognitive repressions (Velasquez 67). I am who I am supposed to be, since rationalization by itself cannot just decide the vibrancy of self-deception. Thus, individuals who are more practical and observe the universe as it is, see themselves and the humanity for what it really is. It is not right to argue that by self deceivers normally conduct their actions in bad faith or without perceiving what they are up, since in selecting personal human nature there is the reliance on cognizance not just of themselves but also of their goals. Self deception is not just unintended, but also enthused by desire, unease, and other emotions relating to such individuals. For instance, a narcissist who rebuffs her autonomy by self deceiving her to be a desirable entity does not become conscious of her narcissism nature until she has ceased to be one. Ethics The standard for determining whether something is ethical is deciding on the rationality in the direction of the highest phase of continued existence for the person, the group and collective spirituality (Solomon and Higgins 266). The standards aslo comprises self-sufficiency, non-malfeasance, and observance of justice. The maximum ethical standards are long-term survival notions with least amount of destruction. Therefore, the optimum standard would be balanced against enduring survival concepts. Ethics is derived from natural law, or by how an individual handles another person including the person possession. For instance, under natural law, slavery would be unethical as it certainly violates another person right to a free life. There should no infringement upon the individual rights of another. I hold the view that it is important to maintain the equilibrium within myself by not just being moral but ethical. Thus, the origin of individual ethical standards arises from oneself and goes in line with society and religious standards. Mills ethical theory of Utilitarianism accords best with my general outlook regarding what makes something ethical, since it’s based on the standard that an action is proper if it enhances the best outcome. Since ethics entails right and wrong, the best outcomes should be those in which contentment is maximized through behavior shaping basic principle of fairness (Velasquez 468). Reason and Gender Even though reason is a traditionally a "male" dominated characteristic, it does not imply that reason deals with privilege males as being superior to women. This is because men are more expected to enforce logic more than emotion when a scenario elicits strong feelings of both. Hence, both males and females will follow at what they observe to be in their best interest and then dash with that option. On the other hand, females are more probable to elicit emotion above logic since they often follow at what they observe as being the best emotion. For instance, most women I have come across during dating consider that even though they should not date a particular man, they will only date them as they still feel attracted to them. Thus, women are naturally more women and are driven by the body. Nature of Mind The nature of mind is that it facilitates subjective awareness including intentionality towards the human environment, so as to recognize and react to stimuli while maintaining consciousness, judgment and feeling. For instance, When I try to create a red signal in my mind, it is only the physical brain which turns red but the mental state does not. This is because mind is an immaterial entity distinct from the brain, and as such mental state is not identical to brain state as the mind possesses this property which the brain lacks. The materialist views on the nature of the mind and the brain that best correspond to my thinking is that proposed by Thomas Hobbes. Hobbes argued methodically for materialism as an explanation to the mind-body question by insisting that everything in the universe including human thoughts, as well as the state of mind are described by matter in motion (Solomon and Higgins 291). That is if a whole lot things can be explained under material provisions then in that case everything can be considered to be material. For that reason, thoughts are matter in motion but within the human brain. Hence, the perception of the environment arises within the individual brain, when the motion inside the external environment leads to motion inside the brain that is then experienced by the human as an exterior object. Therefore, since everything can be described as matter in motion, especially the mental state, then the mind and brain are two essentially dissimilar things. Self There is no substantial, unchanging self (soul) since there cannot be an essential, autonomous object that endures forever. Furthermore, the soul cannot even endure from one instant to the next, as it is just an illusion based on ego-centered viewpoint. In fact, if someone wants to comprehend reality, then they have to undergo the truth and which all reveal that they are mutually supporting processes. I hold the view that there something fundamentally the same that is “me” from when I was born until now, that is I am permanent and cannot change.  This is because I tend to attribute every deed or act solely to me, while recognizing the ever changing circumstances around me. Thus, individuals tend to perpetually fit their perceptions instead of transforming. Culture Culture will influence an individual depending on the social behaviors or norms, when expressing emotions of the society that individual belong. If it is an individualism society, then that person will observe society preferences which emphasize on individual self, such as personal achievements (Velasquez 110). However, if it is under a collectivism society then that person will be influenced by societal trends that emphasize on the individual as belonging to a section of a wider group. Thus, it is the groups which define the not just the individual values but also the sense of identity. It is not that culture really influence my preconceived concepts regarding suitability, but it is more of culture defining what I consider to be suitable. This makes me to be an independent individual who is determined apart from culture by my own mind. It is not just women who lose their ability to think “rationally” when they observe a commercial for a product that appeals to an emotional and intimate bond but also the men too, since individuals appeal to present trends in human thinking. Notably, culture does not influence individuals as such, but it dictates to them what they should accept and what they should not. In fact, culture does not just direct but it influences how individuals evaluate what is suitable and what is deplorable. For example, current cultural norms focus so much on sex and exhibitionism and since such behaviors have become socially, marketable, and morally acceptable, then beer companies and cars will continue to use image of women to appeal to men buyers. Reality Reality is accepting the circumstances of thing as they really are instead of what they seem to appear or imagined. It involves weighing the outlays and gains of actions before acting upon them or even discarding impulse deeds. Based on Freud theory, reality is the ability to control pleasure standards by understanding that the environment does not normally allow immediate satisfaction (Solomon and Higgins 359). There is only a real world apart from our direct experiencing of it, when one can state and provide reliable claims regarding entities. That is our ideas represent a better version of what is real when they possess similar ontological position as straightforwardly observable entities rather than manipulation. Therefore, the views of what is real affect my life and beliefs based on the notion that existence devoid of essence is blank, and the external world is simply a social construction whereby issues are not absolute but partial. Hence, reality is autonomous of any viewpoints or perceptions. Idealist and Materialist I am a materialist since I hold the view that physical-matter is basically the only fundamental reality. Hence, everything including phenomena and processes are explained through manifestations of outcomes arising from matter. Therefore, it would be better to consider a more pragmatic view of reality and not just simply transposing our view about reality onto what reality actually is since only the highest principles and objectives are based on material security. Thus, meanings are reliant on verifiability and inter subjective demonstrations (Velasquez 110). Knowledge The primary source of my Knowledge involves self-awareness, general education and self-consciousness through asking and seeking answers. Therefore, my personal source of knowledge is based on not just my intellect but also my senses as I tend to trust both my reason and experiences. However, I tend to trust my experiences more since it enables me to know the reality without considering whether I learn anything constructive or negative. For instance, in resolving issues with my former supervisor I usually inclined to trust my competence and hard work, so that what I experience does not result in mistrust. This is because people tend to lessen any uncertainty, and as such, do want to discern for pure intrinsic contentment of knowing what they are really like. Kant and Universal Innate Mind Structure Kant is right since the human mind is not some form of blank slate which is inscribed upon by empirical world. This is because reason is shaped with types of experiences which offer phenomenal plus logical arrangement to any likely object of practical experience.  Hence, we all have a similar basic "logical" way of categorizing our experience content since such classification cannot be circumvented towards a mind-autonomous world. Furthermore, the main aspect which offers an action or deed moral worth is basically the motive behind it, rather than the outcome which is attained (Solomon and Higgins 159). For instance, when I am deciding which car or electronic device to purchase, I have to glance through Consumer Reports so as to consider alternatives which mirror on my personal needs, before utilizing general principles. Therefore, I am forced to apply the deliberative and intellectual procedure of choice. David Hume Skepticism Kant philosophy stands up the best to Hume's skepticism, since Kant argues from the point of view that morality criticizes the posturing of mechanistic plus deterministic knowledge, in order to provide the truth regarding the definitive nature of reality. In particular, Hume logical problems contains errors regarding knowledge of God, soul, and causality and does not allow rationalization of reason as being nothing more than a routine of association which humans have developed. Kant observes that morality accepts free will, unlike Hume logical problem which does away with central theory of the mind playing a vigorous role in comprising the aspects of experience. Hence, Kant answers Hume by showing that the single most motive which can bestow deeds with moral worthiness only materializes from universal values exposed by reason (Solomon and Higgins 206). Works Cited Reale, Giovanni. Plato’s Myth of the Cave. New York: SUNY Press, 1990. Sinclair, Alistair J. What Is Philosophy? London: Dunedin Academic Press, 2008. Solomon, Robert C and Kathleen M Higgins. The Big Questions: A Short Introduction to Philosophy. Boston, MA: Cengage Learning, 2009. Velasquez, Manuel. Philosophy: A Text With Readings. Boston, MA: Cengage Learning, 2011. Read More