Random Thoughts

Is there a rational being? The answer of course to this is YES. Human beings are rational beings. This is what makes us distinct from other living things. We are rational, we think and we make decisions based on our rational thinking. However, during the course of the discussion, we mentioned that human beings are not always rational. Often, human decisions are superficial and materialistic. Human beings tend to lose their rationality because of the views of beauty and materials. Often, we see physical beauty as what defines us. Many people are like this, most are blinded by what is seen by the eyes. Further, the level of people’s rationality varies. But one thing we all agree on, everything seems to be geared towards an end. All of us are geared towards a purpose. Some of us are more aware of it than the others. But the truth remains, and that is all our actions have purposes. This purpose guides us. This is very true because only in having a purpose or goal do we achieve som...

Last Saturday’s discussion focused on why the world exists. To answer the said question two arguments were presented. These are the ontological and the cosmological arguments. In Irwagen’s book, the ontological argument was first proposed by Anselm, who claims that it is impossible for God not to exist. And anyone who says that there is no God, contradicts himself. This was later on challenged and invalidated by theologians and philosophers after him, supporting and finding Descartes argument better. According to  Descartes, existence is a part of the concept of a perfect being; we are perfect beings because we exist. As a Catholic, I believe in the existence of God, my existence is a manifestation that God exists. The ontological argument presented by Descartes mentioned that existence is a concept of a perfect being. It is better to exist than not to exist at all. My existence is one of the reasons why I am a perfect being. But, according to Kant, perfection can only be us...

A single idea cannot encapsulate the way the world is…. What is the true reality? Can we find answer to the real sense of the world by finding the ultimate individual? Or is it in the external world apart from us that could be brought by our sensations and addressed by a supreme mind? Is it in the realization that we are in a continuous movement of time? Or is it in the thesis that what is true to us could actually be false? IIrwagen’s book presented some very intriguing points for someone who does not think like he does. I don’t think like he does. In fact, as I was reading his work, I was asking myself if there is actually a point of reading his book. His book, Metaphysics, talked about what ultimate reality is and if our world is actually the real world. So what then if the world we live in is not as real as most of the population deems it to be? Would it change the fact that our basic needs are food, water and shelter? Are we going to forego our ambition...

Philosophy is relevant to society regardless of its motive, or lack thereof, to be useful. Introduction:                 As a graduate of a business course, I developed an understanding that something only matters if it offers value to someone. If it fails to present anything substantial, then its existence or absence is insignificant. As I go over Thomson’s paper on the Social Relevance of Philosophy, this realization resurfaced, and I ended up asking myself, does Philosophy matter?                  Well of course it does. This is the most obvious answer to the question. I am convinced it matters before I even read the paper. However, trying to explain why it does is challenging. Thomson has discussed and presented his arguments convincingly. Thomson’s Take            ...