Jean-Jacques Rousseau writes, «Man is born free; and everywhere he is in chains.» This statement exemplifies the main idea behind «The Social Contract», in other words that man is essentially free if it weren't for the oppression of political organizations such as government. Rousseau goes on to lay forth the principles that he deems most important for achieving political right amongst people. ...
The ancient Greek Philosopher Plato was born around 425 BCE to an aristocratic family. He enjoyed the privilege of being a student of Socrates, but would eventually go on to form his own school, the Academy. Plato, most remembered for his philosophical work «The Republic,» was disciplined in all forms of writing. His dialogues are among the most popular and still studied by students and lovers of philosophy. Plato wrote his dialogues to reflect ...
Two late dialogues of Plato designed to be part of a trilogy that the philosopher did not finish, «Timaeus» and «Critias» utilize a few select men to theorize on the natural world and to tell a story of the lost city of Atlantis. «Timaeus» is a treatise, written in Socratic dialogue form in 360 BC, that speculates on the nature of the physical world, the purpose of the universe, properties of the universe, the creation of the world soul, the ele ...
Because of the absence of writings by Socrates, we only know of his philosophical beliefs through the writings of his students. Fortunately many of these have survived through to today and provide an excellent primary source for the understanding of this great philosopher. Of all the students' writings none are more comprehensive and informative with regard to Socrates than those of Plato. Contained in this volume are some of the most impor ...
While Tolstoy may be best remembered as the talented Russian author of such monumentally great works as «War and Peace» and «Anna Karenina», he also wrote prolifically in essay format on various subjects. In this volume Tolstoy turns his attention to the study of aesthetics and art in all its forms. Based on fifteen years of research «What is Art?» is Tolstoy's intellectual exposition into answering the titular question. Rich with criticism ...
"The Critique of Practical Reason" is considered by many to be one of the most important works on the subject of moral philosophy ever written. In this work Immanuel Kant puts forth his philosophy of the categorical imperative, a rule for behavior that applies universally. Kant argues that a categorical imperative must guide whatever maxim one establishes for dealing with all decisions with moral implications. «The Critique of Practical Rea ...
A classic work of religious philosophy, «Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion» is David Hume's examination of the nature of God. David Hume's philosophy, empiricism, rests upon the idea that all rational belief must be supported by experiential evidence. It is within the scope of this philosophy that Hume examines the nature of God and asks the question as to whether or not man's belief in God can be supported by experience. This ...
Aristotle's «Politics» is a treatise on the subject of political science and government and is considered to be one of the greatest works on the subject from classical antiquity. Expounding upon, «The Republic», the earlier work of his teacher Plato, Aristotle examines the various options for governance and their respective values. A detailed and pragmatic approach to the subject, Aristotle's «Politics» provides much of the foundation ...
