Philosophers in 50 Words

Here's my revision activity for today: 8 philosophers in 50 words. There will probably be more exercises of this style to come. Like when I think of more philosophers.

John-Paul Sartre

French Existentialist. Used books and plays to communicate. To be moral is to choose. We are always free to make choices. If you deny your freedom, you are in mauvaise foi. Choose independently of others. Never blame others for what happens to you. There is no such thing as fate.

Plato (Republic)

Ancient Athens. Pupil of Socrates, teacher of Aristotle. Used Socrates as a figure in his dialogues. Democracy is terrible. Philosophers should rule. Outlined method of training philosopher kings to rule ideal polis. Forms. Form of Good most important. Art is bad; it’s merely a representation of Forms. Dikaiosyne gives happiness.

Peter Singer

Australian, vegetarian, atheist, utilitarian. We ought to share our wealth around. We should give to the poor until it would cause ourselves to be living in serious poverty. Sentient animals should be treated with respect. Some humans, newborn babies or the disabled, have less right to life than some animals.

John Stuart Mill (On Liberty)

Victorian English utilitarian. On Liberty written with his wife. Public opinion not always right. Stand up against the tyranny of the majority. Laws should not be established that restrict people from expressing their individuality. We are free to do anything, as long as we don’t interfere with other peoples’ freedom.

Immanuel Kant

German, 18^th Century. Categorical imperative. There are some things that are always wrong, in every situation. These can be determined by the golden rule to do only the things that you would wish as a universal law. Lying is always wrong. Never treat people as a means to an end.

David Hume

Scottish, 18^th Century. Atheist, people thought he would repent on his deathbed but he didn’t. Reason is, and ought only to be, the slave of the passions. We make ethical decisions based on passion. Logic is irrelevant. Discussed is-ought distinction (Hume’s Law). Miracles do not occur, they can be explained.

René Descartes

17^th Century, French mathematician and philosopher. I think, therefore I am. It’s the only thing you can know. Perception is unreliable, deduction is better. Wax example: wax is still wax when it’s melted but looks different. Dualist; the mind does not obey the laws of physics. Soul communicates with God.

Karl Popper

20^th Century. Falsification: a scientific conclusion can be proved false by a single example. Scientific theories can’t ever be proven to be true, they are continuous research, even though they may be valuable. We cannot prove the sun will rise tomorrow, induction is impossible. Believed in dualism and free will.