Five Most Important Ideas or Contributions that are Alive Today from the Fathers of Philosophers - Assignment Example

Five Most Important Ideas or Contributions that are Alive Today from the Fathers of Philosophers Introduction The unforgotten ideas of logic which have nourished both knowledge and wisdom of the world through the renowned Fathers of Philosophy have, in several ways, impacted the American public in thoughts that shape the American society in general. With the proposed theories that have considerably inspired the generations that followed, Americans have been able to manage a life filled with thinking and making individual decisions that eventually influence others in pursuit of cultural, political, and economic goals altogether. [Confronting economic regression has barely made occurrence to the thought of peace and comfort within a struggle or the process by which to seek proper resolution. To some extent, certain related situations that have ruined credit standing due to weakening economy direct people of the modern America society into a rather distressful approach at dealing with life. During and after recession, American living may be observed to have altered in several ways depending especially on the way an individual thinks and the mode of preferred actions as he executes around the concepts.] The Five Most Important Ideas Like how Renee Descartes managed to place ample significance on ‘thinking’ by stating through his Meditation on the First Philosophy: “I am. I exist – that is certain; but for how long do I exist? For as long as I think; for it might perhaps happen, if I totally ceased thinking, that I would, at the same time cease to be.” Equivalently majority of Americans of the present behave to align their agreement to this proposition by necessitating to think first prior to this deciding which set of principles to follow or actions to take in response. By investing into alternatives amid risks during recessions with unpredictable trend, Americans show great consideration to a traditional attitude of thoughtfulness which manifest how much they find existence very essential that despite conflicts, they are always drawn to consult intellectual faculties to facilitate corporal existence. Since according to Descartes, life ends when thinking does, Americans in general have carried on as such, exhausting possibilities as they think, believing in the power of mind over matter however complicated situations can become. In business, entertainment, and other industries, including areas where mere ordinary living is anticipated, Americans have learned to make the necessary adjustments based on determining solutions which materialize after patient thought and understanding of options. An idea which may appear parallel to its consequence is found in An Essay Concerning Human Understanding where John Locke stated “Knowledge being to be had only of visible and certain truth, error is not a fault of our knowledge, but a mistake of our judgment, giving assent to that which is not true.” Here, one may infer of a picture in both modern and past American societies which depicts cultural freedom by which Americans manage to be more straightforward in their specific pursuits and communication, able to cope with dynamic changes and be flexible with relations in either local or international setting. The aforementioned theory of John Locke applies whenever there is a change to obtain knowledge and wisdom through a variety of these experiences where it is highly probable to err or commit mistakes in a number of ways. Since Americans have been engaged with industrialization, global modernization, and deep political and economic crises which are well perceived in the society, the means to acquire further knowledge of things, both concrete and abstract, increase in direct proportion. Intern, the knowledge produced raises issues or concerns from which to select logical decisions and filter with ‘visible and certain truth’ those are acceptable to be known. Where error is not a fault of human knowledge, American individuals in reality become capable of establishing confidence with their degree of discernment, and with certain prejudices made by inequality and diversity of origins and influences that make up a person, identifying him from the rest of his kind. On this ground, there appears some disadvantage of proceeding to discover intellectual facts when it comes to the point of erudition that enables a person to assert a truth under that context of his paradigm which normally tends to include perception of untruth from the point of view of others which he neglects to figure for the lack of similar experience that ought to have formed such perspective. By Giovanni Pico Della Mirandola in his “Oration on the Dignity of Man”, the presence of reconciliation between religion and philosophy may be felt especially as he stood by the relevant plane enunciating “We have made the neither of heaven nor of earth, neither mortal or immortal, so that with freedom of choice and with honor, as thought the maker and molder of thy self, though mayest fashion thyself in whatever shape thou shalt prefer. Thou shalt have the power out of thy soul’s judgment, to be reborn into the higher forms, which are divine.” America has undoubtedly had profound roots in the course of history after notable conquests, significant participation in wars, and eminent presence in every aspect of global trade. At any rate, the citizens have had so much to deal with as time progresses with changes worldwide that eventually affect how Americans cope on their realization of the ‘good’ and the ‘bad’ which seem implicit within typical life conditions that are usually overwhelming enough to confuse recognition and choice of the ‘good’. This exemplifies Mirandola’s point of proposing that the ‘freedom of choice’ which is claimed to be inherent for an individual to mold or transform himself as he freely chooses without restriction or being fixed to a single form. This essentially reflects how at times some American people, due to evolving needs, desires or set of priorities as they react to occurrences, would necessitate coming up with a more rational or sensible approach to living. Being ‘reborn into higher forms which or divine’ constitutes the end goal for which certain prominent figures U.S. history had divine attachment or enlightenment sought beyond conventional religious inclination. Up to the present, there are Americans in the modern society, as the ones in Hollywood or movie industry have gotten accustomed to life filled with luxuries and controversies, who to the unusual surprise of many turned to focus on spiritual living when they realize much fulfillment upon yielding inner peace, the value of selflessness, and purity which all together takes one to a higher form regardless of material wealth and educational attainment. Moreover, there exists unpopular establishments and organizations in American community that serve the cause of enhancing the way of life through spiritual standards in order that people particularly of chaotic and sinful places may be encouraged to turn away from ill habits and be guided, as they choose by virtue of freedom, to follow and be one with the divine will. The religious philosophy of coming of the state in which a form or choice is not readily made for one by a supreme entity leads most Americans to seek refuge from an institution in possession of governing regulations that are rather conducive to their spiritual needs as followers. On the other hand, as the American society gradually puts in spirituality on a definitive dimension, in compliance to profound insight which Boethius brought across by articulating via The Consolation of Philosophy “Our hopes and prayers are not erected to God in vain, for if they are just they cannot fail. Therefore, stand firm against vice and cultivate virtue. Lift up your soul to worthy hopes, and offer humble prayers to heaven. If you will face it, the necessity of virtuous action imposed upon you is very great, since all your actions are done in the sight of a Judge who sees all things.” In a kind of society that is subject to continuous revolution and even to a decline as an empire nation with a nearly paralyzed economy, it becomes evident that part of the population would not afford to keep silent and begin meditating on personal worth to effect a change and resolution. An American who is found to be deep in thought and expresses conviction about something in special ways that render him to move beyond his spot and share a holy experience which he would likely confess to have transformed his character by faith. Attached to the solemn consciousness of godly traits and reveres the Judge highly, a critic may very well encounter an American individual who is frequently drawn to seclusion and finds greater confidence a part from financial security. The Judge, in reference to God, is central to Boethius’ argument to form a basis that gives relevance to the deeds which the believing individual ought to accomplish so as to attain the sacred end which is primarily justified by a life of prayer and acts that eliminate pleasure toward vices and vices themselves. Most Americans have increasingly uncovered means to be inspired at operating with activities that indicate faith for the unseen. By his Summa Logicae, William of Ockham mentioned “…it ought to be said that every universal is one particular thing and that is not a ‘universal’ except in its signification, in its signifying many things.” A little indirectly, this postulates how the U.S. government should be run, with the motivation to fix the system by partly rectifying the constitution such that scopes of authority may be clearly understood. Central government was originally deemed necessary as if places stability on all state governments by striving to build interdependence with the latter under restrictions specified by law which regulates the two-way collaboration of federal and states government. Times come when officials fail to identify their actual obligations due to the system’s complexity so that Ockham’s philosophy may drive employment of procedures to particular distinctions among authorities and label properly those that are expected to function as a universal singular body. With the aim to abolish personal interests and continually attempt to place order and organization to differing political supremacies, which is currently addressed to some extent with subtle measures, bodies of authority shall pleasantly end up executing public service with efficient steps that could with much appreciation procure universal support back. “He who speaketh much commits a sin”, through the dictum gets Moses Maimonides to represent a portion of the modern American society which comprises individuals with the most qualified intellectual bearing and orientation. By maintaining prudence and wisely aligning words with actions to characterize ideals with appropriate behavior, such category of modern Americans are proven less prone to get involve with unscrupulous arguments thereby avoiding any possibilities to transgress or fall short of moral expectations. Conclusion No matter how simple or complex an American thinks as he exists to be part of the society, so long as the very attitude on thinking does not cease in proportion, such existence is bound to stay and while people hold on to Descartes in this belief, there ought to be more to substance of thought and being. Boethius proves them to constitute a spiritual life as well, that besides the knowledge acquired, most Americans find continuous essence of living by faith, with patient hopes and prayers as they think. Where the challenge of intellect is soaring, there emerges various avenues to scheming either for resolution or destruction which somehow distinguishes one society from the other, as a result of misjudgment or abundance of words. To Mirandola, these hints of Locke and Maimonides well connect with human freewill that the federal republic has enabled the American societies of the nation to express themselves in a fashion they have full control over different matters which explains the obvious distinctions among societies in the U.S. Works Cited “Historic Quotes and Proverbs Archive -- WorldofQuotes.com.” 2010. http://www.worldofquotes.com/author/John-Locke/1/index.html. 01 Dec 2010. “Quotes Daddy.” 2010. http://www.quotesdaddy.com/author/Giovanni+Pico+Della+Mirandola. 02 Dec 2010. Arjen. “William of Ockham – Universals.” 26 Apr 2008. http://groups.able2know.org/philforum/topic/4354-1. 30 Nov 2010. Magpie. “Into the Wardrobe.” 9 Mar 2006. http://cslewis.drzeus.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=34&t=4802. 01 Dec 2010. “Quotable Quotes.” 2010. http://www.creatorix.com.au/philosophy/t02/t02f.html. 30 Nov 2010. “The Life of Moses Maimonides.” 2010. http://www.sacred-texts.com/jud/gfp/gfp004.htm. 03 Dec 2010. Read More