Six Branches of Philosophy

Essay Instructions:

Instructions: Read the text (pp. 28–35), the M.U.S.E., and the assigned videos to learn about the six branches of philosophy. Choose 1 of the following six branches of philosophy (it can be the same or different from what you discussed in the DB): Metaphysics Epistemology Ethics Aesthetics Political philosophy Social philosophy Using this template, answer all the 6 questions listed for that branch of philosophy below*, providing at least 1, 4–5- sentence paragraph for each question. Support your answers with examples, as well as information from the textbook, the videos, and the M.U.S.E. Use APA format to cite your sources within your paper and to list them on your References page. You may also use credible outside resources if you choose. View this video to learn about how to select credible sources of information. Follow APA formatting requirements. Your paper should include a Title page and a References page, and it should be double-spaced with 1-inch margins throughout. *Six Branches of Philosophy: Metaphysics: Define metaphysics. Is there a difference between appearance and reality? Is the physical world more or less real than the spiritual or psychological world? Is there such a thing as a soul? If so, how does it survive outside of a physical body? Do all people have free will, or are their lives determined by fate? Describe a time in your life when you have asked personal questions similar to the central questions that you just answered. Epistemology: Define epistemology. How is anything known? What is the basis for knowledge? Is it innate reason, experience, or something else? Is all knowledge subjective, or are there some universal truths? What is the relationship between faith and reason? Describe a time in your life when you have asked personal questions similar to the central questions that you just answered. Ethics: Define ethics. What is the “right thing to do”? What does it mean to be a “good person”? Are there “bad people” or are there good people who just do bad things? Is morality culturally based or individually based, or is there a universal morality? Describe a time in your life when you have asked personal questions similar to the central questions that you just answered. Aesthetics: Define aesthetics. What is an aesthetic experience? Is beauty truly in the eye of the beholder, or are there some things that all cultures find beautiful (objective beauty)? What is the purpose of art? How can a piece of art be successful or valuable? Does beauty matter? Describe a time in your life when you have asked personal questions similar to the central questions that you just answered. Political philosophy: Define political philosophy. What is the best kind of government? How much power should the government have? What kind of people should be in power? How involved should the common citizen be in government? Describe a time in your life when you have asked personal questions similar to the central questions that you just answered. Social philosophy: Define social philosophy. How should humans behave in a society? Do people give up certain rights when they choose to live in a society? How do social values affect individual beliefs? Do people behave differently in a crowd than they would individually? Is society held together by a “social contract,” or is there something deeper that binds it together? Describe a time in your life when you have asked personal questions similar to the central questions that you just answered. * https://studentlogin(dot)aiuniv(dot)edu/UnifiedPortal/material/ebook/9781938390906?bookLocation=%2f6%2f8%5b%3bvnd.vst.idref%3dx9781938390906-3%5d!%2f4%5bx9781938390906%5d%2f4%2f6%5b_idParaDest-222%5d&cid=314327. * https://studentlogin(dot)aiuniv(dot)edu/UnifiedPortal/material/ebook/9781938390906?bookLocation=%2f6%2f10%5b%3bvnd.vst.idref%3dx9781938390906-4%5d!%2f4%5bx9781938390906%5d%2f4%2f2%5b_idParaDest-4%5d&cid=314327. * https://studentlogin(dot)aiuniv(dot)edu/UnifiedPortal/lms/class/314327/document/5498972/open?GaType=MUSE. * https://youtu(dot)be/1A_CAkYt3GY * https://youtu(dot)be/mIYdx6lDDhg * https://youtu(dot)be/XuwYvFlNGns * https://frame-credocourseware-com(dot)aiuniv(dot)idm(dot)oclc(dot)org/courses/course-v1:Perdoceo-Education-Corporation+Core+Core/xblock/block-v1:Perdoceo-Education-Corporation+Core+Core+type@sequential+block@9f8f849d5fdf486e9088aded125e9b9f/?hash=&process_request=1&iframe=0

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Understanding Political Philosophy Your Name American InterContinental University Submission Date Understanding Political Philosophy Area of Philosophy: Political philosophy Question 1: Define Political Philosophy Political philosophy involves examining how to integrate and harmonize individual liberties with a fairer allocation of societal resources, requiring governmental oversight of the economic structures within that society. The central focus of political philosophy lies in assessing the legitimate authority of the state to govern (CrashCourse, 2017). This field of study explores various principles for overseeing the citizens' governance within the social and economic domains of a community, aiming to ensure fairness and equitable distribution of social goods like wealth, housing, education, employment, and more (Editorial Board, 2015). By extension, political philosophy raises essential questions about the essence of authority, justice, duty, rights, public interest, power, and influence in a societal context. It scrutinizes current political frameworks, examines their legitimacy and effectiveness, and strives to imagine the fairest and most balanced configuration for the collective (CrashCourse, 2017). Essentially, it functions as a guide, leading us through the complexities of societal systems toward a more enlightened and equitable future. Question 2: What is the best kind of government? The ongoing debates on the forms of government indicate that there is no universal agreement for the best kind of government. The challenge in identifying the best government stems from the principles of the two major schools of thought in political philosophy: libertarianism and egalitarianism (Editorial Board, 2015). Libertarianism, at its core, champions individual liberty as the paramount value. Conversely, egalitarianism focuses on equality of opportunity and outcome (Editorial Board, 2015). Both schools of thought tend to show what a good government should portray. The question is whether one form of governance can fit all the situations. Throughout history, different thinkers have instilled their understanding of a good government. Plato envisioned a ruler guided by wisdom and reason, known as a philosopher-king, whereas Aristotle advocated for a balanced constitution incorporating elements of monarchy, aristocracy, and democracy. In contrast, modern thinkers like John Locke proposed a social contract model emphasizing individual rights and limited government, while figures such as Karl Marx called for a radical societal restructuring through class revolution (Zimbardo, 2022). There...

Updated on April 12, 2024

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