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Pico's Philosophical Analysis

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For those who understand nothing of the study of philosophy it can often prove confusing as to why one would wish to pursue a career within this art. Philosophy, I have learned, can be difficult, frustrating, complex, and at times challenging to our own moral codes and conducts that we hold as individuals. However, for those who do understand the benefit of the study of philosophy this experience can be liberating and even empowering to a certain extent. It is true that throughout the pursuit of philosophical enlightenment many of our own ideals and creeds may be challenged, although through this confrontation of the self we are enabled to become closer to the truth of things, we may grasp concepts and ideas that which we have never considered …show more content…

Through the medium of philosophy Pico had shown to man his duality, how to tame said duality, reach enlightenment and eventual true divine knowledge. For Pico, philosophy had served as a method of discovering truth, rather than a set of dogmas representing truth. This brings us closer to the conclusion of Pico’s argument, his defence of his theses and his overall apologia on philosophy. Simply stated in the text, Pico had believed that the study of philosophy was plainly needed. Many may choose specific schools and masters to study under, yet each offer something distinctive and unique. With this, Pico holds firm in his theory that the philosophies of many of the earlier medieval scholastics are the same. He elaborates, stating that out of context and through the vehicle of philosophy, there are no differences between Hebrews and Christians. Using the Book of Moses as example, Pico asserts that in both Christian and Hebrew doctrines we find Platonic ideals and philosophies, therefore we may be able to discover similarities in Christian faith and other previous philosophies. From our analysis of this argument, we once more may understand as to why the young humanist would place such importance in philosophy. As stated, philosophy quells the passions, acts as precursor to theology, aids man in understanding the self while elevating him to the divine. Above all, philosophy propounds harmony and truth. Through the recognition of Platonic values in a variety of faiths, Pico’s “Oration” presents the idea of universal harmony among philosophers and harmony through the mechanism of philosophy primarily. Thus, through philosophising, all cultures, philosophies and religions may hold similar traits, leading to united ends in differing ways. For Pico, despite the multiplicity of perspectives, truth is ultimately one. All multiplicity derives from the one. Again, here we are reminded of

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Furthermore, in theology people will not be able to learn everything because we are not worthy. Instead, God will reveal himself to us using divine revelation, and only then will we understand his teachings. Saint Thomas Aquinas says, “hence it was necessary for the salvation of man that certain truths which exceed human reason should be made known to him by divine revelation” . The use of philosophy tries to explain these teachings that we are not prone to knowing. By trying to use philosophy to compare ideas to theology, people will still not fully understand theological teachings, because God has not granted them divine

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Those who possess great knowledge are often praised among society. They are viewed as leaders of the future as they assume the raw knowledge will lead us towards a greater life. While the ignorant eyes focus on the intelligent, the wise become overlooked. Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave” portrays how philosophers struggle with others as they are often ignored or shunned for their different views. The “Book of Job” from the Old Testament also shows the ignorance that is apparent in the world as common people tend to stick to what they know.

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Philosophy reached an all-time rise during the 17th and 18th centuries. Following philosophy were the sciences, such as Astronomy and Geography, which advanced drastically during this period. The rise of Philosophy led to the decline of the church’s influence on the people, which led to a decline of faith and the church labelling philosophers as heretics. The Catholic church was prepared to do anything to crush these heretics in order to preserve the Catholic faith. Also, the inquisition extremely active during this time period, for hundreds of thousands of heretics were killed and/or burned at the stake.

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Pojman, Louis P. Philosophy: The Pursuit of Wisdom. Australia: Thomson/Wadsworth, 2004. Print.

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Powerful spiritual renewal and heresy arose from the chaotic scene of bloodshed, the fierce intellectual controversies played an important role in religious freedom. The Reformation had brought individual thinkers to develop the principle that no one should be persecuted for his or her religion. Sebastian Castellio was one of the very first humanists who stood on this principle and describes that the world is entangled in the questions of religion. As indicated on Document 8, he does not agree with doctrine punishment for those who denied faith to Christianity. He believed that a person’s conscience should not be subject to power and suppressed by the civil authorities.

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Petrarch, the founding humanist, published these ideas of human will and human reason to better the Renaissance society. In turn, these concepts have not only influenced his time, but have impacted our present day society. The Humanist revolution has contributed a vast amount of philosophical ideas and have permanently altered the Christian church for the better. Due to Humanist ideas, extreme asceticism is not devoutly practiced and the corruption of the church has dissipated due to the presentation and translation of early Christian texts such as the

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Philosophy is a combination of two Latin words; Philo standing for love and sophy meaning wisdom. When you combine the two root words it means the love of wisdom. Knowing the literal meaning of philosophy may help us understand what philosophy; but it does not state what philosophy undoubtedly is. Over the years, philosophy has had many meaning and interpretations. In my personal opinion philosophy is using reason and logic to solve simple or complex questions.

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To study philosophy is to learn to think carefully and critically about complex issues. It is not necessarily to learn the 'answers ' that the discipline has arrived at.” (Sideritis 1.1) to the ideas expounded by the Buddha in the Kalama Sutta: “So in this case, Kalamas, don 't go by reports, by legends, by traditions, by scripture, by logical conjecture, by inference, by analogies, by agreement through pondering views, by probability, or by the thought, 'This contemplative is our teacher. '” This comparison should give us clarity about the Buddhist attitude towards what we can broadly label ‘philosophy’.

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Pojman asserts that this question highlights the question whether or not morality and religion are intertwined. Moreover, Socrates’ comments and critiques of Euthyphro’s claims provide readers a powerful model for what true dialectic thus promoting the development of a strong intellectual spine and the true core of

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Truth is often a term that is taken into consideration when one is verbally speaking, but most find it rather difficult to truly define truth. While every person can attempt to uniquely give their own interpretation to what the world regards as truth, the realm of philosophy presents several brilliants ideas about the concept. In general, the study of philosophy recognizes two truths: objective and subjective. Objective truth can be described as truth that has always existed whether one knows it or not, while subjective truth is dependent on the person’s ideas and feelings towards a reality. Influential and well-known philosophers such as Mortimer J. Adler and Plato have contributed thoughts that often present similar ideas about the definition

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The human mind’s ability and innate desire to justify and explain the world and its phenomena has led to some of the most significant and world-altering discoveries and inventions, illustrated throughout the renaissance, enlightenment, scientific revolution, and industrial revolution. Logical pursuits comprise a significant capstone of human nature and progress. However, according to Rudolf Otto in The Idea of the Holy, these tendencies have created different dimensions of religion; the rational and non-rational, with the latter often times overlooked. The most significant difference between the rational and non-rational aspects of religion deal with their respective emphasis on reason and feeling. Rudolph Otto prioritizes the non-rational as offering a truer understanding of religion because he claims the core of all religious life revolves around experiences and feeling, not simply rational thought.

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Great works of literature such as Dante’s: Inferno as well as One Thousand and One Nights contain similar themes such as religion, redemption, and love. These themes encompass the philosophical and religious ideas that can be found in both texts. Although Dante’s: Inferno is written on the base of Catholicism and One Thousand and One Nights is written on the base of Islam, the views we are presented with in both are not unique , but rather found in one form or another throughout history and in various cultures spread across the world.

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There are so many amazing and philosophical minds, their lives ruined all too soon, leaving minds to wonder, “What would have become of the world if these men could have had a couple more years of freedom?” From religious tyranny, to a constant debate about church vs state, and then the confusing world of astronomical debates, we are given many prime reasons for the persecution of philosophers. In today’s day in

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“Condemned to be free,” a quote from Jean- Paul Sartre, a atheistic existentialism philosopher who had a different view on human nature also known as existentialism. Sartre strongly believed that humans were free to create their own nature without a God, and were not made to have a purpose in life (pg. 67). I found this philosopher very interesting because I agree with believing that humans are fully responsible for their own actions. In addition, as Sartre stated, “we must suffer the anguish of own decision making and accept responsibility for its consequences,” which means that even though humans have the right to make their own choices, they also have to be responsible for the pain that comes along with it (pg.67). For example, someone who decides to kill another person out of their own free will.

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There are always complications and doubts that block our path. What job am I to choose? What university do I apply for? These thoughts will soon turn into a bitter reality. A reality that we will have to face.

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