Philosophy

Philosophy

Response

Essentially, I agree with the writer’s view of the arguments brought forth by Zeno. Zeno could be termed as unrealistic given his view that some elements such as motion are illusional. Such is unfounded because if the motion were illusional, the movement of an arrow as provided in the example would essentially translate to immobility of the arrow. Hence, the arrow would stay stationary at its initial potion without movement.

Zeno had strong views of the contradictions that arose from the belief of the presence of motion and that of accepting standardized aspects of motion. Zeno as indicates by the write tries to convince the audience that what we consider presently as true is essentially false. This is indicated by his main arguments about motion. His arguments merely focus on issues, which could not be. He does not provide any evidence of why aspects such as motion are illusional. He merely states that such is what he thinks to be with finality. I also agree with the writer’s view that the view presented by Empedocles about the presence of love and its constituents. This is however, disintegrated by the presence of hate, which breaks down love that is constituted by four elements: fire, earth, water and air. This is used to illustrate that change is present in the world, but change does not apply to reality. Reality is essentially constant.

Democritus, on the other hand, is of the view that experience plays a significant role in enhancing our knowledge about the world and our surroundings. I tend to agree with the author’s view that it takes individual experiences to understand our surroundings. However, the epistemological problems are still inexistence as we experience them but cannot define them succinctly.

Questions

Explain Plotinus’ notion of emanation, or of how the world came to be what it is. What is the link that Plotinus has with Plato?

Emanation entails the origin of all elements of the world derived from the first reality or first principle. Plotinus provides an alternative view to the orthodox Christian belief of creation from nothing, or what is described in Latin as ex nihilo. He identifies that emanation is from Nous or divine mind, logos and order. This is identical to the Demiurge, which is found in the Timaeus written by Plato. According to Plotinus, the Nous results in the world souls divided as either upper or lower. This proceeds towards the development of the human souls followed by matter, which is at the lowest level of the cosmos. Plotinus and Plato are linked by the Nous theory, which they both use to approach their individual theories of emanation.

(2) Explain the differences between the Stoic and Epicurean notions of ethics, especially in regards to the notion of happiness.

Epicureans view that happiness or pleasure is usually the highest level of living. Hence, happiness or pleasure in their view is the absence of pain and sorrow in the body and heart respectively. On the other hand, stoics believe that the highest end of living or happiness is derived from self-denial of life pleasures. Stoicism focused on ethics from a philosophical view whereas the Epicureans were of the view that ethics were in line with Christianity.

(3) Explain the Hellenistic notion of skepticism and its link to morality.

Skeptics in the Hellenistic age had a view that the human knowledge was limited in terms of scope and application. They view that ethics and morality knowledge is not possible. Hence, people are unable to understand of the presence of what constitutes as either morally appropriate or inappropriate. In addition, they view that all moral values are essentially false because people lack the knowledge to know and understand what constitutes to morality.