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Philosophical Theories - Free Essay Examples and Topic Ideas

Philosophical theories are different frameworks or concepts that attempt to provide an explanation for various deep questions about the world, humanity and our reality. These theories can range from metaphysical ideas about the nature of existence, to epistemological claims about knowledge and truth, to ethical theories regarding human conduct and morality. They often require some level of critical analysis and contemplation to understand and gain insights from, and can be both historical and contemporary in nature. Some of the major philosophical theories include existentialism, utilitarianism, objectivism, relativism, and phenomenology. Each theory offers a unique perspective on various aspects of the human experience, and can contribute to a greater understanding of the world around us.

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  1. 1
    Summary: The Use Of Marxist Criticism The “Goblin Market”
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    Marxist criticisms involve the utilization of ideas and beliefs generated by Karl Marx. It involves analyzing the social structure, such as class, culture, and race including the distribution of power and wealth in a society. Utilizing Marxist criticism, we can further delve under the poems deceivingly innocent and child-like facade and better understand the socioeconomic relationships and social justices that took place during this time period, the Victorian era. Through the use of Marxist criticism, the “Goblin Market” by Christina…
    Marxism
  2. 2
    Free Will or Determinism as Determining Factors in Life
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    Let me start by explaining what is meant by “Free Will” and what is meant by “Determinism”. According to an article published on January 7, 2002, in the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, we could define “Free Will” as “the canonical designator for a significant kind of control over one’s actions”. Every one of us has the ability to empower a force over a certain action we decide to manifest or act towards one’s own discretion, you are voluntarily responsible for…
    DeterminismFree Will
  3. 3
    The Ideologies of Idealism and Realism in the 21st Century
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    Nations as a concept run on ideologies. Capitalism vs Socialism, Communism vs Democracy and much more. One such unnoticed comparison is the Idealism vs Realism debate, which influences several policies, but is not given much importance. It may seem convenient to place idealism and realism in the context of international relations in a simple optimism v/s realism binary. However, doing so is reductionist as it is much more than that. To understand these ideologies we need to not look at…
    21st CenturyTranscendentalism
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  4. 4
    The Theme Of Existentialism in William Shakespeare’s Play King Lear
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    King Lear Final Paper Existentialism is the belief that it is up to each individual to give meaning to his or her own life, to live with authenticity. To be authentic, in Baker’s terms, is to “be one who faces the human condition, resolutely accepts his finitude and his death, creatively responds to life, manfully assumes responsibility for all his decisions”. While Baker examined different existentialistic categories, such as the experience of “certain elementary emotions” or the “possibility of transcendence…
    Existentialism
  5. 5
    Social Darwinism As a Providing Theme in Howards End Novel
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    Subversive Uses of Social Darwinism in Howards End The persistent theme of social Darwinism in Howards End suggests England belongs not to those plucky, sensitive types that Forster himself idealizes in his essay “What I Believe,” but to a more practical type that Forster acknowledges in his essay “Notes on the English Character.” He begrudgingly admires the latter for their rougher, industrious spirit—the spirit that compelled life out of the “protoplasm,” (Howards End 127) and the spirit that compelled the…
    Social Darwinism
  6. 6
    Theme of Transformative Nature of Love in Sonnets from the Portuguese and The Great Gatsby
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    Texts are cultural snapshots representing their era - they reflect and develop the values, ideas and attitudes of their context. Two texts, Elizabeth Barrett-Browning’s (EBB) suite of Petrarchan form sonnet’s “Sonnets from the Portuguese” and F. Scott Fitzgerald’s modernist novel “The Great Gatsby” explore the transformative nature of love and also the desire of an individual for a transcendental love. Both authors draw on their own interpretations of love and infuse the context of their time to help represent these…
    Transcendentalism
  7. 7
    The Role of Skepticism in Critical Thinking and Inquiry
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    IntroductionSkepticism, a philosophical approach rooted in questioning and doubt, has played a significant role in shaping critical thinking and inquiry throughout history. Skeptics engage with ideas, claims, and information by subjecting them to rigorous scrutiny and skepticism, challenging assumptions and seeking empirical evidence. This essay explores the importance of skepticism in fostering intellectual growth, promoting scientific advancement, and ensuring informed decision-making.The Foundation of Critical ThinkingSkepticism forms the foundation of critical thinking, a vital skill that empowers individuals to analyze information…
    Critical ThinkingSkepticism
  8. 8
    Summary: Surveillance Capitalism Of The 21st Century
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    The advancement of technology is inevitable as time progresses and it can affect our society in many aspects such as in terms of the economy and politics. It is obvious that modern technology develops rapidly with more big companies relying on it for opening door for various industries. Technology is evidently serves its purpose of making a better life for mankind as observed throughout history. One of the most important product of it is the social media. Social media makes…
    Marxism
  9. 9
    Depiction Of Different Events in Renato Constantino’s The Philippines: a Past Revisited
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    Renato Constantino’s The Philippines: A Past Revisited contains a specific chapter on the American expansionism, Social Darwinism and the clash of the industrial north versus the agricultural in the United States that swept beyond just its thirteen colonies. The slaughtering and enslaving of “inferior races” (Negroes, Native Americans, Asians) are justified by supporters of American expansionism as the fulfillment of the American peoples’ destiny. The Philippines came under the U.S.’ radar as stepping stone by the time it started eyeing…
    Social Darwinism
  10. 10
    Summary: A Critical Review On Karl Marx “Alienated labour”
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    Karl Marx believed that work at its best is what makes us human, it fulfils our species essence. Work allows us to prosper, however in nineteenth-century Europe, Marx argued that work destroyed workers, especially those who had nothing to sell but their labour. To the mill and factory owner, a worker was an abstract idea with a stomach that needed to be filled. The workers had no choice but to endure long hours for a small wage. Their labour alienated…
    Marxism
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  11. 11
    Role of Capitalism in Poverty Spreading
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    Capitalism can be followed back to the Middle Ages in Europe, and this financial framework has been adding to the entire human race for quite a long time. It is the concept of production in which capital is privately owned and the economy is regulated without government intervention. While poverty, on the other hand, is the condition in which the absence of necessities and privation prevails. Poverty is something which can never be annihilated, it is continuously produced under the…
    CapitalismMarxismPoverty In America
  12. 12
    Groundhog Day Philosophy Essay
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    Introduction "You want a prediction about the weather, you're asking the wrong Phil. I'll give you a winter prediction: It's gonna be cold, it's gonna be grey, and it's gonna last you for the rest of your life," [Groundhog Day] ominously speaks the protagonist of this modern-day version of an ancient myth and/or spin on a theory of Nietzsche's. In Harold Ramis' Groundhog Day, Bill Murray plays Phil, an embittered weatherman that suddenly finds himself in a seemingly infinite time…
    ExistentialismGroundhog DayMovie Review
  13. 13
    Exploring the Absurdity in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead
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    Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead is one of the most frequently performed plays of modern theater as it is the ingenious tale of supple Rosencrantz and witty Guildenstern, childhood friends of young Hamlet. In Tom Stoppard’s expansion on Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead is noted as a “well-known, dark, funny, hysterical, and odd play” (1). This spinoff from Hamlet’s classical tragedy is categorized in the theatre of the absurd where the randomness of human nature is defined through…
    ExistentialismRosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead
  14. 14
    James Joyce’s Views On Life in The Story Eveline
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    After repression comes rejection. In discovering what James Joyce is saying about life in the story Eveline, it is extremely important to take into consideration that Joyce rejected his Irish Catholic heritage and left Ireland at the age of twenty. The opposite of what Eveline ended up doing at the end of the short story. Which gives evidence that Joyce used Eveline as the example of what not to do. In Joyce’s mind he is showcasing the Irish Catholic traditional…
    Naturalism
  15. 15
    Extreme Skepticism of Organized Institution in J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye
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    It will forever be mankind’s instinct to impose moral codes upon ourselves and those around us. These moral codes are based on subjective ideas deemed important by their creators; they have served as the basis for most organized institutions, including but not limited to the government, education, and religion. However, for as long as these codes have existed, so has resistance toward them. Personally, I believe that a healthy amount of resistance is essential to keeping moral codes and our…
    Skepticism
  16. 16
    How The Influence On Jean Paul Sartre On Existentialism Started
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    Existentialism The essence of existentialism is derived from the idea that one must take the freedom-giving responsibility over one’s own life and choices. What troubles many people today is this very question: what are we to be accountable for? The answer to this question can be found through the supreme idea of autonomy that is commonly known as existentialism. Existentialism was made more popular due to the influence of Jean-Paul Sartre, the idea of distorted views, the question of purpose,…
    Existentialism
  17. 17
    The Influence of the Discourse Theory, Determinism and Free Will on Social Reality
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    Introduction We like to think that the knowledge which we know is the absolute truth, and our decisive actions will lead towards an intended outcome (Jones 129). We make decisions and actions based on personal beliefs. We also use it as a method of measure towards morality and falsity. When disagreeing to something, it is because it differs from the knowledge and reality that we hold true to ourselves - one in which we think is accurate. But to what…
    DeterminismDiscourse CommunityFree Will
  18. 18
    The Relation of Spirituality to Religion and Yin-Tang Theory
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    Spirituality and religions are important aspects of any society where faith helps people at the time of difficulty. It can help people become more contented and feel better at the time of difficulty. It allows people to understand their beliefs and review their confidence when they feel dejected and lonely by the materialistic world. It talks about the higher consciousness or the cosmic energies, which are beyond our control. When something unexpected happens, people are forced to believe that it…
    MetaphysicsSpirituality
  19. 19
    The Incorporation Of Naturalism In Dreiser’s American Tragedy And Sister Carrie
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    Naturalism is a literary movement that began in late nineteenth century used in literature, film, theatre, and art. It is a type of extreme realism. The movement suggested the roles of family, social conditions and environment factor in shaping one’s character. This movement demonstrates the consequences of real-world situations and proves that not every real situation will have a happy ending. Therefore, naturalistic writers write stories established on the idea that surroundings and environment governs one’s character. Naturalism implies that…
    Naturalism
  20. 20
    The Concept of Transcendentalism and Seclusion in Into the Wild
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    Marcus Aurelius Flores Period-5 AP English Summer Reading 2019 Into the Wild (Page 3) 'In April 1992, a young man from a well-to-do East Coast family hitchhiked to Alaska and walked alone into the wilderness north of Mt. McKinley. Four months later his decomposed body was found by a party of moose hunters. Shortly after the discovery of the corpse, I was asked by the editor of Outside magazine to report on the puzzling circumstances of the boy’s death. His…
    Transcendentalism
  21. 21
    The Complex Relationship with Material Possessions
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    Material possessions, from the humblest trinkets to the most opulent treasures, hold a profound place in human society. They serve as symbols of status, security, and self-expression. In this essay, we will delve deep into the multifaceted world of material possessions, exploring their role in our lives, the psychology behind ownership, the impact on happiness, and the growing movement towards minimalism. The Role of Material Possessions in Our Lives Material possessions play a central role in our lives, shaping our…
    Materialism
  22. 22
    Examining “Progress” in The Euthyphro Dialogue
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    Socrates and Euthyphro don’t come up with a clear definition on piety by the end of the Euthyphro, but this does not entail a lack of progress entirely, as a conclusion is not inherently fruitful, nor is it Socrates’ style to settle for any conclusion unless it contains thoroughly well-examined knowledge. In this paper, I am defining philosophical progress as an indefinitely ongoing development of ideas involving re-examination of old ideas and the formation of new ones. Framing “progress” this…
    Euthyphro DilemmaProgressSocrates
  23. 23
    Jean Paul Sartre’s Views On Human Freedom And Existentialism
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    In “Existentialism and Human Freedom”, the author, Jean Paul Sartre, discusses existence and identity. The first main point is that in terms of humans, “existence precedes essence.” Essence makes a thing what it is. It is how we categorize things. It is a summation of all the qualities of an object or a person that we are able to observe. It comes after existence because, according to Sartre, we are born blank and develop our essense after coming into existence.…
    ExistentialismFreedomHuman Nature
  24. 24
    The Impact On The Society Of Functionalism And Marxism
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    To assess how Functionalism contributes to society’s view on families and households, I will compare the Functionalist perspective to the Marxist perspective as both have extremely strong influences on sociology’s understanding and allows us, as a society to pick and choose what aspects we agree with and to then apply those factors to our understanding. I will be using the theories of Murdock and Parsons as Functionalists, and Marx and Engels as Marxists to study how functionalism affects sociology’s views…
    MarxismSociety
  25. 25
    The Metamorphosis Through Marxism, Psychoanalysis and Feminism
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    Franz Kafka is one of the leading writers of modern world literature. He was not known at the time he lived. Thanks to his best friend Max Brod, he is known as a world famous writer. He was born on July 3, 1883 in Prague. He is the first child of a Jewish family and has 6 siblings. But the two brothers died at a very young age. Other brothers also lost their lives in the Holocaust. He has had…
    Marxism
  26. 26
    Material Possessions And The Pursuit Of Happiness
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    American’s have become so materialistic that they have lost touch with what really matters in life. Understanding why we think the more stuff we acquire, the happier we will be is truly puzzling. We work long hours to not only pay for the essential things we need but to also buy non-essential things that we do not. If we step back and reevaluate our lives, we will see that all the stuff we buy hoping for happiness really has no…
    HappinessMaterialism
  27. 27
    Materiality And Immateriality in Architecture
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    Humans seek balance throughout their lives, both physically and mentally in order to find comfort. This is our reality. You may never have the whole of one without, at the very least, the part of another, otherwise, there is imbalance. You may never have light without dark, nor silence without noise, never a life without death, and as such, material without immaterial. They are symbiotic, and therefore, will always work together in harmony or dichotomy to create a depth of…
    MaterialismModern Architecture
  28. 28
    The Origin Of The Confucianism
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    An interesting concept I’ve always wanted to learn about was Confucianism and how it came about in different ways. Xinzhong Yao talked about the concept and explained everything in his book called, “An Introduction to Confucianism”. He is a very talented professor of religion/ethics at the school of Humanities stating in his book, “he taught at the University of Wales for many years. His publications include Confucianism and Christianity (1996), Encyclopedia of Confucianism (2003), Wisdom in Early Confucian and Israelite…
    Chinese cultureConfucianism
  29. 29
    Libertariansim: Understanding Political Ideas and Movements
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    In our complex society, there are many complex decisions that need to be addressed by not so intelligent people. According to statistic, many workers argue that their manager or higher-ranking employee do not know what they are doing or the complexity of the job. Now take that problem and multiply it by 100,000 and you see the difficulty of a government trying to manage a society. The only way to deal with that is to distribute decision making to citizens…
    FreedomLiberalism
  30. 30
    Emma Zunz by Borges: Marxist Approach Analysis
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    Marxists Analysis Essay of “Emma Zunz” by Borges Explain why the Marxist approach works well for “Emma Zunz.” Marxist approach views life in dialectic approach as all things happening in our day to day lives are two-sided. “Emma Zunz” is a story of irony that has ideas of that tends to be both on the side of justice and revenge, and of the right and wrong. Given that the story is that of the art of fiction, it portrays the…
    Marxism
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  31. 31
    Confessions Of a Liberal Gun Owner By Justin Cronin
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    Introduction In “Confessions of a Liberal Gun Owner,” Justin Cronin, an award winning novelist who teaches at Rice University in Houston, argues that despite being a liberal and for gun control, he is also in support of some gun ownership and in fact owns one for “the [protection of his] family” in his article that was published in the New York Times. By growing up in New England and being a liberal gun owner, he probably assumes that the majority…
    Gun ControlLiberalism
  32. 32
    The Themes of Tuesdays With Morrie by Mitch Albom
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    Materialism "I can tell you, as I'm sitting here dying, when you most need it, neither money nor power will give you the feeling you're looking for, no matter how much of them you have." (Pg. 125) "But giving to other people is what makes me feel alive. Not my car or my house." (Pg. 128) Morrie Schwartz provides numerous amounts of wisdom regarding materialism in Tuesdays with Morrie. Two of his quotes –– "I can tell you, as I'm…
    Materialism
  33. 33
    Analysis of “Native Son” Story by Richard Wright
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    Introduction Embarking on a journey through the gritty alleys of 1940s Chicago, "Native Son" by the brilliant American wordsmith Richard Wright invites readers to traverse the turbulent existence of Bigger Thomas. In this narrative tapestry, we witness the unfolding drama of a young African American man wrestling with the harsh realities of poverty and discrimination entrenched in the southern landscape of Chicago. Wright's pen crafts a tale that refrains from sugarcoating Bigger's transgressions, skillfully interconnecting a complex web of cause…
    CommunismRacism
  34. 34
    A Comparison Of Confucianism,Taoism And Shintoism
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    In religion, there are certain key terms that are crucial to know and to understand. For some, it is about finding their true self, and for others it’s about having a god to rely on – to help people and to be a figure of hope. In this case, Confucianism and Taoism in the Chinese religion follow some of the same principles, as well as Shintoism in the Japanese religion. In this paper, we are going to explore the specific…
    Confucianism
  35. 35
    Naturalism in “The Open Boat” by Stephen Crane
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    Stephen Crane remains one of the most influential naturalist writers in the United States. Scholars credit him for the establishment of modern U.S. naturalism. The author uses the book to recount a real-life story, when one of the ships he was travelling in went afloat in high seas and left everyone stranded. The naturalism concept argues that literary works should detach themselves from scientific objectivity when defining society and humanity. Naturalist writers consider the significance of family, environment, and socio-economic…
    Naturalism
  36. 36
    Transcendentalism in Self-Reliance by Ralph Waldo Emerson and the Idea of The Divinity of Humanity
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    Transcendentalism asserts the inherent goodness of man for "to the good, (and) to the perfect, he is born" (Divinity School Address 10). His origin is divine and so is his destiny. As he goes through life, he progresses the ladder of divinity. As man continues to make choices to remain virtuous, and beautiful, his nature tends toward transcendental divinity. This transcendentalist tenet goes contrary to Calvinistic doctrine, which posits man's innate evil and proclivity to sin. Ralph Waldo Emerson's work…
    SpiritualityTranscendentalism
  37. 37
    A Social Theory of Marxism Showing in The Great Gatsby
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    Considering the Marxist theory, the novel can be considered a scathing critique on the flawd aspects of American Society, particularly relating to class dissonance. F. Scott Fitzgerald, the author of The Great Gatsby, lived a short time after Karl Marx. To what effect Fitzgerald’s examination plays a role in maintaining values and beliefs of the ruling classes of 1920s American society can be successfully determined, by exploring both the features of the text, as well as the historical background in…
    MarxismMoney
  38. 38
    Comparison Of Confucius And Lao Tzu
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    Confucius and Lao Tzu are widely regarded as two of the most praised and well known Chinese philosophers. The Analects of Confucius is often compared with one of Lao Tzu’s great works, Tao the Ching. They both have unique standpoints, some similar but most differentiating. the main difference between the two is the is Confucius emphasizes the importance of loving and respecting others, along with improving knowledge. While Lao Tau stresses the significance of finding peace within yourself and gaining…
    Confucianism
  39. 39
    Transcendentalism in Walt Whitman’s And Ralph Emerson’s Works
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    Transcendentalism Paper The Puritans of New England called their home, “A city upon a hill”. They put themselves on a pedestal, and this depicts Puritan values and characteristics. If someone lives “upon a hill”, they are watching everyone around them. In Puritan society, people were aware they were constantly being watched and judged. They valued having a perfect and upstanding image in the eyes of society. This value system was common but was fundamentally different from the dogma that succeeded…
    Transcendentalism
  40. 40
    The Theories of Karl Marx on Capitalism and Communism
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    Karl Marx (1818– 1883) is best unbelievable not as a mastermind but rather as a progressive, whose works influenced the motivation of the various socialist routines inside the 20th century. It's laborious to consider numerous who have had the most amount impact inside the making of the chic world. Prepared as a scholar, Marx diverted standoffish from rationality in his twenties, towards science and legislative issues. In any case, to boot to his too philosophical early work, his later compositions…
    CapitalismCommunismMarxism
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