The Pursuit Of Truth And Knowledge Essay - 2371 Words

There is a reoccurring theme in the history of the world that every civilization has contributed to: it is the endless pursuit of truth and knowledge. The pursuit has never been about reaching a destination or an end point, or about acquiring all the truth and knowledge there is to acquire. Men have learned early on that the universe it too vast to unearth all its mysteries. However, throughout this pursuit, men have also learned about the limitations of their own understandings, the setbacks of their capacity to know the world as well as they would like. This acknowledgement of man’s inability to fathom the world in its entirety is what has fueled and continues to fuel the hunt for truth. The age of Enlightenment was characterized by the abandonment of age-old dogma in favor of a new way of thinking (Greenblatt and Abrams 2182-85). The scientific method, developed by Francis Bacon, had opened up several avenues for discovery and paved the way for empiricism, a prominent aspec t of the era’s intellectual movement (Greenblatt and Abrams 2182-85). Among the greatest philosophers of the seventeenth century, John Locke is remembered as the most influential liberal philosopher to date. His contributions to political philosophy in what became known as modern day liberalism designated him as the apotheosis of Enlightenment thinkers, but his contributions extended far beyond politics. Locke ventured into the realm of epistemology, which is the subject of one of his most profoundShow MoreRelatedSocrates : An Essay On Morality, Misdeeds, And A Martyr1226 Words   |  5 Pagesfamiliarity. Socrates is one such unique name. A man of ethics and reason, Socrates would change history forever, creating a love of reason and knowledge unestablished by his predecessors. Despite the admiration and respect Socrates found in most Athenian circles, his revolutionary methods and inquisitive mind would eventually be his undoing. Socrates pursuit of the truth directly confl icted with the ideas of moral and social conformity, ultimately leading to his conviction under the very laws he deemed fairRead MoreMary Shelley s Frankenstein And The Modern Prometheus1291 Words   |  6 Pageskills many of those close to Frankenstein, including William his youngest brother, Henry Carvel his best friend, and Elizabeth his wife. This story of passion and the pursuit of knowledge exemplifies how with determination, passion can drive us to find the truth, but with the truth Frankenstein and Walton seek, comes the danger of knowledge. Victor Frankenstein created his creature with passion, the strong emotion to discover the mysteries of life. His drive was clouded by curiosity and desire for theRead MoreThe Republic Of Plato s Republic893 Words   |  4 PagesPlato’s Republic Plato aims to show from book 1 that justice has intrinsic value to itself, that it gives one a more satisfying pursuit of life. In book I, he retorts Thrasymachus account that justice is the advantage of the stronger. Initially this makes sense that if justice were defined by state law, then the entirety of nations, differing in laws, would be unified by the principle of rule by force, in which the strong create the law. They would do so to suit their own specific needsRead MoreScience Is The Pursuit Of Value And Meaning Essay1637 Words   |  7 PagesScience and religion have a complicated relationship in modern society. In this paper, I argue that science and religion are non-overlapping; science is the pursuit of truth in the natural world, and religion is the pursuit of value and meaning. This position is based largely on Stephen Jay Gould’s NOMA, and it seeks to address weak areas of his argument. In order to properly defend this position, I will define science and religion, establish that they’re exclusive to their domains, present an argumentRead MoreAn Exploration Of Knowledge And Its Impact On Our Decision Making Of Course1494 Words   |  6 Pagesour responsibility to discern what information and by extension knowledge we not only retain, but develop. What assists us in this independent endeavour is our personal perception and understanding of the views we encounter, as well as the society’s we dwell in - that is if we allow the latter to affect our decision-making of course. The quotation above goes on to provide one of many motivating factors in a knowers’ pursuit of knowledge - his or her perspective. As the perspective is that which isRead MoreEssay on Nietzsche1672 Words   |  7 PagesAn Analysis of Nietzsche’s On Truth and Lies in a Nonmoral Sense Friedrich Nietzsche’s On Truth and Lies in a Nonmoral Sense represents a deconstruction of the modern epistemological project. Instead of seeking for truth, he suggests that the ultimate truth is that we have to live without such truth, and without a sense of longing for that truth. This revolutionary work of his is divided into two main sections. The first part deals with the question on what is truth? Here he discusses the implicationRead MoreEssay on The Nature of Socratic Philosophy516 Words   |  3 Pagesanswers to the questions he raised, his views and methods of philosophy are the cornerstone of what philosophy is today. The nature of philosophy, as viewed by Socrates, is centred around the wellness of the soul, virtue being defined as knowledge and the pursuit of truth through the questioning of beliefs. Socrates heavily subscribed to a dualistic view of the body and the soul.He saw the body, or the flesh as something engaging in vacant pleasures and of no value to the betterment of an individualRead MoreResearch And Christianity : A Biblical Perspective1478 Words   |  6 Pagesthe last several weeks, this course has supplied me with a deeper knowledge of how, when, and why research is applied in behavioral studies. The answers to these questions have also provoked me to examine how Christianity and behavioral research can support one another. Specifically, the integration of research and Christianity has led me to believe that every method, type, and step to research leads one closer to the truth, truth that effectuates positive changes to mankind while encouraging aRead MoreOedipus The King Analysis896 Words   |  4 PagesOedipus the King, Sophocles uses his protagonist, Oedipus, to explore his pursuit of knowledge, which leads to his tragic destruction. Oedipus is a favorable king who is determined to end the curse that has been brought upon the city because the murderer of his predecessor, Laius, still lies in the city. Ironically, Oedipus delivers the curse to the city because he murdered his father, Laius. Oedipus’s desire to gain knowledge and bring the murderer of Laius to justice, results in his downfall, whichRead MoreWhat Is Truth - Comparison of Plato and Peirces Philosophy Essay examples994 Words   |  4 PagesWhat is Truth? For thousands of years, mankind has persistently pursued truth, knowledge, and understanding. For most, this pursuit is a driving force which usually doesnt end until one finds a truth that is satisfying to him or her. Even then, however, one may choose to look for an alternate truth that may be even more satisfying to them. This pursuit does not always follow the same path for everyone as there are different ideas as to how truth is actually obtained and which is the best way