Philosophical Dictionary

Discover how your language might be shaping—or limiting—your thoughts. Explore Wittgenstein's revolutionary "language games" concept and the truth behind the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis. Learn why linguists believe the words we use influence but don't determine our perception of reality.

Join us as we explore Descartes's philosophical revolution which is listed amongst the likes of Newton and Copernicus. Descartes, a Rationalist, sought to rebuild knowledge on the foundation of reason alone, famously using his method of Cartesian Doubt to discard uncertain beliefs making him an extremist Socratic reincarnation. We delve into his Meditations 6, particularly his exploration of the mind-body problem, where he argued for the distinct, yet interacting, substances of mind (res cogitans) and body (res extensa). We also look at criticisms of Descartes’ Dualism by figures like Princess Elizabeth and Gilbert Ryle, who mockingly called it the “Dogma of the Ghost in the Machine.” 

We ask the tough questions here: what if Sisyphus is just asymptomatic and his happiness is not at all transferable to us "normal" people? Is Camus' assertion more than the "it is what it is" for educated people, even if it is repeated like a mantra in some places?

Kant proposed that our perception of the world is shaped by our senses and mental faculties, filtering reality into a comprehensible form. The "Thing-in-Itself," however, represents the elusive reality that lies beyond our perceptual limitations. By grasping this concept, you can challenge the boundaries of your own understanding and explore what lies beneath the surface of appearances.

Darwin's theory invites us to reflect on our place in the natural world and our shared ancestry with other living beings. It offers a profound perspective on our origins and the interconnectedness of life. By engaging with the theory of evolution, we gain a stronger sense of our own identity and understanding of our relationship with the vast diversity of life that surrounds us. Read more about it now!

Read more about the philosophical principle of methodological doubt and learn why it is still relevant today.