Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy

Neoplatonism Neoplatonism- The revival of Greek philosophy in 3rd century BCE, led by Plotinus and his disciple, Porphyry. Influenced by both Pythagoras and Plato. Moral Luck Moral Luck- Andrew Latus, St. Francis Xavier University, summarizes the discussion between Thomas Nagel and Bernard Williams on the question: Can luck ever make a moral difference? Lombard, Peter Lombard, Peter- French scholastic theologian of the 12th century, influenced by Abelard. Positivism, Legal Positivism, Legal- Theory that law is manufactured according to certain social conventions. Just War Theory Just War Theory- Some of those who have attempted to justify war include Aquinas, Grotius, and Pufendorf. Stoic Philosophy of Mind Stoic Philosophy of Mind- Description of the philosophy of Mind of the Stoics, including the relationship between mind and body, perception, action-theory, and emotion. Encyclopedists Encyclopedists- Group of French philosophers and men of letters who collaborated in the production of the famous Encyclopedie. Interventionism Interventionism- Examines the nature and justifications of interfering with another polity or choices made by individuals. Identity Theory Identity Theory- Form of monistic materialism which maintains that mental states and brain activities are identical. Huxley, Thomas Henry Huxley, Thomas Henry- 19th century zoologist and advocate of Darwinism. Humanism Humanism- Brief article on Erasmus and the Italian humanist movement. Hodgson, Shadworth Hodgson, Shadworth- Follower of Kant, founder of the Aristotelian Society. Hobbes, Thomas Hobbes, Thomas- 17th century British philosopher. Author of Leviathan (1651). Hippias Hippias- Hippias was a sophist, a contemporary of Socrates, and an enthusiast for universality. Heraclitus Heraclitus- 5th century BCE. Presocratic Greek philosopher. Hegelians, St. Louis Hegelians, St. Louis- 19th century group of amateur American philosophers founded and led by William Torrey Harris. God, Western Concepts of God, Western Concepts of- Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy article on God from Socrates to Nietzsche. German Idealism German Idealism- The German reaction to empiricism, including related theories of Kant, Fichte, Hegel and others. Freud, Sigmund Freud, Sigmund- Lenghty article on the father of psychoanalysis who is generally recognised as one of the most influential and authoritative thinkers of the twentieth century. Fichte, Immanuel Hermann Fichte, Immanuel Hermann- Aimed to secure a philosophical basis for the personality of God. Cyrenaics Cyrenaics- Description of the Cyrenaic school of philosophy, which flourished from the 5th-3rd centuries BCE. The Cyrenaics were skeptics and hedonists. Cudworth, Ralph Cudworth, Ralph- 17th century 'Cambridge Platonist' who fought for preservation of religious ideals, including divine illumination. Davidson, Donald Davidson, Donald- Introduction to one of the most significant philosophers concerned with philosophy of mind and action of the 20th/21st century. Social Contract Theory Social Contract Theory- View that morality is based on social agreements that serve the interests of those who make the agreement. Caird, Edward Caird, Edward- Nineteenth century Scottish philosopher who was one of the key figures of the idealist movement that dominated British philosophy from 1870 until the mid 1920s. Beccaria, Cesare Beccaria, Cesare- 18th century aristocrat whose work 'On Crimes and Punishments (1764)' inspired reform in the Italian criminal justice system. Bakhtin Circle Bakhtin Circle- School of Russian thought centered on the work of Bakhtin which focused on questions of signification in artistic creation. Anselm Anselm- 11th century English prelate who developed views of atonement and satisfaction which are still held by orthodox theologians. Anaximenes Anaximenes- 5th century BCE Greek philosopher of Miletus who regarded 'air' as the primary form of body. Active Powers Active Powers- The capacities of impulse and desire which lead to or determine human action, as described by 18th and 19th century Scottish common sense philosophy.