how does philosophy answer questions about human development and culture

Question

how does philosophy answer questions about human development and culture

how does philosophy answer questions about human development and culture

Answer 1

Hi Eddie,

 

Since philosophy studies the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence it becomes deeply rooted in human development and culture. There are many philosophers from differing cultures who place their ideas strictly within the their own culture. 

 

Pythagoras known primarily for his theorem, started a religious cult, that used strict rules of conduct for both men and women. He believed women were different from men but they were not inferior to men, as many later Greek philosophers and society believed. His followers were not allowed to own personal belongings or eat meat. Their daily life was structured with religious teaching, vegetarian meals, exercise, music, poetry reading and writing (which meant writing anything, not just poetry as we know it today, during the 600s BCE),  and philosophical study. This so called cult developed a culture of its own making.

 

The three famous Athenians, Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle thought more about the human mind and body. Developing ideas based on reason and evidence not mysticism or the supernatural. They took philosophy straight to humans within the ancient Greek culture. They were not interested in the material world, just the development of the human mind. 

 

Medieval philosophers began preaching Christianity as their staple. We all know how Christianity affected the world and created a philosophical belief of its own. The development of Christianity, over the 1000 years, kept people in the dark, thus the dark ages. The masses were not taught to read or write, but only to believe what came from the Roman Popes.

 

Renaissance philosophers opened up a whole world of thought and questioning. Philosophers like Giordano Bruno,Tommaso Campanella, or Nicolaus Copernicus provided intellectual growth and are truly responsible for a "rebirth" of peoples' minds developing beyond scope. They embraced the Classical philosophy of Greek and Roman times, applying it directly to human development and their present culture. Many people believe that the Renaissance never ended and has continued for over 500 years.

 

Over the past two hundred years philosophers assisted human development with movements in egalitarianism, nativism, libertarianism, social Darwinism, transcendentalism, abolitionism, humanism, existentialism, pacifism, anarchism, communism, and many more. All of these philosophies are directly related to human growth and the many different cultures associated with these philosophers.

 

I hope this helps answer your question about human development and culture being crucial to philosophy.  There is a plethora of evidence on line, or at your local library. 

 

 I also tutor online with WyzAnt if you are ever in need of a great tutor.Thank you for your question and never stop learning.

 

Warm Regards,

Louise Clemmer