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The origin and finality of humans: The compatibility of the Christian message in interpretation of Thomas Acquinas with the evolutionary psychology
Fuchsová, Aneta ; Novotný, Vojtěch (advisor) ; Mohelník, Tomáš (referee)
Man as homo moralis in Thomas Aquinas and according to it in evolutionary psychology In my thesis I want to compare two different views on human nature: The view of a Christian, enhanced by the theological ethics, and the view by a non-believer who deals with the origin and goal of the human life. These two points of view will be represented by the philosophy and theology of Thomas Aquinas on one hand and the evolutionary ethincs on the other hand. My goal is especially to point out the the difference between two views on the human being: typically religious one and typically secular one, and their opinion on the origin and purpose of it. I will try to answer the question on existence of such field, which is not explorable by tools of natural (evolutionary) ethics and which points to the "theological" dimension of human nature. On the other hand I will ask whether the traditional concepts of human nature can get by the exploration of the modern science and whether they can be enhanced by it. The outcome of my work should finally be above all practical: how to argue in behalf of the Christian point of view, dealing with the topics of bioethics or Human Rights as general. Keywords Human nature, finality, virtues, freedom, human dignity, Thomas Aquinas, evolutionary psychology, evolutionary ethics,...
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Chrysippus and Augustine on suicide
Golatová, Hana ; Chavalka, Jakub (advisor) ; Šenovský, Jakub (referee)
The thesis deals with suicide and topics related to it in the concept of Chrysippus of Soloi and St. Augustine. Despite the differences in their conclusions, both discuss this phenomenon in connection withdissatisfaction with life. They are based on the assumption of the initial inadequacy of human nature and the possibility of attaining happiness through its perfection. Chrysippus believes that under certain conditions suicide can become a reasonable act. The development of rationality allows one to see events from a universal perspective and to free oneself from dependence on external objects that produce passions including adherence to life. The decision to voluntarily end one's life is based on an insight into the course of nature and what is natural to man. Thanks to this knowledge, suicide becomes a virtuous act and a manifestation of harmony with nature. For Augustine, on the other hand, suicide isan expression of human weakness, an inability to cope with the miseries of life and a cowardly escape from suffering. However, he considers suffering to be an integral part of life, hiding in itself the possibility of moral remedy. Suicide manifests human egoism, which is the cause of the original sin, the degradation of the human nature and an barrier on the road to happiness and salvation.
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Savagery in The Inheritors and the Lord of the Flies by William Golding
Juranková, Miriam ; Higgins, Bernadette (advisor) ; Chalupský, Petr (referee)
Savagery in The Inheritors and the Lord of the Flies by William Golding Bachelor thesis, Bc. Miriam Juranková, 2016 ABSTRACT William Golding dedicated his life's work to an exploration of man's nature. The primary themes of most of his novels are the conflict between civilization and savagery, good and evil and the question of the source of evil within man. This thesis focuses on his first two and most well-known novels: Lord of the Flies and The Inheritors. The objective of this thesis is to analyse the theme of savagery in these books. The aim of this thesis is to infer what Golding intends to convey concerning the nature of man and to analyse how he understands and views savagery. The theoretical foundation of this thesis is based on a comprehensive definition of the terms civilization, savagery and barbarism derived from their etymology and their meaning within various social sciences; and Golding's own ethical doctrine established in his works. Other sources include works focused on literary analysis of Golding's novels, interviews and articles written about Golding's life and work and naturally both the novels analysed. Key words: savagery, savage instinct, civilizing instinct, civilization, barbarism, morality, innate evil, man's nature, cruelty, William Golding, Lord of the Flies, The Inheritors
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Relationship between human naturalness and community
Hexner, Adam ; Kysela, Jan (advisor) ; Kosek, Jan (referee)
Relation of human nature and community A principal theme of this diploma thesis is the community thought of about as an entity managing the law and justice with the respect to human nature followed in the work of three selected authors: Aristotle, David Hume and Friedrich A. Hayek. According to each of them, community is not unnatural but develops through either a natural or spontaneous process. All three are also critics of social contract theories. This work is successively focused on each of the mentioned philosopher, somewhere resulting in comparison. The description of creation and development of society, concept of nature and human nature and government and law function is carefully interpreted. The explanation is subsequently adjusted to the author specific justification through which is the Aristotle's teleology, Hume's moral sense theory and Hayek's emphasis on irrationality and spontaneity being reflected. Despite the divergences, the introduction of these three distinctive approaches provides a relatively uniform and authentic perspective on the relationship between human nature and the community.
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The Humanist Virtuoso : Beginnings, Idea and Illustration of Hume's experimental philosophical anthropology in Treatise of Human Nature
Kunca, Tomáš ; Benyovszky, Ladislav (advisor) ; Pinc, Zdeněk (referee) ; Zika, Richard (referee)
PhDr. Tomáš Kunca The Humanist Virtuoso: Beginnings, Idea and Illustration of Hume's experimental philosophical anthropology in Treatise of Human Nature UK FHS, Praha 2013 Thesis introduces a concept of "The Humanist Virtuoso" as distinctive feature reflecting Hume's effort to introduce an idea of experimental philosophical anthropology based on study of human nature and manifested in his A Treatise of Human Nature. Concept is justified by three steps, through analysis of the beginnings of Hume's philosophy, explication of his "science of man" idea in Treatise and illustration of this idea in action, as appears in analysis of passions (Book 2). The beginnings of Hume's way to experimental philosophical anthropology are explained thorough interpretation of historical facts connected with his early study at College of Edinburgh. First meetings with culture of science ( both British Christian tradition of experimental philosophy and Newtonian mathematical philosophy) are considered as particularly important. Detailed analysis of pre-Treatise letters (the Letter to Physician and to Michael Ramsey) is provided to make explicit the beginnings of his "science of man" idea, turn to study of human nature. Castration of Treatise is observed and discussed via analysis of his letter to Home (1737). The second...
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On Relation between Plato's Republic and Laws
Sulík, Pavel ; Špinka, Štěpán (advisor) ; Jinek, Jakub (referee)
The aim of this essay is to investigate the relation between Plato's dialogues the Republic and the Laws because of apparent differences of ideal cities, which are depicted in them in speech. The city of the Republic is designed to be ruled by sovereign ruler or group of them. On the other side, the city of the Laws is degined to be ruled by the rule of law, which must be supreme. Fist intention of this essay is, after short overview of both cities, to examine so called biographic interpretation which tries to explain the diffencies of both dialogues by Plato's life experiences. The second interpretation to examine holds that the city of the Republic is just theoretical sketch which is not realizable and the city of the Laws is its humanly possible realization. The rest of this essay tries to use previous results and develop some more specific grasps of possible relations of both cities especially by reading several important and influential passages. Finally the advantages and disadvantages of all interpretations are considered and the most apparent solution is suggested. That is, both dialogues are in mutual harmony concerning the main philosophical positions, i.e. conception of virtue, soul, human nature and reason. The difference of these dialogues is caused by their different perspectives on the same...
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Human Nature by Benedict de Spinoza
Haiklová, Markéta ; Jirsa, Jakub (advisor) ; Hill, James (referee)
This paper consists of more parts. Firstly, it includes a theoretical introduction on Spinoza's concept of substance, substantial attributes and modes of extension and thought. The theoretical introduction serves as a background for the following examination of human nature in Spinoza's Ethics. In the chapters concerning human nature, which are introduced by chapters on intellect, imagination, memory and three different kinds of knowledge, our idea of "double nature" is presented. This characteristic of nature is deductible from the concept of adequate and inadequate knowledge and it becomes a presupposition for our further interpretation, which deals with the problem of parallelism/dualism of modes of extension and thought. This topic is treated in part V of Ethics where also the question of destruction of human body and the eternal part of mind is discussed.
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An Analysis of Francis Fukuyama's Arguments Exemplified on Contemporary Dystopian Cultural Production
Šinaľ, Martin ; Veselá, Pavla (advisor) ; Roraback, Erik Sherman (referee)
In this thesis I analyze and problematize Francis Fukuyama's position on posthumanism, largely expressed in his 2002 book Our Posthuman Future. In it he warns against the likely negative outcome of a potential biotechnological revolution, which could enable easy access to interfering with human genome via practices such as genetic modification or human cloning. Fukuyama's major assumption is that all members of society must meet some limited standards of humanity in order to be equal, because if people acquire different levels of artificially altered "human natures," the outcome will be stratification, irrecuperable inequality and perhaps even class warfare. For this reason, Fukuyama calls for a pre-emptive regulation of genetic manipulation so as to avoid a "posthuman future." I contrast this theory with a selection of transhumanist and feminist theorists as well as with examples from fiction, namely the trilogy Lilith's Brood (1987-1989) by Octavia Butler and the novel Never Let Me Go (2005) by Kazuo Ishiguro. Drawing on these sources I conclude that Fukuyama's position is harmfully exclusionary and divisive; and also counter- productive in the sense that in his pursuit of securing freedom and equality he renders potential posthuman subjects fundamentally inferior, thus principally defeating his...
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Aspects of Authenticity in Acting
Neškudla, Pavel ; KROBOT, Miroslav (advisor) ; TOMÁNEK, Karel František (referee)
My diploma thesis Aspects of authenticity in acting examines the authenticity, nature, plausibility and truth in acting and performances or in other various forms of performing arts. All this is based both on my own experience and on theoretical, but not purely scholarly approach. However, this theoretical approach represents my own understanding without any ambition of theory redefinition. Diploma thesis examines, think and also submit claims.
All these concepts are demonstrated on my acquired artistic activities and on creation which I was or still I am part of.
The diploma thesis is also conceived as a look back, self-reflection, anchor and clarification of matters which of course involve my future and my artistic activities that are not mentioned in this thesis.
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Classic theories as sources of natural law
KOHOUT, Petr
This thesis is engaged in the theme of natural law, especially in sources of natural law - in theories, which are labelled as "classic". The thesis focuses on these theories (Aristotle, stoicism, Thomas Aquinas) and their common points, which are proper to these theories. That is the object of this thesis. These points present the essence of natural law. The first part explains problem of the term "natural law". The second part deals with the classic theories. The third chapter summarises findings of the second part. The fourth part is devoted to the similarity between the classic theories and the modern (enlightenment) theories. This chapter is devoted to the connection between natural law and positive law too.
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