Monthly Archives: January 2010

What is Grotesque?

Posted on January 31, 2010 by profgiles

Aesthetics is an under-appreciated branch of philosophy. Usually discussed under the rubric of philosophy of art, aesthetics in its broad sense is the discussion of beauty–what it is and how it is perceived. Beauty is the positive side of aesthetics … Continue reading →

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Kepler Destroys the Universe

Posted on January 26, 2010 by profgiles

It is almost impossible for us today to imagine the profound effect of Kepler’s theory of planetary motion (published in 1609). It was always an unquestioned assumption that everything in the heavens was pristine and perfect and that meant that … Continue reading →

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Knowledge & Existence

Posted on January 21, 2010 by profgiles

“Knowledge is always abstract but existence is always concrete.” – Soren Kierkegaard . . .

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Spinoza’s Proposition 1.5

Posted on January 16, 2010 by profgiles

Many students have trouble understanding Spinoza’s Proposition 1.5 and exactly what it is he is trying to prove. Here is what Spinoza said: In Nature there cannot be two or more substances having the same nature or attribute. If there … Continue reading →

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Descartes’ Circle Debunked

Posted on January 9, 2010 by profgiles

Almost since Descartes published his book Meditations he has been accused of committing a fallacy of circular reasoning with his argument that God is the guarantor of the truth of our belief in an external world. Descartes’ argument has ever … Continue reading →

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