Originally posted June 25, 2019 UPDATED Dec. 12, 2020 You do not need to struggle with writing. In fact, effective writing should be as natural as talking. Unless you are writing for artistic or rhetorical purposes, the best way to improve your writing is to use the method of “effective writing.” This approach has one simple rule: say what you have to say as efficiently as possible. To this end, effective writing is purpose-driven and
In previous posts (part 1 and part 2) I have described the modern notion of the “self” and tried to explain its appeal. Modern belief in the self consists in the conviction that the human person is bare consciousness without additional definition — an irreducible consciousness that floats free of determination or definition by anything exterior to itself. In other words, the modern “self” is autonomous (self-defining) consciousness. In our current milieu, this sense of
In a previous post I sketched the meaning and uses of the modern idea of the self. One important source of this idea is Rene Descartes. For Descartes, the ideas of the self emerges from his application of critical, methodical doubt to his own experience. The upshot of this method is the conviction, that the fundamental, indubitable reality of each human person is the self, expressed in Descartes’ famous assertion, “I think therefore I am.”
In a previous post I discussed the importance of Rene Descartes in shaping modern philosophy and much of the modern world. This is evident from two of his most important ideas: (a) the endorsement of radical doubt and (b) the conception of the self. I have already critiqued Descartes’ endorsement of radical doubt. In this post I want to analyze the Cartesian idea of the “self” or inner ego — one of the most prevalent
5 Philosophical Principles for Life In this solocast, Dr. Smith discusses 5 philosophical and practical principles to guide life. He covers:5 Principles for Practical Living– Philosophy is a way of life– Augustine, Christianity, and Philosophy– The Interior Life– 1. Do not react– 2. Do not judge– 3. Attend to yourself– 4. Attend to the present– 5. Accept all from God Click here to support the work of CSA – catholicstudiesacademy.com/donate-to-csa/ Please subscribe to our
