The Philosophical Tradition (A History of Western Philosophy)

There are two errors when it comes to perceiving philosophical thinkers – the first is that theorists shape political movements, this is believed by people who are more influenced by books then events. The second error is when others seem to think that philosophies are nothing but direct manifestations of the doctrines of the leaders of political parties. Both are wrong.

The second error is a more recent one and it treats philosophical ideas as if they were nothing more but side effects of their political and economic climate – they’re like the froth at the top of a wave but has deep currents causing it. Of course, the truth is somewhere in between.

Aristotle and Plato were not individualists.. They thought about the good of the community not the good of the individual.

After Alexander there was an end to political liberty. That was when cynicism and stoicism developed. According to those philosophies, a man can lead a good life no matter what the social circumstances. This was also the vied of early Christianity.. But up to this point the ideas of men were dominated by dogma, law, custom.

Councils determined truth before it was known that even councils can make errors. Early liberalism tried to solve the problem between individualism and political social order.  In modern science this conflict does not exist because a scientific consensus will be reached but such was not the case in the time of Galileo, for example.

Thus science contains individualism in that arguments are more important  not authority. This philosophy defined the US and French constitutions.

The antithesis to liberalism began with Rousseau and borrowed from Carlisle Lord Byron Nietzsche.

The romantic movement extends the idea of individualism to include emotions. The cult of the hero by Carlyle and Nietzsche is typical of this idea. Dislike of industrialism, its ugliness and unfairness, nostalgia for the Middle Ages and the splendor of war. But this philosophy leads to the victory of a tyrant who will repress the very self assertion that gave him power. This theory of life is self refuting. It leads to dictatorship.

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Related posts:

1. Ancient Philosophy (A History of Western Philosophy)
2. ST Thomas Aquinas (A History of Western Philosophy)
3. David Hume (A History of Western Philosophy)
4. John Dewey (A History of Western Philosophy)