All posts tagged: Art Blog

Sacred vs. Profane: How Religion Divides the World in Two

Sacred vs. Profane: How Religion Divides the World in Two

Published by Sam Flores

Summary Religion’s core concept is the division between the sacred (extraordinary) and the profane (everyday, mundane existence). The sacred isn’t just divine; ordinary, material objects can be set apart and considered holy in many religions. Time is also split into sacred time (Kairos) for significant events and profane time (Chronos) for daily routines. Humans can pass from the profane to the sacred realm through specific religious rituals, such as initiation ceremonies. Show more   Every religion draws a sharp line between the sacred and the profane. This distinction, developed by the sociologist Émile Durkheim and the historian of world religions Mircea Eliade, may be the most fundamental concept in religious life. For Eliade, it is nothing less than the defining feature of religion itself: the sacred is something set apart from ordinary existence and charged with a higher significance, while the profane is the realm of the everyday. But how exactly is that line drawn? And what does it mean to cross it? Let’s take a look.   Misconceptions About the Sacred The Creation of Adam, a fresco in the Sistine Chapel made by Michelangelo, …

Do We Live in a Simulation? A Philosophical Approach

Do We Live in a Simulation? A Philosophical Approach

Published by Sam Flores

Summary The simulation hypothesis suggests we may live in a computer simulation created by an advanced civilization. This idea connects to classic philosophy, like Plato’s Allegory of the Cave, which also questioned perceived reality. Proving we are in a simulation is a challenge, as all evidence would be part of the simulation itself. The theory raises deep moral and existential questions about consciousness, free will, and the meaning of life. Ultimately, whether the world is a simulation or not, how we choose to live in it is what truly matters. Show more   What if absolutely everything that surrounds you, your memories, your feelings, even the screen that you are reading this on, is simulated on a computer? It may sound like science fiction, but people like Elon Musk and Nick Bostrom have treated the notion with seriousness. Since the movie The Matrix, pop culture has played with the idea that our reality is not really our reality. Beneath the fictional story lies a profound puzzle for philosophy. Let’s discuss the simulation hypothesis as a serious exercise rather than a fantasy of technology.   …

The Symbolism in the Numeric Philosophy of Pythagoras

The Symbolism in the Numeric Philosophy of Pythagoras

Published by Sam Flores

Summary For Pythagoras, numbers were the ultimate reality—the ideal principle that constructs the entire material universe. The sacred number 10 represents perfection, as it’s the sum of the first four foundational numbers (1+2+3+4). Each number holds mystical symbolism, with 5 representing marriage, 7 signifying health, and 9 representing completion. The cosmos is structured by mathematical harmony, creating what Pythagoreans called the “Music of the Spheres.” Show more   When we talk about ancient philosophy, it’s almost impossible not to think of Pythagoras as one of its most central figures. He had an immense influence not only in philosophy but also in mathematics and science in general. He thought of the numbers as the ultimate entities that construct the reality around us. He also incorporated this numerical point of view into other disciplines, including ethics, music, and religion. In fact, he proposed a symbolic background to the numbers, meaning that each and every one of them had significance.   Pythagoras and Metaphysics Thales, engraving by Wilhelm Meyer, 1875. Source: Wikimedia Commons   First and foremost, it’s important to take a look …

The Atomic Philosophies of Democritus and Epicurus and How They Differed

The Atomic Philosophies of Democritus and Epicurus and How They Differed

Published by Sam Flores

  In ancient philosophy, Democritus and Epicurus deserve a special place. Both had developed their own original philosophy and gained a strong following as a result. Within the field of metaphysics, they took a similar stance, believing that the underlying principle upon which the universe rests is the atom. The atom is the very first thing that ever existed, and at the same time, the ultimate cause of everything existent as well. Because of that, their teachings are often labeled as atomic doctrines.   The Metaphysics of Democritus The bust of Democritus. Source: Wikimedia Commons   If we want to examine the atomic philosophy of Democritus, his metaphysics is the right place to start. According to Democritus, the underlying principle of everything existent is the atoms. The atom is the smallest material substance that’s unchangeable, indivisible, and invisible to our senses, said Democritus. Additionally, he stated that there are an infinite number of atoms in the world, and it’s thanks to their clashing, amalgamation, and separation that the world around us is created. This makes …

How Al-Ghazālī Predicted the Radical Skepticism of René Descartes

How Al-Ghazālī Predicted the Radical Skepticism of René Descartes

Published by Sam Flores

  History credits René Descartes for introducing radical doubt and building beliefs back up from the single certainty of “I think, therefore I am.” But five hundred years before the 43-year-old Descartes sequestered himself in a small, stove-heated room to doubt reality, a giant of the Islamic Golden Age had done precisely the same thing. In 11th-century Persia, Al-Ghazālī doubted his beliefs so fundamentally that he lost the ability to speak. In this way, the Islamic Golden Age anticipated modern philosophy.   Al-Ghazālī’s Crisis in Certainty in Eleventh-Century Persia Pen case of Al-Ghazālī. Source: Wikimedia Commons   By 1095 CE, Al-Ghazālī was the head of the Niẓāmiyya Madrasa in Baghdad and at the height of his scholarly career. He was well-known to students and the powerful throughout the Great Seljuk Empire. The position brought him wealth and renown. But by the end of 1095, he was convinced his studies were futile and offered no path to salvation. He vacated his post following a psychosomatic breakdown that left him unable to eat, drink, or speak.   …

How William James Became the Father of American Psychology

How William James Became the Father of American Psychology

Published by Sam Flores

Summary William James is the father of American psychology and a key philosopher who popularized the practical philosophy of pragmatism. Pragmatism values practical utility and personal experience, rejecting abstract principles in favor of what works in real life. James’s theory of truth argued that truth isn’t a static concept but is created through our useful, practical experiences. While Charles Sanders Peirce founded pragmatism, James adapted it to emphasize that truth can be individual and utilitarian. Show more   William James is considered the father of American psychology. But psychology was not his only field of interest. He also wrote about philosophy, ethics, and religion. In the last decade of his life, James fully devoted himself to philosophical problems. Let’s explore his work in depth and highlight the important role that William James played in the field of philosophy.   William James’s Life A photograph of William James in 1903. Source: Wikimedia Commons   William James was born in 1842. He grew up in an atmosphere full of deep philosophical discussions. In his youth, James traveled frequently and changed schools and universities in the United States, …

What Is Absolute Idealism According to Hegel?

What Is Absolute Idealism According to Hegel?

Published by Sam Flores

Summary Hegel’s Absolute Idealism proposes that reality is a single, rational process where all contradictions are resolved, rejecting the separation of mind and matter. The philosophy operates through a dialectic method, a three-stage process of thesis, antithesis, and synthesis that drives progress in history and thought. In his 1807 book, Phenomenology of Spirit, Hegel details how consciousness evolves to reach “absolute knowing,” where it understands itself as inseparable from existence. Hegel’s Science of Logic reimagines logic not just as rules for thinking, but as the very framework that structures reality itself. The theory profoundly influenced later movements, for example, inspiring the dialectical materialism of Marx. Show more   In philosophy, absolute idealism is a big idea that tries to bring together different thoughts on the nature of reality. One of the most famous philosophers behind this powerful way of thinking is the German thinker Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel. He went beyond how other people saw existence and consciousness as two separate things, rejecting the idea that matter exists independent of thought. But what did Hegel …

Dave Chappelle’s Comedy Through Kierkegaard’s Philosophy of Humor

Dave Chappelle’s Comedy Through Kierkegaard’s Philosophy of Humor

Published by Sam Flores

Published: Jul 20, 2026written by Lance Kirby, BA Philosophy (In-Progress)   Over the last few years, stand-up comedian Dave Chappelle has created a series of controversies in his comedy specials through jokes made at the expense of transgender people and the LGBTQ community at large. It has been difficult for some to understand how their favorite entertainer went wrong. Subsequently, many remain on the proverbial fence as to whether or not they should condemn or condone this unnerving and controversial type of comedy. In this debate, the Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard may be of some help to them.   A Brief Overview of Kierkegaard’s Philosophy of Humor Søren Kierkegaard in a Coffee-House, Christian Olavius Zeuthen, 1843. Source: Wikipedia Commons   “Aren’t people absurd! They never use the freedoms they do have but demand those they don’t have; they have freedom of thought, they demand freedom of speech.”   Often paraphrased: “People demand freedom of speech for the freedom of thought they seldom use.” – Soren Kierkegaard   Kierkegaard, a nineteenth-century thinker most often considered the …

What Is Substance in Metaphysics? From Aristotle to Spinoza

What Is Substance in Metaphysics? From Aristotle to Spinoza

Published by Sam Flores

Summary Aristotle’s concept of substance defines reality as a composite of fundamental matter (hyle) and an actualizing form (morphe). René Descartes introduced dualism, splitting reality into two substances: the thinking mind (res cogitans) and the physical body (res extensa). Baruch Spinoza argued for one single substance, uniting mind and body as mere attributes of one reality: “God or Nature.” The definition of substance redefines humanity, from Aristotle’s rational animal to Descartes’ thinking mind or Spinoza’s mode of nature. Show more   Within the scope of metaphysics, the term “substance” occupies a crucial space. It’s a term that’s well known among all the philosophers who meddled in metaphysics because many of them have used it to define Being and determine the underlying nature of reality. Aristotle was the first to formalize “substance” (ousia) into a comprehensive and highly developed metaphysical system. As a result, his metaphysics became very popular and influential.   Aristotle and Substance A bust of Aristotle. Source: Wikipedia   Aristotle was the first one to use the term “substance.” Just like his predecessors, he was …

Why Does Camus Write So Much About Sleep? A Guide to His Related Works

Why Does Camus Write So Much About Sleep? A Guide to His Related Works

Published by Sam Flores

Published: Jul 17, 2026written by Simon Lea, PhD Philosophy Summary For Camus, sleep and revelation are linked. Characters often have profound insights after waking or through sleep deprivation. Characters often sleepwalk through life, a powerful metaphor for spiritual numbness and habituation to tragedy. In Camus’s works, sleeping alone often symbolizes a character’s profound loneliness, isolation, and alienation from others. Constant fatigue and tiredness represent a deeper existential weariness and a character’s struggle with life’s absurdity. Show more   In all of Camus’ literary works, we see themes related to sleep, tiredness, and fatigue recurring over and over again. For many of his characters, their most profound moments occur when they are either in bed or should be in bed. However, this theme has been neglected in the scholarly literature. Here, we offer an overview of Camus’ most significant literary works and the role played by sleep in each of them.   An Overview of Camus’ Literary Work Albert Camus in Paris, 1957. Source: Los Angeles Times   Albert Camus wrote his work in cycles. He planned to tackle a subject …