About this book
Jaime Luciano Balmes's Filosofía Fundamental, Tomo I presents a rigorous examination of philosophy's foundational questions, beginning with the critical issue of human certainty and knowledge. Written by this influential Spanish presbyter and philosopher, this philosophical work addresses the bedrock upon which all human understanding rests, arguing that before constructing any intellectual edifice, one must first establish a solid foundation.
Published in 1848, Balmes crafted this treatise as a response to the intellectual currents of his era, seeking to counter what he perceived as transcendental errors spreading throughout European thought. Rather than proposing an entirely new philosophical system, he meticulously investigates the fundamental questions that have preoccupied philosophers since ancient times: How do we know what we know? What constitutes genuine certainty? Upon what principles do human knowledge truly depend?
The first book explores the nature and utility of questions concerning certainty, recognizing that serious difficulties underlie these inquiries. Balmes emphasizes that solid, well-directed study remains the only effective remedy against intellectual error and sophistry. His approach combines classical philosophical rigor with nineteenth-century concerns about preventing the entrenchment of false principles in Spanish intellectual life.
This audiobook is ideal for philosophy students, scholars of nineteenth-century European thought, and anyone seeking a deep exploration of epistemology and the foundations of human knowledge from a classical perspective.