Cornucopia of Philosophical Questions (7)
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Stephen asked:
Are human beings perfect or imperfect?
The latter is the obvious theological position.
However, can it be reasonably claimed that all human beings are perfect? (Many New Age religions make just this claim, in defiance of the traditional Christian belief).
Is it possible to say that things such as rocks, flowers, birds and animals, for example, are not perfect? If not, then how could it make sense to say that human beings are somehow imperfect?
With regard to such natural entities, I consider it best to suspend such value judgements. Nature just 'is', as I see it, and attaching labels such as 'good', 'bad', 'perfect', or 'imperfect' seems artificial and unnecessary.
Are there any reasons why this would not also follow for humans?
Note that this is considering the intrinsic value of humans themselves (rather than, for example, that of any actions they may perform.)
However, an animal (or human) with a disease or deformity, for example, may be considered less perfect than a healthy one. As all such animals are mortal, however, I do not believe that this detracts from such a value.
However, if nature itself can be maintained to be perfect, then it appears that all human values would then be artifice, or am I mistaken on this?
(If nature can be said to have been created perfect by a perfect God, and it is only man who is imperfect, then this raises obvious theological issues as well.)
Another issue which follows from this, is as follows: If nature is essentially 'valueless', then can it reasonably be called 'perfect'? If so, then why would this not apply to human nature as well, by definition?
"No-one's perfect", is an often-heard expression in everyday life. So, to what extent is this true?
Note that I do not claim that some humans are perfect and others imperfect (despite any religionists' such claims). Or am I mistaken in this (i.e. the possibility that only diseased humans lack in perfection — not a position I am terribly happy with)?
Hazel asked:
Evaluate the philosophy of the psychodynamic approach to counselling.
Paola asked:
Point out the strength and weaknesses of Emile Durkheim's philosophy and what's the relationship between Thomas Hobbes and Durkheim's philosophy?
Gerald asked:
Is philosophy only for the intellectual elite? Therefore, I wonder can philosophy cause class boundaries (even class warfare)?
Gerald asked:
What is Foucault's view on identity? I have heard that Foucault reveled in "transgressive actions" in the attention to become the Other? And does his ideas on identity have implications on his ideas on Power? If so, what are they?
Shugufta asked:
What does Peter Vardy have to do with the problems of evil and suffering?
Danielle asked:
How dualism answers the question "what is thought"?
How does dualism differ from materialism in general?
How does identity theory and functionalism each answer the question "what is thought"? (how they differ, how they are similar to or different from dualism?
Sajjad asked:
What is natural? is there any thing unnatural?
Elrick asked:
Explain why schemes for classifying organisms change.
Bruno asked:
There is a hint in the readings of Rousseau that he was a student of Machiavelli. If he was in what way did Rousseau learn from his writings? I believe that one similarity is that they were both believers in a Republic style system.
Cassey asked:
Does James Rachels believe that some actions can be both selfish and morally neutral?
Sheila asked:
Compare and contrast the theories of human nature of Freud and Plato.
Account for Marx's theory of alienation and how it is derived from his theory of human nature.
Critically assess the statement that the Christian theory of human nature is compatible with freewill.
Is the existentialist claim that man has no nature defensible? Why or why not?
Michael asked:
What do the different approaches to the problem of free will imply about moral responsibility?
Sue asked:
What are the major ideas and influences on the development of Western political systems?
Of these influences, what do you consider to be the most significant?
J asked:
Does anyone know a good solid argument against hedonism?
Mickey asked:
The idea of hard determinism states that every event, action, and decision is the inevitable consequence of antecedent conditions (such as physical, psychological or environmental) that are independent of human will. My question is, isn't the first event, decision, or action that lead you on this path an act of free will? Can you help me clarify this?
Christine asked:
How is leisure distinct from both work and spare time?
Janell asked:
If a man is insane and commits murder, what should be done about it? On one hand, he was not in control of what he did, but on the other, he still committed the crime.
Noreen asked:
Discuss the certainty of love from a philosophical view.
Meghan asked:
What conclusion does Kant draw from the fact that it is impossible to discern by experience whether an action was the result of moral duty?
Michael asked:
What are your proofs against Christianity? And how to you justify the COUNTLESS proofs (many undeniable, albeit a few undeniable) FOR Christianity?
Gerald asked:
Do people have multiple beliefs or is there a just one grand belief and everything else is related to that one grand belief applied to smaller issues? Has my question been raised by any philosophers of the past? If so, can you direct me to which writings?
Keith asked:
I just have a few questions. 1) How much good can be achieved in this life according to Augustine? 2) What are the highest virtues in Augustine's ethics? 3) What do each human beings offer according to Augustine?
Chelsea asked:
Contrast Mill's moral theory with Aristotle's.
Which of Mill's or Aristotle's conception of happiness is the most realistic?
Jacky asked:
"My practice, you say, refutes my doubts." When Hume says this, what does he mean? How does he rejects this objection? and why does he go on to say: "But you mistake the purport of my question"?
Uviovo asked:
How would someone approach an essay of this nature: "Formal Organisations — Philosophical review of perspective and paradigms.: Please give some web to visit and info concerning the above subject matter.
Steven asked:
What is Socrates's view of the relationship between "Citizen" and "State" with that of the Framers of the United States Constitution.
What are your personal views of your own personal relationship with your own "State" in terms of any reciprocal duties, rights, and responsibilities which you perceive as existing between you, if any.
Andree asked:
Can someone explain this: Explain Socrates' claim of ignorance in terms of Plato's simile of the line? If Plato account of knowledge is right, then are we ignorant? Furthermore, According to the Meno, can virtue taught and if so, how? The line must be used in order to claim his ignorance per level. Through images, up to the forms, disclaiming or claiming his ignorance.
Leslie asked:
What is the distinction between natural and conventional justice as presented in Aristotle and St. Augustine?
Gerald asked:
Can a teacher teach theories, and other forms of information without bias (their own interpretation of the theory)? Will the teacher read the same theory and then turn to their students give the written material (the theory) without additives? Teachers would only be one example of this, the question can be generalized to all humans.
Tara asked:
What are the theological ideas of the Lutherian religion?
DrGerald asked:
Why do some philosophers say life is absurd?
Ferguson asked:
Suppose a school board states they don't have a particular philosophical point of view regarding curriculum development. What 5 key questions would one ask to determine what their philosophical leaning is? (assuming they have to answer truthfully).
Shayna asked:
I was wondering why does Stace claim that the fact of different moral beliefs in different societies does not prove the truth of ethical relativism. I don't understand how he can believe that.
Melanie asked:
Could explain Jean Baudrillard's theory stimulation and stimulae, I have recently purchased his book and it baffles me.
Erge asked:
Compare Epicurus, Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill with regard to their ideas about Hedonism.
Robert asked:
Who was the philosopher who said: "We can will, but we can not will what we will"?
Micheal asked:
How is essentialism related to social Darwinism?
Christina asked:
I have got to write an essay on Aristotle, essay title, "Explain and discuss the implications of Aristotle's use of teleology for moral philosophy." Could you please give me some hints on how to answer this?
Lola asked:
I need help with writing arguments for the "Good Samaritan Law".
Jayvee asked:
What does Nagel mean in "the meaning of words" and "free will". Can you explain it in lay man's term?
Afzala asked:
Construct an approach of community development underpinning values, theoretical bases, methods, major issues, and training approaches.
What are the strength and weakness?
Harry asked:
1. Can you explain me briefly the Aristotle psychological theory?
2. Can you explain to me the main differences between Aristotle's golden versus absolute mean?
Max asked:
Can Philosophy help us Ethically to know the difference between what is right and wrong? please define in detail.
John asked:
I recently wrote a paper on what I termed "moral recovery." In essence the thesis is that some persons who perform an act or acts that violate either a self-imposed or externally-imposed moral code, can recover. I used as examples Albert Speer, Charles Colson, Karla Faye Tucker, and Jim Bakker. I now wish to pursue the topic in more depth. Can you point me to writers who have tackled the subject of moral recovery?
Phil asked:
If the behaviourist theory is accurate, if you lose the ability to speak, or express yourself in any other physical way, does the mind cease to exist?
Caroline asked:
I am writing an essay comparing Aristotle, Smith, and Marx' views of how profit come about and if they think profit is ethical or not. I ultimately have to side with one of them, and I have chosen Aristotle. I am having trouble coming up with a plausible account of his normative theory of human ends, which is a huge part of my analysis. My TA told me I could read James Rachels' The Elements of Moral Philosophy in order to get some ideas, but I cannot find the book anywhere. Is there any ideas you could give me about a solution to this or tell me what other philosophers have said about it. Any direction to other websites or ideas that I can think about would be greatly appreciated.
Stuart asked:
What exactly is Russell's suggestion that it is difficult to prove that the world wasn't created only five minutes ago?
Kay asked:
In his paper, "Is it Wrong to Discriminate on the Basis of Homosexuality?," Jeff Jordan argues that it is permissible to discriminate against homosexuals in denying them the right to marry. I do not agree, I feel that homosexuality, (of course between two consenting adults) harms no one. Therefore, same-sex couples should be allowed to marry. Premise 9 in Jordan's 'Conflicting Claims' argument is wrong in that there is no accommodation for same-sex couples when the state refuses to sanction same-sex marriage. Jordan believes that accommodation is possible when the state refuses to recognize same-sex marriages. His definition of this accommodation is that the state sides with the 'religion-based moral view, but the state can tolerate private homosexual acts.' Therefore, the state only acts in the public realm while leaving the private realm to personal choice. He defines this as accommodation.
However, accommodation refers to both sides in an argument meeting each other, to varying degrees, halfway. The state's refusal to recognize same-sex marriages is not an accommodation but rather preservation of the status quo. In other words, the state does not meet same-sex couples halfway, but rather it chooses to take one side, that of the 'religious-based moral view.' Furthermore, this flaw in premise 9 also leads to flaws in the remaining premises. The state could certainly sanction same-sex 'marriages' in the form of civil unions, or some other marriage designation while reserving the traditional marriage for heterosexuals thus coming to a true accommodation. This type of declaration could result in the solution of the public dilemma.
While, I can successfully find fault in Jordan's argument, I am having trouble developing my own argument for the allowance of same-sex marriages.
Noel asked:
I am busy trying to write our business unit's philosophy on learning. The learning team's objective is to ensure that people are sufficiently motivated to learn so that they will be able to perform at their potential as soon as possible. We strive to create an environment that will develop the whole person as opposed to just learning that is necessary for performance purposes.
I need some pointers to get started e.g. should this contain our vision and what we hope to achieve or rather an argument on why we exist and what we want to achieve.
Bronwyn asked:
I'm a South African student, I'm really struggling with my essay topic (Is it morally justified that some people are born rich and others poor? If not what should be done about it?) I do have many thoughts of my own on this but am really battling to find other creditable opinions..I would love to hear yours and if you could advise me of some good reading on the topic I would be forever grateful.
Les asked:
I appreciate very much your efforts here at making a general discussion globally possible. However, does this forum not raise hopes where none ought to be raised? How does one justify efforts at improvement in human interactions given the fact that we all face ultimate extinction? Does any philosopher since Nietzsche discuss fatalism?
HongLi asked:
How does one come to terms with consciousness and free-will scientifically? Quantum mechanics? Superstring theories involving a 10 dimensional "universe" partitioned into 4 and 6, with the space 6 somehow explaining consciousness? What?
And yes, I guess I'm expecting a counter-argument that the notion of free-will is merely an illusion and that everything is fated. I don't believe so however, even though it is impossible to prove one over the other.
Garry asked:
I am a philosophy graduate and have recently been reading the arguments against the possibility of conceptual analysis, starting with Quine's "Two dogmas of empiricism", then Grice and Strawson's defense. Now, however, I am trying to understand Gilbert Harman's "Quine on Meaning and Existence" (part 1). Now I don't know whether it is me, but this particular piece is causing me no end of trouble, although some parts of it I do understand. Is Harman a poor writer or am I losing my faculties? The article just seems very unclear and even contradictory in parts, particularly the section on radical translation. I've spent about a month of intense thought now on this article. What is the general feeling on this piece? If it's worthwhile could you recommend a philosopher to go through it with me?
Ann asked:
What is the difference between the traditional conception and liberal-democratic conception in regards to Plato's allegory of the cave? I don't understand the difference between the traditional view and liberal democratic view in the first place to even begin applying it to the text.
Emma asked:
Is the death penalty ever a legitimate punishment? or is killing always wrong?
Darren asked:
Compare and contrast realism and idealism with pragmatism?
Anisa asked:
When an infant is born it cries and it is said that the infant at that moment is a million times more intelligent than an adult. Why is it so? Why does the infant cry at birth and what makes it a lot more intelligent than an adult at that particular moment?
Jake asked:
1. What is the sense in which Aristotle believes virtue to be a kind of mean?
2. What is for Aristotle the essence of virtuous activity?
3. In what consists the difference between the Aristotelian and Platonic moral theories?
4. What are the constituents of Socrates's wisdom?
5. According to Plato and Aristotle based on their moral theories, what is pious act?
Arianne asked:
I wonder if Husserl has a Phenomenology of Aesthetics?
Lesley asked:
My question is "Is there a mostly shared path of philosophical evolution of man?"
I also want to read any references that you might give regarding this topic.
Specifically, I have been going through certain well defined stages, and I suspect that many others like me also passed through these stages.
D asked:
In Nietzsche's The Birth of Tragedy how do the Dionysian and Apollonian forces help understand tragedy to us? and ourselves?
Dhvani asked:
What is the philosophical importance of Descartes' discovery that he cannot doubt his own existence? After reading Meditations on First Philosophy I do not seem to understand why doubting your own existence is so important. Could you help me with this one?
Faysal asked:
Nagel distinguished between simple and relational goods and evils. What is the difference between the two and why did Nagel make the distinction? Is it possible to argue that relational goods and evils are reducible to simple ones? Discuss Nagel's distinction especially with the first two arguments for the view that death is not bad.
Lily asked:
How is Marxism relevant in post-modernist jurisprudence and law?
Cheryl asked:
What do they mean by odd and even are philosophical illusion?
Diwakar asked:
What are the different ways that we look at knowledge and technology independently and also how their meanings changed over time? what is the impact of each on other in creation of ideas and contributing to the other?
Sean asked:
I have a test coming up and Im rusty about a the philosophers were studying.
Considering the James' pragmatic method and the pragmatic theory of truth, what would be some examples of what it would take for beliefs to differ in that context. And how can it change philosophy?
This seems vague to me, but it's what I need to know.
Shakira asked:
How does religion and everyday life experiences relate to Plato's "Allegory of the Cave"?
Scott asked:
As with the Brain in-a-vat problem, can we correspond any of our ideas to anything real outside our minds?
Does Descartes "Meditations" answer this question fully and completely?
George asked:
How historically verifiable are the writings of Plato?
Jeanelde asked:
If God is all loving and His Grace covers all then why is there suffering in the world? Can we really trust our senses?
Chazha asked:
What is the level of credibility at which shareholders, stakeholders and other related parties place on the final accounts of an enterprise considering the fact that the phrase "true and fair view" of accounts contains subjective elements?
Sarah asked:
Is Descartes right to think that the cogito survives the test of doubt? Could you give any famous philosopher who disagrees?
Amanda asked:
Please if anyone knows what Kant's opinion on abortion is then please tell me how Kantian ethics would handle the issue of abortion — the pros and cons.
and Dorette asked:
What are the problems of Immanuel Kant's theory applied to abortion?
Nathan asked:
What are the differences and similarities between ancient and modern music?
Yume asked:
I was told Reality is what happens in our conscious state, but what if 'reality' is really just a dream? What if we're continuously dreaming our 'reality'?
Sophy asked:
How do I compare and contrast the distinctive problems of religious language and ethical language?
Cody asked:
I need to know any good sites to go on to explore this Greek quote, "a sound mind in a sound body".
Robert asked:
Who proved 1=2 and what are the steps to arrive at the answer?
Tommy asked:
What is your "utopia"?
Greg asked:
How does Levinas view the erotic relationship and parenthood? And what do they have to do with solitude? Very confusing stuff!
Leonard asked:
Is not man's willingness to have a sense of duty to itself man's biggest obstacle? Consider Nazi Germany, and America's duty to prevent the war on terror.
Maria asked:
"We are all participants as well as spectators." Does this cause problems in the social sciences?
Jessica asked:
My question is to: critically assess Sartre's claim that when we choose we choose for all.
Stu asked:
Critically discuss assessment of Jean Paul Sartre's concept of self-deception.
Sally asked:
In 'Speech and Phenomena' Derrida speaks of the 'nothing' which separates the parallels between Husserl's phenomenological psychology and transcendental phenomenology, without which all the signs would change and no differences could appear as such, and no language could be developed in the service of truth. Could anyone help explain this to me please? And I am also having a little difficulty getting straight what the 'problem of genesis in Husserl'.
Cerys asked:
Do you agree that death is a part of living and should therefore, in a manner of rights, be within a persons control?
Will asked:
Is it possible for "nothing" to exist? (Must "something" always exist?)
Brittany asked:
Did Dr. Faustus make a deal with Creon to save the soul of the devil?
Andy asked:
What do altered states of consciousness tell us about being human? if death is the ultimate ASC (Grof) then could this be taken as proof that a soul survives the physical annihilation of the body?
Sarah asked:
Can Hume be called a determinist based on his views of freedom and causality?
Donna asked:
What's the difference between local doubt and global doubt? I thought that global doubt was being uncertain about any knowledge and any method we use to try and achieve certainty, whereas local doubt, although still being philosophical, is being unsure about specific things like the certainty of other minds, for example, but simultaneously being certain of your own mind, for example. Is this correct, or have I got it wrong?
Dennis asked:
How would you compare Hobbes and Thoreau and their philosophies concerning the social contract?
Moustapha asked:
What should we change in our today'society in order to live a good life?
Kazzy asked:
Currently, a recent trend in popular culture concerns "reality" representations. What types of questions would a metaphysician raise about these forms of entertainment?
William asked:
Is it moral to take new job that would make me happy, but in return my family would not be happy? can I get an answer on both sides.
Joe asked:
What is the role of sense perception in regaining the soul's awareness of the forms?
Mike asked:
Why has the term "illocution" and "illocutionary act" been implanted in reputable collegiate dictionaries?
Is it jabberwocky out of its context? or is it some arcane extraction, the background of which nobody really knows about?
Stuart asked:
"Sitting in his dressing gown by the fire, Descartes was able to entertain the skeptical possibility of doubting everything he believes by using the evil demon thought experiment. In our everyday lives, we cannot seriously maintain such a skeptical attitude to our beliefs. There is no point therefore in reflecting on such a crazy possibility as an evil demon.|
1) How is the evil demon thought experiment meant to lead to such skepticism?
2) Do you agree that there is no point to such crazy "thought experiments"?
Amanda asked:
I would like to know why humans enjoy violence? it can't be that we always have. is it the desire to watch something that you shouldn't? or is it simply that we want chaos to perpetuate?
Jo asked:
How can Chretien de Troyes' story of Perceval and the Holy Grail be understood as an illustration of the laws of the universe as portrayed in Boethius' Consolation of Philosophy?
Kelly asked:
Murray Bookchin advocates that the entrenchment in capitalism hurts the environment and that the dichotomies of society (as a generalization) must be broken down. I have yet to find someone who truly refutes the ideas of social ecology that Bookchin has expressed in his literature. My question is, is there someone who has really written to refute Bookchin?
Someone asked:
Where can I find a complete online version of Bertrand Russell's essay Mysticism and Logic?
The first page of it is available as a preview at http://www.questia.com, but I'm looking for the whole piece.
(I'm not interested in the other essays which were initially published with it.)
Walter asked:
What are some examples of advantages and disadvantages of pluralism, elitism, corporatism and public choice theory?
Emma asked:
Assess the functionalist explanation of the role of education in modern society.
Joan asked:
Who are the philosophers who discuss the abortion? and what are their opinionS about abortion?
Cheryl asked:
I'm told that in order to have my union dues go to a charity rather than to the union (I am a newly forced union member), that I must give a philosophical reason for not wanting my dues to go to the union.
What can be more philosophical than "I don't believe in them"? How can I support something I don't believe in?
Peter asked:
I understand the data produced by the geostat satellite revels that sea levels rise above ocean floor ridges and that this anomaly is put down to gravity. We can't understand how Mass attracts Mass would cause such an anomaly. We believe that there is more to gravity than mass attracts mass and that gravity is also the result of at least two other forces, which we have named positive and negative energy. To try to prove our point we have performed a scientific experiment on the London eye, which we believe was very successful. We would now like a recognised scientist to review the details of the experiment to help us eliminate any possibly of recording an incorrect result. [...]
This experiment on the London eye is all about trying to understand the possibility of negative and positive energy because water contains 2 atoms of hydrogen to 1 atom of oxygen and in hydrogen contains a lot of positive energy because when 2 hydrogen atoms are joined together to form helium there is a lot of energy released which I believe is positive energy. The formula I believe in is that negative rejects negative on a cube law which is a very strong force, positive rejects positive on a square law, negative attracts positive and positive attract negative making 4 laws. Which could be right but it will need a clever person to prove it.
George asked:
How can we define time in a single phrase? Are there any axioms about time?
Jade asked:
If you have said something about your boyfriend and then he breaks up with you but you still like him and you think he might just might still like what do you do? Especially when you think you might love him.
Darrell asked:
If initially my consciousness were the result of certain forces (by "forces" I mean the stuff of physics — matter, energy, even things presently unknown to us) coming together in a certain way, then am I not in danger of duplication somewhere, sometime? It seems like those same forces could come together again either in some other consciousness here on Earth or somewhere else in the Cosmos, to make me a dual consciousness. There doesn't seem to be anything to prevent this LOGICALLY from happening if the unique thing-that-I-am is simply a certain configuration of physical stuff. But it never seems to happen. There are no reports (that I know of) of anybody being a dual consciousness with some other person on Earth, or a being in, say, the Andromeda Galaxy. Could this not be empirical evidence that consciousness is NOT the result of a certain arrangement of physical forces? In fact, would not a dual consciousness violate causality, since I would have instantaneous knowledge of events separated in space?
Ron asked:
How is it possible that science keeps putting a theory forward about evolutionary biology when it doesn't seem to make sense? I mean, evolution seems te be a means by which organisms adapt to their changing environment, no harm in that, but to me it seems illogical that a sea-creature would acquire legs so that it can thrive on land because these would initially impair their movements under water and so make them more vulnerable in the sea. Let's assume that man is evolving at this moment to a creature that has the ability to fly, then we should be growing some sort of wings over time, so it would probably begin with stumps in the shoulder area, but these would hinder us in our daily tasks, and if we then follow the survival of the fittest theories.
Jane asked:
How would a supporter of natural moral law feel about the concept of war?
Peter asked:
What is meaning?
Mandisa asked:
What are some similarities and differences between sociology of the body and sociobiology?
Kareem asked:
I recently read something saying that literally all subjects of knowledge came from philosophy. For example logic is a basic subject within philosophy, and mathematics is a branch off logic (geometry, algebra). And it makes sense, isn't logical to say that 2+2=4.
But what was interesting is that some Philosophers called "Pythagoreans" speculated about the structure and nature of the universe: matter, music, numbers, and geometry. So do philosophers just try to understand everything that has to do with this life? So I would think they are intellectuals just trying to understand everything around them.
And look at what the definition of physics is: a science that deals with matter and energy and their interactions.
And psychology comes from "Philosophy of mind". Also political science was a branch of philosophy.
I would just like to know your thoughts about this. And I have one more question, since all these sciences are now by themselves, what is left in philosophy? For example does philosophy still contribute much to psychology, mathematics, political science? etc.
Liesl asked:
Why is testimonial evidence alone so prone to being shoddy?
Kira asked:
My question deals with coherentism. I am trying to piece together my own thoughts about it, but don't have a lot of arguments against it, besides that the chain of beliefs could not be true through justification. That they are consistent and connected, but there are no grounds to base them off of. I was looking for further opinions and ideas against coherentism. It would be of great help I am a college student writing a paper on it. Thankyou and God Bless!
Teddy asked:
Does Socrates believe that in order to be a human being one must reason and question? Where does he state this if this is true?
Jim asked:
How can I know what is "real" and what is not real? I just finished reading a lot about George Berkeley and am more confused than ever.
Yume asked:
Suppose if we are 'reincarnated', will our reincarnated self have the same mind we do right now?
Will it be the same feeling that we can think in our own minds? Or will it feel as if our reincarnation is someone else?
Stephanie asked:
Which of the following types of arguments are evaluated with the terms strong and weak?
A) Deductive
B) Inductive
Which of the following types of arguments are evaluated with the terms valid and invalid
A) Inductive
B) Deductive
Bronny asked:
I am comparing Dewey's instrumentalist education with Rousseau's naturalism.
The question is: are the social ideals of Dewey and Rousseau compatible?
If you also have any links that I could look up that would be great
Teisha asked:
Is power feminism feminist? Why do some people feel that power feminism is not a form of feminism and that it is negative to feminist development?
Val asked:
Do we have a moral right to die?
Mandy asked:
How did Maimonides view cognition, G-dilness and healing?
Abas asked:
If one holds to dualism then that person would most likely argue for what theory of identity?
Danette asked:
My question is that, if there is a almighty, powerful and lovable God, how can we understand the struggle in with the world is.
Claire asked:
I have an exam coming up about Bertrand Russell and his doctrine of sense-data. I'm finding it difficult because no matter how many books I read on the subject I seem to get more and more confused. In particular I don't understand how 'sense data' are what is immediately experienced rather than physical objects.
Stacey asked:
Why are psychological objections to religious belief weak?
Noel asked:
When did the idea of mechanistic minds begin? I know about Aristotle's automated puppets passage in "The motion of animals" which is currently causing some controversy over whether or not Aristotle could have had mechanistic ideas (because there were no mechanisms to base them on). I was hoping to find some even earlier references (preferable in English).
Amanda asked:
1. Levinas' solution to save the world is that for us to be responsible for the other... If I am the only one who is willing to change and take the hurt, how will the solution work?
2. Philosophy is a human act. But it is not Philosophy that makes us human because only we can make ourselves human. Honestly, I don't understand this anymore. I know that Philosophy or any other science can make human beings human, but how can we be human? How do we make ourselves human?
Daniel asked:
I have a broad understanding of Kant thought on the good will, universalizability, etc... How does this relate to medical ethics e.g. abortion and cloning along with resource management? Could you give me some guidance or suggest an article to read?
Kelly asked:
Is the human race built for violence? I haven't read up on the subject much but basic ancient history studies have shown that the way of the human is to be powerful. What is the point of existing if you're going to kill other humans? Or even to be the only one at the top? As humans shouldn't we cherish life like all the idealists propose? Shouldn't we cherish others lives, no matter their paths as we cherish our children?
Kelly also asked:
Does perception equal reality? I know, very debatable, but what would your argument be either way?
Carl asked:
I am writing a paper on the aesthetic value of photography. The paper is based on Scruton's Photography and Representation, as well as Photography Vision and Representation by Snyder and Allen, Walton's 'transparent pictures' and Curries criticism of this in Photography, Painting and Perception. I really disagree with Scruton, but I am having trouble putting into words why. I read some of Donald Brook's writing on the subject, and I like the sound of his objection to do with Scruton misunderstanding the nature of representation, but I don't think I understand it well enough to help. Can anyone explain it a bit better, or alternatively does anyone have any better criticisms?
Allen asked:
I have been asked by some who claim to be christians, is it possible to be intelligent and believe in god after introspection? Is the belief in god rational? When one would rather accept what they cannot prove to exist, and in the face over whelming evidence to the contrary; the probability of non-existence, because it brings them comfort, is it truly better than accepting the truth and dealing with reality? Is this psychological security blanket so important that reality must play second fiddle or take a back seat? Is critical thinking part of the intellect?
Second, is the Golden rule too simplistic and passe?
Isn't true that no matter what act we perform in the name of altruism, it is still, in essence, a selfish act. In essence, every thing we do we do with our own interest in mind?
Even in our best intention we do thing for what we consider what is in our best interest. One, to feel good or to avoid feeling bad when we are unable to provide assistance to someone when we feel they are in some predicament or simply less fortunate then us. To avoid sorrow, to avoid the angst that would ensue do you think that selfishness gets a bad name?
Some philosophers believe we cannot know objects in and of themselves. That we can only know them subjectively. Would not this lean credit to this premise?
Michael asked:
How does either Spinoza or Leibniz react to the problem of Cartesian interactionism?
Stephen asked:
What distinguishes philosophy from other intellectual activity?
In my view, it appears that philosophical work is largely (if not completely) concerned with a critical analysis (or questioning) of implicit assumptions in human understanding. Such assumptions can derive from a contemplation of any sphere of human life, but on a deeper critical analysis, always appears to boil down to questions in the basic classifications of philosophy (i.e. epistemology, metaphysics, ethics, political philosophy, logic, and so on).
Selda asked:
My A-level coursework question is: "Explain and discuss the significance of Descartes work on epistemology".
Can anyone offer me help on the sort of things I should write in the exam? Are there any helpful websites?
Jessica asked:
First, let me say how much I love reading the questions and answers on this website. As for my question, I have often wondered about the concept of ghosts. I would love to hear your thoughts on this. I have read your answers about death, that we cannot know what it is until we experience it, but what about people who are alive and claim to have experience of some sort with a person from "the other side?" I know there are some things in life that simply cannot be explained, but I would love to hear your take on it, from a purely philosophical point of view. Thank you dear person.
John asked:
Hey I'm glad I found your site, I'm in core classes right now and hope to start studying philosophy in the fall.
Philosophy is all about debating and reasoning things out till they make sense, right? You have to leave unsupported opinions at the door and deal with reality. So, given the right amount of information, shouldn't true philosophers agree on a subject? Maybe the agreement is that there is not an answer or that there are more than one, but they should still agree.
Jaime asked:
How was the concept of "self" different in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance compared to the Age of Enlightenment? Are all three periods different in the way that they conceptualized the "Self"?
Jaime also asked:
Currently I am studying [Thomas Nagel's] The View from Nowhere and I think I understand it but I am finding it difficult to assess who be for it in philosophical history and who would be against it (like Descartes, Socrates, etc.). I know that there can not be a view from nowhere for human beings but I don't know how to argue both for and against. Could you give me some ideas?
Heleha asked:
What are the similarities and differences between the humanistic and behaviourist approach to the freewill/determinism debate?
James asked:
How can our philosophical skills contribute to an understanding of a meaning to life? is a philosophy of the meaning of life worth discussing at all?
James also asked:
What are the limitations of logic?
James also asked:
Is morality merely illusion? how can ethics and morality be reconciled?
James also asked:
How can we know a person if there are no definite criteria in describing a self? how can you remedy this situation?
James also asked:
How can there be knowledge if our knowledge claims must always be subject to skepticism? is there no way out? pls reply asap! thanks!
Samantha asked:
Are there any ways in which Descartes and Hume agree with reference tot he existence of God? I am currently writing a paper titled "Compare and contrast the contribution of Hume and Descartes to the issue of the existence of God" I have found many areas where they differ in opinion, but am struggling to find similarities. Please help.
Aeron asked:
What is the difference between a catholic and a muslim?
Aaron asked:
does thomas nagel support cartesian dualism?
Dana asked:
What would be John Locke and Karl Marx views on universal (single-payer) health care for Americans?
Chaz asked:
In Aristotle's excerpt on the 'Unmoved Mover', what is his final and formal cause of the statue? Also what are some of the properties of the unmoved mover? Finally, what does the mover spend eternity thinking about?
David asked:
I am having trouble clearing understanding Gilbert Ryle's Arguments against Descartes theory of dualism. Furthermore, I cannot grasp a clear picture of his theory to explain the mind and body attachment.
Davi asked:
Throughout the Gorgias Socrates disparages rhetoric. How does he show his rejection of the rhetoric used and is there an ideal platonic view for rhetoric?
Winston asked:
Is ethnophilosophy an appropriate characterization of African philosophical thought in the traditional setting? Give reasons.
Lisa asked:
I was wondering, what would you consider to be the advantages and disadvantages of a reason based religion, such as Deism for example? The only one I can think of is that is a more logical explanation for believing something..can you help?
Martin asked:
Philosophy and Psychoanalysis: A connection or a missed encounter?
Any thoughts on this question would be greatly appreciated.
Mohammed asked:
I am in the process of writing my first philosophy essay on, "Can androids give birth?". I was wondering if you have any tips or any links to theories I can use.
Carlos asked:
What is natural law theory?
Epoy asked:
Who are you? please answer subjectively. how long will you stay here on earth? ARE you sure of your salvation? where are you going after death? heaven or hell? Or wherever? I'm asking this question because I have a hard time of answering this questions to myself..
Carlos asked:
Why does Aristotle conclude that certain types of trading are immoral?
Stephen Harvey asked:
Should bigamy or polygamy (a man marrying 2 or more wives) be considered immoral in a modern-day (western) society?
If not, is it immoral for the state to criminalise such practices?
Rachael asked:
'A key concept of moral philosophy is rights.' Discuss.
Edith asked:
I have to write the shortest piece in the world (less than 200 words) explaining what the claim 'everyone is a philosopher' means. I also have to whether the claim is true or false and give my reasons why.
My argument is that everyone is not a philosopher. Although the philosophers raw material comes from life, and questions everyone asks at some point, 'What is time?', 'Am I me?' etc.,etc., philosophers are not looking for right or wrong but analysing the question. Anyone can ask whether it is wrong to kick a cat, but a philosopher will ask, 'What makes your action wrong or right' (and for a laugh probably 'What do you mean by 'cat'?')
Am I making sense? Another thought — Maybe everyone is a philosopher (with a small p) but not a Philosopher (with a capital P)?
Here are some more thoughts. Philosophy is an indispensable key to understanding our lives. To become philosophers we must challenge ourselves to think hard and clearly, to ask questions, to try out our ideas, and raise possible objections to them. Practicing philosophy means taking a little distance from things to look at them better. It is true that everybody does this once in a while, however, some people devote their lives to it. Surely they are the only real philosophers . For example everyone can sing. Some people can sing very well indeed. But only those who devote their life and make a career out of singing can be called singers, the rest of us are doing as a hobby.(However,It's worth remembering that most of the great philosophers in history were not academic philosophers. So where does that put my argument?)
The philosopher seeks to understand where we have come from, how we got here, where we will end up. Joe public's philosophy is merely unfounded opinion. "Everyone" can have philosophical thoughts but philosophers analyse the thoughts. Have I got an argument here, or am I not been a philosopher but opinionated?
Christina asked:
How would someone who believed in existentialism view euthanasia?
Belisarius asked:
What do you think of the NRA's argument that 'guns don't kill people, people kill people'? They (gun-supporters) also quote from several anthropological studies, which have shown that it is not the amount of weapons in a society that increases the number of homicides in that same society, but something else, which must be further studied.(e.g. compared to the USA, Switzerland has a huge number of armed citizens, yet the death rates of the country attributed to weapons are almost zero; therefore (they contend) it has nothing to do with weapons). In the end, they claim that the USA has homicide problems related to weapons, because it has a culture of violence (ie. violence used/encouraged as a means of settling your problems), whereas other countries have it to a lesser degree. Do you agree?
Belisarius also asked:
Can you please summarize the main points made by Rawls in his A Theory of Justice? What's it all about, especially in the historical view of political/legal philosophy?
Christine asked:
Where did Wittgenstein elaborate language game? Is it on the Tractatus? or the Philosophical Investigations?
TheA asked:
Can you please give me some important reasons why women are not temptresses?
LJ asked:
Who are the philosophers that talk about love?
Danny asked:
Critically discuss why issues of social inequality are important in understanding and explaining types of crime and patterns of victimisation. Discuss in relation to TWO of the following: class, race, gender.
This is an essay question I have been given but don't know where to start. more importantly I don't know what the question is actually asking and what kind of things to include in my answer.
Han asked:
Can you send me any information you have on Helen Longino?
Vikki asked:
I'm doing some work on Socrates and Plato and what they thought of dualism but I can't find any thing on them I was wondering if you could tell me anything about them or email me any good web sites I would be really grateful. As I'm doing lots of work on Dualism.
Jo asked:
'Deductively valid arguments must have true premises and true conclusions.' True or false?
Suki asked:
What is a phony refutation?
Jo asked:
Do the strengths of Kantian Moral Theory outweigh itsweaknesses/ limitations?
Ryan asked:
Which philosopher would argue that everything that happens, with the exception of creation and the like, because of an individual cause, in other words, there is no external force which causes things to happen?
Y asked:
Please can you say following claims are true or false.
1. Deductively valid arguments must have true premises and true conclusions.
2. If an argument has true premises and a true conclusion it must be valid.
3. If an argument is valid and the premises are true it is sound.
4. Only sound arguments have true conclusions.
5. If either a premise or the conclusion is false, an argument cannot be sound.
Wallace asked:
I actually have two questions the first is:
Why is Geach's Thesis incompatible with Consequentialism?
and secondly:
When is a moral theory an agent-relative theory?
Helena asked:
Would Epicurus agree with the use of his name in today's society? Why?
Apple asked:
Are all moral claims synthetic? or analytic? Or a priori? Or a posteriori? or both?
Tere asked:
Why was Descartes'"DREAM" Argument, the importance of "wax" in its various forms, and how certain knowledge of anything is possible and guaranteed, for this seminal thinker?
Tina asked:
What is the structure of consciousness for Sartre? (Both prereflective and reflective)
Tina asked:
What is the significance of 'existential psychoanalysis' in Being and Nothingness?
Discuss the example of the 'young wife' in The Transcendence of the Ego.
What Sartrean influences do you see on de Beauvoir's The Second Sex?
How does de Beauvoir's discussion of the self-Other issue in The Second Sex differ from Sartre's in Being and Nothingness?
What does Sartre mean by 'being for itself', 'being in itself., 'being for others'?
What does Camus mean by the 'absurd' in 'An Absurd Reasoning'? What does he mean by 'revolt'? Why does he come to reassess this notion of revolt?
What is bad faith? What is its motive?
What sort of argument does Camus offer for 'moral' revolt?
Mirna asked:
What is madness? Are mad people those in mental hospitals or those roaming outside the asylums?
Sam asked:
I have been asked to answer this question:
'Kant's objections destroy the ontological argument', Discuss.
Jessica asked:
How would you defend David Hume from relativism?
Sharnel asked:
Plato believed the soul could embody many lives. Did he believe it did so as a matter of choice?
Steph asked:
I have read and heard about a form of reasoning referred to as "adduction." My philosophy professor stated that philosophers adduce conclusions when making value judgements. He pointed out that usually reasoning falls into either Deductive or Inductive. However, making value judgements requires a mixture of both (and even some emotional force) that is where reasoning by adduction comes in (I guess). Can someone simplify what it means to "adduce?" I am confused to how one mix deductive and inductive reasoning. What type of reasoning is used in making value judgements (ie 'Abortion is impermissible under any circumstance)?
Azeti asked:
1. How can I compare and contrast idealism, realism, pragmatism, existentialism and neoscholasticism in terms of metaphysics, epistemology, axiology and educational issues?
2. How can I compare and contrast behaviorism, humanism, essentialism, progressivism and perennialism in terms of metaphysics, epistemology, axiology and educational issues?
Abei asked:
What are the merits and drawbacks of Hume's claim that cause and effect relations are a product of human imagination?
Matt asked:
This questions doesn't really involve any theories or anything, but you guys would know how to answer this question more than many people I know. Me and a buddy of mine are putting together a philosophy club and we want to know exactly what should go on in a meeting since we are new to the subject as well.
Ahmad asked:
What is the cause of a thing?
If the existence of a thing is related to its cause what is the different between them? (I mean how can we separate them?)
John asked:
Is it wrong to want everything your own way? I was recently given the opportunity to move to a new department at work but my choices were limited due to lack of seniority; as I consequence I did not get EXACTLY what I required..
Ted asked:
Are you content with living on Planet Earth? I believe Earth is merely the starting point for the human race. Sure I am satisfied with Earth at the moment, but I would not be content if we remained on Earth in the future. Our population will expand beyond Earth's capacity and when there is a need to colonize we will! I'm guessing, for starters, we will use resources like helium-3 from the moon to provide us with fuel for interstellar travel. Throughout the next millennium interstellar travel, living on spaceships, and living on other planets will become the norm. This is all very feasible and is already in its early stages. So am I content with living on Earth, yes for now, because it still fulfills our needs, but life will be so much cooler when humans are flying in their X-wings, maneuvering asteroids, and searching the universe for new and useful things in space.
If you don't see a similar future for our race, or wish against it, I deplore you!
Martin asked:
Freud (who is most often credited with the discovery of the unconscious) admits that he only re-discovered the unconscious. He believed that the poets and philosophers before him discovered the unconscious, though they did not name it so. My question is this, which of the ancient philosophers have alluded in some way to the unconscious and in what way? Also do the thoughts of these ancient philosophers still relate to the modern day psychoanalytical thought of people such as Freud, Lacan and Jung?
Chris asked:
What has happened in philosophy/ religion since Sartre? Have there been any philosophers who have refuted Sartre's existentialist claims? I don't mean other basically existentialist writers, like Tillich or Bonhoeffer. Am I searching for Evangelicals? Where are the philosophers/ theologians who look at the pain and suffering of the world, and do not shrink from God, but find God to be all the more fundamental, fundamentally needed...can someone head me in the right direction...Openness? Panentheism??
Joe asked:
Which other philosophers use some form of Popper's method of falsification? Using Descartes, Hempel, Kuhn, or any others.
Joe also asked:
What is the basis for saying that we live in a world of matter? Using the ideas of Descartes, Berkeley, Russell, and Malcolm.
LaRavan asked:
What is the connection between friendship and ethics for Aristotle and how do they relate to the golden mean?
Sarah asked:
I need this for my class. I'm just stuck. In his 'Letter of Dedication', Descartes claims that one should argue for the existence of God without appealing to scripture (the Bible). Using specific passages or fragments as support, tell me what (a) Voltaire and (b) Pascal would say about the effectiveness of the kinds of 'metaphysical' proofs offered by Descartes.
Tom asked:
What does piety mean? and what does it mean to Socrates?
Ivan asked:
Critically explain the problems of perception, under problems of knowledge.
Ivan asked:
Socrates loved wisdom and lived according to his dictate, discuss?
Jolly asked:
In not less than five pages discuss Plato's political philosophy?
Compare and contrast Plato's and Aristotle's metaphysics and epistemology.
Julie asked:
I am trying to write a philosophy essay and would really appreciate some hints and tips. The question is, 'Everyone is a Philosopher.' People often say this. Explain what this claim might mean and then say whether you think it is true or false. Any help of suggestions would be appreciated by someone who is struggling!
and Laura asked:
Is everyone a philosopher? Or do they merely have the ability the philosophise?
Ubairu asked:
What rely distinguishes the behavioural model of public policy and nomatic model of public policy?
Jenny asked:
How can the earth produce a live frog according to Sophie's World and how is it answered?
and Trina asked:
A statement in the novel Sophie's World asks, How can the earth produce a live frog? how in the course of the HISTORY of philosophy was the question of life answered?
How can we as normal persons break the fabric of reality? Is this really possible?
What does reality stand for in the light of Sophie's World? What did Sophie altogether with Alberto knox discover as the true meaning of reality?
Shane asked:
Does Darwin successfully combine the two explanatory paradigms of inheritance, and growth and development? If he does, is this a problem for Kuhn's view of scientific change?
Karen asked:
Can you describe Plato as an idealist and Aristotle as a empiricist?
Michelle asked:
In Functionalism, explain the issue over whether or not w have freedom in the sense of free will (as opposed to a civil or legal sense).
Carmelene asked:
What is it to be a human person?
Billy asked:
What makes man more human? Is it sociality? Historicity? Creativity? Mortality? Why?
Roger asked:
Explain and discuss Hume's contribution to the problem of free will.
Helena asked:
I am taking a philosophy class for the first time. We are studying Plato but I am having a hard time understanding some of the concepts:
In the dialogues the Meno and the Phaedo, Plato argues for the doctrine of Forms, the immortality of the soul and the acquisition of Knowledge in this life as a process of recollection.
Amber asked:
Can you guys please give me five statements that Viktor Frankel about the reflection of his philosophy. It would really help a lot.
Lance asked:
As humans what is our real motivation for living the value of life or the fear of death?
Jamie asked:
How would Aristotle and John Locke agree and disagree with the epistemological concept found in Plato's Simile of the Line?
Karen asked:
Which should come first, the individual or the state?
Dennis asked:
Why is love suppose to be so great but it hurts so much?
Amanda asked:
Please explain Hume's Bundle theory
Lourdes asked:
I have to write and report for my philosophy class but i'm having a hard time. I want to write it on Stoic Philosophy, my question is, Who opposed Stoic Philosophy? Which Philosopher? I would be totally against Stoic Philosophy so I would like to have an argument...
Nanami asked:
Critically evaluate Sigmund Freud's personality theory and its importance.
Citadelle asked:
What is true, according to Descartes? I do not understand what he means.
Aimee asked:
What are the five arguments why Socrates should attempt to escape prison? Explain and critically these arguments.
Pri asked:
What is truth according to Plato? In Meno he talks about truth of recollection and in Euthyphro if truth is knowledge. I'm not exactly sure what his theory is.
Lindsey asked:
What is your definition of destiny?
Mill asked:
Could you briefly explain to me what "natural law" and explain what Aristotle, Cicero and Anselm contributed.
Ibidabo asked:
Discuss the contribution of st. Aquinas to modern education.
Johnson asked:
Why is Rousseau believed to be the idealist as compared to other philosophers like Locke?
Herbert asked:
Can you give me the story of life of Johanne Henrich please?
Wakingara asked:
Did Kant discuss abortion, heavens, and God?
If so let me know what he said.
Jennifer asked:
In D. Gillies book Philosophy of Science in the 20th century could you please help me understand what he meant by his 'best model' of scientific reasoning: a Popperian deductive model modified by an improved inductive model? What exactly is this and how did he arrive at it by Popper, Duhem, Poincare and Quine? I am greatly confused.
Stacy asked:
What is the essential position of the positivist camp and the post-modernist camp regarding the nature of truth and reality?
Stephan asked:
Which philosopher minted "Property is no longer theft", which later was used as a title for a movie?
Nekada asked:
Critically examine the moral philosophies of Plato and Aristotle. Which one is more practical in the Caribbean society today?
Zackary asked:
What did Malcolm X mean when he spoke the words, "You've been tricked, hoodwinked, bamboozled."
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