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Recently, in the final game of World Cup, French midfielder Zinedine Zidane headbutted Italian defender Marco Materazzi for insulting him. In the aftermath, Zidane apologized in an interview with a French television but added that he didn't regret hic actions. Can one coherently apologize for an action yet not regret that action? Or is Zidane false in one of his claims (the apology or the lack of regret)?
Matthew Silverstein
August 18, 2006
(changed August 18, 2006)
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An apology is an acknowledgement of responsibility and an expression of regret. However, the words "I'm sorry" are not always meant to convey an apology. When I tell a friend who has recently lost a close relative that I'm sorry for his loss, I'm not accepting responsibility or expressi... Read more
When two objects of art are in different categories, are they judged by the same criteria? Compare a modern pop song and something written by Mozart. Or <i>Citizen Kane</i> compared to the latest Ben Stiller movie? Andy Warhol compared to Rembrandt. I've heard critics argue that even a dumb movie is good, because that's what it was intended to be. If everything is judged by a different criteria, then the adjustable criteria could allow for all objects to be judged highly.
Douglas Burnham
August 18, 2006
(changed August 18, 2006)
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A good question. Every human production seems to have criteria according to which it can be judged successful or unsuccessful. For example, the 'latest Ben Stiller' movie is intended by its makers to make people laugh (at the right times), feel good, and thus buy cinema tickets and DVDs. Th... Read more
Can any piece of artwork ever be bad if it stems from real emotion that the artist feels?
Douglas Burnham
August 18, 2006
(changed August 18, 2006)
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Yes! Even if we agreed that a 'real emotion' was a necessary feature of all art (and that's a big 'if'), it might not be the only feature. For example, the emotion would still need to be well expressed or communicated; the product might need to avoid being banal or commonplace; we might thi... Read more
Is friendship necessary for romantic love? Is sexual attraction necessary for romantic love?
Alan Soble
September 1, 2006
(changed September 1, 2006)
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I wonder if Nicholas is telling us more about The Perfect/Good Life/Relationship than about ideal romantic love per se. But maybe they overlap.
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Do both the following phrases express a proposition? (1) "Jill is ill." (2) "Jill's being ill." What about these same phrases as part of the following sentences? (3) "I noticed that Jill is ill." (4) "I noticed Jill's being ill." Thanks, Velho
Richard Heck
August 17, 2006
(changed August 17, 2006)
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What Alex says here seems right, including the last bit. This
(5) I noticed Bob kissing Sue.
seems a lot better, perhaps because "Bob kissing Sue" seems to denote an event in this usage, but the absence of the possessive also matters here. On the first, something like
(6) I noticed Bob being t... Read more
If you kill someone in self-defence, is that still an immoral act or does it depend on what form of moral philosophy you subscribe to? If an act is justified does that mean it's moral?
Peter S. Fosl
August 17, 2006
(changed August 17, 2006)
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This is an extremely complex set of questions, and really doing it justice is, I'm afraid beyond the scope of this web site. There are many thorny philosophical issues involved in it. But to give a brief answser in the light of these qualifications, I'd say this. Regarding your first quest... Read more
Is friendship necessary for romantic love? Is sexual attraction necessary for romantic love?
Alan Soble
September 1, 2006
(changed September 1, 2006)
Permalink
I wonder if Nicholas is telling us more about The Perfect/Good Life/Relationship than about ideal romantic love per se. But maybe they overlap.
Log in to post comments
Do both the following phrases express a proposition? (1) "Jill is ill." (2) "Jill's being ill." What about these same phrases as part of the following sentences? (3) "I noticed that Jill is ill." (4) "I noticed Jill's being ill." Thanks, Velho
Richard Heck
August 17, 2006
(changed August 17, 2006)
Permalink
What Alex says here seems right, including the last bit. This
(5) I noticed Bob kissing Sue.
seems a lot better, perhaps because "Bob kissing Sue" seems to denote an event in this usage, but the absence of the possessive also matters here. On the first, something like
(6) I noticed Bob being t... Read more
Could I have been my sister? Thanks, Bob.
Richard Heck
August 15, 2006
(changed August 15, 2006)
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Try this question: Could you have been your sister and your sister been you and everything else been pretty much as it is? I find it kind of hard to get my mind around that: In what precisely would it consist that you were her and she were you? There are certain conceptions of the soul that wo... Read more
College sport is big business, and generates a tremendous amount of revenue. Should the player receive some share of that money?
Richard Heck
August 15, 2006
(changed August 15, 2006)
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Before I begin, let me issue a quick reminder: Not all college sports is big business. Some of it is, to be sure: Big-time college football, basketball, and the like. But college golf, tennis, swimming, and gymnastics don't generate much revenue, except perhaps at the most elite programs, and... Read more