Recent Responses
Hi, I am an aspiring philosopher and I would like to become a professor one of these days. But I don't know how to go about it. I am still an undergrad student and I don't what steps to take. The advice will be much appreciated. Thanx.
Sean Greenberg
October 15, 2005
(changed October 15, 2005)
Permalink
One good test of whether one ought to pursue philosophy is whether one finds oneself staying up at night worrying about philosophical questions.In this vein, I was once told that if I read Thomas Nagel's Mortal Questions and found one essay that kept me up worrying, then I would know that... Read more
Why do I feel stupid when confronted with questions about Philosophy and yet, I'm strangely attracted to it? Am I a masochist or someone who doesn't know better? Cheers! Victor
Alexander George
October 13, 2005
(changed October 13, 2005)
Permalink
Of course I can't say what's up with you, Victor, since I don't know you, but I can report that the questions in philosophy often have that dual effect on people. On the one hand, they are utterly seductive and mesmerizing. On the other hand, their elusiveness and apparent intractabili... Read more
Provided that the concept of freedom be seen as an illusion.... a facade, wherein then is it that we as creatures have gained the capacity to envision such impossibility? I do think it is amusing... I should add... the contradiction of the concept itself. The more it is strived for, the less it is achieved/realized in a literal sense. What a wonderful chide!
Jyl Gentzler
October 13, 2005
(changed October 13, 2005)
Permalink
On what grounds should we say that freedom is an illusion?
Log in to post comments
What is the difference between ethics and morality?
Roger Crisp
October 14, 2005
(changed October 14, 2005)
Permalink
A distinction is sometimes drawn between ethics as concerning all the values or goods that might be instantiated in a person's life (well-being, friendship, virtue of character, aesthetic qualities, and so on), and morality as the narrower domain of moral obligation only (right and wrong, wha... Read more
Everything has to take up space, so what is outer space taking up?
Joseph G. Moore
October 13, 2005
(changed October 13, 2005)
Permalink
More space: someone more versed in astronomy can correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe "outer space" just refers to spatially-extended bits of the universe beyond our galaxy. I'm not sure I agree, though, that everything has to take up space. What about numbers or colors or God(s)...?... Read more
Why is there no "happiness"ology? It seems that throughout history philosophy has strived to legitimize and analyze most basic human questions except that of what happiness is and how it is achieved. Is this accurate or am I mistaken?
Alan Soble
October 18, 2005
(changed October 18, 2005)
Permalink
A few, but only a few, words on two 19th-century philosophers: Jeremy Bentham and his disciple, who went off in his own, individual direction, John Stuart Mill. Both were utilitarians, and believed in the moral principle: "the greatest happiness for the greatest number." But they understood "h... Read more
In what category, now that 'politics' seems to have been removed from the site would I best find questions and answers relating to the quite large field of political philosophy?
Alexander George
October 13, 2005
(changed October 13, 2005)
Permalink
Justice. (The word "politics" was generating too many questions about, well, politics.)
Log in to post comments
Are there logic systems that are internally consistent that have a different makeup to the logic system that we use?
Richard Heck
October 14, 2005
(changed October 14, 2005)
Permalink
On Dan's comment. The distinction between so-called weak counterexamples and strong ones is, of course, important. But it really is possible to prove, in intuitionistic analysis, the negation of the claim that every real is either negative, zero, or positive. The argument uses the so-called... Read more
Are there logic systems that are internally consistent that have a different makeup to the logic system that we use?
Richard Heck
October 14, 2005
(changed October 14, 2005)
Permalink
On Dan's comment. The distinction between so-called weak counterexamples and strong ones is, of course, important. But it really is possible to prove, in intuitionistic analysis, the negation of the claim that every real is either negative, zero, or positive. The argument uses the so-called... Read more
What's the difference between a philosophy and a religion?
Sean Greenberg
October 14, 2005
(changed October 14, 2005)
Permalink
One might mark the difference between philosophy and religion by looking at the different bases given for claims in these two domains. Philosophical claims are justified by arguments, which provide reasons to believe those claims; religious claims need not rest on arguments, but appeal to... Read more