What is the difference between a terrorist and a freedom fighter? For example, in South Africa "terrorists" in the full definition of the word were reconsidered as freedom fighters after the regime change. Is it in this case (and in others) characteristic of the academic philosopher profession to simply repeat the view of the status quo?

How do thoughts exist in our brains? How are they stored? Is this a chemical or electrical process?

Can we call some thinkers like Baudrillard philosophers? If not, what is their writings, and if answer is yes, it means that philosophy is just a game!

Who is the "I" that is "in control"? I read that in split-brain patients (post lesion of corpus callosum), instructions given in the left visual field - and therefore processed in the right hemisphere - are interpreted by the fluent left hemisphere as being of its own design. If the instruction says "Stand Up", the patient stands up but claims "I decided to stand up" or "I was getting uncomfortable so I stood up". Therefore is the "I" a cheerleader rather than an active player? Should one think of "oneself" as a plurality of agents? Thanks, Grant Masel

How do philosophers address the nature-nurture controversy?

Is it better to incarcerate someone who will not voluntarily take a necessary medication (anti-psychotic) or force them to do so? (How do we define "necessary"? Person is disruptive, person may commit a murder, person may commit suicide...) In other words, if they won't take the drug, they have to stay locked up. If they want to be free, someone will administer it to them as a condition of release. Thanks.

Which is more important, the question or the answer?

Shouldn't the punishment for attempted murder be as severe as the punishment for murder no matter your ethical scheme? If your ethical scheme is based on universal moral principles (deontological?), then surely whatever is inherently bad about firing a gun at someone with the intent of ending their life is present whether or not you have good aim. And if you are a utilitarian, then it would seem equally risky to the populace to release a person who has expressed a tendency to try and kill people back on the streets.

While I'm aware there are a number of theories of ethics (relativism, utilitarianism, consequentialism, etc.) is there any one that is favoured currently by philosophers (and if so, why)? It would also be extremely useful to see why/where each of these theories break down (often the correct hypothetical situation provides this).

Is there a good refutation of Ayn Rand's philosophy anywhere? Today it seems as though more and more people are using a simplified version of her approach to justify being completely selfish. Is there a philosophical defense of selfless service, or is this just naive idealism?