Free Will or Free Wont?
Neither. Trick question. But we’re better off believing in free will no matter what.
A World Without Why
An interview with philosopher Raymond Geuss. Does the world suffer from relativism and nihilism or is it imbued with meaning after all? Philosopher Raymond Geuss talks to four by three about his book A World Without Why, why clarity can be a function of repression, constructive versus radical criticism, and the role of art within philosophy.
The Everlasting Check
The Everlasting Check: Hume on Miracles offers both a sympathetic reconstruction of Hume’s argument concerning miracles and a series of illuminating reflections on the argument’s nature and significance. The book is an ideal point of entry into the argument for students and general readers, but scholars too will find that it gives them plenty to learn from — as well as plenty to contend with.
Crisis for All
Our humanity is supposed to afford us certain inalienable rights. Then our current handling of refugees in crisis is a crisis of humanity for all.
Consciousness Is Like the Back of Your Hand
When philosophers talk about the hard problem of consciousness, they are talking about the hard problem of figuring out how consciousness fits into the physical world. Philosopher Galen Strawson argues that this problem is hard not because consciousness is mysterious — not at all! — but because we don’t understand enough yet about the nature of the physical world.
Epistemic Angst
Many are introduced to philosophy by way of a confrontation with the kind of radical skepticism associated with Rene Descartes: Might I right now be dreaming? Might everything I think I know be the product of some grand deception perpetrated by a malevolent demon? Today, many philosophers seems simply to dismiss radical skepticism as unworthy of our attention; however, the skeptical challenge lingers, and, for many, is still a source of concern. Philosopher Duncan Pritchard discusses themes from his recent book Epistemic Angst: Radical Skepticism and the Groundlessness of Our Believing. (audio)
The Fine Arts Reduced to a Single Principle
Philosopher Charles Batteux published his book (in French) in 1746. It is something of a puzzle why we have had to wait more than two and a half centuries for an English translation of the full book. The significance of the text is widely acknowledged. It is the first attempt to offer an explicit definition of the fine arts (“beaux arts”) and to explain how the fine arts possess a unifying principle that distinguishes them from arts more generally.
Hiddenness of God
The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy has a new entry on the hiddenness of God. “Divine hiddenness” has traditionally referred to the alleged fact that God is hidden, absent, silent. In religious literature, there is a long history of expressions of annoyance, anxiety, and despair over divine hiddenness, so understood. However, “divine hiddenness” also refers to something else in recent philosophical literature, having to do with the absence of belief in God in some apparently otherwise willing subjects. This sort of hiddenness has been thought to raise questions about the existence of a perfectly loving God.
If These Genes Could Talk
Bioethics research institute, The Hastings Center, has been awarded nearly $1 million from the John Templeton Foundation for a three-year project to study the ethical and social implications of gene editing. Included within the scope of the project is the taking up of “a variety of fundamental questions about how use of gene editing in humans might affect ‘human flourishing’ and core human values such as love, compassion, acceptance, and respect for those with disability.”
Is That Really a Thing?
Speakers and writers of American English have recently taken to identifying a staggering and constantly changing array of trends, events, memes, products, lifestyle choices and phenomena of nearly every kind with a single label — a thing. In conversation, mention of a surprising fad, behavior or event is now often met with the question, “Is that actually a thing?” Or “When did that become a thing?” Or “How is that even a thing?” Yes, this trend really is a thing. Philosophy graduate student Alexander Stern discusses its philosophical import.
Hume’s Call to Action
Over the past 50 years, the philosopher who’s played the most significant role in the cultural life of the United States isn’t Richard Rorty, Jerry Fodor, or Martha Nussbaum, but rather Immanuel Kant — because of his impact on postwar trends in moral philosophy. The result has been a focus on absolute obligations of duty and a disregard for the tangible desires of human beings, and an exclusive concern for what is justifiable rather than what is beneficial. The philosophy of David Hume can be seen as cultivating the opposite perspective — attending to what actually motivates people instead of what just what they ought to do in principle; and calculating the advantages that emerged from a course of action as opposed to evaluating it only on its intrinsic merits.
Global Justice
There’s no doubt that we are all now citizens of the world. But when the claims of human rights necessarily rely on an expanded view of community, how far can the social contract stretch? Above the nation state level we’re not entirely sure who or what should be the keeper of justice—and what it ultimately means for those most in need of protection. (audio)
Genealogical Anxiety
Nietzsche argued that, much like our personal geneology, our sense of what is right or wrong emerged as a result of historical accident — that our particular moral world view is contingent, upon relationships and motivation and agency — that is, history. “Genealogical anxiety” refers to the underlying anxiety that comes with the thought that our beliefs regarding ethics, politics, and identity may just be the result of arbitrary coincidences. Philosopher Bob Simpson discusses. (audio)
Socrates, Cynics and Flat-Nailed, Featherless Bipeds
Should philosophy be systematic or subversive? For a very long time, it’s been both.
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Can Political Philosophy Change the World?
It’s an election year and the air will clamour with the sound of promise and counter bid. But below it all might be a bedrock of ideas guiding party politics. Many would say that we have seen the twilight of political philosophy—yet words like human rights, equality, dignity, and freedom dominate the modern political lexicon. This discussion explores the widening gap between the world as it is and the world as some would prefer it. (audio)
Mary and the Colorless Room
A short film by philosophy student Jordan Gibson, based on a famous thought experiment from Frank Jackson’s paper ‘Epiphenomenal Qualia’ (1982). Includes a cameo appearance by philosopher Gary Hardcastle as The Doctor. (video)
Why Is Simpler Better?
Ockham’s Razor says that simplicity is a scientific virtue, but justifying this philosophically is strangely elusive. Philosopher Elliott Sober discusses.
Philosophizing with Guns
Philosophy graduate student Simone Gubler wonders if it is possible to learn freely in the presence of firearms. Fifty years after a massacre at her home institution UT Austin, we are about to find out.
Philosophical Portraits
Graduate philosophy student Renee Jorgensen Bolinger paints portraits of renowned philosophers in era- or thematically-appropriate painting styles.
Is Voting Out of Self-interest Wrong?
In fact we do. And in some cases it can be ethically justified, says philosopher Gary Gutting.
Moral Diversity
Why do we have disagreements? Not the garden variety types, but the heavier moral stuff—which divides families, neighbours, even entire communities. Moral diversity might indicate that some are right and others wrong—or could hint at our own perceptions. In a world where the fault-lines are cracking open, what is useful about moral diversity? (audio)
On Faith and Doubt
Philosopher William Irwin argues that belief without doubt would not be required by an all-loving God, and it should not be worn as a badge of honor.
The Philosopher and the World Bank
What happened when the World Bank asked a philosophy professor to consider its policies?
Image and Mind
Philosopher Greg Currie talks about the nature of film, addressing questions about perception and time in relation to the movies. (audio)
Should Borders Be Abolished?
Countries have the right to restrict immigration, at least in theory. The question is whether they should have this right, and, if so, on what basis. (This is the first in the BBC’s new series The Global Philosopher featuring Michael Sandel in discussion with people from around the world.) (video)
Double Consciousness
The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy has a new entry on the conept of double consciousness. Double-consciousness is a concept in social philosophy referring, originally, to a source of inward “twoness” putatively experienced by African-Americans because of their racialized oppression and disvaluation in a white-dominated society. The concept is often associated with William Edward Burghardt Du Bois. In our day it continues to be used and discussed by numerous commentators—philosophical and otherwise—on racialized cultures, societies, and literatures, by cultural and literary theorists, and by students and investigators of Africana Philosophy. Recent philosophical debates center on the significance of the concept for Du Bois’s thought overall, its theoretical coherence, and its relevance for current social conditions.
Language from the Inside Out
According to Noam Chomsky language did not emerge because we had to talk to each other to get things done; rather, for an adequate explanation we need to look inward rather than outward; a task that might exceed our physical limits. Is understanding the kind of creatures we are even possible? A discussion with Noam Chomsky on the origins of language. (audio)
Transhumans vs Body Hackers
Philosopher Alva Noë dicusses transhumanism, body hacking and whether there is anything new under the sun.
Firstness, Secondness and Thirdness
Philosopher Cathy Legg discusses Pierce’s three modes of being and how they position philosophy’s fundamental contribution to our knowledge of reality. (audio)
The Philosophical Child
Tech Insider talks to Jana Mohr Lone, author of The Philosophical Child, about what it is like teaching philosophy to kids of all ages.
Philosopher Wins Largest Research Grant in the Humanities Ever (Probably)
Philosopher Michael Lynch and historian Brendan Kane have been awarded a $5.75 million grant for The Public Discourse Project: Balancing Humility and Conviction in Public Life.
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Social Science and the Ant Trap
The social sciences are about social entities – things like corporations and traffic jams, mobs and money, parents and war criminals. But what counts as a social entity? Philosopher Brian Epstein argues that traditional views are untenably anthropocentric and pursues the implications of this fact. (audio)
Get a Conscience (Click Here Now)
The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy has a new entry on conscience. Through our individual conscience, we become aware of our deeply held moral principles, we are motivated to act upon them, and we assess our character, our behavior and ultimately our self against those principles. Different philosophical, religious and common sense approaches to conscience have emphasized different aspects of this broad characterization.
A Noble Paradigm
Hilary Putnam (1926-2016) believed that philosophy was for all human beings, a wake-up call to the humanity in us all. Philosopher Matha Nussbaum reflects on Putnam’s exemplary life in philosophy.