Philosophy in the News
- Queer Narratives: Why Always Tragic?
Times have changed. So why do so many queer narratives still end in death?
- In Vino Veritas: Philosopher Wins Wine Prize.
Philosopher Roger Scruton has won the covetted Masi Civiltà del Vino Prize. Yes, that is a wine prize. Scruton's book I drink therefore I am traces the history and the philosophical implications of a subject that forms one of the corner stones of western civilisation—wine. As a part of the award, he will autograph the traditional Amarone barrel that goes with the award.
- On Disagreeing with Yourself
People will reject their own proffered reasons for things over 50 percent of the time -- if they don't realize the reason being given is their own. Oh, that's not good.
- You in the Lived World
Philosopher Katalin Balog continues her series on "The Brain's I".
- How Religion Can Lead to Violence
The potential for intolerance lies in the logic of religions like Christianity and Islam that claim to be based on a divine revelation. Christian philosopher Gary Gutting discusses how religion can lead to violence.
- Philosophers on the DNC Email Leak
Wikileaks released a collection of over 19,000 emails from seven officials of the Democratic National Convention (DNC). Many experts believe that two Russian intelligence groups were involved. Seven philosophers discuss the ethical and political issues this event and its fallout raise about secrecy, democracy, access to information, self-determination, political corruption, and more.
- Hypocrisy and Blame
Hypocrites are often thought to lack the standing to blame others for faults similar to their own. Although this claim is widely accepted, it is seldom argued for. We offer an argument for the claim that nonhypocrisy is a necessary condition on the standing to blame. We first offer a novel, dispositional account of hypocrisy. Our account captures the commonsense view that hypocrisy involves making an unjustified exception of oneself. This exception-making involves a rejection of the impartiality of morality and thereby a rejection of the equality of persons, which we argue grounds the standing to blame others. By UF Alumnus Kyle G. Fritz (FSU) & Daniel Miller. "Hypocrisy and the Standing to Blame." Pacific Philosophical Quarterly 97 (2015).
- Ethics and Rationality of Voting
Do you have a moral duty to vote? Can you vote however and for whatever reason you want or are there actual moral obligations that govern your voting? Could a government justly compel its citizens to vote? Is it morally permissible to buy, trade, or sell votes? Who ought to have the right to vote, and should every citizen have an equal vote? The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy has a new entry on the ethics and rationality of voting.
- Thinking with Pictures
Do we think in pictures? Many philosophers deny this. Philosopher Jesse Prinz thinks they're wrong about this. (audio)
- Quantum Issues
The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy has a helpful new overview entry about philosophical issues in quantum menchanics. It is intended as a pointer to the more in-depth treatments of other entries in the Encyclopedia.
- Transitional Justice
An interview with Philosopher Colleen Murphy.
- I’m Just Not Myself
Buddhist thought holds that at core there is no real self. This strikes the western ear as thoroughly counterintuitive—after all, we have memories, bodies, thoughts and other forms of self continuity. Scottish sage David Hume had no qualms about such a radical thought, and his work points to the real possibility of integrating eastern and western insights. (audio)
- Unprincipled Virtue
An interview with philosopher Nomy Arpaly.
- Why We Never Die
Philosopher Gabriel Rockhill confronts his own fear of death through the eyes of his six-year-old. "Authentic existence is perhaps less about boldly confronting the inevitable reality of our own finitude than about recognizing and cultivating the multiple dimensions of our lives."
- Upcoming Philosopher AMAs
Four philosophy profs are scheduled for AMAs (live "ask me anything" interviews) on the Philosophy subreddit this fall.
- Social & Political Thought in Chinese Philosophy
Issues in social and political thought have been central to Chinese philosophy from its earliest moments down to the present day. Neither “social” nor “political” have ready correlates in Chinese prior to the nineteenth century, but Chinese thinkers consistently have been concerned with understanding how both individuals and institutions have broad effects in what we can call both social and political modes. In some cases, the philosophers narrowly focus on governance and the state, but in many other cases, no firm distinction is made between the realms of political, social, and even family or individual.
- Instagram for Philosophers
Need we say more?
- Scepticism: It’s Alive!!
An interview with sceptic and philosopher of the absurd Bryan Frances.
- Police Ethics & Dirty Hands
A close examination of police ethics suggests that our current crises in policing of minorities cannot easily be resolved by impressing moral standards on individual police officers. Violating even one's own accepted moral standards is taken to be part of the the "dirty job" of policing. (This is part of a series at The Critique on gun violence and recent racially-charged killings.)
- Substance and Method
In-depth discussions of a host of interconnected issues and problems concerning the foundations of science. Some issues concern the substance of scientific subjects, such as the nature of spacetime and the problems in quantum mechanics, while other issues concern the methodology of science, such as the nature of theorization, idealization, as well as modeling. The discussions aim to clarify issues and problems, review proposed views and argue for solutions. Substance and Method. Chuang Liu. World Scientific Pub., 2016.