Recent Responses
What differentiates a philosophical movement from an ideology and are philosophers always aware of this?
Douglas Burnham
February 15, 2014
(changed February 15, 2014)
Permalink
Please see question 5488.
Log in to post comments
What do we mean when we say that someone is "ideological"? How does having an ideology differ from simply having a particular set of moral or political views?
Douglas Burnham
February 15, 2014
(changed February 15, 2014)
Permalink
'Ideology' is used in a number of difference senses. However, whether within political philosophy, or philosophical sociology, 'ideology' is distinguished from having views, by the extent to which we recognise the possibility of other views. So, suppose I think abortion is immoral. Now,... Read more
Although I can experience feelings of fear, pride, and shame in my dreams, I cannot experience the sensation of sharp pains in my dreams. Right now, I am pinching myself and I am experiencing pain. How does this fail to prove that I am awake?
Stephen Maitzen
February 13, 2014
(changed February 13, 2014)
Permalink
If I'm genuinely skeptical about whether I can know I'm awake, then I can't properly take as given the data you cite in your question, namely, that I can experience fear, pride, and shame while dreaming but not sharp pain. Trusting those data would presuppose that I can tell when I'm aw... Read more
Is it wrong to fantasize about sex with children? If a pedophile never acts on their fantasies are they still guilty of having evil thoughts, assuming that their abstinence comes out of a genuine desire not to do harm?
Nicholas D. Smith
February 13, 2014
(changed February 13, 2014)
Permalink
I'm sympathetic to most of what Professor Heck says, if we consider things from a deontological or even a consequentialist point of view, where the relevant consequences are external to the agent. Fantasy does not violate anyone's rights, and fantasy that never motivates action will... Read more
Hello, I'm Sophie. Despite the fact that Plato's epistemology considers that Knowledge is innate, are there any arguments that can support a social aspect of knowledge? I'm reading Theaetetus but I can't find strong enough arguments to include classical theories of Social Theory of Knowledge.
Nicholas D. Smith
February 13, 2014
(changed February 13, 2014)
Permalink
Hi Sophie! In my opinion, Plato's views on knowledge shifted around in a number of important ways over his career, but you're right to say that he always treats knowledge as having at least some innate aspects. In Book V of the Republic, for example, he characterizes knowledge as a... Read more
Suppose you have been in a relationship with your partner for several years (no marriage, no children). Even though you still have strong emotional feelings for your partner (to the extent that you would claim to love her/him), you are no longer sexually attracted for him/her. While your partner can do without the physical aspects of your relationship, you feel to miss out on something important in your life. Is it selfish to end the relationship, even though the breakup would be very hard for your partner and you don't want to hurt him/her? In other words: Is it immoral to choose sexual desires over friendship and mutual love?
Nicholas D. Smith
February 13, 2014
(changed February 13, 2014)
Permalink
It sounds to me as if what you need to do is to have a frank conversation with your partner about things. Sexual attraction for a partner can ebb and flow, and one option might be that some good communication would improve things between the two of you on that front. Alternatively,... Read more
Would it be ethical for a doctor to change his last name to a Jewish sounding name in order to attract more patients?
Miriam Solomon
February 13, 2014
(changed February 13, 2014)
Permalink
A doctor who changes his last name to a Jewish sounding name in order to attract more patients is taking advantage of stereotypes about Jews and doctors in order to be more successful. This tends to reinforces the stereotype (unless this doctor is obviously a terrible doctor). And it t... Read more
Do professional philosophers have any influence on the daily life of people anywhere in the world? By daily life, I mean, even if indirectly, the general public, politicians, economists, therapists, bosses, novelists, and so on?
Oliver Leaman
February 13, 2014
(changed February 13, 2014)
Permalink
Perhaps not directly, but by affecting the general cultural climate of the time philosophers do have an impact. For example it may be that the prevalence of utilitarian thinking among moral philosophers has made possible the sorts of developments we often see in politics, economics, thera... Read more
Does allowing one's child to become obese constitute child abuse?
Oliver Leaman
April 18, 2014
(changed April 18, 2014)
Permalink
On the other hand, there certainly have been cases where social services have removed children from parents where children have become obese, and the parents have been taken to be at fault.It seems to me to be an issue that needs to be considered on a case by case manner. There may be something... Read more
If I knew I could get a billion dollars and all I needed to do was enter a persons home and smash their tv then I would do it. Does that make me immoral?
Eddy Nahmias
February 6, 2014
(changed February 6, 2014)
Permalink
Depends on what the right view of morality is. And depends on what you plan to do with the billion dollars. On some deontological (e.g., Kantian) views, there may be no way to morally justify such a violation of another person's property. On some consequentialist (e.g., utilitarian) views... Read more