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If a woman were to force herself sexually on a man most people would have a hard time imagining how that incident would cause lasting and profound trauma for that man. Why is that?
Sean Greenberg
July 19, 2012
(changed July 19, 2012)
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I'm not sure that "most people would have a hard time imagining" how a woman's forcing herself sexually on a man could cause lasting and profound trauma for the man: some people might well have difficulty imagining how this could be the case. Perhaps such 'imaginative resistance' would be due t... Read more
Critics of philosophy say that it is a subject that hasn’t made any real progress. Why waste time constructing elaborate theories that are not scientifically provable? Why waste so much time pondering questions where the resulting ideas do not really change the world in any significant manner?
Sean Greenberg
July 19, 2012
(changed July 19, 2012)
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It's not clear to me that philosophy doesn't progress, despite its critics' claims to the contrary. Yet the progress that philosophy makes IS, admittedly, different from that made by, for example, the natural sciences. Whereas natural sciences--normally--answer questions, philosophical progres... Read more
What is practical philosophy?
Sean Greenberg
July 19, 2012
(changed July 19, 2012)
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Practical philosophy is so called--by Kant--in contrast to theoretical philosophy. According to Kant, theoretical philosophy, roughly, treats the question: 'What ought one to believe?', whereas practical philosophy, again, roughly, treats the question: 'What ought one to do?' In present-day, p... Read more
Are we morally obliged to feel guilt, or shame, when we have done wrong to someone else?
Oliver Leaman
July 19, 2012
(changed July 19, 2012)
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No, and Spinoza is very good on this, arguing that if we feel remorse when we do something wrong, we are adding one unhappiness to another, and instead of working out how to avoid doing the wrong thing, we often rather enjoy being miserable thinking of it. We ought to be active and improve our mo... Read more
What is it about certain situations that makes anger, hate or rage morally justified (beyond merely being excusable)?
Bette Manter
August 12, 2012
(changed August 12, 2012)
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Anger is normal, but it is important to take responsibility for the effects of one's anger. Anger or rage can never justify actions that inflict harm on others. Why? Well, because we are not terribly aware of what triggers such destructive power, but often the real target is not the person... Read more
Are there words which have meanings which can not be precisely defined?
Oliver Leaman
July 19, 2012
(changed July 19, 2012)
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There are, and meaning is one of them.
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I have a question about determinism, prediction and conscious choice. Suppose we live in a deterministic universe such that some epistemically-juiced Demon could predict future events with absolute certainty long in advance. When he sits observing, he's always right about what people are going to do. But, suppose, the Demon gets a little bored decides to try to impress some humans with his gift of prophecy. He tells me that he can predict any of my actions: for example, what I'm about to eat for lunch. He gives me an envelope and tells me to open it after I've made my lunch. I do and he's right about the sandwich I was just about to bite into. But at that point can't I just as well change my mind and eat something else? And isn't that true no matter what prediction is made, provided I'm aware of it sufficiently in advance of its "coming true"? Of course, the Demon could have made auxiliary predictions about how his telling me would affect my choice. And those could be true. But if I'm privy to them sufficiently in advance can't I *always* negate them if I'm so inclined? And so on all the way down... It seems like while there could be a predictable fact of the matter about my choices in advance of their "happening" any prediction of it of which I become aware seems to leave me, from a first-person perspective, with a choice as to whether I will, in fact, "fulfill" the prediction. What do you make of this problem?
Stephen Maitzen
July 19, 2012
(changed July 19, 2012)
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Could you or the Demon even understand what he tells you? The Demon tells you (a) that he has predicted what you'll eat for lunch. Of course, now that he's told you that, what he's really told you is (b) that he has predicted what you'll eat for lunch given that he's told you (a). Notice tha... Read more
Hello, I'm 17 years old. I'm in a situation where I have dropped out of high school because I strongly feel I am better off without it. I am about to travel around the united states with a 27 year old man that i only met and talked with on the internet/phone for four years. In all of that time I learned to have complete trust in him because I see him as like a older brother now. It is still very possible to be lead a successful and happy life without schooling. Now further, I plan on pursue my writings in poetry and writings on my thoughts in general that i believe to have a spiritual/philosophical value. I believe in situations where the mind is constantly adapting to new environments (travel) it sets a great catalyst for creative thoughts. This is my dream and needs be fulfilled to have an existential based life realized. A lot of great philosophers have been home schooled and led rather independent life styles, which I am doing as well. I still haven't completely denied the possibility of going to a college/univ as i am leaving that door in my life open. My family thinks this life path I'm about to take is stupid and wrong and are worried that I am too young. Clearly though, as young as I am, I am ready to embark on a journey that will change my life for the better. I want to hear your honest opinion on this issue because my parents have a tendency to be persuaded by authority opinions and have in interest in philosophers in particular. I could have gave an a lot more detailed description of the situation here but it would be too much to fill in for one question.
Bette Manter
July 30, 2012
(changed July 30, 2012)
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I am impressed that you were willing to ask the question in this forum - I don't know how many 17 year old readers we have here, but I suspect you are in a minority. This demonstrates your willingness to look for answers in unexpected places, so good for you! I am afraid, however, I agree with P... Read more
Why does inconsistency entail validity?
Richard Heck
July 19, 2012
(changed July 19, 2012)
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Without disagreeing with anything Alex has said, let me just add one more thing: There are logicians who sympathize with this sort of question, and so who would deny that an argument with inconsistent premises is always valid. There are logics, that is to say, that do NOT validate all inferences o... Read more
How persuasive or otherwise do you find the dualist position on the mind-body relationship and, in your opinion, do you think it's possible for us to have an immortal 'soul'/mind?
Andrew Pessin
July 19, 2012
(changed July 19, 2012)
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Just a brief answer -- but to me (anyway) the idea of there being a property-dualism, closely related to a concept-dualism, is more plausible (and even more intelligible) than the idea of there being a substance-dualism, as implied by the phrasing of your question. Certain kinds of properties (su... Read more