Recent Responses
Is it true that before 2006 Pluto was a planet, and now it no longer is? Or was Pluto never a planet by IAU's post-2006 definition, and still is a planet by the pre-2006 definition? You can't change what something is just by changing a definition right?
Miriam Solomon
February 24, 2011
(changed February 24, 2011)
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Many concepts in science are at least in part socially constructed. That does not mean that the world is socially constructed, just that our concepts about the world are devised by scientific communities. "Planet" is one of those terms that is partially socially constructed. Over the... Read more
The golden rule teaches that we should do unto others as we would have them do unto you. To what aspects of life does the golden rule apply to? If a person believes that they would never ask for charity no matter how dire their situation justified according to the golden rule in not giving money to charity? Is it possible that an exaggerated belief in ones self-sufficiency is simply a way to hypocritically evade the demands of the golden rule?
Allen Stairs
February 24, 2011
(changed February 24, 2011)
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The Golden Rule needs to be treated carefully, as you are in effect pointing out. As a formulation of a moral principle it's at best a rule of thumb. One obvious problem is that overly-specific interpretations don't work. An example: suppose John is terrified of public speaking. He would l... Read more
Is there any value in "thinking for yourself" on subjects that have long been thought about before? Regarding whether God exists, for instance, lots of people far smarter and more knowledgeable than I have been unable to come to a consensus. If they can't figure it out, I have little hope of finding the truth myself. And if they did happen to come to consensus, it would be silly of me to try and prove them all wrong. So why should I think for myself if smarter people have already thought for me?
William Rapaport
February 24, 2011
(changed February 24, 2011)
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I agree with Saul, but I also think that it can be very useful to think through a problem for yourself before reading what others have had to say about it. That way, you know what you think about the issue, and you can use your views to help you understand or question the views of oth... Read more
Aside from reading, learning, and getting good grades. What are the best things an undergraduate in philosophy can do to make their prospects for getting into grad school better?
Gordon Marino
February 24, 2011
(changed February 24, 2011)
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It depends in part on what field you want to go into but apart from studying for the GRE etc make sure to develop strong mentoring relationships with a professor or two. You will need strong and detailed references. Also, work diligently on your writing- which entails reading you work alo... Read more
I have a habit of "stalking" people I'm interested in on the internet. I'll Google their names for information about their past, ferret out photos of them on Facebook and other sites, and so on. I don't invade their privacy in any real sense, at least insofar as the pictures and information I seek out is publicly available. But I still feel bad about it, and I have this sense that what I'm doing is somehow disrespectful to the person I've become fixated on. (Relatedly, I'm sure that if others found me engaged in such activities, they'd find it at least a little off-putting or creepy.) At the same time, it isn't clear to me that anyone is actually getting hurt by any of this, so I have a hard time explaining my unease in any precise way. Is there anything morally wrong with the sort of thing I've described, and if so, what is it exactly?
Charles Taliaferro
February 21, 2011
(changed February 21, 2011)
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What an interesting situation, perhaps one that is unique, given the advance in technology. In a less technological age, when you had to tap phones or literally follow someone around to observe them, the line between respectful and disrespectful behavior might be clearer. Still, ev... Read more
Why is philosophy not taught in high school? I have heard some arguments against it, but they all seem pretty poor such as: "parents would not like their children questioning their views". It seems like philosophy has a lot to give in a high school setting, at the very least classes like Critical Thinking would give students tools for assessing arguments. I could understand if most people went on to college, but many don't and it seems like some of the skills which philosophy bestows could greatly benefit our society. I really don't see why professional philosophy has not ventured down this route. I would be very thankful for any insight on this topic. Thanks, William P.
Gordon Marino
March 20, 2011
(changed March 20, 2011)
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As others have noted, some schools do offer classes in philosophy. And with the current budget cuts going on, philosophy is not the only subject that is being ignored. Philosophically speaking we should also come to grips with the arguments of the likes of Aristotle and Plato who contended that... Read more
Why is philosophy not taught in high school? I have heard some arguments against it, but they all seem pretty poor such as: "parents would not like their children questioning their views". It seems like philosophy has a lot to give in a high school setting, at the very least classes like Critical Thinking would give students tools for assessing arguments. I could understand if most people went on to college, but many don't and it seems like some of the skills which philosophy bestows could greatly benefit our society. I really don't see why professional philosophy has not ventured down this route. I would be very thankful for any insight on this topic. Thanks, William P.
Gordon Marino
March 20, 2011
(changed March 20, 2011)
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As others have noted, some schools do offer classes in philosophy. And with the current budget cuts going on, philosophy is not the only subject that is being ignored. Philosophically speaking we should also come to grips with the arguments of the likes of Aristotle and Plato who contended that... Read more
Ralph Waldo Emerson is rarely mentioned in within the topic of academic philosophy while some non-academic thinkers such as Nietzsche are frequently mentioned. Why hasn't Emerson had a lasting influence? Does he have any relevant contributions to philosophy?
Charles Taliaferro
February 18, 2011
(changed February 18, 2011)
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Actually Emerson sort of beat Nietzsche to the punch on one point. Nietzsche is famous for having proclaimed "God is dead," but Emerson came up with that line earlier. You are right that Emerson is not on everyone's list as an outstanding philosopher, though I bet that any antholog... Read more
Why does giving authority to a sense of aesthetics sometimes lead to finding the wrong answer to a scientific question?
Charles Taliaferro
February 18, 2011
(changed February 18, 2011)
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Good question! First, it must be said that sometimes aesthetic considerations seem to be quite positive scientifically, at least according to books like The Elegant Univers by Brian Greene: "In physics, as in art, symmetry is a key part of aesthetics." In the International Studies... Read more
Why are certain endeavors typically considered to be more meaningful than others? Volunteers like to say that their work adds meaning and a certain form of fulfillment to their lives. Why is volunteerism, in particular, seen to be "meaningful"? Why don't we hear the same claim as frequently from say, lawyers or tax accountants?
Sean Greenberg
March 2, 2011
(changed March 2, 2011)
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I wanted to add a few thoughts prompted by Amy's very interesting response.First, if you're generally interested in the topic of the meaning of life, you might check out Albert Camus's retelling of the story of Sisyphus, which concludes: "One must imagine Sisyphus happy." This might lead one to... Read more