Recent Responses
I'm 13 years old and I honestly don't know what to believe and it is literally driving me crazy. My mum says to stop thinking and relax but the problem is I can't, it's as if I stop thinking I'll, well, die. Knowledge is a part of me and I can't bear to let it go but I'm not sure whether there is a God and I think the only reason I ever believed is because I was afraid of what would happen to me after life. I don't fear death anymore but I hope that you will give me some answers and if Atheism is the answer.
Peter Smith
July 23, 2009
(changed July 23, 2009)
Permalink
If you want to try something rather more accessible than the heavy-duty books that Eric Silverman suggests, then try Richard Dawkins The God Delusion. Sure, it's shallow in places, and a bit crass in others, but it will certainly be an enjoyable read that gets you thinking hard.... Read more
Do professors/teachers have any ethical obligations to their students? Take, for example, the case in "21" the movie, in which a professor of mathematics at MIT is recruiting his brightest students into an illegal blackjack ring that he is heading. The action might be immoral, but my question is whether there is anything about the teacher-student relationship that makes it especially (or specially) immoral. Thx
Allen Stairs
July 23, 2009
(changed July 23, 2009)
Permalink
One obvious problem here is that teachers have a sort of power over students. They can give them bad grades, refuse to write letters of recommendation... If the students "consent" to the arrangement, it will be that much less clear that the "consent" was strictly voluntary. So in addition to the... Read more
Suppose that you believe in determinism, how could you live with that? Sometimes everything seems clearly determined by circumstances (science...), but it's hard to believe that someone who has murdered someone is not really guilty - 'it's the just the circumstances that influenced him to do such an act'. Or is there some kind of determinism where it is possible to be guilty? I hope you can help me out here.
Matthew Silverstein
July 23, 2009
(changed July 23, 2009)
Permalink
It is an open (and contentious) philosophical question whether determinism entails that we are not morally responsible for what we do. Many philosophers (the majority, I would guess) actually believe that moral responsibility is perfectly compatible with determinism. For such philosophers (... Read more
I'm trying to wrap my head around the concept of granting charity, and I can't seem to form this is one question. So, I'm going to ask a bunch of related questions: - At what point does continually asking for charitable contributions become mooching (e.g., if I ask you for $5 for lunch two days in a row, is that mooching? if I ask you every day for a 2 weeks in a row, is that mooching?) ? - Are there different thresholds for different situations (e.g., a stranger on the street asking for money for a few weeks in a row v. a family member asking for money for a few years in a row)? What factors go into setting this threshold? - Does the person asking for charity have a responsibility to act appropriately (e.g., a homeless person asking for charity should be looking for a job)? - Does the person granting charity have any say in the conduct of life of the person asking for charity (e.g., a family member asking constantly asking for money to be sent is living is a depressed city, can the family member granting charity, guilt free, impose a condition of moving on the charitable contribution?)? -If you can be charitable, is there any reason why charity to family members ever be denied? I don't expect answers to all of them. Your help is appreciated.
Matthew Silverstein
July 23, 2009
(changed July 23, 2009)
Permalink
Many of your questions don't have easy answers. Let me address one that does seem to have an easy answer. I don't think that the distinction between charity and mooching has anything to do with how frequently one asks for help. What marks the distinction is whether help is in needed. If you... Read more
I consider myself a compassionate person. Probably too compassionate, though. I have a hard time doing ANYTHING that causes death or harm to any other creature, even if it's as insignifigant as a bug, especially if it's something that is just 100% for my own pleasure, or satisfaction. Please forgive me because I know that this probably seems crazy, but this really is a problem for me. I've discussed this with other people and they have pointed out the fact that human beings seem to have a superior place in the world, and that bugs are just a part of an eco-system where they generally eat other insects, and or are food for other creatures. Even though I understand this, I find it impossible to do anything that causes them death or harm, especially things that are unimportant. For example, I have not cut my backyard all year because I know it will negatively affect the insects living there. I want to do it, but since it is only for my satisfaction I can't bring myself to do it. This is just one example of what I go through. Could you please help me to come up with some thought or idea that would enable me to do things, that would be only for my pleasure, while not leaving me with a bad feeling. Thank You!
Jean Kazez
July 23, 2009
(changed July 23, 2009)
Permalink
What's crazy about your thinking? I see nothing crazy about it. You are following an extremely plausible moral principle--that you shouldn't cause serious harm to other creatures for trivial reasons. I think you should stick by that principle, and in fact recommend it to others!
Now about the la... Read more
I'm 13 years old and I honestly don't know what to believe and it is literally driving me crazy. My mum says to stop thinking and relax but the problem is I can't, it's as if I stop thinking I'll, well, die. Knowledge is a part of me and I can't bear to let it go but I'm not sure whether there is a God and I think the only reason I ever believed is because I was afraid of what would happen to me after life. I don't fear death anymore but I hope that you will give me some answers and if Atheism is the answer.
Peter Smith
July 23, 2009
(changed July 23, 2009)
Permalink
If you want to try something rather more accessible than the heavy-duty books that Eric Silverman suggests, then try Richard Dawkins The God Delusion. Sure, it's shallow in places, and a bit crass in others, but it will certainly be an enjoyable read that gets you thinking hard.... Read more
Why is it okay for the government to take a person's money (which they probably got by selling their labor), but it is not okay for a government to force people to do labor?
Eric Silverman
July 21, 2009
(changed July 21, 2009)
Permalink
According to political philosophers like John Locke, we all receive certain benefits from government that make us better off than we would be in the 'state of nature.' As long as government makes us 'better off' on the whole over the 'state of nature' Locke says that it is a just situation.
So,... Read more
People often pride themselves and rate others highly for "never having a bad word to say about anyone". But is someone who never has a bad word to say about anyone doing right? Is it not sometimes necessary to say a bad word, e.g., as in advising that someone has a bad temper, is untrustworthy, etc.
Peter Smith
July 21, 2009
(changed July 21, 2009)
Permalink
Yes. When the occasion calls for it, not having a bad word for bad people is just moral cowardice.
Which isn't to say that you should be quick to judge, ready to put the worst construal on things or to spread the word about someone's shortcomings, let alone happy to indulge in malicious gossip. But... Read more
I am going to study philosophy this September at university. I am very much confused between an 'actual philosopher' and a 'philosophy professor'. I believe my confusion lies at my ignorance and lack of knowledge but please help me to see correctly. Would you agree that one can become a philosophy professor without becoming an actual philosopher? Do you think if Plato or Aristotle were born today, would they have enrolled in philosophy programs, get a master's degree, worry about publishing and afraid of not getting a tenure? The more I read about the profession of philosophy today, the less I am inclined to pursue it. But I don't want to abandon philosophy out of my life. I want to do philosophy for the rest of my life, but not as a professor. To be honest, when you step inside a philosophy department how many real philosophers do you see? I have been to my university's department, talked with philosophy grad students and felt that they do not care geniuinly about philosophy really. Please help me find my way. I don't think the academia is the right path for me, but what other path can a philosopher take in today's world? Thanks
Peter Smith
July 21, 2009
(changed July 21, 2009)
Permalink
"I have been to my university's department, talked with philosophy grad students and felt that they do not care genuinely about philosophy really." Then your feeling is almost certainly wrong. The great majority of graduate students care passionately about philosophy. After all, they are usually pa... Read more
I am going to study philosophy this September at university. I am very much confused between an 'actual philosopher' and a 'philosophy professor'. I believe my confusion lies at my ignorance and lack of knowledge but please help me to see correctly. Would you agree that one can become a philosophy professor without becoming an actual philosopher? Do you think if Plato or Aristotle were born today, would they have enrolled in philosophy programs, get a master's degree, worry about publishing and afraid of not getting a tenure? The more I read about the profession of philosophy today, the less I am inclined to pursue it. But I don't want to abandon philosophy out of my life. I want to do philosophy for the rest of my life, but not as a professor. To be honest, when you step inside a philosophy department how many real philosophers do you see? I have been to my university's department, talked with philosophy grad students and felt that they do not care geniuinly about philosophy really. Please help me find my way. I don't think the academia is the right path for me, but what other path can a philosopher take in today's world? Thanks
Peter Smith
July 21, 2009
(changed July 21, 2009)
Permalink
"I have been to my university's department, talked with philosophy grad students and felt that they do not care genuinely about philosophy really." Then your feeling is almost certainly wrong. The great majority of graduate students care passionately about philosophy. After all, they are usually pa... Read more