Recent Responses
Was Jesus a philosopher?
Richard Heck
October 18, 2005
(changed October 18, 2005)
Permalink
I don't think Jesus was a philosopher in the sense in which we use that term today. Just what counts as philosophy is, of course, pretty hard to say. But I take it that philosophy is in some sense characterized by the kinds of questions considered and the way in which those questions are app... Read more
During my day to day affairs, I work to prevent families from becoming homeless. At the same time, I have the feeling that in the context of our economic and social systems we are merely keeping people afloat and, by doing so, removing the political pressure which may result in broader change that may have a more lasting impact. Is it then ethical to continue with my endeavors?
Richard Heck
October 18, 2005
(changed October 18, 2005)
Permalink
This is an extremely difficult question, and I doubt there is any straightforward answer. It is true that treating the symptoms can make the disease seem less threatening, and so sometimes one feels as if treating the symptoms is, in the long term, counter-productive. But the families you ar... Read more
Does trying to prove the God exists undermine religion in that if successful, it removes the need for faith?
Richard Heck
October 18, 2005
(changed October 18, 2005)
Permalink
I've never met anyone whose belief in God was the result of a "proof" of God's existence. Even if one were convinced by such a proof, I think one's "faith" would have quite a different purpose.
Log in to post comments
Hi, I really don't like the sex toys my girlfriend uses, I believe I can offer her as much as she desires, and I like to put all those plastic sex toys in the trash can, but she objects. Once I mentioned "This area belongs to me, no trespassing whatsoever by plastic competitors!", and her response made me confused: "This area belongs to me, and I don't like to talk about it anymore." (I am not a bossy person who believes he owns his girlfriend - friends consider me a very gentle person.) So, do I have any right to a claim like that? :)
Alan Soble
October 18, 2005
(changed October 18, 2005)
Permalink
You write both: "This area belongs to me" and "I am not a bossy person who believes he owns his girlfriend." There's no contradiction if (1) you meant the first as a joke [even if a suspicious one], or if (2) one can own another's genitals yet not own the (whole) person. Kant thought not, but... Read more
When people speak of "morality", why does it always stem from a divine being? Why can't morality stem from reason?
Richard Heck
October 18, 2005
(changed October 18, 2005)
Permalink
I've often wondered whether anyone actually thinks that God's authority establishes moral principles. Of course, people say so. But when one asks such people why we ought to conform our behavior with the Divine Pronouncements, the answer, if it isn't to concede a moral standard independent o... Read more
How do you know that philosophers have the answer?
Richard Heck
October 18, 2005
(changed October 18, 2005)
Permalink
I don't think many philosophers would claim to have the answer to very many questions. A philosopher doesn't have to reflect very long on the history of the subject to convince h'erself that a healthy does of modesty would probaby be a good idea. Any philosopher who does claim to have the an... Read more
Can there be an event that is entirely random?
Daniel J. Velleman
October 18, 2005
(changed October 18, 2005)
Permalink
This is a very difficult question, for two reasons:1. It is difficult to say exactly what "random" means.2. There are unresolved questions in the foundations of quantum mechanics that are relevant to your question.Consider, for example, flipping a fair coin. This seems random, in th... Read more
Psychology is advancing at a rapid rate and it's providing us with answers that were previously unthought of. Who we are and why we act the way we do is all being deciphered in a scientific and irrefutable way. In light of this change in the human attempt to understand itself, why should people continue to waste their energies in the non-empirical and unscientific approach known as philosophy?
Richard Heck
October 18, 2005
(changed October 18, 2005)
Permalink
If you want to know what love is, you'll learn more at this point from Pablo Neruda and the Song of Solomon than you will from all the psychologists in the world. And I venture that there will always be something you can learn from Neruda that the psychologists will not be able to teach you.... Read more
Are logical inferences hardwired into our brains?
Richard Heck
October 18, 2005
(changed October 18, 2005)
Permalink
One might add that it is by now well established that people are, in general, terrible at probabilistic reasoning. So if there's anything hard-wired in that case, it probably doesn't conform to the laws of probability. It's a nice question why not, but it might be, for example, that reasonin... Read more
I am upset that people have started using 'it begs the question' to introduce a question. For instance, "it begs the question: why do people incorrectly use phrases?" So my question, which isn't begged, is this: as philosophers, don't we have a duty to correct people in this regard? Or, is this (incorrect) use something we can live with?
Richard Heck
October 18, 2005
(changed October 18, 2005)
Permalink
I could be wrong about this, but I believe that the original use of the term "begs the question" is the one that has lately become common and that the "technical" use of the phrase by logicians and philosophers was adapted from the original use. I take "That argument begs the question" in so... Read more