Author: 1000-Word Philosophy: An Introductory Anthology

"1000-Word Philosophy: An Introductory Anthology" is a constantly-growing collection of original essays on important philosophical topics. These essays are introductions rather than argumentative articles. Each essay is as close to 1000 words (while never going over!) as the author can get it. A 1000-word essay takes between five and ten minutes to read. That’s about the length of a bus ride or a waiting room stay or the lead-up to a class meeting. Professional philosophy can seem abstract, esoteric, and hyper-specialized. But we all ask and try to answer philosophical questions myriad times daily: philosophy is the purview not just of the expert, but of all thoughtful people. Our goal in writing and sharing these essays is to provide high-quality introductions to great philosophical questions and debates. We hope that philosophers and non-philosophers alike will benefit from perusing these essays. Our authors generally provide references or sources for more information for readers whose interest is piqued by a particular topic or debate. https://1000wordphilosophy.com/about/

G. E. M. Anscombe’s “Modern Moral Philosophy”

20 May 202220 May 2022 ~ 1000-Word Philosophy: An Introductory Anthology ~ 1 Comment

Author: Daniel Weltman Category: Ethics, Historical Philosophy Word Count: 1000 When discussing morality, we often talk about what we ought to do: e.g., “you ought not to cheat on that test” or “you shouldn’t steal candy from a baby.” The philosopher Gertrude Elizabeth Margaret Anscombe (1919-2001) argues in her article "Modern Moral Philosophy" (1958) that … Continue reading G. E. M. Anscombe’s “Modern Moral Philosophy”

Why be Moral? Plato’s ‘Ring of Gyges’ Thought Experiment

14 May 202214 May 2022 ~ 1000-Word Philosophy: An Introductory Anthology ~ 8 Comments

Author: Spencer Case Categories: Ethics, Social and Political Philosophy, Historical Philosophy Word count: 995 What if you could steal, cheat, and violate any other moral norm without fear of punishment? Would you still have reason to do what’s right? The ancient Greek philosopher Plato (427—347 B.C.E.) considered this question in his dialogue, the Republic, which … Continue reading Why be Moral? Plato’s ‘Ring of Gyges’ Thought Experiment

“Can They Suffer?”: Bentham on our Obligations to Animals

A woman scratching a pig under the chin.

18 March 202226 March 2022 ~ 1000-Word Philosophy: An Introductory Anthology ~ 9 Comments

An overview of Jeremy Bentham's ethical views on animal rights, including the famous quote “the question is not, Can they reason? nor, Can they talk? but, Can they suffer?”

Business Ethics

12 February 202226 March 2022 ~ 1000-Word Philosophy: An Introductory Anthology ~ 2 Comments

An introduction to business ethics, with an overview of the many relevant stakeholders whose interests are ethically important in business.

Virtue Ethics

The main characters from The Wizard of Oz. Each has a vice, but together they are seeking to become more virtuous.

6 February 202220 May 2022 ~ 1000-Word Philosophy: An Introductory Anthology ~ 18 Comments

An introduction to the ethical theory known as "virtue ethics," which focusses on having good character and acting on it.

Psychological Approaches to Personal Identity: Do Memories and Consciousness Make Us Who We Are?

An image of "teletransportation" from "Star Trek." Traveling by teletransporter appears to depend on a psychological theory of personal identity.

3 February 202226 March 2022 ~ 1000-Word Philosophy: An Introductory Anthology ~ 5 Comments

An introduction to the theory of personal identity known as a psychological theory of personal identity: the nature of persons is that we are our conscious mind and memories.