The slogan “From each according to their ability, to each according to their needs” is one of German philosopher Karl Marx’s (1818-1883) few explicit descriptions of communism. This essay describes the origins of the slogan and its meaning.
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/
Philosophy as a Way of Life
This essay introduces the Philosophy as a Way of Life approach to philosophy and offers examples of what it can look like to live philosophically in the present day.
Philosophy of Mysticism: Do Mystical Experiences Justify Religious Beliefs?
Mysticism refers to religious traditions devoted to cultivating altered states of consciousness called “mystical experiences.” This essay reviews philosophical attempts to define mystical experience as well as arguments about whether mystical experiences justify religious beliefs.
Ancient Cynicism: Rejecting Civilization and Returning to Nature
For Diogenes and the Cynics, philosophy was not about conjuring hypothetical scenarios or pondering ancient mysteries. Rather, Cynics argued that philosophy studies the lives of actual people and teaches us to live well and prepares us for any fortune. And it does so through training both the body and mind to live as simply as possible. This essay summarizes the main values in ancient Cynicism, especially those present in the life of Diogenes of Sinope.
“Properly Basic” Belief in God: Believing in God Without An Argument
It’s often thought that religious beliefs—such as belief in God—require supporting arguments to be reasonable. Some philosophers have argued, however, that arguments are not needed for belief in God to be reasonable. This essay examines their case.
Philosophy of Time: Time’s Arrow
Here we consider philosophers’ attempts to explain "time’s arrow," which typically identify its source in one of three places: the laws of nature, the initial conditions of our universe, or the nature of time itself.
W.D. Ross’s Ethics of “Prima Facie” Duties
W.D. Ross believed that there are multiple fundamental moral principles. He called them "prima facie" duties. This essay introduces Ross’s theory, which is often called intuitionism.
Aristotle on Friendship: What Does It Take to Be a Good Friend?
What is it to be a friend, especially a good friend? Aristotle’s claims about friendship began debates that continue today. This essay presents his views on friendship and a contemporary debate he inspired.
Plato’s Allegory of the Cave: the Journey Out of Ignorance
Plato’s book The Republic is a dialogue about justice. It contains the “Allegory of the Cave”, a fanciful story that illustrates some of Plato’s ideas about education and the distinction between appearance and reality. This essay introduces the Allegory and explains its meaning.
Epistemic Justification: What is Rational Belief?
Rational or reasonable beliefs are often described by philosophers as "epistemically justified." This is an introduction to the concept of epistemic justification.