An essay on the ethical and philosophical issues of Ursula Le Guin’s “The Ones who Walk Away from Omelas.”
Category: Ethics
Philosophy of Law: An Overview
There are many topics related to law that philosophers study. This essay provides an overview of common topics in philosophy of law.
Why be Moral? Plato’s ‘Ring of Gyges’ Thought Experiment
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 offers a blueprint for an ideal society. Plato thinks that you should do what’s right, even in these circumstances. This essay explains one of the strongest objections to his position.
“Can They Suffer?”: Jeremy Bentham on our Obligations to Animals
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
An introduction to business ethics, with an overview of the many relevant stakeholders whose interests are ethically important in business.
Virtue Ethics
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 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.
The Ethics of Belief: Is it Wrong to Believe Without Sufficient Evidence?
An introduction to W.K. Clifford’s “The Ethics of Belief.”
Indoctrination: What is it to Indoctrinate Someone?
An introduction to the concept of indoctrination or what it is to indoctrinate someone, and whether that's problematic or bad or not.
Theories of Moral Considerability: Who and What Matters Morally?
An introduction to theories of moral considerability, moral status or moral standing, which is about the question of who and what matters morally.