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”
Ursula Le Guin’s “The Ones who Walk Away from Omelas”: Would You Walk Away?
By Spencer Case Categories: Ethics, Social and Political Philosophy Word Count: 1,000 When, if ever, is it right to sacrifice someone for the greater good? Ursula K. Le Guin’s (1929-2018) fantasy short story, “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas,” raises this question, among others.[1] This essay introduces her story and explores its philosophical implications. … Continue reading Ursula Le Guin’s “The Ones who Walk Away from Omelas”: Would You Walk Away?
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
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
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.
Is it Wrong to Believe Without Sufficient Evidence? W.K. Clifford’s “The Ethics of Belief”
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.