The main philosophers of the Middle Ages were religious thinkers; St Augustine (354- 430 CE) and Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274 CE) for Christianity and Averroes ( 1126-1198 CE) for Islam. Augustine was influenced by the thinking of Plato and the teachings of the Neo-Platonist, Plotinus (204–270 CE). He thought that faith and reason could be reconciled […]
Ancient Greece- Precursors to modern philosophy and science
Summary: The Ancient Greeks set out most of the questions that have been of interest to philosophers as well as many questions addressed by modern science. The Pre-Socratic Greeks The Ancient Greeks set out most of the questions that have been of interest to philosophers as well as many questions addressed by modern […]
Violence- A controversy over history
Summary: Discusses human beings and violence focussing on Steven Pinker’s idea that human violence is decreasing and criticism of Pinker’s views. It touches on pacifism and just violence theory as well as the problem of state violence. It explores tension between the principles self -determination and the duty to protect. Human beings and violence Human history is filled with war and other acts of violence. The natural world […]
Nature and Nuture
Summary: The main idea in this essay is that a person’s nature is like a car’s engine and their environment (nurture) is like the car’s fuel- the one cannot operate without the other. Pavlov’s dog- four main ways behaviour is taught. Human ability to speak is natural- learning a specific language is environmental. How nature […]
Animals
Summary: Sharing the world with animals; Hunter gatherers and animals; Domestication of some animals; The idea that the human world is separate from the animal world; Animals and extinction; Chimps and humans- the ability to predict what another being might do; Friendly foxes; Animal welfare or animal rights; Biotechnology and animals. Sharing the world with […]