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 […]
A brief history of marriage
Marriage is, and always has been, an evolving institution created by human beings for human beings. Attitudes towards marriage change as society changes. Not so long ago, marriage rendered women the property of men. As late as about 30 years ago, “definitions” of marriage precluded the legal possibility of rape occurring within marriage. Nobody today […]