Ancient Philosophers and the Meaning of Life
Philosopher Martha Nussbaum talks about Socrates' belief that the unexamined life is not worth living. Professor Nussbaum adds that Plato and Aristotle urged those who were running society and making the rules to see things more clearly and do a bet...
Aristotle and Ancient Ethics
Philosopher Martha Nussbaum explores Aristotelian and ancient ethics, explaining what she feels are some of the drawbacks to virtue ethics.
Ancient Philosophers
Philosopher Martha Nussbaum talks about Aristotle and other ancient Greek philosophers, arguing that philosophy at that time provided an alternative approach to problem-solving that offered more than magic and astrology.
Meaning of Life, The
Philosopher Martha Nussbaum is critical of those who contend that life only has meaning if there's some external source of value. Professor Nussbaum favors an approach that focuses on what she calls "everyday questions, like how should one live, wha...
Developing Ethics From Childhood
Philosopher Martha Nussbaum talks about ethics as part of character development starting from early childhood. She points out that there are multiple perspectives on early childhood and it can be difficult to focus on the "right account."
Aristotle on Man as a Social and Political Animal
Philosopher Martha Nussbaum talks about Aristotle's fundamental belief that human beings are not satisfied unless they are in "...a rich scheme of relationships with other people." Professor Nussbaum explains that Aristotle believed these relations ...
Aristotle and Social Justice
Philosopher Martha Nussbaum talks about Aristotle, whom she credits for inspiring modern day perspectives about what constitutes the quality of life in a country.
What is Real?: Reality as a Social Construction
Realists agree with anti-realists that much of reality is a social construction--money, marriage, government, language. But realists also believe there has to be a world that's independent of our representation of how things are. In contrast, anti-r...
Bentham, Mill and Human Flourishing
Philosopher Martha Nussbaum explores the different approaches to utilitarianism as expressed in the works of Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill. She suggests that Bentham focuses primarily on pleasure, while Mill is more akin to Aristotle in his em...
What is Justice?: What is Justice?
From the day they are born, people's chances in life differ. Some inherit money, social status, and good health; others are given far less. Justice, for some, is about redistributing the benefits and burdens, and providing an equality of opportunity...