Moral Dilemmas...Can Ethics Help?: Moral Dilemmas...Can Ethics Help?
The parents and medical staff caring for a premature baby struggling for life are faced with the decision of whether or not to continue treatment. Philosopher Immanuel Kant, whose ideas have influenced modern medical ethics, would answer such a ques...
Are We Social Beings?: Identity and Culture
"Are We Social Beings?" looks at the relationship between personality and culture while contrasting the atomistic and societal views of the self represented by Descartes and Hegel. Using the endangered culture of the Laplanders in Sweden as the basi...
Aristotle and Social Democracy
Philosopher Martha Nussbaum talks about Aristotle's efforts to map out the basis for "...a very rich political approach for the contemporary world." Professor Nussbaum observes that Aristotle believed it was the job of political planning to give peo...
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 Ethics
Philosopher Stephen Toulmin talks about Aristotle's perspective on ethics. Professor Toulmin explains that Aristotle didn't believe it was possible to develop an ethical formula that could fit all situations. Instead, he argued that ethical choices ...
Aristotle and Ancient Ethics
Philosopher Martha Nussbaum explores Aristotelian and ancient ethics, explaining what she feels are some of the drawbacks to virtue ethics.
Brain in a Vat (Part 1)
Philosopher Hilary Putnam explains his "brain in a vat" theory. This theory calls into question basic human assumptions about knowledge and reality on the grounds that we have no way of knowing if what we think we see and experience and believe to b...
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.
What is Human Nature?: Critics of Greek and Christian Views of Human Nature
Greek and Christian ideas of human nature have posed problems. Feminists point out that women are seen as creatures of emotion or symbols of temptations of the flesh because of these historical perceptions. Other critics point out that people in pow...
Aristotle on Knowledge
Philosopher Hubert Dreyfus says that Aristotle believed when people perform in an expert manner, it's because they have a skill to do so, not because they are following principles that are innate or learned.