What is the Self?
Philosopher Daniel Dennett talks about the self, noting that every living thing has some sense that there is a difference between the rest of the world and itself. For non-human animals, the notion of self is based on physical differentiation. As an...
The Justification of the State
Philosopher John Searle rejects the idea of having to justify "the state" because he says we are not only biological "beasts" but social beasts as well, and can't live without some kind of institutional structure. He does say that there is nothing w...
What Is Philosophy?
Philosopher Charles Taylor talks about the challenge of trying to define philosophy. Unlike other disciplines, Professor Taylor explains, philosophy doesn't have a set of definite issues, questions and information to convey.
Human Beings: Description and Origins
Philosopher Daniel Dennett talks about the origins of human beings. He states that contrary to the old notion that people are distinct from other organisms in that we have souls (or, as Descartes suggested, that we are "thinking things with a body")...
The Mind-Body Problem
Philosopher John Searle explores "the mind-body problem." He begins by talking about the perspective of Descartes and others who viewed the mind and the body as totally separate and distinct areas. Professor Searle then goes on to look at how the mi...
John Rawls and Justice
Philosopher Martha Nussbaum laments what she calls the misunderstanding and misrepresentation of late philosopher John Rawls by communitarians and "anti-liberals of all sorts."
Justice: From Aristotle to Rawls
Philosopher Martha Nussbaum observes that, at first glance, it's difficult to find similarities between the views of justice expressed by Aristotle and John Rawls. Aristotle's perspective is based on what's good, while Rawls looks at what's procedur...
Institutional Justice
Philosopher Martha Nussbaum talks about the practical limitations that impede economic aid wealthier countries can provide to developing nations. She suggests that what is possible is to focus on strong enforcement of basic political rights and libe...
Karl Popper and Falsification
Philosopher Ian Hacking talks about Karl Popper's view that for a "bold guess" or hypothesis to be scientically valid, it must be testable or "falsifiable."
Science and Myths
Philosopher Stephen Toulmin talks about the tendency to mock past scientists for their ideas. Professor Toulmin argues that "...people are always doing the best they can, from where they stand, with the material that's available." He adds that the c...