Philosopher Charles Taylor talks about different understandings of knowledge, beginning with Descartes, who believed that knowledge is inner representation of outer reality.
Philosopher John Searle talks about what he calls "the language game," and how it's used today with regard to religion and God. Professor Searle says that many people go through the motions with religion, using language ..
Philosopher W.V. Quine explores what he calls "the meaning of meaning." Using the formula for momentum as an example, he talks about the temporal nature of supposed statements of truth, arguing that what appears to be "t..
Philosopher Richard Rorty explains his belief that the quest for happiness is more fundamental than the quest for truth. In his view, people developed language in order to achieve kinds of happiness they hadn't achieved ..
Philosopher Michael Sandel says he recognizes the power of the liberal theory of government, because its neutral position regarding morality is based on a certain conception of freedom. Despite this, however, Professor S..
Philosopher Michael Sandel discusses his criticism of the liberal political philosophy that says government shouldn't affirm any particular conception of the good life, but should instead provide a framework of rights wi..
Philosopher Ian Hacking talks about John Locke's idea that the self--or the person one is--depends on what one remembers. Professor Hacking looks at the implications of this idea on jurisprudence, citing a Canadian examp..
Philosopher Ian Hacking talks about the link between the way we classify and conceptualize actions and how we define those actions, as well as how we act. He notes that these methods of classifying and conceptualizing ch..
Philosopher Stephen Toulmin explains that contrary to what many believe, mathematics and mathematical assumptions can change "deeply" over time. Professor Toulmin notes that, "...you will find that, beyond a certain poin..
Philosopher Hubert Dreyfus talks about different ways of explaining meaning in life, as reflected in the writings of philosophers Martin Heidegger and Maurice Merleau-Ponty, as well as author Fyodor Dostoyevsky.