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Sarah Bakewell is a British author known for her engaging books on philosophy and literature. Her works, such as "How to Live" and "At the Existentialist Café," combine biography and philosophy to explore the lives and ideas of philosophers like Montaigne, de Beauvoir, Camus, and Sartre. Bakewell is interested in the intersection of philosophy and literature, and the concept of living an authentic life. Her work also touches on the importance of freedom of thought and the challenges faced by philosophers in oppressive societies. The text discusses the concept of humanism, which prioritizes human relationships, life, and culture. Humanists believe in living well, being thoughtful, and dealing well with others in the present world, rather than being preoccupied with questions about God or the afterlife. They believe that hope lies in our ability to improve things ourselves through collaboration, communication, and political action. The text also briefly mentions the differences between humanism and existentialism, as well as the potential consequences of living without a belief in a divine order. [Extracted from the article]

The article "Trolls, Skeptics & Philosophers" from Philosophy Now explores the concept of trolling in social media and philosophy. It discusses how brain in a vat skeptics resemble trolls, as they insincerely question knowledge without holding beliefs. The article contrasts ancient skeptics who sincerely sought knowledge with modern skeptics who undermine knowledge acquisition. It concludes by suggesting that philosophers should not engage with insincere skeptical objections, akin to not feeding trolls on the internet. [Extracted from the article]

Poetry, Fun & Fiction Philosophers’ Café By Guto Dias © GUTO DIAS 2024. PLEASE VISIT FACEBOOK.COM/PG/GUTODIASSTUDIO OR [...]

This article explores the concept of the good life from various philosophical perspectives. It raises questions about whether the value of a life is determined by the individual or by others, and whether one's perception of their own life aligns with how others perceive it. The article discusses the views of philosophers such as Socrates, Albert Camus, Robert Nozick, and Aristotle, who offer different perspectives on what constitutes a good life. It also highlights the importance of self-reflection, self-improvement, and the pursuit of knowledge in living a good life. The article acknowledges that there are diverse opinions on this topic and encourages readers to think critically and form their own conclusions. [Extracted from the article]

This article provides an overview of the debate between determinism and free will, with a focus on Peter Strawson's argument for compatibilism. According to Strawson, even if determinism is true, our sense of moral responsibility is justified because it is based on our natural reactive attitudes. However, the author raises questions about whether reactive attitudes alone are sufficient for moral responsibility, highlighting the importance of judgment and criteria such as agency, intention, and cognitive capacity. The article also emphasizes the connection between metaphysical views and moral judgments. Overall, the article suggests that the debate between free will and determinism remains a significant issue that should not be disregarded. Additionally, the article briefly introduces Peter Strawson, a renowned philosopher who made significant contributions to metaphysics, epistemology, and philosophy of language. His work, particularly his book "Individuals," continues to be studied and debated by scholars in the field. [Extracted from the article]

This article explores the concept of materialism and its implications for freedom and ethics. The author discusses the philosophical debate surrounding consciousness and its relationship to the brain, as well as the concept of compatibilism. They also delve into the role of emotions and reason in human motivation and how neuroscience can impact ideas of responsibility and freedom. The article examines different perspectives on political and social liberty, highlighting the complex relationship between negative and positive conceptions of freedom. The author argues for a lexical ordering of principles that prioritize respecting autonomy, minimizing suffering, and maximizing the autonomy of potentially rational beings. They also discuss the evolutionary origins of moral sentiments and the role of philosophy in constructing a moral consensus. The author suggests that philosophers should embrace materialism and continue to promote critical thinking. [Extracted from the article]

The article "Philosophers & Immigration Control" by Edward Hall critiques mainstream philosophical work on migration for lacking discussion on real-world practices of immigration control. It highlights the cruelty faced by unauthorized migrants in rich democracies in the Global North, both in attempting to reach their desired states and upon arrival. The text emphasizes the need for theoretical defenders of restrictive immigration controls to consider the practicalities and ethical implications of imposing such controls, rather than engaging in theoretical debates that do not reflect the reality of existing immigration control measures. [Extracted from the article]

The French philosopher Henri Bergson makes an analogy between philosophical production and metaphysical dualism: philosophy itself has a "body" and a "soul". Metaphilosophy It is often said that philosophy is deprived of the possibility to progress because, unlike science, it cannot accumulate knowledge. To prove his point, Piaget considers Descartes' "pineal gland theory" (the brain's pineal gland was where Descartes thought the mind and brain connect). [Extracted from the article]

Sally Haslanger, a professor at MIT, has been awarded the Philip L. Quinn Prize by the American Philosophical Association for her contributions to philosophy. Haslanger's work focuses on the social construction of gender, race, and the family, as well as feminist epistemology, metaphysics, and critical race theory. She acknowledges the influence of past awardees like Judith Jarvis Thomson and emphasizes the importance of institutions in sustaining intellectual communities. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses the dangers of being confined to a single viewpoint influenced by political ideologies or conspiracy theories, drawing parallels with Plato's Cave. It highlights how social media can create alternate universes with conflicting information, leading to emotional manipulation and extreme opinions. The author emphasizes the importance of trusting experts in fields like climate science and epidemiology, rather than relying on famous social media influencers for information. [Extracted from the article]

RegularsSince You AskedI scorn those callow criticsWho mock my metaphysicsAnd offer no apologyFor my epistemology.STEVEN KENT [Extracted from the article]

The article "Philosophers' Cafe" in Philosophy Now explores themes of struggle, resilience, and hope through a series of poignant statements and reflections. The text delves into the challenges faced by individuals in pursuit of a better life, highlighting the harsh realities of violence, trauma, and perseverance. Drawing on the wisdom of Friedrich Nietzsche, the article suggests that adversity can ultimately lead to strength and a brighter future, despite the obstacles encountered along the way. [Extracted from the article]

The article "Philosophers on Cars" from Philosophy Now explores how great minds in philosophy have occasionally ventured beyond traditional topics like epistemology and metaphysics to write about cars. The text highlights various philosophers' perspectives on cars, such as Roland Barthes comparing them to Gothic cathedrals and Bertrand Russell using the metaphor of the game of 'chicken'. The article also touches on how philosophers like Elizabeth Anscombe and Hannah Arendt have discussed cars in relation to intention and totalitarianism, respectively. [Extracted from the article]

The article "Philosophers on Dance" from Philosophy Now explores how renowned philosophers like Nietzsche, Kierkegaard, Plato, and Arendt viewed dance as a metaphor for life and freedom. Nietzsche believed that dancing was essential, while Kierkegaard saw it as a unique form of expression. Plato, on the other hand, viewed dance as a physical activity that could improve fitness. Arendt associated dance with freedom and the need to overcome inhibitions. The article highlights how these philosophers, known for their deep thoughts on various subjects, also had interesting perspectives on the art of dance. [Extracted from the article]

The article "A Swift Rebuttal" from Philosophy Now critiques Susan Andrews' view of Taylor Swift as a philosopher, questioning the authenticity of Swift's image and work. The author argues that Swift's commercialized persona and reliance on makeup, sound engineering, and technical equipment undermine her credibility as an artist and philosopher. The critique suggests that Swift's references to Aristotle in her lyrics do not necessarily indicate a deep understanding of philosophy. [Extracted from the article]

The article from Philosophy Now titled "EXISTENTIAL COMICS" by Corey Mohler presents a comic strip featuring philosophers Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill discussing the concept of creating the greatest happiness on Earth. The comic humorously explores the idea that humans find ways to be miserable even when everything is fine, proposing a different strategy to maximize happiness. The strip concludes with a light-hearted resolution involving taking a sad dog out of a shelter and bringing it to the beach. [Extracted from the article]

A day in the life of Tristram Shandy If you ask people to suggest a book that changed the way they think, it should be no surprise if philosophical works [...]

This article from Philosophy Now explores the topic of sneezing and its significance to philosophers throughout history. The author highlights how philosophers, who typically focus on abstract concepts, occasionally delve into more mundane subjects such as buildings, food, tomato juice, and even sneezing. The article discusses the views of philosophers like Søren Kierkegaard, Blaise Pascal, and Aristotle, who all found pleasure or divine significance in sneezing. It also mentions the superstitions surrounding sneezing, such as the belief that demons could enter the body during a sneeze. The article concludes by noting the modern concern of sneezing as a potential means of spreading germs, contrasting it with the historical fears of demonic possession. [Extracted from the article]

Carl Hoefer, a Research Professor at the Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies and Scientific Director of the Barcelona Institute of Analytic Philosophy, has won the prestigious Lakatos Award for his book "Chance in the World: A Humean Guide to Objective Chance." The award, given annually by the London School of Economics and endowed by the Latsis Foundation, recognizes outstanding contributions to the philosophy of science. The selection committee praised Hoefer's book as thorough, detailed, and persuasive, stating that it will likely become a significant work in the field of probability interpretation. The book presents the definitive version of the Lewisian theory of chance and offers original insights into the relationship between macroscopic chances, causes, and the micro-world. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses the implications of Immanuel Kant's Russian connections in light of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. It highlights Kant's belief in perpetual peace and his principle against forcibly interfering in the constitution and government of another state, which was violated by Russia's actions. The article also explores the dilemma faced by Kant societies around the world in deciding whether to hold a global Kant conference in Kaliningrad, Russia, to celebrate Kant's 300th birthday. Ultimately, the conference was moved to Bonn, Germany, as a symbolic choice. The article raises questions about the participation of Russian Kant scholars in virtual celebrations and the controversy surrounding the use and interpretation of Kant's ideas in Russia. The author expresses their belief that Kant would have opposed the Russian invasion and supported the decision to move the conference. [Extracted from the article]

The article focuses on cigar advertisements that ran from 1966 until ban of tobacco ad from Great Britain television on 1991 and mentions strides in definition of happiness given by philosophers. Topics discussed include happiness of utilitarian philosophers to equate pleasure with happiness, in search of ethics by philosophers including Aristotle and views of Aristotle on generosity and realism depending on circumstances.

The author discusses meaning of life as question of purpose and mentions the question concerning purpose of human existence. Topics discussed include Ancient Greek anatomist Galen impressed by omnipresence of purpose in nature, purpose of patriotism, family honor and kind of totalitarian state and arguement of philosopher on surrendering will that is denying humanity of existence.

Nicholas Rescher, a German-born American philosopher and professor at the University of Pittsburgh, made significant contributions to various philosophical disciplines throughout his career. He was particularly interested in logic, analysis, moral and social philosophy, and the philosophy of science. Rescher was known for his defense of the coherence theory of truth, which states that a statement is true if it is coherent with a body of well-evidenced opinion. He was also a prolific organizer and founder of several scholarly journals. Rescher passed away on January 5, 2024, at the age of 95. [Extracted from the article]

This article, titled "A Philosopher's Life," explores the experiences and struggles of a philosopher who feels out of place in a world focused on practicality and conformity. The philosopher reflects on the challenges of being unable to write and the difficulty of finding acceptance in society. Despite feeling like a hindrance, the philosopher finds solace in retreating into his own thoughts and using creativity as an outlet. The author, Dylan Skurka, is a Philosophy PhD student at York University in Canada, whose research centers around altered states of consciousness. [Extracted from the article]

The article titled "Which Love, Anyway?" explores the complexity of the concept of love. The author highlights that while many languages have a single word for love, the different nuances and depths of love require a more detailed understanding. The author questions how we can equate different forms of love, such as love for divinity or attraction to a classmate, and how we can define the spiritual connection between individuals. The author expresses a desire for further clarification on the topic from the scholar of hermeneutics, AmirAli Maleki. [Extracted from the article]

This article from Philosophy Now explores the topic of cheese from the perspective of various philosophers throughout history. It mentions how Plato and St. Augustine expressed concerns about the effects of cheese, while Mary Wollstonecraft considered it to be detrimental. On the other hand, Kant was said to have loved cheese so much that he died from eating too many cheese sandwiches. The article also includes references to cheese made by other philosophers such as Hegel, Leibniz, and John Locke. Overall, the article provides an interesting and diverse perspective on the subject of cheese. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses the concept of free will and determinism from the perspectives of different philosophers and theologians. It begins with a quote from Baruch Spinoza, a Dutch philosopher, who argues that human freedom is an illusion and that all actions are determined by causes. The article then explores Stephen Hawking's opinion on free will and his proposal to abolish the legal concept of diminished responsibility. The author also compares the deterministic philosophies of Spinoza, Augustine, Calvin, and Makkhali Gosala, highlighting their differences and similarities. Overall, the article provides a nuanced examination of the topic of free will and determinism from various perspectives. [Extracted from the article]

"Looking for Theophrastus: Travels in Search of a Lost Philosopher" by Laura Beatty is a non-academic work that aims to connect the past with the present by exploring the life and works of Theophrastus, a student and successor of Aristotle. The book delves into Theophrastus's contributions to botany and his famous work, "Characters," which depicts various types of people. Beatty imagines the events in Theophrastus's life and provides rich contextualizations, including his time in Assos and courtly life with Philip of Macedon. While the book's prose may be overwhelming at times, it offers valuable insights for both literary enthusiasts and scholars. [Extracted from the article]

The article focuses on definition of art for gallery viewer, painter and philosopher and mentions definition of art which is matter than explaining its ontology. Topics discussed include exhibition "Sensation" of British artists at Brooklyn Museum, existentialist Martin Heidegger who spoke of art as an concealment and 1958 film "The Magician" which shows conflict between artifice and art.

The author discusses reasons why process of arguement convince people on other side and how philosophers and psychologists have learned concerning structure of beliefs. Topics discussed include theory of relativity of scientists Albert Einstein and Newtonion physics that are incompatible models of universe, quandary resolved by Einstein developing theory of special relativity and determination of church by religious beliefs.

The article talks about Jose Ortega y Gasset's position as a philosopher is as problematical as Spain's has been relative to the modern European community; his writings yield an abundance of ideas such that he gained a reputation as Spain's foremost thinker of the twentieth century; and one reason for not considering Ortega a philosopher in the strict sense is that his preferred form was the essay, in which he savored ideas without having to present rigorous proof.

The article examines misanthropy in order to recognise the awfulness of humanity without moving into hatred, violence or despair. Topics covered include misanthropy as moral condemnation of humanity, distinction of misanthropy from pessimism, defence of philosophical misanthropy from "Animals and Misanthropy," a book by David E. Cooper, and the various misanthropic stances taken by philosophers like Immanuel Kant and Confucius.

In a recent account of Wittgenstein's thinking for the New York Review of Books, the Canadian philosopher Ian Hacking says, "in the later philosophy, Wittgenstein came to see that language is not one monolithic system of representations for picturing reality. Maurice O'Connor Drury, psychiatrist and loyal follower, for example, notes in his book, Conversations with Wittgenstein (2002), that the celebrated philosopher once told him, "Now a book I like greatly is Sterne's Tristram Shandy. [Extracted from the article]

The article offers information on Catholic thinker and philosopher Thomas Aquinas. He penned over eight million words mostly about God and proved existence of God in five different ways. He was more open to rational truths than many of his contemporaries and he quoted the Macedonian master more often than Christ, and referred to him as simply the Philosopher.

The article discusses views of philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer on suffering. Topics discussed include incongruity between reality and incongruity, Schopenhauer's family issues that involved sour relationship with his mother, and fleeting moments of satisfaction which were experienced by him and emotions such as boredom and pain.

The article focuses on the life and work of the French philosopher Maine de Biran who thereby was a firm empiricist. It mentions information on the study "The Influence of Habit on the Faculty of Thinking" published by Maine de Biran. It presents information on Maine de Biran's emphasis on the conflict between the self and the senses reflects his temperament and attitude.

The article focuses on philosopher Anne Conway work, Principles of the Most Ancient and Modern Philosophy (1690), who proposed a radical view of nature that is only now in the process of being rediscovered. Topics include examines that it left behind notebooks that contained various philosophical reflections from the last few years of her life.

The article focuses on Code switching that is a common enough feature of multilingual people, and particularly so when there is so many refractions of the self to be projected out to the world. Topics include considered that broken consciousness leans toward absurdity; and to those who think like the French-Algerian philosopher Albert Camus.

This article, titled "The Enlightenment Philosophers' Seven-A-Side Football Team," is a fictional poem that imagines a football team made up of Enlightenment philosophers. The team captain, Berkeley, assembles a squad that includes Descartes as the goalkeeper, Spinoza and Leibniz as full-backs, Locke and Hume as wing-forwards, and Kant as the front player. The poem humorously depicts the philosophers' different beliefs and how they navigate the game. Ultimately, Kant scores the winning goal, and the team celebrates with Berkeley's tar water drink. The poem is part of a book called "Eh-Up! Rhyme and Reason: An Alternative Guide to the History of Western Philosophy" by Sarah Rochelle. [Extracted from the article]

This article from Philosophy Now explores the life and ideas of William James, a man who was both a scientist and a philosopher. James contributed to the development of pragmatism, which rejects the popular absolute idealism of his time. Pragmatism argues that truth consists of useful ideas that allow us to make predictions about future experiences. James also pondered topics such as God, faith, and human freedom, and he found solace in the idea that we have the power to choose what ideas we allow to affect our behavior. The article also mentions James's interest in psychology and his experiments with drugs. Overall, this article provides an overview of James's contributions and perspectives. [Extracted from the article]

This article discusses how philosophers sometimes write about topics outside of their usual focus on epistemology and metaphysics. For example, Martin Heidegger was passionate about football and admired the player Franz Beckenbauer. Jean-Paul Sartre and Albert Camus, two existentialist philosophers, had a falling out in the 1950s, and it has been suggested that their disagreement may have been related to football. Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes that different playing styles in football are influenced by different philosophies, such as Descartes in France and Machiavelli in Italy. Overall, this article explores the intersection of philosophy and football. [Extracted from the article]

This article discusses the differing perspectives of philosophers on the violent conflict between Israel and Hamas and its impact on the civilian population in Gaza. It mentions an open letter titled 'Philosophy for Palestine' signed by over 400 philosophers worldwide, as well as a public refutation by philosopher Seyla Benhabib called 'An Open Letter To My Friends Who Signed 'Philosophy for Palestine'.' Additionally, it highlights an open letter on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza signed by 45 Oxford academics, and a reply to this letter by six Israeli moral philosophers. [Extracted from the article]

Editorial & NewsThe thirteenth Ratzinger Prize by the Fondazione Vaticana Joseph Ratzinger – Benedetto XVI has been awarded to Spanish philosopher Francesco Torralba Roselló (Ramon Llull University) for his work in researching, teaching and extensively publishing in the fields of anthropology and ethics. He shares the honour and the 50,000 euro prize money with Spanish theologian Pablo Blanco Sarto.PHOTO (COLOR) [Extracted from the article]

An interview with Graham Harman, professor of philosophy at the Southern California Institute of Architecture, about his work on the metaphysics of objects, is presented. Topics covered include the action taken by his mother that introduced him to philosophy and enabled him to discover his interest in philosophy, outlook on the Actor Network Theory of Bruno Latour and description of Object Oriented Ontology, a school of thought in metaphysics that he developed.

The article presents the declarations of humanism. Topics include assault on religion permitting sophisticated philosophers of religion developing more sophisticated responses; morality developing with social forces, channeled through family, friends, schools, systems of law and order, and the media; and rejecting utilitarianism, maximizing human happiness, or well-being.

The article considers the fate that philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche predicts for humanity. Topics discussed include information on his prediction that one day his name will be associated with a crisis unprecedented in human history; Western decline in religious faith; and information on Nietzsche's writings, which allows a notion of freedom substantial enough to grant us responsibility for our choices and actions.