Consider The Turkey: philosopher’s new book might put you off your festive bird – and that’s exactly what he would want: Australian philosopher Peter Singer has been a champion of animal rights for more than 50 years. His basic philosophical position has remained the same: the suffering of animals is just as important as the …
Christmas consumption – what would the great economic philosophers think?: UNSW Thomas Yang/Shutterstock Even during a cost of living crisis, with interest rates and inflation high, the average spending per person for Christmas 2023 in the UK is expected to reach as much as £974. Retailers, advertisers and a sense of tradition continue to encourage …
Should I have children? Here’s what the philosophers say: Mother and Child by Mary Cassatt (1880). WikiArt Parenthood has traditionally been considered the normal outcome of growing up. A side effect of reaching maturity. Across Europe and the US, only 10%-20% of adults remain childless or (more positively) child free. In some cases, this is …
Stoicism on Tiktok promises happiness – but the ancient philosophers who came up with it had something very different in mind: Marcus Aurelius was a Roman emperor and one of TikTok's favourite Stoics. Cris Foto/Shutterstock I don’t know about you, but my TikTok is full of influencers telling me I should be a Stoic. You …
Hosepipe ban: should you snitch on your neighbour’s water use? A philosopher’s take: What would moral philosophy say about snitching on this gardener? Alexander Raths / Shutterstock Dry conditions and impending drought mean millions of people in the UK are now, or will soon be, under a hosepipe ban. There is a “temporary use ban” …
Is being gay un-African? A philosopher’s perspective: Most African countries have tough anti-gay laws. Wikimedia Commons Most African countries are constitutional democracies that afford extensive rights and freedoms to their citizens, and safeguard their dignity. It is arbitrary, to say the least, to exclude from these the right to express sexuality or gender identity. But …
Is Google’s LaMDA conscious? A philosopher’s view: Shutterstock LaMDA is Google’s latest artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot. Blake Lemoine, a Google AI engineer, has claimed it is sentient. He’s been put on leave after publishing his conversations with LaMDA. If Lemoine’s claims are true, it would be a milestone in the history of humankind and technological …
As mass extinctions loom, these philosophers could help us rediscover our place among other animals: Katoosha/Shutterstock Children think that pigs are as deserving of kindness as dogs and cats, and as readily condemn cruelty to hamsters as cruelty to other children, a recent study has shown. The moral hierarchy of animals – with humans at …
Check out this Paternoster image: Image from page 6 of “The dictes and sayings of the philosophers : a facsimile reproduction of the first book printed in England by William Caxton, in 1477” (1877) Image by Internet Archive Book Images Identifier: cu31924029496522 Title: The dictes and sayings of the philosophers : a facsimile reproduction of …
COVID: should you ditch your mask once restrictions are lifted? A philosopher’s view: Most COVID-19 legal restrictions in England end on July 19. To celebrate, will you punch a stranger in the face? Probably not. And you certainly shouldn’t. Will you wear a mask on the bus after what the government has called “freedom day”? …
Seven modern philosophers to help us build a better world after the pandemic: When will things go back to normal? That’s what everyone seems to be asking, which is understandable given the pain and sacrifice many endured over the past 18 months. But should things go back to normal? Some would reasonably argue that “normal” …
How to rethink your idea of success in the new year – according to ancient Stoic philosophers: Hitting the target is out of your control so focus on mastering the technique. Carlos Caetano/Shutterstock What are you hoping for in the new year? Do you want to progress in your career or perhaps buy a house? …
We need philosophers in countries like Nigeria in the 21st Century: Shutterstock World Philosophy Day has been set aside to highlight the importance of philosophy in different regional contexts. It defines philosophy as “the study of the nature of reality and existence, of what is possible to know, and of right and wrong behaviour”. Wale …
Piers Morgan and Brian Cox debate the existence of God: a philosopher’s take: Michelangelo, Sistine Chapel Piers Morgan started a Twitter debate about God. “Atheists can never say what was there before the Big Bang” starts a recent tweet posted by the journalist-turned-television presenter. Morgan then moves to the existence of a higher power. A …
Dear Hillary… a philosopher’s guide to coping with disappointment: Dear Hillary, Wow, what a year you’ve had! First the FBI investigations, then the health scare, and then to cap it all, after years of waiting and hoping, and despite all expectations, you lost your best chance at becoming America’s first female president to a man …