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Philosophy Breakfast -
Spring 2008 Course
- Ethical
and aesthetic relativism
Is ethics a matter
of choice and opinion. Can ethical statements be true
or false? Is aesthetics more subjective than ethics?
- War
and terrorism
I shall explain the
doctrine of a just war, which is advocated by a number of philosophers, and we can consider whether either war or terrorism
can ever be justified.
- Scepticism
We will consider
sceptical arguments casting doubt on the existence of an external
world and of other minds. Why should we bother with such arguments?
I will suggest some answers.
- Consciousness
and Self-Consciousness
What are the
differences between persons, other animals and robots? Could a robot
be conscious? Are animals self-conscious?
- Ontology
This is a branch of philosophy which attempts to answer the question
“What is there?” I shall consider the questions “Do numbers exist?”
“Do atoms exist?” “Does God exist?” (No knowledge of
mathematics or science required!)
- Punishment
We will consider
various ways in which one might try and justify imprisoning people
– e.g. appeal is made to deterrence, reform, protecting the
public, just deserts etc.
- Science
and philosophy
Can everything be
explained in principle by science. What about the existence of the
universe and the fact that it is subject to scientific laws.
- Rights
and duties
The doctrine of
human rights constitutes a widely accepted framework for political
and moral discourse. I shall consider some criticisms which have
been made of the doctrine and consider an alternative framework
which has been suggested making duties to persons central.
- Explaining
human behaviour
It has been
suggested that human behaviour should be explained in terms of
reasons rather than causes. I will try and explain the distinction
and consider its bearing on the question
as to whether we have free will.
- Language
and reality
Some philosophers
have argued that language and reality are connected through
ostensive definitions. I shall consider an argument which seeks to
establish that this cannot be the case. |
