Humor
March 30, 2004
What is humor? What makes some jokes funny? Why did the chicken cross the road?…
Democracy By Numbers
November 1, 2026
Despite adhering to the principle of “one person, one vote,” elections in the United States are often highly contentious: presidents can be elected after losing the popular vote, there is widespread gerrymandering and voter purging, and not everyone has equal representation in the Senate. So…
The Insanity Defense
February 17, 2004
Ken and John debate (use?) the insanity defense. What difference does it make if the…
Marriage and the State
February 2, 2004
With what right does the state say who can and cannot marry? The state has,…
What Is Race?
January 27, 2004
Is race a discredited pseudo-scientific category? Or a real dimension of difference among humans? Or…
Would You Want to Live Forever?
January 20, 2004
Pick your favorite age. You are healthy, career thriving, family intact (at least pretend!). Would…
The Bush Doctrine of Preemptive Self-Defense
January 13, 2004
What is the difference between mere aggression and preemptive self defense? Can you really permissibly…
Live Pilot: Is Lying Always Bad?
August 20, 2003
Many philosophers have been tempted to condemn lying as an absolute evil. The problem is…
Demo #2: What Is Terrorism?
January 1, 2003
What is terrorism? Is terrorism morally worse than other forms of warfare. Was Truman’s decision…
Demo #1: Can Machines Think?
January 1, 2002
Will Computers someday be able to have humanlike consciousnes and intelligence? Will they someday outstrip…
Baruch Spinoza and the God in Nature
Baruch Spinoza was an 17th-century Dutch philosopher who famously claimed that nature and God are…
Rosa Luxembourg and Social Democracy
Rosa Luxemburg was an activist and intellectual whose theories of freedom motivated her insightful critiques…
Viktor Frankl and the Meaning of Life
Viktor Frankl is one of the most fascinating psychologists of the twentieth century. Having survived…
Martin Buber and the Philosophy of Dialogue
Martin Buber was a prolific writer, translator, and philosopher whose essay I and Thou remains…
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