Evolution of the Human Mind
July 11, 2006
Is the human mind a relatively inflexible program bequeathed to us by evolution, and culture…
Hildegard von Bingen
September 20, 2026
Hildegard von Bingen was a 12th century mystic, polymath, and composer whose work spanned visionary theology, philosophy, cosmology, medicine, botany, and music. Her extraordinary intellectual accomplishments belie her humble claim to be “just a woman”. Was her humility justified in the face of the divine,…
Freedom of Speech in Times of War
July 4, 2006
The Constitution grants the freedom of speech to every citizen. Journalists value it more than…
Zen
June 13, 2006
What is the sound of one hand clapping? Does Zen Buddhism provide a unique perspective…
Is Free Will an Illusion?
May 23, 2006
We like to think of ourselves as enjoying unrestricted freedom of the will. But modern science…
A Philosophical Summer Reading List
May 16, 2006
Are there some philosophers, philosophies, or philosophical issues you want to bone up on over…
Justice Across Boundaries
May 9, 2006
Philosophical conceptions of justice have most often been directed at the nature of a just…
Neurocosmetology
May 2, 2006
Progress in neuroscience may soon make possible an age of neurocosmetology: the use of drugs…
Aristotle
April 4, 2006
Aristotle’s philosophical doctrines have permeated and helped shape Western Culture in spheres as disparate as cosmology,…
Religion and the Secular State
April 4, 2006
Can committed believers and committed non-believers share a common political life in the context of…
The Value of Truth
April 4, 2006
The pursuit of truth is often thought to be “intrinsically” valuable. Scientists and philosophers, who…
What Are Numbers?
March 14, 2006
Plato claimed that numbers exist in some mind-independent abstract heaven. Nominalists claim that there is…
Nature vs. Nurture
February 21, 2006
The philosopher John Locke thought we had no innate ideas; our minds are blank slates,…
The Mystery of Mind
January 10, 2006
Modern science tells us that the mind is just the brain working. But science cannot yet…
Progress and the Environment
January 3, 2006
Does the value of preserving our environment conflict with the development of a world community…
What is Beauty?
December 27, 2005
Are there objective standards of beauty? Or is beauty in the eye of the beholder?…
The Erotic vs. The Pornographic
December 20, 2005
Erotic experience is a human good. Mature, consenting adults should be able to explore the…
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