Thank you, Arjun Sambhi, for this interesting question. I want to argue that diamonds are intrinsically valuable because they are intrinsically beautiful and resistant to change, both of which are intrinsically valuable properties. Let’s start with beauty. Beauty is an intrinsically valuable property. To see this, consider two worlds that are identical in all respects, […]
Do diamonds have intrinsic value? Read More
Excellent question, Huka Dabaso! This is actually something I have thought about quite a bit. Like many people, before I studied philosophy in a formal sense, I was pondering the same big questions that philosophy has been dealing with since… well, since we started wondering. In his Metaphysics, Aristotle says that philosophy began when man
How can we reconcile public philosophy with institutionalized philosophy? Read More
Hi, Mr Wynn P Wheldon! What an interesting question. Let me briefly sketch some possible answers! First of all, some people might question the assumption that a philosopher should not be wealthy. Although most philosophers are not wealthy (by western standards, at least), it might be totally okay for them to get a juicy salary
Why should a philosopher not be wealthy? Read More
Thank you Nderhe Paulin for such an incendiary question! The way you have asked the question assumes, first, that humans have chosen to reduce themselves to the state of an animal and, second, that they should not have done so. I assume this is not a positive choice, since your use of the word “reduce”
Why has man chosen to reduce himself to the state of an animal? Read More
Thank you Shunom Henry Kato for this monumental question. Philosophy begins by asking questions, but the greatest value is not always found in the answers, but in the discovery of further important questions. In this case, we may ask, ‘Who should rule the world?’ And if we attempt to define who is rightfully ‘the ruler’
Who rules the world? Read More
Thank you, Ali Muràád Bàloç, for such an interesting question. To understand what one might mean by ‘cultural shift’, we first need to understand what we mean by ‘culture’. Friedrich Nietzsche described human beings as orphans of nature because, compared to other animals, we are all but devoid of instincts. Unlike other animals, humans are
What is a cultural shift? Read More
Thank you, Le Miguel Jumonong, for this interesting question. We often allude to several types of guilt. For instance, Sam may be guilty of stealing an apple, Mary of eating too much meat, and a political party leader of bitterly losing national elections. At first glance, these cases seem to be distinct. Indeed, Sam is
Why do we feel guilt? Read More
Is it ethical to watch House of Cards after the allegations against Kevin Spacey? Or to read Dostoevsky after reading his confession about raping a girl? Thank you, Ajit Deshmukh, for an important question. In an age of cancel culture, this question might seem to obviously bring a positive response. Of course, we shouldn’t teach/enjoy/celebrate
Should we enjoy good art by evil people? Read More
Hello, SE! Thank you so much for your question. It is a question that umbrellas a set of questions which have dogged me for years: Do I have a moral duty to give to charity? If I do, then how much, and to whom?* What role ought the State occupy in such charitable endeavours? And
Is charity pointless? Read More
Thank you George Foster for this great question! In order to give you the best answer, it would be wise to turn to people who knew a thing or two about having a good time with their buddies: the ancient Greeks. There is probably no better reference in matters of friendship than Aristotle, who distinguished
Is quid pro quo a good basis for friendship? Read More
