Thank you, Eoin Martin, for this fascinating question. I will assume that we are interested in whether good intentions matter for our moral evaluation of actions, and in particular whether good intentions morally justify an action. I will also assume that a ‘good’ intention is an intention that aims at something that is to some […]
Do good intentions matter? Read More
Thank you, Bálint Birkás, for a great question! It is a question that I often ask myself whenever I hear about a new useless invention in the news. Looking at those, you could be tempted to say that the point of science and technology is to develop science and technology, just because we can. But
What is the point of science and technology? Read More
Thank you, Gnanak Gerhardson Munnangi, for such a deep question. With its increasing development in various fields, Artificial Intelligence resembles more and more its sci-fi representations from novels and movies of the last century. Some philosophers and scientists, such as Nick Bostrom, believe that once AI reaches the level of human intelligence, it will rapidly
Can the AI be considered a God? Read More
Thank you, Jong Camallere, for raising what is a key question at the heart of all philosophy: the question of the meaning, purpose, and value not just of philosophy as a particular thing you can do within life, but of life as it is lived. The classical response is that, in fact, it is a
Is philosophy a waste of time? Read More
Thank you, George Smith, for such an important question. First, some clarifying remarks. By asking about the relative importance between intention and action, I assume that what is meant by “action” is actually the consequence or outcome of the action. For instance, when Smith shoots Jones, the outcome would be the death, injury, or perhaps,
What is more important: people’s intentions or people’s actions? Read More
Thank you, Andy Chartier, for such an intriguing question. Very generally, science is a methodological investigation into physical phenomena that aims at describing the actual world with the highest possible precision. Morality is an inquiry into what sorts of things we ought to value (compassion over hate) and what sorts of things we ought to
Can science determine morality? If so, how? Read More
Thank you, Mohammed Ajmi, for this timely question. In many respects, our societies are safer than the ones in which our ancestors lived. At the same time, however, it could be argued that humanity has never been so under threat as it is now. Think of the existence of weapons of mass destruction (especially when
Thank you, Jm Reyes, for such a pragmatic question. Although the answer may seem trivial at first glance, it leads us deep into the realm of philosophy and modality. The simplest answer to your question is no – at least, that’s what your parents, friends and travel agents would tell you. And the reason is
Is it possible to travel in japan if you are a student and don’t have enough money? Read More
Thank you, Kenneth Cañedo, for this question. I think this is a great question to ask in times of quarantine and self-isolation. Many of us have been forced to spend more time with ourselves than usual, and more than we would have ever intended to otherwise. In these moments, when we are all alone, it
Is it possible for you to be friends with yourself? Read More
It seems we mostly create the systems afterwards to justify whatever outcomes we want. Thank you, Ben Horspool, for a significant question. It is certainly true that we do our utmost to justify our choices and aims. A lot of time and effort is spent trying to fit our choices and actions to a moral
Does anyone actually follow moral systems? Read More
