Category · 33 questions
Philosophy
Mind, meaning, free will, knowledge — the questions that don’t stay answered.
In this section
33 entriesAre dream interpretations accurate?
Understanding dream meanings has fascinated mankind for millennia. In ancient Greece, physicians believed dreams conveyed indications of diseases present in the body. Sigmund Freud thought dreams revealed repressed desires. Since then, pop psychologists, psychotherapists and psychoanalysts have all begun offering interpretations of clients' dreams. But are dream interpretations accurate?
Are individual opinions of value?
Critical thinking, reason and logic are the crucible upon which we hope to forge fact and truth. But some areas of thought, such as philosophy, are more open to debate and personal viewpoints. Other areas of thought may be perverted by the idea that opinion as as good as fact... where should the line be drawn?
Are rationalism and idealism compatible?
Idealism is the belief in mind over matter; the conviction that matter itself has no existence apart from mind (one-directional). "Objects" and "matter" exist only in being perceived. However, several of the most prominent idealist philosophers, such as Socrates, Plato, Berkeley, Hume, Kant and Schopenhauer, are also classified as rationalists. Is this possible? Or is it a fundamental contradiction?
Are we living in a simulation?
Ever since The Matrix was released in 1999, many have questioned the parameters of the world we know and experience. Though the movie was a worldwide phenomenon that sparked up this debate, the philosophical underpinnings and implications of this potential reality give it new meaning in a modern, technologically advanced world where everything seems possible.
Can a moral "Ought" be deduced exclusively from an account of non-moral facts?
Can the existence of moral values be concluded from an account of facts that do not already presuppose the existence of moral values? Can we for example say "this person has a moral right to exist" and support that claim by citing only facts that do not presuppose the existence of moral phenomena?
Can all philosophy questions be answered?
Can all philosophy questions be answered because philosophy is an academic study? Or are there some that cannot be answered because you need personal experience in order to be able to?
Can prejudice be excused and if so, to what point?
Prejudice is defined as having a preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience. The amount of “things” that one can be prejudiced about is endless from race, gender, education to physical appearance. Just to name some stats; in New York City, 88% of police stops in 2018 involved Black and Latinx people while 10% involved white people, and, criminals who were considered more “unattractive” got longer sentences and increased fines of up to 304.88%.
Do guns kill or do people kill people?
“Guns don’t kill people, people kill people” is a well-known slogan used by the National Rifle Association and other pro-gun activists to make the case for their deregulation agenda. So which is it? Do guns kill people or do people kill people?
Do human beings have free will?
Do we have control over our actions? If we do, what sort of control and to what extent? Free will is the power to act without the constraint of necessity or fate. It is the ability to act at one's own discretion. For centuries, people have wondered how freedom is possible in a world ruled by physical determinism. Reflections on free will have been confined to philosophy until half a century ago, when the topic started also to be seriously investigated by neuroscientists. Today, there are several irreconcilable positions about the existence of human free will.
Does "Responsibility" make sense?
Responsibility is accrued when an individual is free. However, contemporary scholarship suggests that we are not, in fact, totally free. Neurological and psychological predispositions prevent us from having full control over our actions. Then, are humans able to truly possess responsibility?
Does God exist?
For much of time people have questioned the existence of God. This question understands God as ‘Supreme Being and Creator of the Universe’, not a specific God (Christian, Islamic, Jewish, or other), and explores the various positions and arguments for and against the existence.
Does morality create more suffering than it relieves?
Morality can cause suffering, and can also relieve suffering. But where exactly is the balance? Does morality create more suffering than it relieves, or relieve more suffering than it creates?
Is enlightened despotism superior to democracy?
Can a wise, benevolent autocrat govern better than a democracy? This entry sets out the two positions on whether enlightened despotism is superior to democracy — that it is, and that it is not.
Is socialism ethical?
Socialism is the political belief the government should redistribute wealth to close the economic gap in society. Many argue that this is a far better way to live, as all citizens can life with the secure knowledge that they will be protected by the state. But is it ethical for this to happen because the state took money away from another citizen?
Is the world getting better or worse?
Few questions divide optimists and pessimists more sharply. This entry maps the debate over whether the world is improving or declining, weighing the position that the world is getting better against the view that it is getting worse.
Is violence always wrong?
Violence is the use of force or power. According to the World Health Organization, it is divided into three broad categories: self-directed violence, interpersonal violence, and collective violence. The question of why violence is inflicted upon oneself or someone else is open to question. Could we categorize all violence as bad, or is some violence necessary to prevent people from committing punishable crimes?
What are the pros and cons of Liberalism?
Liberalism is a political philosophy based on the ideas of liberty and equality. This includes freedom of speech, religion, press, civil rights, free markets, secular governments, Democratic societies, and gender equality. Historians and Philosophers consider John Locke, the father of Liberalism.
What came first, the chicken or the egg?
This age-old question was first asked by Aristotle back in the 4th century BCE. Since then, the question has been seen throughout society and has become one of today's most iconic paradoxes. So which one actually came first?
What do we know about Sigmund Freud's theories?
Sigmund Freud (1856-1939), commonly referred to as "the father of psychoanalysis" was an Austrian neurologist and is generally recognized as one of the most influential and authoritative thinkers of the twentieth century. He remains a well-recognised figure and he and his ideas are still frequently referenced in pop culture. Freud has been influential in two related but distinct ways. He simultaneously developed a theory of the human mind and human behaviour, as well as clinical techniques for attempting to help neurotics. He popularised the ideas of the unconscious, defense mechanisms, Freudian slips and dream symbolism, while also making a long-lasting impact on fields as diverse as literature, film, Marxist and feminist theories, literary criticism, philosophy and psychology.
What is a Nation?
Are nations ancient or modern? Are they natural or artificial? Are they a tool of liberation or coercion? Despite many predicting globalisation would make them obsolete, nations are now back in fashion in a world where leaders tout America First, the Great Rejuvenation of the Chinese People, and Hindutva. Understanding the nation now seems more important than ever.
What is existentialism?
The very definition of 'existentialism' is debatable. Some believe that the term is rooted, and only intelligible, in the realm of philosophy. Thus, existentialism can be understood as a philosophical approach. Yet, there are ways in which the works of key existentialist thinkers span other disciplines, such as literature.
What is knowledge?
What does it mean to know something? This entry maps the epistemological debate over the nature of knowledge — whether it is shaped by social conditions and structures, or whether it can be genuinely objective.
What is Life?
We are and see and interact with living things all around us... but what is the definition of life exactly? Is life chemical? Or is life spiritual? Or is life functional?
What is pleasure?
We all know the feeling of pleasure. Some would describe it as a feeling or sense of delight, happiness, gratification. But what is the sensation of pleasure and where does it come from?
What is society?
Societies have been a core part of human interaction since the beginning of mankind. But what is society? A shared geography? A shared culture? Coming together to work towards a shared goal? Do they even exist?
What is suffering?
Is suffering identical to pain? Or is suffering the frustration of a strong desire? Or is suffering the violation of a moral right? Explore the debate on suffering here.
What is the best system of government?
Governments are the backbone of a country. They are responsible for their citizens’ benefits and a healthy economy. Not all governments in the world are the same. There are democracies, republics, authoritarian societies, and many more types of governmental systems. With so many different types of government, which one has the most benefits?
What is the Mind-Body problem?
What is the mind? Since the beginning of civilization, we have grappled with the idea of consciousness. Could the study of our brain and nervous system account for conscious thought? If not, what are the relationships between the non-physical processes and the physical ones?
What is the purpose of life?
An age old question, that drives so much human energy to explore and understand. From religion, to work, to family, to friends, to pleasure, to exploration, to discovery, to ambition... much of our lives are spent in search of a meaning for life itself. Is there a reason behind our being?
What separates humans from animals?
For some, it is obvious that we are not the same as animals. But is it just our ability to imagine and create stories about there being a difference that separates us? Or is there something more tangible?
Where does knowledge come from?
Where does knowledge come from. Does knowledge emerge from data? Or is rationalist thought the origin of knowledge? Might knowledge be a gift from god? Or is true knowledge even possible?
Why do we exist?
Why do we exist at all? This entry maps the answers offered to one of the oldest questions — that we exist to procreate, that we exist because God wills it, and that the question of why ultimately does not matter.
Would human extinction be a tragedy?
Would it be a tragedy if humans were wiped out? Would it be a cause for celebration given the environmental destruction we have caused? Maybe it would be neither?