Questions
997 questions in the encyclopedia.
Are US cities seeing a surge in violent crime?
In 2020 some US cities seem to be seeing a surge in violent crime. Is the rise in violent crime really happening or is it a new media blip or statistical change? Or if the US surge in violent crime is really happening, what is driving it?
Are US small business 'gone forever'?
Small businesses continue to be replaced by chain franchises. How can a small independent shop or restaurant afford to keep up with giant monopolies? Are small businesses 'gone forever'?
Are vaccines safe?
Immunisation is the process whereby a person is made immune or resistant to an infectious disease, typically by the administration of a vaccine. "Anti-vaxxers” have firm convictions about vaccines’ harmful effects and many people believe their children have been harmed by vaccines. Others have ‘vaccine hesistancy’: they are not inherently anti-vaccine, but are concerned or confused by the mixed messages they are exposed to and want to do the best for their children.
Are video games art?
The debate over what counts as art has raged for centuries. Famous artists we know today were once under scrutiny for their art. Today the debate now includes a new art form: video games. So are critics right to say that video games are not art, or is there more to them than meets the eye?
Are Walt Disney Animation Studios' movies racist?
Disney Animation movies have told stories from characters around the world, but very often with an American or western frame of reference. Are these fair retellings, or could Disney films be considered racist?
Are we genetically predisposed to violence?
The question probes the extent to which human aggression and violent behavior might be influenced by genetics, pondering if there's a hereditary component driving such actions.
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.
Are we products of nature or nurture?
There is a longstanding debate about what factors contribute to forming each human being's identity. Some argue that genes singlehandedly determine our identity, while others claim that our environment does so. Although psychologists regard some combination of these two factors (i.e. nature and nurture) as what shapes us, there is little consensus on the issue.
Are young adult novels worth reading?
Coined in the 1960s, young adult fiction was originally marketed at 12-18-year-olds to fill the gap between children's literature and adult literature. However, over half of young adult readers are actually adults. Should adults be embarrassed to read young adult novels, or are they worth reading?
Are zoos ethical in the modern age?
Zoos can be a fun trip for any age, young or old. It may be the only chance most people will be able to see various exotic animals from around the world. Yet, they have also been known to be unethical or dangerous for both the animals and people. What are the sides to the zoo debate? Are zoos truly bad?
Can a machine be conscious?
As technology advances more and more rapidly, we are coming closer to technology that previous generations would never even have dreamed of. The possibilities seem endless; but the question of whether or not a machine can have consciousness is still up in the air. Can a machine be conscious?
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 an AI friend help you feel less lonely?
Artificial Intelligence technology is advancing rapidly in many domains, including AI understanding of human social needs. Is it possible that AI can provide meaningful friendship to people?
Can astrology accurately predict human behavior?
Astrology claims to divine information about human affairs and terrestrial events by studying the movements and relative positions of celestial objects. It is often referred to as a pseudoscience, however, some individuals do believe it to be legitimate.
Can Covid immunity passports unlock travel?
Antibody tests can tell you with a high degree of certainty whether or not you have had the Coronavirus. Given that the antibodies make you 'immune' for some time, should those people be allowed to travel as before?
Can Europe afford to stand up to China?
The question examines if Europe has the economic resilience and political will to confront China's growing influence, considering the potential risks and benefits.
Can history be written objectively?
Most historians aim to report on history without bias, but is it really possible to be objective? It is often said that history is written by the winners; are the winners capable of stepping back and writing history from a neutral point of view, or are they only capable of writing from their own?
Can incrementalism work?
Incrementalism is when changes occur gradually. Most often referring to the policy of social change happening in degrees. The use of the term incrementalism is first attributed to Lindblom (1959) and then Wildavsky (1964). According to them, people break down complex problems into manageable steps. They simplify the process. From its inception, there has been a debate on whether incrementalism works to create change or if it actually detracts from change.
Can interdependence theory of internatinoal relations explain the geopolitical system?
Can interdependence theory account for how the modern geopolitical system works? This entry sets out the two positions on the question — that interdependence theory can explain the geopolitical system, and that it cannot.
Can money buy happiness?
People constantly wonder about the sources of happiness, and is it possible that money is a key to achieving happiness? Or is money actually something that may get in the way of happiness?
Can nature heal itself?
Humans and their industry have created a huge amount of damage to nature, the environment, and the planet. Mass extinction, climate change, and more. But if humans step back can nature heal itself, or do humans need to engage to fix things?
Can people change their behavior?
Can people genuinely change how they behave? This entry sets out the two positions on the question — that people can change their behaviour, and that they cannot — weighing habit and character against growth and will.
Can people communicate through telepathy?
The concept of telepathy - communication between two beings through thoughts or ideas, rather than through words or signals - has long been disputed amongst some of the world's leading scientists. It is widely regarded to be a form of pseudoscience; however, there are still thousands of documented reports claiming that telepathy is a real phenomenon experienced by a select number of people.
Can plastic products be replaced with eco friendly options?
Plastic was invented in 1907 and since has become one of the most useful and versatile substances known to man. However, plastic has since contributed to the 269,000 tons currently in the ocean. As useful as it is, is there anything that can take its place as being versatile but also eco friendly?
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%.
Can preventive war be justified?
Can a pre-emptive or preventive war ever be morally justified? This entry sets out the positions on the question — that preventive war can be justified, that it cannot, and that it may be in narrowly defined conditions.
Can psychopaths be cured?
A personality disorder, psychopathy is characterised by a lack of empathy, impulsive actions, and anti-social behaviour. This disorder often has a very negative effect on people and their relationships with others. Can psychopaths be cured of this disorder, or must they learn to live with it?
Can public participation improve democratic governance?
New forms of collective processes are emerging in contexts ranging from stable and functional to volatile and oppressive. Public participation is a global phenomenon. Will it improve democracy?
Can racism ever be justifiable?
For most people, the gut reaction to this question is immediate: "Of course not!" But there are fringe examples, such as Israeli airport security, where blatant racial stereotyping is used, can be justified by the great safety that the airport provides to passengers. But still, can it be justified?
Can someone be transracial?
With the outrage following Rachel Dolezal's falsified claims of being African American in 2015, the question of racial identity has been raised. Should we have the right to identify as a different race than the one assigned at birth? And is transracial identity legitimate, or another means of cultural appropriation?
Can speculative design provide value in corporate settings?
Speculative design (closely related to design fiction, design futures, or critical design) is the practice of designing future products or services as a way to explore the potential impacts of emerging technology or social or cultural trends. The practice shows up in art galleries and academic settings, but can it provide value in corporate settings where most incentives exist around the near term success of the organization?
Can terrorism ever be justified?
The aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the United States has placed terrorism on the philosophical agenda. While the definition of terrorism remains contested, there are different stances on whether terrorism can ever be morally justified.
Can the Holocaust be forgiven?
As a result of the Holocaust, over 6 million innocent Jews perished under Nazi rule. Beyond that, millions of innocent civilians were also murdered under the leadership of Adolf Hitler. Examining this massacre's atrocities and lasting trauma begs a tough question. Who, if anyone, should be forgiven of their involvement in the Holocaust?
Can we live without oil?
Oil is a big part of society. It’s used to power cars and produce energy. Although the world relies on oil, oil has a negative rap. When burned, oil creates carbon dioxide. Global warming and the degradation of the global environment is caused by excessive carbon dioxide emissions. Would it be better if society stopped using oil or is it so reliant on oil that it would be too risky to get rid of it?
Can we rekindle the collective, caring spirit that emerged during lockdown?
The early Covid-19 lockdowns produced a surge of community solidarity. This entry asks whether that collective, caring spirit can be rekindled, setting out the positions that it can be and that it cannot.
Can white people in the USA be victims of racism?
In 2011 Harvard and Tufts universities published a landmark study into American attitudes to racism. Many found their findings surprising. White respondents believed their communities were subject to more racism than their black counterparts. Their belief was that post-civil rights efforts to correct anti-black prejudice had come at the expense of white people. But this idea of"reverse racism" frequently comes under fire . As study co-author Samuel Sommers writes, ""It's a pretty surprising finding when you think of the wide range of disparities that still exist in society, most of which show black Americans with worse outcomes than whites in areas such as income, home ownership, health, and employment." In the decade since the paper was published, this debate has become more central to the political agenda. Investigating prejudice, identity and ethnicity, has become critical to understanding how racism is performed and reproduced. So, can white people be victims of racism?
Can you trust a recovered drug addict?
Drug addicts are known to be pathological liars. They will say anything to get more drugs or get out of trouble. However, people who experience addiction are often radically different people once they’re sober. So can you trust a former addict? Do you discount their past and let them start fresh, or do you make them earn back your trust? At what point can you actually trust the former drug addict? These questions are important because of the sheer number of addicts we have in America today.
Can you trust US polls?
US election polling has been brought into question after failures to predict and understand the US presidential outcome in 2016, and 2020. Can we trust US polling? Or are there fundamental issues with the polling approach?
Could the US and Chinese economies really 'decouple'?
Could the deeply intertwined economies of the United States and China actually separate? This entry sets out the two positions on the question — that the US and Chinese economies could decouple, and that they could not.
COVID-19: Are government resources better spent on public health or stimulating the economy?
Much of the world is now in lockdown to protect populations from the deadly spread of coronavirus. Yet, the US government is looking into an alternative approach. The latest statements from Donald Trump insist that 'the cure...[cannot be] worse than the disease'. These comments mark a striking policy difference to the rest of the world. Namely, they place more value on economic growth than on human life. During this unique pandemic, are government funds better spent on public health, or on stimulating the economy?
Did Alexander Hamilton's financial plan put America first?
Of all the founding fathers of the American nation, Alexander Hamilton remains one of the most enigmatic and controversial characters. In his role as Secretary of the Treasury, Hamilton submitted a financial plan to Congress designed to reduce the national debt by creating a national bank and encouraging economic diversification and the establishment of a manufacturing economy. But more than 200 years later, questions remain over the plan’s effectiveness and Hamilton’s motives.
Did British colonial powers invent the Indian caste system?
The four-tiered caste system gives Hindu society a strict hierarchical structure, with teachers and religious leaders at the top, and the fifth "undesirable" category performing "unclean" work. Where did it come from? Was it a colonial invention? Or are its roots embedded in ancient Indian culture?
Did Fortnite kill the App Store as we know it?
Epic Games' battle with Apple over Fortnite challenged the rules of the App Store. This entry sets out the two positions on whether that fight killed the App Store as we knew it — that it did, and that it did not.
Did Jack really have to die to save Rose at the end of Titanic?
SPOILER: A memorable moment of the movie Titanic was Jack's death. But was this a critical plot point? Did Jack really have to die to save Rose? Does this really make sense for the storyline?
Did nationalism predate nation states?
Today, we are used to both the nation-state and the idea of nationalism. However, it may be possible to have one without the other. Authors have written about nationalism for centuries, but the nation state as we know it has existed a relatively short amount of time. So, did nationalism predate the nation?
Did the Cold War End?
Despite the Cold War officially thought to have ended with the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, relations between the United States and Russia has remained tense. Chilly relationships between Russia and Western countries begs the question if the Cold War of the late-1900s ever truly ended or rather still exists today.
Did the top stop spinning in the end of Inception?
Inception ends on an ambiguous shot of a spinning top, leaving its final reality unresolved. This entry sets out the two readings of that closing scene: that the top stopped spinning, and that it did not.
Did Tony die in the finale of The Sopranos?
The abrupt cut to black ending The Sopranos sparked one of television's great debates. This entry sets out the two readings of the finale — that Tony Soprano died, and that he did not.
Did William Shakespeare really exist?
Although Elizabethan playwright Christopher Marlowe is to now be credited by Oxford University Press as Shakespeare's co-writer on three of the Bard's plays, the two playwrights, allegedly born two weeks apart, perhaps poses the antithesis of Marlovian theory. However, the strange circumstances around the death of Marlowe and his expiry at the hands of murder due to debts owed, in conjunction with Shakespeare’s first publication, Venus and Adonis appearing only weeks after Marlowe’s death is food for thought. Marlowe, here had cause to fake his own death which is aptly supported by ambiguities regarding the event of his death and fragmentary witness reports. This, in close connection with Marlowe's association with Shakespeare’s plays as a co-contributor as well as the lack of documentation relating to Shakespeare’s actual birth in Stratford Upon Avon, gives birth to the question as to whether William Shakespeare existed at all and whether or not the famous bard as we know him, was perhaps merely a fictitious pseudonym.