Questions

997 questions in the encyclopedia.

Is cannibalism ethical?

Cannibalism - the practice of eating human flesh - is illegal in every country on Earth. What does the morality look like if cannibalism is for survival? What about in matters of life and death? Should having the victim's consent impact the way it is viewed?

Is Captain Kirk or Captain Picard better in Star Trek?

Captain Kirk and Captain Picard are by far the most well-known and beloved captains in the Star Trek universe. But fans new and old hotly debate over which captain is superior; is it the headstrong and courageous James T. Kirk, or the witty and ambitious Jean Luc Picard?

Is catcalling harassment?

Is catcalling a form of harassment or harmless attention? This entry sets out the two positions on the question — that catcalling is harassment, and that it is not — and the reasoning behind each view.

Is cheerleading a sport?

While no one can doubt cheerleading an intensive physical activity, whether or not it is considered a sport remains a popular debate. Cheerleading is not represented the same as other competitive sports (for example in the Olympics) leading some people to say it is not a real sport.

Is chess a sport?

Chess is a competitive game of strategy, mental agility, and endurance, that has been studied and played for generations. Competitions around the world, celebrity grandmasters, fans who play and study the game, all mirror many other professional sports. But is chess a sport?

Is Chronic fatigue syndrome (ME) a real illness?

Is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME) a genuine physical illness or something else? This entry sets out the two positions on the question — that CFS/ME is a real illness, and that it is not — and the reasoning behind each.

Is cinema art?

Ever since cinema began its debut in the late 1800s, it has captured the awe and imagination of audiences worldwide. While it is no question that cinema is entertainment, many people also wonder whether or not cinema is an art form. So the debate continues here: Is cinema art?

Is cinema dead?

Has cinema, as an art form and an experience, had its day? This entry sets out the two positions on the question — that cinema is dead, and that it is not — amid streaming, blockbusters and changing habits.

Is climate change real?

It is the topic of our times, with changing weather around the world. Is the climate actually changing or are these global warming signals misunderstood and misattributed to natural cycles. Can we know if climate change real? Or is climate change a conspiracy of the left?

Is college education worth it?

The ever-rising costs of a university degree, coupled with increasing numbers of unemployed graduates, has left the latest generation of students pondering over whether a college education is worth it. Do the benefits of a college degree outweigh the costs?

Is communism viable in the USA?

Communism is an economic ideology that advocates for a classless society in which all property and wealth are communally-owned, instead of by individuals. The idea of communism came from the German philosopher Karl Marx.

Is conceptual art valid?

Art involves skill. Conceptual art does not. Therefore conceptual art is worthless. Alternatively, thinking involves skill; thought can be a medium for art. Therefore conceptual art has validity.

Is coronavirus aggravating Islamophobia in India?

As covid-19 hit the headlines and became a national emergency in India, Islamophobia surged. On Twitter, furious posts poured out of the nation with the gruesome hashtag #CoronavirusJihad. The inference was clear: many Indians were using the pandemic as an excuse to victimise its Muslim population. Critics claim its government has done little to stop this, while others say the threat is exaggerated.

Is Covid-19 making airplane passengers more unruly?

Did the pandemic fuel a surge in disruptive airline passengers? This entry sets out the two positions on the question — that Covid-19 is making airplane passengers more unruly, and that it is not.

Is CRISPR human genome editing technology ethical?

Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) is a new technology that allows scientists to edit human DNA. CRISPR poses many ethical concerns regarding its abilities to permanently alter germlines, eradicate certain genetic conditions, and even enhance certain physical traits.

Is cultural appropriation benign or malign?

Cultures have borrowed from one another since time immemorial — but when does borrowing become harmful? This entry frames the debate over whether cultural appropriation is benign or malign, and where the line falls.

Is democracy in America under threat?

Democracy in America has had a tumultuous history, especially with the 2020 Presidential Election, but it has always seemed to triumph in the end. But many Americans believe that democracy is on the decline, while others believe that it's as strong as ever. The debate rages: Is democracy in America under threat?

Is direct democracy superior to representative democracy?

At a time when voters are increasingly disengaged from the political process and disillusioned with their elected officials, many are starting to question whether direct democracy could hold the answer to solving the problem of the growing democratic malaise.

Is Disney or Pixar better?

Disney brought animation to the forefront of entertainment media with groundbreaking techniques, timeless stories, and imaginative characters. But when Pixar entered the arena, animation took a new turn. Animation lovers debate which is better: Disney or Pixar?

Is diversity critical to a business' financial success?

Research proves that diversity (gender, ethnic and social) can improve work place culture and productivity. Some argue that workplace diversity can increase growth or revenues, by increasing the comfort of workers and ensuring different views are represented. But does diversity really have that much of a baring on a business' success?

Is Dominic Cummings a eugenicist?

This entry maps the debate over whether Dominic Cummings, the former adviser to Boris Johnson, holds eugenicist views, setting out the opposing positions that he supports eugenics and that the charge against him is unfair.

Is Donald Trump mentally ill?

To some, Donald Trump is a rambling buffoon. To others, he is a voice of truth in a political quagmire of lies and deceit. But are his erratic mind, eccentric way of speaking and short attention span indicators of an underlying mental illness affecting the US president?

Is Donald Trump racist?

As the President of the United States, Donald Trump should act as chief citizen, and representing all Americans of every race, culture, or background. But many of his words and actions suggest a racial bias that has him failing to protect non-white Americans. We are left to ask, is Donald Trump racist?

Is drinking alcohol healthy?

Alcoholic beverages are widely consumed across the globe in a multitude of settings. Many people enjoy and promote alcohol use, while many others point out its potential negative impacts. Is alcohol consumption healthy?

Is eating dog meat immoral?

The consumption of dog meat is legal in most countries and is notably part of Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Swiss, and Nigerian cuisine. However, dog meat is heavily tabooed in Europe and the Americas. In recent years, animal activist groups have fought for the practice to be banned on moral grounds.

Is economic development a false promise for developing countries?

Is the promise of economic development a mirage for poorer nations? This entry sets out the two positions on the question — that economic development is a false promise for developing countries, and that it is not.

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 factory farming a requirement in the 21st century?

The 21st century is turning out to be a watershed moment in history for bringing to light new sensibilities and heightened awareness about different issues. Factory farming, a technique that has allowed large scale mass production of livestock has divided society right down the middle in terms of its necessity.

Is Fortnite bad for kids?

Is the hugely popular game Fortnite harmful to children? This entry sets out the two positions on the question — that Fortnite is bad for kids, and that it is not — covering addiction, violence, social effects and benefits.

Is free software better quality than closed software?

There is no singular way to define the quality of a software; there are many ways to define it. It could be defined by user satisfaction, the efficiency of the code, or the software's technological impact. With this in mind, how does free software compare to closed software?

Is French cuisine the best cuisine?

French gastronomy has long been prized as the epitome of culinary expression and has dominated fine fining and haute cuisine for decades. However, the value of French food has been questioned, both in its connection to colonialism and its repetitiveness.

Is gender a social construct?

Is gender a socially constructed ideology which is embedded within an individual's psyche by societal standards of what is typically male or female behavior, or is it more biological than that?

Is Germany a good place to live?

Is Germany a good place to live? This entry maps the positions on the question — that Germany is a good place to live, that it is not, and that it depends on who you are and what you want from a country.

Is Germany good at integrating its Turkish minority?

Has Germany successfully integrated its large Turkish minority? This entry sets out the two positions on the question — that Germany is good at integrating its Turkish minority, and that it is not.

Is gold a good investment?

Is gold a good investment? Will it lead to capital preservation and help and investor realize a return on investment? The question is polarizing, with some investors known as "gold bugs" being obsessed by it and others being completely dismissive of gold as an investment.

Is growth investing superior to value investing?

Investors in stocks are often divided into two camps: value invests or growth investors. Over the past few years, growth as an investment factor has vastly outpaced the value factor. This has led to renewed calls of "the death of value investing."

Is Hamlet insane?

Is Hamlet truly mad, or only feigning it? This entry sets out the two positions on Shakespeare's prince — that Hamlet is insane, and that his 'antic disposition' is a deliberate performance.

Is herd immunity the best way to beat coronavirus?

Herd immunity strategy has come under scrutiny. Herd immunity assumes a large section of the population will be infected. Rather than enforce lockdown measures, herd immunity encourages social distancing in public places. The aim is to have as many low-risk people infected as possible. Immune people cannot infect others. Therefore, the more there are, the faster we kill its exponential growth, and the easier it will be to treat the vulnerable. The WHO has criticised the approach, as have many others. Is the Swedish government correct?

Is history important?

To many, studying history is an important pursuit, as understanding the past could hold important lessons for the future. But to others, this is pointless memorization of irrelevant names and dates. The debate persists: are those who don't learn from history doomed to repeat it?

Is Holden Caulfield a Phony?

Holden Caulfield rails against 'phonies' throughout The Catcher in the Rye — but is he one himself? This entry sets out the two positions on the question — that Holden is a phony, and that he is not.

Is human destruction of nature responsible for COVID-19?

As coronavirus infects more and more people globally, the question becomes why now? Why has the pandemic began now? Could it be that increasing levels of climate change and continued destruction of the environment are to blame?

Is hunting ethical?

Is hunting ethical? This entry weighs the arguments on both sides of the question — that hunting is ethical, and that it is not — covering conservation, tradition, animal welfare and the ethics of killing for sport.

Is ignorance bliss?

Is ignorance bliss? This entry weighs the age-old question, setting out the positions that not knowing can spare us pain and worry, and that ignorance is not bliss but a harm that leaves us worse off.

Is India a global superpower?

A world superpower is usually defined as a country that is capable of projecting its power and influence on a global scale. India's broad range of quality of life among its citizens and booming economy have put the country in a unique position in the world. It competes with leading superpowers in creating new technology and defense, yet most rural areas are still underdeveloped. Impoverished citizens often live in poor sanitation and without healthcare or clean water. Should India be considered a global superpower based on its greatest accomplishments, or are its domestic issues too severe?

Is inflation understated?

The Consumer Price Index is a measure of the change in prices consumers pay for different goods over time. This index is often used as a benchmark for inflation. However, the inflation levels the Consumer Price Index suggests are not without controversy. Often inflation is accused of being overstated or understated. So what is the truth? And why would it be either?

Is intersectionality the new caste system?

The concept of intersectionality is viewed by some as a liberating principle that allows their voice to be heard, whilst for others it creates divisions and hierarchies of victimhood. Is intersectionality the new caste system?

Is it ethical to have children?

The ethical debate over childbearing has many aspects, including parental motives, the autonomy of the mother, the ability to provide for children, and the environmental catastrophe. Some argue that having children is a biological drive rather than a moral decision.

Is it ethical to have pickup and delivery services available during the coronavirus pandemic?

With delivery and pick up services, we expose the employee to social interaction and increase the contagion's possibilities. However, it is also ensuring the person remains employed during the crisis. It's obvious that the job is justified if it is a necessity, but what about clothes, books, and other non-essential items?

Is it ethical to keep asylum seekers wanting to live in Australia in offshore detention centres?

Is Australia's policy of holding asylum seekers in offshore detention ethical? This entry sets out the two positions on the question — that offshore detention is not ethical, and that it is justified.

Is it ethical to stockpile groceries during the coronavirus crisis?

All around the world we are seeing images of emptied supermarket shelves as people prepare for lockdowns. Is it ethical to ensure you have enough supplies for your family without regards to others? Or is it unethical not to think of other (potentially more disadvantaged) people's needs?