Thursday, 5 March 2015

 Philosophers' Cafe: Questions for Reflection


Definitions1. What is the nature of Love?
a. Is love a blind passionate impulse that is beyond reason?
b. Does love spring from subconscious instincts, such as a drive for species survival or Freudian conflicts?
c. Is unconditional forever-love possible?


 Epistemology of Love
2. How do we know we are truly in love?
3. Can we trust our feelings of love?

Love, Lust & Sex (Erotic Love)
4. Suppose you have fallen in love with your friend. And now suppose you were offered the choice of two futures: Either you two cease to have sex but remain together seeking beauty, truth and God, or you lose all these and retain the wonders of sex? Which choice would you make?
5. Can we have sex without love? How is love related to sex?
a. What is the purpose of sex?
b. Does it make sense to speak of “unnatural-lawless sex”?
6. How is love related to friendship?

Politics of Love
7. What is the difference between heterosexual love and gay love?
8. Which mode of love is primary?

Wednesday, 21 January 2015

A Critique of Arguments for Animal Rights



I
n recent years numerous questions were raised about the morality of killing and eating animals. Do animals have right to live and not made to suffer? Should people stop eating animal meat? Should laws be enacted to protect animal rights?
This essay suggests the following two theses. 1) Animal rights arguments are not logically conclusive, 2) Someone may develop reasons in the future, but for now, there is no morally compelling reason to stop eating animal meat.
I shall address various major arguments for animal rights and their weaknesses.


Read here: Is It Immoral To Kill Animals?

Sunday, 18 January 2015

Are Humans Good or Evil?

Are humans good or evil? Or both?



There's Mother Theresa and there're Jihadists who behead innocent civilians. Are humans innately more like Theresa or more like Terrorists?



Or do we have a choice to being one instead of the other?



Perhaps there is no innate human nature. We form habits from frequent choice- acts over an extended time. We become habitually good or bad.



Read here:

Are Humans Good or Evil? by Clancy Martin and Alan Strudler | Harper's Magazine




Monday, 27 October 2014

What is LOVE? -- If you loved me, you wouldn’t want to change me !?

If you loved me, you wouldn’t want to change me | Philosophers' Mail



The impulse to alter our lovers appears to run counter to the spirit of
love. If we loved and were loved, surely there wouldn’t be any talk of
change? Isn’t love about the acceptance of an entire being, in their
high and low points?



But,  being told we simply have to love someone for all that they are, or else
think of ourselves as bad people, is asking too much.



How could someone
never want to change any part of us if they know us properly? Do they
lack all ambition for our true potential? Do we not ourselves aspire to
change and improvement? Then why blame them for wanting from us what we
at heart want from ourselves?



For the Greeks, given that we are all very imperfect, part of what it
means to deepen love is to want to teach – and to be taught. Two people
should see a relationship as a constant opportunity to improve and be
improved. When lovers teach each other uncomfortable truths, they are
not giving up on love. They are trying to do something very true to
love: which is to make their partners more loveable.

Wednesday, 23 July 2014

Is parental lying morally justified?

Parents in U.S. and China Both Lie to Their Kids, Study Says | TIME.com:



Parental lying is important, the researchers wrote, because “this practice may play a role in children’s lying behavior and evaluations of others who lie, two issues that are widely recognized as central to moral development.”


In conclusion, they wrote, their study raises “important moral questions for parents about when, if ever, parental lying is justified.”



Also read:  http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/parent-pulse/201208/parental-lying  and Chinese Lying about Good Deeds

Sunday, 13 July 2014

Libraries should promote learning, not police values

Libraries should promote learning, not police values 
sides
being a bastion of knowledge, public libraries also enable Singaporeans
to participate more effectively in building a better society for all.
To be engaged citizens who understand trade-offs and propose expedient
solutions requires that we be exposed to information and viewpoints that
at times may challenge what we hold dear. Critical thinking skills are
best honed when we are exposed to contradictory ideas, data and dogmas. -
See more at:
http://www.edvantage.com.sg/content/libraries-should-promote-learning-not-police-values#sthash.Cku2qWiU.dpuf





Besides being a bastion of knowledge, public libraries also enable Singaporeans to participate more effectively in building a better society for all. To be engaged citizens who
understand trade-offs and propose expedient solutions requires that we be exposed to information and viewpoints that at times may challenge what we hold dear. 

Critical thinking skills are best honed when we are exposed to contradictory ideas, data and dogmas. 

Political scientist James Fishkin, widely cited for his work on deliberative democracy, has identified five
elements integral to legitimate deliberation. They include making accurate information and relevant data available to all participants, and attaining substantive balance where different positions are compared based on their supporting evidence. 

There is also a need to allow for diversity, where all major positions relevant to the matter are considered, and the practice of conscientiousness, in which participants sincerely weigh all arguments. 

Finally, equal consideration should be given to views based on evidence and not on the people who advocate those views.
 cited for his work on deliberative
democracy, has identified five elements integral to legitimate
deliberation. They include making accurate information and relevant data
available to all participants, and attaining substantive balance where
different positions are compared based on their supporting evidence.
There is also a need to allow for diversity, where all major positions
relevant to the matter are considered, and the practice of
conscientiousness, in which participants sincerely weigh all arguments.
Finally, equal consideration should be given to views based on evidence
and not on the people who advocate those views. - See more at:
http://www.edvantage.com.sg/content/libraries-should-promote-learning-not-police-values#sthash.Cku2qWiU.dpuf


Besides
being a bastion of knowledge, public libraries also enable Singaporeans
to participate more effectively in building a better society for all.
To be engaged citizens who understand trade-offs and propose expedient
solutions requires that we be exposed to information and viewpoints that
at times may challenge what we hold dear. Critical thinking skills are
best honed when we are exposed to contradictory ideas, data and dogmas. -
See more at:
http://www.edvantage.com.sg/content/libraries-should-promote-learning-not-police-values#sthash.Cku2qWiU.dpuf
Besides
being a bastion of knowledge, public libraries also enable Singaporeans
to participate more effectively in building a better society for all.
To be engaged citizens who understand trade-offs and propose expedient
solutions requires that we be exposed to information and viewpoints that
at times may challenge what we hold dear. Critical thinking skills are
best honed when we are exposed to contradictory ideas, data and dogmas. -
See more at:
http://www.edvantage.com.sg/content/libraries-should-promote-learning-not-police-values#sthash.Cku2qWiU.dpuf

Wednesday, 9 July 2014

Does Evolution Explain Religious Beliefs?

Does Evolution Explain Religious Beliefs?
I don’t think science as such can explain everything. Therefore, assuming that the existence and nature of the world can be fully understood (I’m not sure it can!), this is going to require something more than science.

If the person of faith wants to say that God created the world, I don’t think you can deny this on scientific grounds.

The interviewee for this installment is Atheism: What Everyone Needs to Know.”
Michael Ruse, a professor of philosophy at Florida State University and the author of the forthcoming book “

Interviewed by GARY GUTTING for New York Times
July 8, 2014