Tag Archives: Philosophy

Interesting survey of philosophers

Posted on by
2

PhilPapers, an online directory of academic philosophy articles. Last November, PhilPapers conducted a survey of 1803 philosophy faculty members and/or PhDs. Because many of our readers are interested in philosophy, I’ve provided the preliminary findings below:

A priori knowledge: yes or no?

Accept or lean toward: yes 1238 / 1803 (68.6%)
Accept or lean toward: no 389 / 1803 (21.5%)
Other 176 / 1803 (9.7%)

Abstract objects: Platonism or nominalism?

Accept or lean toward: nominalism 736 / 1803 (40.8%)
Accept or lean toward: Platonism 655 / 1803 (36.3%)
Other 412 / 1803 (22.8%)

Aesthetic value: objective or subjective?

Accept or lean toward: objective 730 / 1803 (40.4%)
Accept or lean toward: subjective 653 / 1803 (36.2%)
Other 420 / 1803 (23.2%)

Analytic-synthetic distinction: yes or no?

Accept or lean toward: yes 1115 / 1803 (61.8%)
Accept or lean toward: no 517 / 1803 (28.6%)
Other 171 / 1803 (9.4%)

Epistemic justification: internalism or externalism?

Accept or lean toward: externalism 788 / 1803 (43.7%)
Other 543 / 1803 (30.1%)
Accept or lean toward: internalism 472 / 1803 (26.1%)

External world: idealism, skepticism, or non-skeptical realism?

Accept or lean toward: non-skeptical realism 1382 / 1803 (76.6%)
Other 170 / 1803 (9.4%)
Accept or lean toward: skepticism 128 / 1803 (7%)
Accept or lean toward: idealism 123 / 1803 (6.8%)

Free will: compatibilism, libertarianism, or no free will?

Accept or lean toward: compatibilism 1004 / 1803 (55.6%)
Accept or lean toward: libertarianism 301 / 1803 (16.6%)
Other 265 / 1803 (14.6%)
Accept or lean toward: no free will 233 / 1803 (12.9%)

God: theism or atheism?

Accept or lean toward: atheism 1257 / 1803 (69.7%)
Accept or lean toward: theism 295 / 1803 (16.3%)
Other 251 / 1803 (13.9%)

Continue reading →

Dr. Huenemann on atheism and morality

Posted on by
12

Will Holloway, everyone’s favorite metalhead, was kind enough to record the lecture Dr. Charlie Huenemann gave before SHAFT last week. Huenemann is a philosophy professor here at Utah State University. He spoke about the difficulty atheists face in grounding their morality, especially in the wake of Friedrich Nietzsche.

The reason for his lecture was not disabuse SHAFTers of their disbelief. Dr. Huenemann is an atheist who doesn’t consider theism “a live option.” Rather, Huenemann worries that many atheists (and people in general) aren’t very thoughtful about their basis for morality.

If you weren’t able to attend the lecture, or—like me— you just want to listen to it again, the lecture and the question/answer period are provided below.

Huenemann’s lecture

Q&A

Ockham’s razor is FABULOUS!

Posted on by
3

Oh the stuff you find at 3:00 o’clock in the morning…

From the author’s website:

What is Ockham’s Razor about?
The novel is a love story that focuses on the relationship between two young men: Micah (age 21) and Brendan (age 17), both with LDS backgrounds.  Micah believes the Church is wrong about everyone being essentially heterosexual; Brendan is still figuring stuff out.  Through their relationship, Micah realizes he wasn’t simply “born gay” and Brendan wonders if Micah is worth giving up everything he knows.  The characters disagree on whether a middle ground exists — whether one can truly be “gay and Mormon.”

What’s with the title?
Ockham’s Razor is the theory that the simplest answer is usually the correct one.  The idea comes up a few times in conversations Micah has with his mother about homosexuality.

I look forward to the sequel: Buridan’s Ass.  ;)

Now, to be fair, the book has received positive reviews. But that title and cover make it an irresistible target for my juvenile sense of humor.

Euthanasia, Playing God.

Posted on by
25

The New York Times recently released an article stating that the state of Washington had a total of 36 legal assisted suicides since the passing of its legislation last year.  I personally applaud Washington State for having the courage to allow people dignity and ease of pain. When I debate people on this subject they commonly refer to suicide as being murder of one’s self. The dogma of Dante’s Divine Comedy and its circle reserved in hell for those who leave life on their own terms has entered the collective consciousness of the religious right and made its way into politics.  The best argument I have heard against religious claims came from a PBS documentary on the subject. Watch and share your thoughts and feelings on the sensitive issue.