Derek Parfit’s Repugnant Conclusion has long been a focus area in the field of population ethics, as it seems to imply counterintuitive (or repugnant) tradeoffs when taking a utilitarian view. As Parfit states it, the Repugnant Conclusion suggests that: “For any possible population of at least ten billion people, all with a very high quality …
In “The Absurdity of Free Will”, Hugo argues that we do not have free will, as conventionally understood. The basic premise is as follows: The universe is either deterministic (can be calculated) or indeterministic (random) If the universe is deterministic, then there’s no room for us to influence it If the universe is indeterministic, then …
Free will sits among the most explored philosophical topics (among other giants like Ethics and Rationality), and for good reason, as it has seemingly direct consequences for the way we (choose to?) live our lives. The question has existed since ancient times, but recent scientific advances have added structure to the question, as we’ve discovered …
“Open your eyes, Harry.” The noise wakes me up, and I open my eyes. The light from the room floods my eyes, and then I begin to make sense of my bearings, remembering with a jolt where I am. Has the experiment worked? I see Dr. Chet looking at me intently, jotting down notes, with …
Since the time of Socrates, there has existed a sentiment among certain people that the pursuit of philosophy (including the philosophy of science) is a critical part of a worthwhile existence – summed up in Socrates quote, “The unexamined life is not worth living”. This view has its basis in human’s greater ability to understand …