Philosophical applications in everyday life
DETERMINISM VS. LIBERTARIANISM The notion that we control our destinies is a very difficult feeling to shake. At this moment in time, as I sit at my desk typing this article on my laptop, I feel like I could stop writing at any moment if I wanted to. I could get up and eat… Continue Reading Should All Criminals Be Pardoned? Part II
INTRODUCTION TO DETERMINISM Last spring, I listened to a talk given by a lawyer who specialized in capital punishment cases. He morally opposed the death penalty because he believed that his clients’ crimes were not a reflection of their inherent “goodness” but rather a reflection of their environment and upbringing. The lawyer elaborated that… Continue Reading Should All Criminals Be Pardoned? Part I
HOW TWO OPPOSING DECISIONS CAN BOTH BE THE RIGHT DECISION Aristotle offered a slightly different take on the moral compass. He believed in virtue theory, which is about turning yourself into a virtuous person so that the “right” decisions come naturally. Aristotle believed that the human function was to be virtuous and that there… Continue Reading The Engineer’s Dilemma Part III
WHY YOU SHOULDN’T KILL PEOPLE THAT ANNOY YOU Let us revisit the engineer’s dilemma laid out in the first segment of this essay. However, this time, let us imagine what a layperson not familiar with philosophy would decide. In the case of the engineer who is offered a well-paying a job to build a… Continue Reading The Engineer’s Dilemma Part II
HOW STEALING CAN BE VIRTUOUS Suppose you are an engineer supporting your family. However, you’ve hit tough times, money is very tight, and you don’t think you will have enough to pay your bills next month. You then get a job offer by a major corporation to build a coal-based power plant to power… Continue Reading The Engineer’s Dilemma Part I