Governments are taking unprecedented measures to restrict travel and shut down businesses in order to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Politicians are justifying these measures by invoking emergency, even wartime, powers. What is the proper role of government during a health crisis like this one? What values should guide us in thinking about … Continue reading The Role of Government During a Health Crisis with Onkar Ghate and Greg Salmieri →

Philosophy for Living on Earth

The Role of Government During a Health Crisis with Onkar Ghate and Greg Salmieri

With the stock market now crashing and many people facing unemployment in the wake of the ongoing pandemic, governments are reacting with a variety allegedly aimed at stabilizing the markets and promoting economic security. What effects will these measures have on the economy? Will they address the root causes of the crash or might they … Continue reading The Pandemic and the Economy with Yaron Brook and Rob Tarr →

The Pandemic and the Economy with Yaron Brook and Rob Tarr

Most people think about morality as a set of commandments handed down by a god. Others believe we can get moral guidance by consulting our own feelings of sympathy for the needs and desires of other people. Are these the only two options? Does morality have to be based on faith in a higher dimension … Continue reading Is There a Rational Morality? by Ben Bayer →

Is There a Rational Morality? by Ben Bayer

The COVID-19 pandemic and the responses to it from both business and government are now dominating the headlines and overwhelming our lives. As we all begin to grapple with the wide-ranging effects of both the disease and the steps being taken to fight it, there’s a need to take a step back and survey the … Continue reading Thinking Philosophically About the Pandemic with Onkar Ghate and Gregory Salmieri →

Thinking Philosophically About the Pandemic with Onkar Ghate and Gregory Salmieri

What explains the major developments and trends that have shaped our world through the ages? Human history is complex and, obviously, there are many factors involved. And some of the questions raised are these: Is there a fundamental cause that explains the big picture? Is there an ultimate cause that directs the overall sweep of … Continue reading What Drives History? by Keith Lockitch →

What Drives History? by Keith Lockitch

Most people believe that society has a moral obligation toward its poor and its needy—and that something must be done, politically, to help them. Is this the right way to think about the poor and society? Are these issues for the whole of society to decide? Are they political problems that need to have imposed … Continue reading What Should Society Do About The Poor? by Aaron Smith →

What Should Society Do About The Poor? by Aaron Smith

Many people believe that privilege—the idea that special rights or advantages are available only to a particular person or group—is a problem. While there are advantages, such as the wealth and location of one’s parents, that are not a choice, there are reasons to be skeptical about whether or not privilege is a problem. For … Continue reading Is Privilege Real? by Gregory Salmieri →

Is Privilege Real? by Gregory Salmieri

Abortion is an important issue consistently in the public discourse. What makes it so persistent? Should there be any legal limit on abortion? Much of the discussion about abortion revolves around differing views of when life begins. Is there something significantly different about an entity before and after it’s born? Join David Birnbaum as he … Continue reading Is Abortion Immoral? →

Is Abortion Immoral?

On the issue of legal, non-medical drugs, there are at least two common perspectives at odds in our culture today: one camp contends that some drugs can beneficially “expand” one’s mind—increasing creativity, decreasing anxiety, and otherwise providing benefits that should be explored. Another side regards using mind-altering “recreational” drugs as immoral or at least morally … Continue reading Is Doing Drugs Wrong? by Onkar Ghate →

Is Doing Drugs Wrong? by Onkar Ghate

Israel is talked about often in the media, but many Americans don’t understand why we are so preoccupied with this country. Often Israel is spoken of in a negative context: boycotts at universities, condemnations by the United Nations, and so on. What makes Israel worse than other countries? On the flip side, good defenses of … Continue reading Why Should I care About Israel? with Elan Journo →

Why Should I care About Israel? with Elan Journo

Think about celebrities who tweet about their politics all the time, or think about companies who want you to buy their products because they’re supposedly eco-friendly. Some say that these are symptoms of an epidemic that’s coursing it’s way through social media and through our political discourse generally, an epidemic they call “virtue signalling”. Ben … Continue reading What’s Wrong with “Virtue Signaling”? by Ben Bayer →

What’s Wrong with “Virtue Signaling”? by Ben Bayer

In ethics, the question “Who ultimately decides what is morally right or wrong?” is commonly asked. Notice that in other areas of life there’s no issue of “who decides” what’s right or wrong. For example, if your car won’t start, you call a mechanic to inspect it. After he replaces the battery, the car works…

Who Decides What’s Right or Wrong? by Elan Journo

Every year droves of people make New Year’s resolutions, but polls suggest that four out of five people fail to keep them. One report even found that most resolutions last less than two weeks. So why are New Year’s resolutions so hard to keep? Are they just a joke and a waste of time? Are…

Why Are New Years Resolutions So Hard To Keep? by Keith Lockitch

People are at odds with one another all the time (we have wars, personal animosities, etc.) and it is generally assumed that people’s interests conflict. We are often told that the only way to have any kind of peace is to compromise—to give up our interests in deference to other people. Ayn Rand rejects this…

Do People’s Interests Have to Conflict? by Gregory Salmieri

At the turn of the millennium, two different polls were held. The question was: What’s the best English-language novel of the twentieth century? One poll questioned literary experts—they picked Ulysses by James Joyce. The second poll questioned internet users—their choice was Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. Is there any objective way to settle who is…

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Philosophy for Living on Earth

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