How does the image of the tripartite soul in Plato’s Phaedrus differ from that in the Republic? The imagery of the tripartite soul in Plato’s Phaedrus and Republic differ in terms of scene setting, dynamism and directedness. In the Phaedrus, Plato likens the soul “to the natural union of a team of winged horses and… Continue reading Q&A: Ancient Philosophy
To explore the relationship between Avicenna and Plotinus, one question needs to be clarified upfront: what does it mean to say that one philosopher owes to another? A quick answer: ‘owe’ refers to the fact that a philosopher developed particular views because of another. A proper analysis of philosophical indebtedness, however, requires a more precise… Continue reading What does the philosophy of Avicenna owe to Plotinus?
In his “Letter to Menoeceus”, Epicurus writes: “There is nothing fearful in life for one who has grasped that there is nothing fearful in the absence of life. Thus, he is a fool who says that he fears death not because it will be painful when present but because it is painful when it is… Continue reading Epicurus – Dispelling fears of death
Presocratics A History of Philosophy | 01 The Beginning of Greek Philosophy – Dr. Arthur Holmes A History of Philosophy | 02 The Moral Universe in the Presocratics – Dr. Arthur Holmes Thales of Miletus – Carneades.org Introduction to Thales, Anaximenes, and Anaximander Introduction to Parmenides – Academy of Ideas Parmenides – Angie Hobbs Introduction to Anaxagoras… Continue reading Ancient Philosophy – Videos & Links
The American philosopher David Lewis (1941 – 2001) argued that, beyond this world, the actual world, there are countless possible worlds of a certain nature. These possible worlds exist and are as real as the actual one. The inhabitants of this world are only a few compared to all the inhabitants of all the worlds.… Continue reading Possible Worlds – David Lewis
The Big Bang Theory (BBT) is a cosmological model about the origins of the Universe. Starting out from a high-density and high temperature state, the theory suggests that the Universe has been inflating over the past 13.8 billion years before developing into the present-day Universe. The idea that the Universe can be traced back to… Continue reading The Big Bang Theory – Three Pieces of Evidence
The physicist and cosmologist Max Tegmark propagates the view that the Universe can be thought of as a mathematical structure and that all mathematical structures exist in form of parallel worlds. The purpose of this essay is to sketch Tegmark main arguments and show how they substantiate Tegmark’s proposal. The idea of a close relationship… Continue reading Max Tegmark – The Mathematical (Level IV) Multiverse
Functionalism is a theory about the nature of mental states. Mental states are identified by what they do rather than by what they are made of. It is the most familiar or “received” view among philosophers of mind and cognitive sciences (Polger). The functionalist theory of mind tells us that mental states are states that… Continue reading Functionalism
The relationship between mind and body can be described with a set of three principles (Davidson 1970, p. 116): First, the Principle of Causal Interaction. It states that at least some mental events interact causally with physical events. That means that a physical event can cause a mental event and vice versa. Examples: taking an… Continue reading Anomalous Monism – David Davidson
Everyday experience suggests that mental events can cause physical events: the experience of pain typically leads to pain avoidance behaviour; the feeling of hunger makes someone searching for food; the desire for her mother’s attention makes a child cry; the decision to buy a house directs someone to consult a real estate agent. Mental causation,… Continue reading The Causal Exclusion Argument – Jaegwon Kim
Thinking About Thinking 