List of unsolved problems in philosophy. This is a list of some of the major unsolved problems in philosophy. Clearly, unsolved philosophical problems exist in the lay sense (e.g. "What is the meaning of life? ", "Where did we come from? ", "What is reality? ", etc.). However, professional philosophers generally accord serious philosophical problems specific names or questions, which indicate a particular method of attack or line of reasoning. Aesthetics[edit] Essentialism[edit] In art, essentialism is the idea that each medium has its own particular strengths and weaknesses, contingent on its mode of communication. Art objects[edit] This problem originally arose from the practice rather than theory of art.
While it is easy to dismiss these assertions, further investigation[who?] Epistemology[edit] Epistemological problems are concerned with the nature, scope and limitations of knowledge. Gettier problem[edit] In response to Gettier's article, numerous philosophers have offered modified criteria for "knowledge. " Qualia[edit] [edit] Wattage. What Do You Care What Other People Think? Courtesy ofEverydayWonderland.com What would your life be like if you did not care what other people thought of you? If you were completely independent of people’s opinions, good or bad, and would go about your day without so much as a single self-conscious decision. It would be wonderful freedom, of course. You would feel free to do what you wanted, and have a clarity of mind that comes with not being constantly preoccupied with thinking about the judgment of those around you.
Looking at our current state of affairs, it would seem that the culture we humans have created for ourselves is driven by “what other people think,” the tension between the desire for approval and the fear of disapproval. Businesses, families, friendships, sports, politics; everything is, if not completely driven by this tension, at the very least heavily influenced by it. Freedom from the game And there is the key to your freedom. “Professor Feynman?” Ten of the greatest: 30-second theories. By JOHN GRIBBIN, Visiting Fellow in Astronomy at Sussex University UPDATED: 21:24 GMT, 26 June 2010 From the principle of least action, to Richard Dawkins' memetics theory through to the placebo effect, John Gribbin discusses the greatest 30-second theories The physicist Richard Feynman proved that all 'indirect' routes interfere with each other, leaving only one viable path - the quickest This is a fancy way of saying that nature is lazy.
Things happen in the way that requires least effort, which is why, among other things, light travels in straight lines. Memetics is the term coined by Richard Dawkins to describe 'cultural replicators' that copy and transmit biological information Whenever we copy habits, skills, stories or any kind of information from person to person, we're dealing in memes. We're all familiar with the idea of a magnetic-field, the region around a magnet where its influence is felt. Is all life on Earth descended from the bacteria left behind by aliens after a picnic?
Modern Enlightenment. The Egg. The Egg By: Andy Weir You were on your way home when you died. It was a car accident. Nothing particularly remarkable, but fatal nonetheless. You left behind a wife and two children. And that’s when you met me. “What… what happened?” “You died,” I said, matter-of-factly. “There was a… a truck and it was skidding…” “Yup,” I said. “I… I died?” “Yup. You looked around. “More or less,” I said.
“Are you god?” “Yup,” I replied. “My kids… my wife,” you said. “What about them?” “Will they be all right?” “That’s what I like to see,” I said. You looked at me with fascination. “Don’t worry,” I said. “Oh,” you said. “Neither,” I said. “Ah,” you said. “All religions are right in their own way,” I said. You followed along as we strode through the void. “Nowhere in particular,” I said. “So what’s the point, then?” “Not so!” I stopped walking and took you by the shoulders. “You’ve been in a human for the last 48 years, so you haven’t stretched out yet and felt the rest of your immense consciousness. “Oh lots. George Carlin – comedian – could write something so very eloquent. This is a masterpiece. If you have not read it, take the time to read it now. GEORGE CARLIN (His wife died a short time ago …..and George followed her, dying July 2008) George Carlin - comedian Isn’t it amazing that George Carlin – comedian of the 70′s and 80′s – could write something so very eloquent…and so very appropriate.
A Message by George Carlin: The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways , but narrower viewpoints. We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We’ve learned how to make a living, but not a life.
We’ve cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. George Carlin Like this: Related. Buddha (The Awakened One) | The Essence of Buddha's Teaching. The Four Noble Truths: 1. All things and experiences are marked by suffering/ disharmony/ frustration (dukkha). 2.
The arising of suffering/ disharmony/ frustration comes from desire/ craving/ clinging. 3. 4. The eightfold path to the cessation of suffering: 1. . • the truth about suffering. . . . • everything is impermanent and changes; • there is no separate individual self- this is an illusion. 2. . • give up what is wrong and evil; • undertake what is good; • abandon thoughts that have to do with bringing suffering to any conscious being; cultivate thoughts of loving kindness, that are based on caring about others' suffering, and sympathetic joy in others' happiness. 3.
. • Abstain from telling lies. • Abstain from talk that brings harm or discredit to others (such as backbiting or slander) or talk that creates hatred or disharmony between individuals and groups. • Abstain from harsh, rude, impolite, malicious, or abusive language. • Abstain from idle, useless, and foolish babble and gossip. 4. 5. 6. Moral Nihilism and Human Well-Being. I feel the need to clear a few things up about moral nihilism and some of the arguments against it. Then, I plan on kind of tying it together with a recent lecture by Sam Harris in one of his latest TED Talks. Here's the main message of moral nihilism: There are no true or false moral statements. A moral statement pertains to what can be perceived as being good or perceived as being bad. The reason there are no true or false moral statements is because these statements are not truth-apt; in other words, they cannot be falsified. If I say, "One ought to beat up people", there is no objective standard to tell me not to do it besides evolutionary psychology which tells most of us that this is a bad thing to do.
However, we can't derive an ought from an is; just because we evolved to frown upon beating up people in general does not mean it is objectively wrong for everybody because morality depends on the individual's capacity to comprehend moral ideas. Okay, now on to human well-being!