LOGIC IS NOT PRACTICALWho needs logic? Logic is but an entrapment - a false sense of security to let us rest easy at night. Countless numbers take solace in the world in which we live, a world we know virtually nothing about, by forcing themselves to believe that if something is intangible, or uni...

The author, Lois Lowry, develops many interesting thoughts and issues for the responder to consider which do lead to a broadened understanding of the self and world. The concept of euthanasia and suicide are an interesting concept of this book. An important part of building a utopia, in this book ...

Is There a Proper Death? The statement of views in assisted suicide is enormously uncomplicated. One side of the argument states that assisted suicide should be acceptable because they no person who is terminally ill, should live in pain. Yes, this does seem logical and compassionate but why shoul...

Technology and issues of human nature At the beginning of the film, the proto-human's contact with the monolith is shown as being a kind of blessed inspiration that leads to their use of bones as tools. It is the birth of the relationship between humans and technology and the role it plays in our l...

Human Evolution Human evolution is the theory that states that humans developed from primates millions of years ago. Generation by generation the genetic composition of Primates changed which eventually created humans today. There are many factors and proofs to justify this theory. The main fact...

There are two main areas of which knowledge can be obtained; they are from a scientific and artistic point of view. It has been argued that the true form of knowledge is acquired from science, but artists also play an important role in understanding the world, which surrounds us. The scientific vi...

When people discuss god/gods/divinity, it seems that the intent is always to show the supernatural beings as loving and watchful of humans. There seems to always be the desire to see divinity as the ultimate dispenser of justiceâ€"when humans are cruel, demanding, selfish, w...

Thinking about religion can often be a complex task. The same can be said about science. I think that in his Ideas and Opinions Albert Einstein does both effectively. After reading the selections on religion I was delighted to find someone who thought of religion in terms of logic. I also enjoye...

King Arthur lives on into the modern world and beyond. Arthur embodied many qualities that were quintessential for being a king in the middle ages: chivalry, honor, valor, compassion and bravery. However, it is interesting to note that his utmost qualities also led to the downfall of his rei...

EqualityIs the pursuit of equality a worthy ethical goal? No it's not because in reality people don't think logically about detailed issues in life which Peter Singer brings up in the book. Singer is regarded as a rationalist. He supports a philosophical system based on reason rather than on sentime...

Moral Theories Philosophy has for thousands of years attempted to tell us how to live morally. In this attempt there have been two major types of theories, skeptical and non-skeptical. To generalize skeptical theories conclude that ultimately we cannot compose a logical moral theory that we can a...

It is almost contrived to say that history can educate the leaders and key thinkers of the present, yet the phrase "learn from the past" appears in nearly every history book's introduction. With all the historians and well-read politicians in this society, hasn't anyone been ab...

Teiresias examines the difference between right and wrong as if the two concepts are two sides of a coin. In reality, good and evil, right and wrong, true and false, are not so clearly delineated. Teiresias does not realize that his observation if applied as a general rule, would create the disastro...

Plato vs. Aquinas Knowledge, or the ability to know, is both abstract and concrete in concept. Both Plato and Aquinas agree on the meaning of knowledge. How do humans distinguish the color red as red or a chair as a chair? These distinguished "forms", as Plato and Aquinas would characterize t...

It is said that going back to school is a journey to a new world of enrichment. It is a garden where the classroom grows one\'s thoughts and dreams. It is a school building where one constructs new plans for the future. And it is a tower of learning where one can climb as high as one wishes. Thus, t...

There are two classical theories of cognitive development. The one that I will focus on is Piaget's theory of cognitive development. Jean Piaget, a Swiss, educated, mollusk biologist lived from 1896 to 1980. He hypothesized that learning is a physical, biological function of dealing with succes...

Abortion is a very complex subject that can create many different questions and answers. In today's society abortion has become more common. I think abortion is right, based on the circumstances of the pregnancy and the fact that it is a person's right to do what they will with their body. S...

I see no problem with in vitro fertilization when used to circumvent the inability to create children. Likewise, using selective breeding to reduce the chances of disease is also a very noble thing to do. One could argue that it would be immoral to not perform such actions if one has the means to ...

Sir Thomas More ranks in the upper echelon of heroes of the humanist movement. His greatest work, Utopia, focused on people's curiosity concerning the New World. The premise of Utopia is a conversation that More had with Raphael Hythlodaeus, a sailor who traveled with Amerigo Vespucci to disc...

Beyond Freedom & Dignity In B. F. Skinner's book, Beyond Freedom & Dignity, he discussed our culture strictly through a behaviorist's point of view. That is, a point of view where man is viewed primarily as an animal, the "being" aspect of a "human being" is dropped from the picture. ...

Artists in this century have a long and rich, and problematic heritage on which to draw. As an artist I have been influenced by others before me and by the world around me. The technology that has been introduced into art is both a problem and a challenge for artists as it changes the meanin...

"To be or not to be – that is [definitely] the question." The idea of suicide is an important theme in William Shakespeare's Hamlet: Hamlet says several times that he wishes to kill himself, and Ophelia's death has been interpreted as suicidal by many critics (and, indeed, by on...

Human beings are very inquisitive creatures by nature. Since the dawn of mankind, the basis for existence has been relentlessly sought. Everyone has differing views and everyone is "right" according to him or herself. So, what does that mean? Why do people believe the things they do? M...

Are Words Weapons? I believe that words can indeed murder the human heart. All too often I see someone put another kid down because of something he did wrong. It can be as little as tripping on the stairs and someone yelling "You clux. Man are you dumb." This can be considered a joke mos...

Lord of the Flies What is man's human nature? Is it order and government or is it chaos and anarchy? The general question is this is man good or bad? According to William Golding man's human nature is defective, corrupted, basically bad. In his book Lord Of The Flies, Golding clearly demonstrat...