In the history of ethics, the debate over the meaning of life has generated four broad positions: 1. The meaning of life is to flourish by creating value both materially and psychologically through one’s career, friendships, loves, and avocations. Examples here include Aristotelian eudaimonism, some sub-types of utilitarianism, and Objectivism.The good life should be a […]
Genghis Khan on joy and the meaning of life Read More »
In my Philosophy of Art course, we are discussing Plato’s philosophy of art, by means of selections from Statesman and Books 3 and 10 of The Republic, along with snippets from Ion, Phaedrus, and Symposium. In The Republic, Plato makes a systematic case for censoring all arts. The task of the Platonic philosopher is to
Plato on censoring artists — a summary Read More »
In this third Socratic seminar on the Best Arguments against Free-market Capitalism, we take up three arguments: a) the paternalist argument that human beings are incapable of living freely, b) the collectivist argument that wealth is a social creation (at 11 minutes), and c) the religious argument that value is not of this world (at
Three more anti-free-market arguments (UFM seminar) Read More »
Elizabeth Warren’s recent remarks offer a striking glimpse into one prominent strain of American political thought.
Elizabeth Warren and the doulos Read More »
For my Introduction to Philosophy course, a question on the final exam [pdf] was: In your judgment, what is the most dangerous book we read this semester? First give a clear and sympathetic presentation of the book’s most important themes; second, state your criterion/criteria of dangerousness; finally, explain why you think the book is dangerous.
Most dangerous philosophy book? (Spring 2011 edition) Read More »
Dr. Stephen Hicks discusses Plato’s views on education, with special focus on Plato’s Allegory of the Cave from The Republic and its implications for education. This is from Part 7 of Professor Hicks’s Philosophy of Education course. Clips 1-3: Previous: Idealist philosophy. Next: Immanuel Kant on education. Return to the Philosophy of Education page. Return
Plato on education Read More »
Stephen Hicks here discusses the Myth of Gyges. This is from Part 5 of Professor Hicks’s Philosophy of Education course. 1 Clip: Previous: Egoism’s educational mission. Next: Predation’s solution: power, aggression, win/lose. Return to the Philosophy of Education page. Return to the StephenHicks.org main page.
For my Introduction to Philosophy course, the final question on the final exam was: In your judgment, what is the most dangerous book we read this semester? Present the book’s most important themes and explain why you think it is dangerous. We read five major authors in the course: Plato’s Apology and Crito, Ayn Rand’s
What is the most dangerous philosophy book? Read More »