Idea.informer.com RSS - Philosophy In Action

Is it wrong for an atheist to pray?

Fri, 18 May 2012 09:51:15 -0400

I used to be a Christian, but I've not believed in God for many years. However, I still pray when I'm under stress, even though I know that it doesn't accomplish anything. What's the harm in praying to a non-existent being?

What advice should I give to a friend considering breast implants?

Tue, 15 May 2012 12:44:26 -0400

A friend of mine is considering breast implants, purely for cosmetic reasons. In other words, she's not having reconstructive surgery after a mastectomy: she just wants larger breasts. Do you think that purely cosmetic breast implant surgery is moral? Is it wise? What advice should I give her, if any?

What's the proper response to the dissolution of a friendship within a social group?

Sat, 12 May 2012 08:51:55 -0400

I loved your your May 6th, 2012 discussion of "unforgivable acts," and I have a follow-up question. Now -- after cutting my losses with a best friend, after years of giving second chances, talking with him repeatedly, and determining that there's no more basis for a friendship -- how do I judge mutual friends of ours? Some of them think that my actions weren't justified. Some resent me for breaking up a group of friends. Many want me to either make up with this person or tolerate him at gatherings. Is this reaction by these mutual friends fair? How should I respond to them?

Should a person allow his ideology to set his default positions?

Wed, 09 May 2012 09:55:06 -0400

When people adopt a religion, philosophy, or politics as their own, they often don't think through every issue -- or they've not done so yet. Does accepting the various positions of that ideology as a kind of default amount to accepting them on faith? Or does the principle of "giving the benefit of the doubt" apply here? What should a person do when uncertain? Is full understanding of and agreement with every position required for a person to be an adherent or proponent of some ideology?

Are sex-selective abortions wrong?

Fri, 04 May 2012 13:38:52 -0400

In Canada, some hospitals refuse to tell prospective parents the sex of their fetus when discovered in a second-trimester ultrasound, because the members of many immigrant groups will selectively abort girls. Apparently, such sex-selective abortions are common enough that the birth demographics in some areas are clearly skewed. Are such abortions wrongs? Should doctors withhold information about the sex of a fetus in an effort to stop the practice? Could a doctor legitimately choose to perform abortions for any reason at 8 weeks, but refuse to do so at 21 weeks simply because the parents don't want a girl? If so, what's the moral difference between those two situations?

When does humor work against my values?

Fri, 04 May 2012 11:53:54 -0400

Sometimes I wonder whether my jokes work against what I value. (For example, what's the most selfish sea creature? An Objectifish!) How do I draw the line?

What are the best strategies for dealing with weakness of will?

Fri, 04 May 2012 06:16:16 -0400

I want to go to sleep earlier and wake up earlier, and I know it would be a good thing to do, for reasons both of health and productivity. Yet I often have a problem with actually going to sleep before midnight. Things tempt me to stay awake, like the internet, videogames, or just having a bit of "me time" after a day at the university. Occasionally, I have similar problems in regard to work: there are things that seem more tempting to do, and be it only because the current state of a project costs so much effort that it brings more pain than pleasure. Are there general strategies to deal with temptation and overcome weakness of will?

Can an ordinary person do something unforgivable?

Wed, 02 May 2012 08:16:14 -0400

Could a friend act in a way that would make rational forgiveness impossible? Might a person do something so hurtful or unfair that you couldn't ever trust them again? In such cases, how should the person wronged acted towards the unforgivable person?

Why does fiction arouse such a powerful emotional response?

Tue, 01 May 2012 11:49:41 -0400

Why are people moved emotionally by literature and movies, even though they know that they're fictional? Shouldn't people respond emotionally only to real events, not products of imagination? Is there a rational basis for our emotional response to fiction?

How can a person improve his efficiency in writing?

Sat, 28 Apr 2012 19:22:28 -0400

How can a person measure and increase his efficiency in writing -- whether for blog posts, essays, papers, or anything else? Should a person set a goal of completing a given writing in a given time frame? Should he track time spent? Should he limit editing? Or something else?

What's wrong with multiculturalism?

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 18:50:38 -0400

Many people think that "multiculturalism" just means being tolerant of people with different cultural practices than your own. Is that right? What is multiculturalism? What are some examples of it? What's wrong with it, if anything?

Morality in video games

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 01:53:28 -0400

Most games that feature a morality mechanic either let you be Super Jesus from the planet Kantian or Caligula mac Nietzsche. Usually represented by a sliding scale where being generally nice for a while can make up for burning down an orphanage. Divine felines indeed. But what would be a good way to represent a rational morality in video games? What kind of choices could be put in such a game? Do you have any ideas for a mechanic to replace the karma barometer?

Can parenting can be a central purpose in life?

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 19:13:37 -0400

Many people think that only a career can serve as a person's central purpose. They think that a central purpose must be remunerative, and that it can't be merely temporary. Is that right? Can parenting be a person's central purpose, even if only for a few years?

Can a person's central purpose change over the course of his life?

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 19:13:37 -0400

Many people think that a person's central purpose shouldn't change with time. Hence, they say that parenting, hobbies, and other activities outside of one's career cannot serve as a central purpose. But I think that a central purpose can change, often for good reasons. As situations change, we learn more and have new experiences, it's only natural that our central purpose might change. Is that right?

How should a person respond when pressured to reveal private information?

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 18:48:27 -0400

Some people think themselves entitled to know about the private lives of their co-workers, acquaintances, family, or friends. They won't take a hint, and they might even demand the information in front of other people or in a public forum. How should a person who wishes to protect his privacy respond to such invasive inquiries?