Entries by Daphne Hanson

Discuss the philosophy of mind-body dualism in the context of contemporary neuroscience and cognitive science

Discuss the philosophy of mind-body dualism in the context of contemporary neuroscience and cognitive science. How do philosophers like René Descartes and Gilbert Ryle characterize the relationship between the mind and the body, and how does modern neuroscience challenge or support their views? What are the implications of different theories of mind-body interaction for understanding […]

Critically assess the concept of “social contract” in the political philosophy of Thomas Hobbes

Critically assess the concept of “social contract” in the political philosophy of Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau. How do these thinkers conceptualize the origins and purpose of the social contract, and what are the implications of their theories for understanding the legitimacy of political authority and the rights of citizens?

Examine the ethical implications of emerging biotechnologies

Examine the ethical implications of emerging biotechnologies, such as genetic engineering and reproductive technologies. How should we evaluate the moral permissibility of interventions like gene editing, cloning, and selective breeding? What ethical principles and considerations should guide our decision-making in the development and use of biotechnological innovations?

Explore the concept of “the sublime” in aesthetics

Explore the concept of “the sublime” in aesthetics. How do philosophers like Immanuel Kant and Edmund Burke characterize the experience of the sublime in art and nature? What distinguishes the sublime from the beautiful, and what role does the sublime play in aesthetic appreciation and the cultivation of aesthetic taste?

Discuss the problem of induction in the philosophy of science

Discuss the problem of induction in the philosophy of science. How do philosophers like David Hume and Karl Popper challenge the rationality of inductive reasoning and the justification of scientific knowledge? What alternative approaches, such as Bayesian inference and falsificationism, have been proposed to address the problem of induction?

Explore the metaphysics of time

Explore the metaphysics of time. What is the nature of time, and how do different philosophical theories (such as presentism, eternalism, and the block universe theory) account for our experience of temporal passage and the existence of past, present, and future events?