Essay on the human understanding

The concept of human understanding has been a central theme in philosophy for centuries, engaging the minds of thinkers from ancient Greece to the modern era. Human understanding refers to the cognitive processes through which we perceive, interpret, and make sense of the world around us. This essay will explore the nature of human understanding, … Read more

The Chinese Room – John Searle

The Chinese Room is a response raised by John Searle in regard to functionalism and the Turing test for machine intelligence. Searle argues against the ability of purely computational processes creating some kind of mind (Searle, 1980). Searle centres his ideas of the mind around intentionality and understanding, something that he sees a solely syntactic … Read more

The Turing test vs. Descartes’ two rules / Searle (artificial intelligence)

Descartes creates two rules to distinguish machine thinking from human thinking. The first rule is that machines ‘could never use words, or put together signs, as we do in order to declare our thoughts’ (Study Guide:105). Although he states in Discourse on a Method that machines can ‘[utter] words’ (Study Guide:105), they would never be … Read more

Can a weak form of AI consent? Attempts to strip weak AI of moral worth

The continuing advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) provides many unique and troubling ethical issues concerning the boundaries that demarcate a robot from a human being, and whether the former is worthy of any moral considerations. Notably, the potential roboticisation of the sex trade, and the introduction of nascent AI poses the question of whether a … Read more

Could a computer match a human’s extensive background of knowledge and learning?

Once the computer was successfully developed in the 1950’s, it allowed cognitive psychology to become a dominant approach in the field of Psychology. Cognition needs to be modelled to aid cognitive scientists in understanding how the brain works, to predict human behaviour and to create machines that can perform human tasks (Gentner, D., & Forbus, … Read more

Can machines think? Measuring artificial intelligence

“Can machines think?”, the notion of Artificial Intelligence was first, seriously, contemplated by Alan Turing; considered by many as the ‘father of computer science’. At first glance, especially at the time this question was first asked, one might dismiss it quickly – how can it be possible for a machine to think, they simply do … Read more

John Searle’s Chinese room & Systems / Robot / Brain Simulator Reply

In this essay, I will be outlining John Searle’s Chinese room thought experiment. Further, I will address the three major objections raised to his argument labeled the Systems Reply, Robot Reply, and Brain Simulator Reply. After addressing and carefully discussing these, I will discuss Searle’s replies to these objections and state whether or not I … Read more

Justifying Animal Use in Scientific Research

The use of animals in scientific research especially biomedical testing is still a controversial issue despite the benefits realized from it and the lives saved from the same. Society is sensitive to moral issues. Therefore, the interests of scientists in biomedical research using have indicated clearly that the use of animals in scientific research must … Read more

Cohen and Norcross on Animal Rights

Animal rights have been and continue to be heavily debated. Specifically, there has been a focus on whether or not it is morally permissible to eat meat or conduct biomedical research on animals. There are many disagreements on what treatment can be considered inhumane by moral definitions, whether animals actually have rights, and whether certain … Read more

Writing philosophy essays

Stuck for an idea for your essay? Here are some areas of philosophy that could form the basis for your next piece of work:

  • Epistemology: The nature and limits of knowledge, including questions about truth, belief, and justification.
  • Metaphysics: The nature of reality, including questions about existence, causation, and the mind-body problem.
  • Ethics: The study of moral values and principles, including questions about right and wrong, good and evil, and moral responsibility.
  • Political Philosophy: The study of government, justice, and the distribution of power in society, including questions about democracy, freedom, and social justice.
  • Aesthetics: The study of beauty, art, and taste, including questions about the nature of artistic expression, the value of aesthetic experiences, and the relationship between art and morality.
  • Logic: The study of reasoning and argumentation, including questions about the principles of sound reasoning and the relationship between language and thought.
  • Philosophy of Science: The study of the nature of scientific inquiry and the relationship between science and other areas of knowledge.
  • Existentialism: A philosophical movement that focuses on questions about human existence and the human condition, including questions about death, freedom, and the meaning of life.
  • Eastern Philosophy: The study of philosophical traditions and practices that originate in the cultures of Asia, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism.
  • Phenomenology: A philosophical approach that focuses on the study of subjective experience and consciousness, including questions about perception, intentionality, and the structure of experience.

These are just a few examples of the areas that could be discussed in an essay about philosophy. Depending on the specific focus and scope of the essay, other topics and areas of discussion could also be explored.

Sample philosophy essay titles

Having a great essay title can be the perfect starting point for your work and can help you stay focused. Here are some example titles to inspire you:

  • The Ethics of Artificial Intelligence: Exploring the Moral and Social Implications of AI
  • The Paradox of Free Will: An Examination of the Tension Between Determinism and Human Agency
  • The Existentialist Dilemma: Navigating the Absurdity and Uncertainty of Human Existence
  • Eastern Philosophy and the Western Mind: Comparing and Contrasting Eastern and Western Approaches to Philosophy
  • The Problem of Evil: Exploring the Relationship Between God, Evil, and Human Suffering
  • The Philosophy of Mind: Examining the Nature of Consciousness and the Relationship Between Mind and Body
  • Ethics in a Global Context: Addressing the Moral and Social Challenges of a Complex World
  • The Philosophy of Science: Investigating the Nature and Limits of Scientific Knowledge
  • The Meaning of Life: A Philosophical Inquiry into the Purpose and Value of Human Existence
  • The Philosophy of Art: Exploring the Relationship Between Aesthetics, Ethics, and Creativity.