Ethically justifying a ban using utilitarianism & harm reduction principle

Introduction In this paper, I will argue that Kass’ public health ethics framework that Quebec considering outlawing the sale of caffeinated ‘energy’ drinks to persons under 16 is ethically justified using the utilitarianism and harm reduction principle. Caffeinated energy drinks (CEDs) are beverages that contain high levels of caffeine, stimulants, and often other substances such … Read more

Plato – contrast between Socrates and the Sophists

The Sophists influenced the cultured class in Athens. Plato showed Socrates challenging the Sophist Protagoras in arguments in his dialogue Protagoras. Plato wanted to display the contrast between Socrates and the Sophists: Socrates seeked knowledge that he did not have, Sophists claimed to have knowledge of how to live well, possess excellence and be able … Read more

Rule and act-consequentialism

Consequentialism is a moral theory like the deontological and virtue ethics approaches. They differ in terms of which object they attach moral importance to. Kant’s deontological approach views goodness as belonging to duties, acts and obligations themselves rather than their consequences. Virtue theory looks at good in relation to the character and habits of a … Read more

Compare and contrast Aristotle’s Virtue Ethics, and others

Compare and Contrast Aristotle’s Virtue Ethics, Kant’s Deontological Ethics, and Jeremy Bentham’s Utilitarian Ethics Introduction Ethics is a crucial branch of philosophy that deals with moral principles governing human behavior. Among the many ethical theories, Aristotle’s Virtue Ethics, Immanuel Kant’s Deontological Ethics, and Jeremy Bentham’s Utilitarian Ethics stand out as three of the most influential. … Read more

Should the application of gene-editing be limited?

Gene editing already has widespread applications, for example, in agriculture, and it has polarized views, with whole anti- GMO movements taking place around the world. Vandana Siva, a social activist from India heavily promotes organically- grown food and is strongly against genetically modified crops in farms (Navdanya, n.d). She believes that ‘the very idea of … Read more

Ideas of justice

In the book “Idea of Justice”, Amartya Sen argues that traditional political philosophy which talks about the just, or a set of principles which can be used to define perfectly just institutions for governing the society reveals little about injustice and how we can identify and reduce injustices. He describes the Enlightenment thinkers who wrote … Read more

Was Hitler a weak dictator?

One area of contention within the ‘Weak Dictator’ debate is surrounding Nazi racial policies, and whether the Racial Policies can be utilised as evidence for Hitler being a weak dictator. The Euthanasia T4 programme, is heavily debated on whether it shows Hitler as a weak or strong dictator. The euthanasia programme was also known as … Read more

The Equal Weight view

The Equal Weight view can be interpreted as entailing that we lack moral knowledge. However, I am now going to go on to dispute this conclusion, primarily by focusing on the definition of epistemic peers and narrowing it so that this unfortunate outcome does not arise. Elga says someone is an epistemic peer if you … Read more

Can capital punishment can be justified on moral grounds?

Utrum Whether or not it is the case that capital punishment can be justified on moral grounds. Videtur It seems to be the case that capital punishment can be justified on moral grounds as it does more good than harm. In John Stuart Mill’s “Speech in Favor of Capital Punishment,” he argues that capital punishment … Read more

Do good explanations have to be true?

As humans, we seek to uncover the meaning to everything in the universe, and this is the kind of motivation that has lead us to make discoveries such as cures or vaccines. When asked if a particular vaccine prevents small pox for example, a doctor who has done the research and has factual truth would … Read more

Socrates’ ideal city / Plato’s Republic

The ideal city, or polis, in the eyes in Socrates in Plato’s Republic is one that is just and virtuous, where every single person contributes in one way or another, is enlightened, and is aristocratic. In this city, the people are divided into three different groups, but they all have a vital role. He constructs … Read more

The use of prerogative powers under the direction of the executive

The use of prerogative powers under the direction of the executive is a contentious subject that has been long faced by both historical and contemporary political theorists. Allowing for the exercise of extra-legal powers set within John Locke’s Second Treatise of Government’s (1689) account of political authority, Lockean prerogative theory aims to set forward the … Read more

Knowledge Argument Against Physicalism

Frank Jackson’s ‘Epiphenomenal Qualia’ challenges the basic principles of physicalism through the examples of fictional characters named Mary and Fred. Jackson concludes that there are indeed non-physical qualities to experience. In reaching that conclusion, Jackson relies on the Knowledge Argument. The Knowledge Argument, a major component of explaining qualia, provides that complete physical knowledge regarding … Read more