Let's Talk About Philosophy!

      When politicians sit down in Congress to debate over a new law, the question of how it will affect future generations is always brought up. It is the center for many movements and reforms, and in our daily lives we often think of the future. In attempt to protect future generations, we may feel obligated to conserve resources, control population growth, and reform social justice issues.      However, it is inevitable that at some point the world will cease to exist. The human species will die out. But when will that be? Tomorrow? In 20 years? 2000 years? It is impossible to know, but one day it will happen. It is natural to have the "survival" instinct, and to reproduce, continuing the the human race. Although when looking through a philosophical lens one asks the question "Would it be bad if there were no future peoples?"      After reading  "Energy Policy and the Further Future" by Derek Parfit, the Risky Policy would increa...

      When I think of my life when I was 10 years old, I barely recognize myself. I have grown up, and I am nowhere near done growing (is anyone ever done?). My childhood was filled with love and I was lucky enough to grow up with a supportive, well-off family. However, I had issues that I had to deal with by myself. Between the time I was 10 and 18, I went through things that changed me as a person. I am certainly not the same person that I was at 10 years old, and I am grateful for that.     Why did I change? I personally try not to point a finger at specific situations, but when people experience pain they always change. Throughout the years I have realized to accept these hardships as a blessing, because they make you stronger and better you as a person. They make up your identity.      But, this brings me to a problem with personal identity. If we change as a person, then are we responsible for our actions from the past? Are the "memories" th...

      After reading Critchley's article, it shows one how philosophy is connected to the world all around us. A pandemic is something so rare that it is hard to process exactly what is occuring around the world. Many have felt strange feelings such as being on edge, unsure, and extremely stressed. But, once these feelings are analyzed down to basic philosophy, it is clear to see why these feelings exist in the midst of COVID-19.       Critchley characterizes anxiety as a state in which the particular facts of the world recede from view. Everything feels uncanny and strange. On the contrary, fear is our instinctual reaction to an actual threat in the world. This fear comes from real things in the world that are an immediate threat to us. So, in simple terms, anxiety is a state based on deep rooted, made-up scenarios that cause one to become on edge and stressed, whereas fear is based on a real object.       In his article, Critchley...