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Philosophy/Questions Answered by Expert Steven R. Storch
| Subject | Date Asked |
| interconnectiveness of everything. | 11/27/2011 |
| Q: many people would say that everything that exist in nature, life, universe is connected in some way. ... A: The answer depends upon who you ask. Ask a materialist (typical modern science approach) and the ... | |
| hidden knowledge | 11/27/2011 |
| Q: let's say i have zero apples in my hands. what does it mean? does it mean apples don't exist? or ... A: This overlaps with one of your previous questions. The actual state of affairs in the world, e.g. ... | |
| connectedness/universe | 11/26/2011 |
| Q: how is everything in the universe connected? if everything is connected, how can anything be ... A: In some sense, everything is connected. From modern physics to mystic spirituality, both argue that ... | |
| duality of nature | 11/26/2011 |
| Q: do most human societies believe in the duality of nature? such as masculine/feminine, ... A: All human societies necessarily have opposing concepts in their culture/vocabulary. However, there ... | |
| Philosophy | 11/15/2011 |
| Q: I do not quite understand how the establishment of a civil society creates morality. My philosophy ... A: Morality is simply the rules that govern behavior in a given culture, at a given time. Or in other ... | |
| advice | 11/10/2011 |
| Q: Storch, I hope you are well. I know you do not do homework questions (and frankly I am not sure if ... A: I haven't read it but the only major work that I can recall that Engels wrote independently from ... | |
| truth/consciousness | 11/2/2011 |
| Q: Is the center of all knowledge/truth related to consciousness?? Is consciousness related to truth? ... A: What a great set of follow up thoughts. You are at the heart of perennial metaphysical questions ... | |
| truth/consciousness | 10/28/2011 |
| Q: Is the center of all knowledge/truth related to consciousness?? Is consciousness related to truth? ... A: Sorry for the delay. My e-mail sometimes filters out allexperts.com messages. Truth has nothing to ... | |
| philosophy and terminology ( | 10/19/2011 |
| Q: I am a political science and also a philosophy major in college, and am a senior. I am currently ... A: Reading philosophy can be very difficult. Each tradition, e.g. the rationalists, the empiricists, ... | |
| Reincarnation. | 9/25/2011 |
| Q: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reincarnation Scientifically it has till not proved till date that ... A: From a scientific perspective, the laws of conservation of matter and of energy require that the ... | |
| Famous People with Disablities | 8/15/2011 |
| Q: I sometimes wonder those Great People like Stevie Wonder Musician), Stephen Hawkings ... A: Of course determination, socio-economic circumstances, and a host of other factors determine whether ... | |
| language/object of reality | 8/1/2011 |
| Q: What is language in relation to the object it is describing? For example, if I draw a very simple ... A: In modern linguistics, there is a very important distinction, a distinction that carries over to ... | |
| the conscious/unconscious | 7/27/2011 |
| Q: What does it mean for the mind to be unconscious? Isn't the mind by its own definition, awareness? ... A: The terms "unconscious" "awareness" are often vague, especially when used in the context of ... | |
| Rationality, reason and logic | 6/13/2011 |
| Q: I have been trying to find accurate definitions of rationality, reason and logic. What I have ... A: Logic is the science of evaluating arguments and the pursuit of the perfection of the criteria of ... | |
| Philosophy of science | 5/13/2011 |
| Q: In science, especially science research, there is often the challenge of reconciling phenomena at ... A: The only thing I can think of is the ongoing pursuit for a unified theory that links all the known ... | |
| something/nothing | 3/22/2011 |
| Q: Does the term "nothing" contradict itself? "Nothing" can be defined as the lack of existence or ... A: Strictly speaking, a term cannot contradict itself. Only a proposition may contradict another ... | |
| selling of products | 1/1/2011 |
| Q: Is a company being moral if they expect the use of their product to benefit people, such as the use ... A: Should a business make money, or create world that is more pleasant to be a member of ? Robert ... | |
| holism/reductionism | 11/27/2010 |
| Q: in order to discover knowledge, which is more effective, "holism" (the whole is greater than the ... A: A non-reductionist approach is always better, nothing gets lost in the reduction. Can't help with ... | |
| Intelligence without a designer | 11/19/2010 |
| Q: I was wondering why we are limited to the dichotomy between believing in a designer and not ... A: Mike, Excellent reasoning. You are correct that there need not be a dichotomy between designer/no ... | |
| group ethics | 10/31/2010 |
| Q: What is a good book on the basics of ethics in groups? For example, what does an individual owe to ... A: The principles of Ethics are universal so they would apply to groups in the same way as to ... | |
| Kantian ethics | 10/22/2010 |
| Q: I am looking for a good book on Ethics and Kant seems to play a major historical role. Ideally, the ... A: Sandel has a recent book: Justice, what's the right thing to do. Very approachable, especially on ... | |
| Rationality and Logic | 10/12/2010 |
| Q: I am a physics undergraduate student and have read very little in philosophy, infact mostly about ... A: You are presuming that rationality is arbitrarily defined and, consequently, that everything that ... | |
| Hegel's Dialectics | 9/30/2010 |
| Q: I have a question about the objectivity of Hegel's dialectics. For some reason I feel like there ... A: Sorry for the delay in answering. AOL email is spotty sometimes. Just got notice of your follow-up ... | |
| Hegel's Dialectics | 9/29/2010 |
| Q: I have a question about the objectivity of Hegel's dialectics. For some reason I feel like there ... A: Be careful in reducing Hegel's dialectic to the standard thesis/antithesis/synthesis formula. ... | |
| Categorical Imperative | 9/22/2010 |
| Q: I'm having a hard time understanding many of the theories in my college Ethics class. My question ... A: First off, let's be clear about imperatives. An imperative is some that should be done, a command. ... | |
| Altruism | 7/27/2010 |
| Q: It is my belief that there are no truly altruistic acts, that, in some way, everything we do that is ... A: Not my definition and alas, this is a typical problem that may occur if everyone isn't clear on the ... | |
| Altruism | 7/27/2010 |
| Q: It is my belief that there are no truly altruistic acts, that, in some way, everything we do that is ... A: If you ask someone who lives in a mode of egoism ("everything I do is for me, even acts of kindness ... | |
| why do we judge things? | 6/11/2010 |
| Q: What is the purpose of judging things? Judging/criticizing/rating things is part of life, but ... A: From an evolutionary perspective there are many reasons for judging. 1. selecting a mate with the ... | |
| lack of something | 6/11/2010 |
| Q: I have a question. I heard of this saying " The lack of something does not necessarily mean the ... A: The absence of conclusive positive evidence, by itself, does not constitute conclusive negative ... | |
| Aristotle's "Physics" | 6/9/2010 |
| Q: In Book II of "Physics," what does Aristotle mean when he says that nature is like a doctor ... A: Sorry for the delay. Remember that Aristotle didn't have the benefit of Newtonian physics in his ... | |
| Kant’s Phenomenal/Noumenal Distinction | 5/31/2010 |
| Q: I read an argument that attempts to refute Kant’s phenomenal/noumenal distinction. Here it is: ... A: This issue could form the basis of a doctoral dissertation (and I'm sure it has been for many). The ... | |
| opposites and duality | 4/28/2010 |
| Q: Does everything in nature( and existence) involve duality? If nature is a machine based on ... A: Kevin, You ask a fundamental metaphysical question. The short answer is that with the mind, there ... | |
| famous philosopher quote | 4/24/2010 |
| Q: Do you know which philosopher talked about "the good of many over the good of a few? Thanks. A: You are probably thinking of the early Utilitarian philosophers, either Jeremy Bentham or John ... | |
| Research | 4/10/2010 |
| Q: I've got two questions if you don't mind. One, have you heard the 'ol story that basically goes ... A: The story is an old zen parable. You are correct in observing that the worlds wisdom traditions ... | |
| Primary way in which we know | 4/9/2010 |
| Q: Do you think the primary way in which we come to know is through reason and introspection, or ... A: Why limit the source of knowledge to only one of these? Why can't it be both, along with other ... | |
| truth | 2/20/2010 |
| Q: We all seek the truth in its various forms. But when we know something with our senses or even with ... A: The short answer is that our senses and what we think or believe have absolutely nothing to do with ... | |
| epistemology | 2/15/2010 |
| Q: What is epistemology A: Epistemology is the branch of philosophy that attempts to answer fundamental questions about the ... | |
| albert camus | 12/6/2009 |
| Q: I have been reading "The Myth of Sisyphus" by Albert Camus and have a few questions. I have kind of ... A: Absurdity is one of the fundamental themes that runs through all existential philosophy, although ... | |
| albert camus | 12/5/2009 |
| Q: I have been reading "The Myth of Sisyphus" by Albert Camus and have a few questions. I have kind of ... A: You can't ever know what someone is truly like. Never, ever. The best you can get is a general ... | |
| Objects and Identity | 11/28/2009 |
| Q: How are you doing? I would like to ask you this question. If two objects which are separated at a ... A: Two objects separated by a distance can't have exactly the same properties since their spatial ... | |
| evaluating the plausiblity and fallacies | 11/26/2009 |
| Q: an article written by A. Blakeslee argues: If there is contempt for laws, then it is dangerous, and ... A: If C then D If S then C Therefore, If S, then D. Perfectly valid argument but you are correct in ... | |
| Karl jaspers | 11/25/2009 |
| Q: I heard that Karl Jaspers Philosophy is a call for taking social responsibilities. Is it true? Did ... A: Jaspers had a disdain for academic philosophers and viewed universities with suspicion, as did ... | |
| Existentialism | 11/19/2009 |
| Q: Sir, did any existentialist speak about social responsibility and asked to get off our comfortable ... A: Jean-Paul Sartre is probably the best example of a socially active existentialist philosopher. He ... | |
| "It's all in Plato" | 11/13/2009 |
| Q: "It's all in Plato...what DO they teach them in school these days?" is what the old Professor in CS ... A: It's just a general reference, actually a common statement among philosophers, and CS Lewis was a ... | |
| opinions | 11/7/2009 |
| Q: Steven--- If 2 people have a different opinion about the same thing, does that mean one of them is ... A: What a great question. In order to answer it, one must be clear about opinion, belief, truth, ... | |
| Agnostic Existentialism? | 10/10/2009 |
| Q: I have recently taken and interest in Agnostic Existentialism, but I can't seem to find much ... A: The best introduction is going to be Jean-Paul Sartre's essay, "Existentialism is Humanism." You ... | |
| Metaphysics | 8/19/2009 |
| Q: Culture can affect what we see and understand but which philosopher talks about culture and ... A: There are scores who talk about culture affecting perception...Nietzsche, Husserl, Heidegger, ... | |
| Metaphysics | 8/12/2009 |
| Q: Berkeley proposed that what we perceived is in our mind. However, since perception based on the ... A: Yes, the only perceptions we have are of ideas, not physical objects. We don't have chairs or books ... | |
| Kant's transcendental epistemology / circular arguments | 8/10/2009 |
| Q: Mr. Storch -- Here's the question I posted to Mr. Motta, who suggested I ask you. Hi! 1) Please ... A: 1. In the western tradition, "axiomatic" epistemology has been the standard from Plato and Aristotle ... | |
| Consciousness in Animals | 6/28/2009 |
| Q: In John Searle's book "Mind, Language, and Society," p.63, he writes the following regarding the ... A: Consciousness is present along the entire scale of living creatures. Just think about the criteria ... | |
| Rorty and Kant | 6/16/2009 |
| Q: I think that Rorty's image of the mirror says that the mind is not like a mirror which passively and ... A: Charles, I must admit that I'm not a Rorty expert but your synopsis seems on point As for Kant, he ... | |
| Descartes and Religion | 6/16/2009 |
| Q: I hope this is your area or please tell me if you know of any good online philosophy forum... What ... A: Reason was "God-given." Descartes argues that the idea of God is innate (a priori) and that God ... | |
| Phenomenology, Husserl & Philosophy of the Mind | 6/11/2009 |
| Q: Good Day Mr. Storch, I am a student of philosophy at Victoria University, Wellington New Zealand, ... A: My first inclination would be to get a copy of the next philosophy conference proceedings. Here in ... | |
| Descartes and Religion | 6/6/2009 |
| Q: I hope this is your area or please tell me if you know of any good online philosophy forum... What ... A: Charles, Sorry for the delayed response. Your mentioning of the Thirty Years War brings up some ... | |
| justification | 4/29/2009 |
| Q: I've been reading your responses and I would like to get your opinion on something Do you think ... A: Not sure what you mean by "justified." What I think you are trying to get at is can we ultimately ... | |
| perception and reality | 4/2/2009 |
| Q: I would like to ask you a question about a hypothetical situation. One person is inside a dark room ... A: This is really a very involved question despite its simplicity. The answer, however, depends upon ... | |
| Logical consistency | 3/15/2009 |
| Q: How important is it to be logically consistent? A: Absolutely essential...one could write a treatise on the importance of being logically consistent. ... | |
| Fallacious reasoning | 1/30/2009 |
| Q: I'm trying to think of the technical phrases (or Latin term if applicable) for the type of hazy ... A: In the first argument, the arguer, rather than providing the correct citation from the bible to ... | |
| Philosophy | 1/10/2009 |
| Q: I'm currently taking a philosophy class and I am having a bit of a hard time understanding the ... A: Every argument has two parts: a premise set and the conclusion. The conclusion is typically the ... | |
| hi | 1/9/2009 |
| Q: Are you familiar with Jesse Prinz, emotional construction of morals. If so i just finished reading ... A: I just read a bit of his work. There is some truth to his empirically based assertions however, his ... | |
| Help | 11/6/2008 |
| Q: I am curious thats why i am sking this type of question and this is not a homework question. What ... A: Everything exists, or more accurately, everything is real. However, there are different levels of ... | |
| Should I ignore this 2 website? | 8/3/2008 |
| Q: Should I trust this 2 website? I have encounter this 2 website, which question reality once again, ... A: Do you think that the external world is really like what we see? Yes. Because what I see can be ... | |
| Should I ignore this 2 website? | 8/2/2008 |
| Q: Should I trust this 2 website? I have encounter this 2 website, which question reality once again, ... A: The view you discuss is reductionist, i.e., it reduces all of experience to "ideas" and then claims ... | |
| John Locke and Plato: theories on language and essences | 7/28/2008 |
| Q: I don't know if you know anything about John Locke or Plato but I'm trying to study John Locke's ... A: Essences aren't about language for Plato, they are about reality, the ultimate form of reality. I ... | |
| hi | 7/16/2008 |
| Q: I am studying the laws of philosophy and currently focusing on utilitarian and punishment. I ... A: Only under a crude understanding of utilitarianism would someone try to justify punishing an ... | |
| what is the real world like? | 7/2/2008 |
| Q: ecently I come across a article in the internet, it is about human perception of the world and his ... A: Rambo, You have stumbled upon some of the fundamental and perennial philosophical questions that man ... | |
| Numbers | 7/2/2008 |
| Q: What are numbers? A: I answered this question a few days ago but it didn't seem to get posted...sorry if this response is ... | |
| Metaphysical dualism as realism. | 6/15/2008 |
| Q: I am familiar with physics, engineering, mathematics, philosophy, and religion, so whatever you say, ... A: But once, it is included, and forms a macroscopic-microscopic-matter-energy-correlation-time-space ... | |
| Metaphysical dualism as realism. | 6/14/2008 |
| Q: I am familiar with physics, engineering, mathematics, philosophy, and religion, so whatever you say, ... A: Hmmm... I think your model of experience tends to conflate interior and exterior by reducing the ... | |
| Feuerbach | 4/27/2008 |
| Q: What is another philosopher that I can compare to Feuerbach's new philosophy. Plese help thank you. A: Feuerbach was very much influenced by Hegel (see Phenomenology of Spirit) and even studied under him ... | |
| Another Question | 3/9/2008 |
| Q: they aren't so much questions as a want to interact with someone and share my ideas and hear yours. ... A: Dane, Your question is a good one but would take up many pages to answer completely. When you say ... | |
| well-known quote | 3/2/2008 |
| Q: I know this doesn't really have to do with philosophy but I want to know what this quote means and ... A: Could be a biting comment on believing in a God that is personally involved in our actions and is ... | |
| question !!! | 2/29/2008 |
| Q: somebody said, " you can´t never ask the question that you don´t know already the answer to " do ... A: It is an expression that implies that in order to ask an intelligent question, the questioner must ... | |
| existence | 2/25/2008 |
| Q: should we accept that non existent objects exist? (quotes?) A: Not sure what you are asking here. If something doesn't exist (non-existent) then it doesn't exist, ... | |
| A Question About Existentialism | 12/20/2007 |
| Q: I noticed one of your expertise is existentialism. Are you a firm believer that you create the ... A: It was perhaps the discovery of the fundamental freedom of consciousness, and the consequential ... | |
| Kant | 11/30/2007 |
| Q: I have read that Kant emphasised epistemology over ontology. I broadly understand what these two ... A: Not sure that your characterization is correct. Both epistemology (theory of knowledge) and ... | |
| Philosophy | 9/4/2007 |
| Q: My boyfriend is in his first year of a Ph.D philosophy program and just started teaching an ... A: Teaching is about all you can do with a Ph.D. in philosophy, that is correct. And Ph.D.'s are a ... | |
| philosophy for non-philosophers | 7/3/2007 |
| Q: I'm wondering if you can name some great books on philosophy for non-philosophers. There are two ... A: One that comes to mind is Bertrand Russell's "Introduction to Philosophy" which is not much of an ... | |
| Humor | 6/13/2007 |
| Q: Did the Greek philosophers ever say anything about humor? I seem to recall Aristotle categorizing ... A: Johann, Sorry for the delay. I did answer this but the my response apparently didn't make it ... | |
| Would Jesus talk to me? | 5/30/2007 |
| Q: I have what I think is the biggest story to tell and everyone thinks that I am either crazy of a ... A: Melanie, Unless you have a history of mental illness, e.g. schizophrenia or psychosis, only you can ... | |
| locke | 4/27/2007 |
| Q: Reading locke and berkeley i have a few problems; For Berkeley there is no such thing as matter? Or ... A: 1. Yes, for Berkeley, matter is a fiction. 2. Yes 3. Things exists only insofar as they are ... | |
| porpuse | 4/14/2007 |
| Q: I'm recently very depressed: i have lost the will to live normally. I want to know: 'What is the ... A: you've hit upon the fundamental philosophical question that has plagued man since he's been around ... | |
| Bad Faith | 4/12/2007 |
| Q: my question is concerns Sartre's notion of bad-faith (which i take to be a flight from ... A: sorry phil, I responded but it apparently didn't go through It could be psychological at either ... | |
| Bad Faith | 4/4/2007 |
| Q: my question is concerns Sartre's notion of bad-faith (which i take to be a flight from ... A: It could be viewed as both (psychological or moral) but it is fundamentally an ontological mode, ... | |
| to know | 3/18/2007 |
| Q: Steven! Henry David Thoreau wrote that: We are for the most part more lonely when we go abroad ... A: Socrates, through Plato, was well known for his adage "The unexamined life is not worth living." It ... | |
| Existentialism | 3/7/2007 |
| Q: I have no knowledge about existentialism. However I heard David Quinn (Irish journalist) once refer ... A: Not sure about Quinn's remark but I'd bet he meant to say that the existence of God is an ... | |
| ARISTOTLE AND HAPPINESS | 2/25/2007 |
| Q: In a final follwo-up question is it fair to say Aristotle in Nicomachean Ethics moves from talking ... A: You are correct in noticing the shift from the emphasis of practical virtue early on in the N.E. to ... | |
| ARISTOTLE AND HAPPINESS | 2/24/2007 |
| Q: I am a phiolosphy student in Glasgow and am struggling over this question regarding Aristotle; - ... A: Happiness is the result of activity that is done in accordance with virtue. Happiness is the telos ... | |
| suffering | 2/17/2007 |
| Q: What is the cause of suffering? I know, we all know, that we suffer a lot when someone close to our ... A: The question of suffering is a fundamental human question, and a perennial one. There are and have ... | |
| enquiries | 1/25/2007 |
| Q: how can logic help in the attainment of truth? A: The primary goal of logic is the pursuit and perfection of the criteria for proof. In ordinary ... | |
| Accention | 12/17/2006 |
| Q: I am a terminally ill cancer patient. My spouse for the past six years needed something to use as a ... A: Is this the poem? By Colleen Hitchcock ASCENSION And if I go, while you're still here... Know ... | |
| Have you see Matrix the movie? | 12/16/2006 |
| Q: I have 3 questions I wanted to ask to you. 1.Is Matrix a fiction or non-fiction?does Matrix really ... A: The notion that there are different levels of reality that most of us aren't aware of goes back ... | |
| career course - hopefully you can help! :) | 11/8/2006 |
| Q: let me apologize in advance if this is not the correct area to submit this type of question. i have ... A: take a look at a brief history of everything by Ken Wilber if still interested, look up some of ... | |
| Sisyphus | 10/16/2006 |
| Q: How long is Camus's Myth of Sisyphus? I'm asking because the same bit is always quoted, and it's ... A: Don't have my copy on hand but it's about 100 page essay. Camus uses the greek myth as a metaphor ... | |
| Phenomenology | 10/11/2006 |
| Q: I have recently taken up a course in phenomenolgy, and am really struggling with even the most basic ... A: Phenomenology and Existentialism, by Robert Solomon (now in paperback and available used for under ... | |
| The typical simple matrix question | 10/7/2006 |
| Q: I have a couple general questions. The first one is fairly unanswerable in my opinion, but I just ... A: Not sure about what you mean by "ultimate truth" If you're asking whether or not anything can be ... | |
| Metaphysics | 9/29/2006 |
| Q: What exactly is Metaphysics and how is it different from regular Physics A: Aristotle wrote several books on physics (which dealt with laws of nature, laws of the physical ... | |
| Phenomenology | 9/11/2006 |
| Q: I am currently taking a class on Husserl and Phenomenology. My prof. is a disciple of one of ... A: How can "B" hold that "A" exists, when part of the definition of "A" is that "B" does not, can not ... | |
| philosophy | 8/26/2006 |
| Q: I am wondering about importance of philosophy in modern times.Does it really matter so much?What is ... A: Victoria, You've got to ask yourself, "What are the fundamental questions that philosophy attempts ... | |
| Husserl's Phenomenology and the Natural Attitude | 7/12/2006 |
| Q: I have read parts of Ideas I and II and the Crisis, and I have managed to get a fragmentary ... A: The epoche is nothing new although reading h. it may appear to be because of his jargon that defies ... | |
| bioethics | 6/15/2006 |
| Q: Bad Definitions: "Vegetarianism" is the noble, righteous, and upright rejection of the disgusting, ... A: I normally don't answer homework/school questions but this one I couldn't resist. The best answer ... | |
| differences | 5/18/2006 |
| Q: What is the difference between philosophy, ideology, and theory? Thanks! A: philosophy is the broad pursuit of knowledge, namely of truth, beauty, and goodness (morality) it ... | |
| About philosophy | 2/6/2006 |
| Q: To begin with my school years are just over and I am interested in carrying out courses in ... A: If you are interested in philosophy, then by all means, continue to take classes. I'm not sure what ... | |
| Hello Is it possible that... | 1/14/2006 |
| Q: Is it possible that there is the "good side of bad" Bad is always bad in my opinion. How do you ... A: What would be an example of "a good side of bad"? Could you think of something that is "bad" ... | |
| Metaphysics | 1/10/2006 |
| Q: I am a beleiver in Tarot, Scrabble, and Fortune cookies. Why do you think it works? The other ... A: Although Tarot, etc. are often classified as metaphysical activities, they are scoffed at by ... | |
| - | 12/24/2005 |
| Q: A few times when i was reading different books i came across a phrase like this one "there is no ... A: This is a common in eastern philosophy (as well as the spirtitual/mystical aspects of ... | |
| Hello Mr Steven! I've read... | 11/12/2005 |
| Q: I've read somewhere that people are just apparently worse and more cruel than animals. I was ... A: What you say is true for most animals but: 1. Killer whales play a game of tennis with live seals, ... | |
| Hello Steven! "Let us make... | 10/29/2005 |
| Q: "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the ... A: What I think personally isn't appropriate for this forum. I can comment on how that passage is ... | |
| Problem of Evil | 10/5/2005 |
| Q: I see you are very knowledgable and refer to many great philosophers. If you may send specific ... A: First, there's Nietzsche's "Beyond Good and Evil" (anti-christian view) Then there's Sartre's ... | |
| Problem of Evil | 10/4/2005 |
| Q: On the existentialist and/or phenomenological plane, how is the problem of evil viewed? Have you ... A: Generally, evil is not an external force that has a magical power or presence in the universe (and ... | |
| Suicide as Alternative | 8/23/2005 |
| Q: I thought I heard this on the radio. Was there a famous philosopher who said that life is pointless ... A: A follow up for you. I do remember Camus' The Stranger (a novel) written by Albert Camus, a french ... | |
| prime directive | 4/27/2005 |
| Q: assumeing the argument that an intelligent designer (god), created exactly every sub atomic energy ... A: Be careful of the fallacy of composition: All molecules are invisible (to the naked eye). ... | |
| Realism with Harré and Bohr | 4/22/2005 |
| Q: There is a way to be realist, not a simple way like Popper for instance, but a complicated way like ... A: You assume that you personally create the objective world (this is called solipsism at its worst, or ... | |
| assumption | 4/14/2005 |
| Q: I was wondering is there anything we humans can answer without backing up with premises that are ... A: 1. Sure, plenty of things. In fact, anything we experience directly doesn't have any assumed ... | |
| Husserl | 4/13/2005 |
| Q: In the First Lecture of Husserl's "The idea of phenomenology" he writes that metaphysics and theory ... A: Anna, Without having a copy of the first lectures before me, I'll have to give the short answer. If ... | |
| - | 4/10/2005 |
| Q: How do you understand this sentence from the bible: "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks ... A: I would disagree. What is putting hand to plow? Working, sowing seeds, creating. Looking back is ... | |
| The replacement of philosophy with rhetoric | 3/27/2005 |
| Q: but i must address its merits. I believe your answer is inadequate, because it is an uncharitable ... A: but i must address its merits. I believe your answer is inadequate, because it is an uncharitable ... | |
| Why ask why? | 3/22/2005 |
| Q: Why do we ask why? Or, why do we asking questions? Why do I want to know the answer to that and ... A: Most philosophers, from Socrates up through the contemporary period would concur that it is human ... | |
| The replacement of philosophy with rhetoric | 3/20/2005 |
| Q: The influence of Nietzsche's rebellion against philosophy has extended to Ricoeur, Derrida, n ... A: It was very persuasive position when I was in grad school back in the early 90's. And this ... | |
| journalism, ethics and 'the other' | 3/15/2005 |
| Q: do you think it's possible for me to write on the subject of ethics in journalism, and it's relation ... A: Sounds a bit too broad. First, what sense of "the other" are you using? In Existentialism, the ... | |
| question | 3/9/2005 |
| Q: Reading the code of samurai I've come across such a line: "I have no designs; I make Seizing the ... A: Luke, It is similar to the latin expression: Carpe Diem or "seize the day" The code advocates ... | |
| question | 2/17/2005 |
| Q: I was just wondering if you could help me with this question for Philosophy. In my next class we ... A: Liz, I generally don't do homework questions..but I'll help you out here. Metaphysics generally ... | |
| Phenomenological Reduction | 2/15/2005 |
| Q: I'm studying Edmund Husserl right now, and I am wondering how to "perform" the 'phenomenological ... A: ah, if there were such an easy answer. My best suggestion would be to do a careful reading of ... | |
| hegel | 2/9/2005 |
| Q: sir does hegel regard women inferior to men? in a novel named "sophie's world" by jostein garder ... A: There is little basis for this claim in Hegel's philosophy. When he speaks of man, it is used in ... | |
| husserl | 2/2/2005 |
| Q: sir i want to study the phenomenological method of husserl via internet but the matter i am getting ... A: Sameema, Your question is a good one. Most graduate students who study Husserl couldn't give a ... | |
| Existentialism | 1/27/2005 |
| Q: May I ask of you, what is the exact philosophy of existencialism? I am doing a project in science ... A: 1. No, humans do not do very well in isolation. Hallucinations and psychosis usually occur in this ... | |
| philosopher | 12/20/2004 |
| Q: How do you, as a philosopher, understand these lines? "Looking at this world Only a coward ... A: Sounds like the current state of affairs in the world is the result of god's rage (disappointment, ... | |
| why? | 11/14/2004 |
| Q: why do we sometimes ask "why" questions? please help.. thanks a lot... A: ah, that's a good question. And philosophers from Aristotle, up through Hegel, Kant, Heidegger all ... | |
| evil | 10/29/2004 |
| Q: Do you think that evil and evil people in this world are necessary, I mean, they play some important ... A: As an existentialist, I do not ascribe to the position that evil/evil people are part of some grand ... | |
| philosophy | 10/24/2004 |
| Q: What is the sense of life? Many people ask themselves this question. What are your thoughts from ... A: Even as a philosopher, there is no one single position within philosophy of the meaning of life. An ... | |
| philosophy | 9/29/2004 |
| Q: could you please explain me, briefly, what was so revolutionary in the philosophy of Immanuel Kant, ... A: Briefly stated, Kant argues that it is we who determine how we perceive the world (via the a priori ... | |
| on Being | 9/18/2004 |
| Q: If Being will still be Being whether or not we ask or investigate about it, then What is the value ... A: This question is a fundamental question of metaphysics (many treatises have been written on this ... | |
| Logic | 9/6/2004 |
| Q: I have what I believe a bit of a confusing question. This question was raised at my Logics class ... A: Lana, Nothing wrong with being confused. It is a classic paradox (a seemingly true sentence that ... | |
| relativism | 8/14/2004 |
| Q: -hi again, thanks for swift response. so how do the relativists generally respond to the accusation ... A: They can't without further contradicting themselves. Either they reassert that their position is ... | |
| relativism | 8/13/2004 |
| Q: i wondered if you had a few thoughts on the apparent challenge to relativism and post-modern ... A: The challenge, that the positions are essentially self-contradictory, isn't flawed at all. It is ... | |
| fallacies | 5/31/2004 |
| Q: I have a difficult time understanding fallacies. Can you tell me what type of fallacy the below ... A: appeal to the people, snobbery argumentum ad populum In order to understand fallacies, you first ... | |
| Hey do you think that voters are slaves? | 5/7/2004 |
| Q: Hey do you think that most people are mind-manipulated by the media and technology like the movie ... A: Juan, It's good to see that you are critical of our system. Most people don't reflect upon the ... | |
| Deconstruction | 5/6/2004 |
| Q: I am currently attending FSU(an analytic philosophy school) for a Philosophy degree. I am curious ... A: Last first, not so popular as it was back in the 90's. Deconstructionism maintains that any text, ... | |
| Leibniz | 5/3/2004 |
| Q: Storch, I am an undergrad at Humboldt State University and at the moment in this class we are ... A: Leibniz is not very easy to understand. 1st, L. isn't just defining monads for the sake of filling ... | |
| Nietzsche | 4/22/2004 |
| Q: 'there is only a perspectival seeing, only a perspectival knowing'- Epistemic implications? ... A: Ok, gotcha. They can coexist as they describe different processes. Will to Power: is akin to ... | |
| Life is a school. | 4/21/2004 |
| Q: Have any philosophers written about the idea that "Life is a school?" If you know of any, would you ... A: Not in exactly those words but Plato's Republic deals in great detail with the education process of ... | |
| Is life fair? | 3/3/2004 |
| Q: Is life fair? --- I hear a lot about the idea that everyone can be everyone he wants to be if he ... A: diamind, I can empathize with your struggling with this issue. As a philosopher, I wrestle with ... | |
| what is pure immediacy and... | 2/28/2004 |
| Q: what is pure immediacy and what does it have to do with imagination A: Tom, I apologize for not getting back to you sooner but I just got notice of your question today ... | |
| Satre, Existenialism and humanism | 2/22/2004 |
| Q: I am a bit of a philosophy novice but find it really interesting especially the ideas of sartre.in ... A: For Sartre, love, or any other human endeavor doesn't exist unless it is being acted upon. One ... | |
| Existentialism | 2/16/2004 |
| Q: How does Sartre's notion of good / bad faith differ from Heidegger's notion of authenticity / ... A: This could be the subject (and has been) of an extended dissertation. I would argue that the major ... | |
| Sartre's speed | 1/7/2004 |
| Q: It might help explain his intense writing but is there really anything to the idea Sartre used ... A: John, Absolutley yes. Used a kind of pickme up that was sold over the counter in France (now ... | |
| philosophy | 12/24/2003 |
| Q: I was wondering if you could recommend any movies, paintings, sculptures, etc. with a philosophy ... A: Sure, A few that come to mind are: Tucker (ethics); Crimes and Misdemeanors (ethics); Wings of ... | |
| Determinism | 12/3/2003 |
| Q: I'm doing a paper on determinism and one of my arguments against free will is that to be free one ... A: If you are going to argue that free will entails controlling one's environment and that this can't ... | |
| time in general | 11/29/2003 |
| Q: Hey I was wondering if you could inform me about the latest view on the idea of time. I was just ... A: Flo, There are many views on the nature of time and the answer you get depends upon whom you ask. ... | |
Philosophy
Answers by Expert:
Steven R. Storch
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Ethics, Existentialism and Phenomenology, Continental Metaphysics
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