One of the most influential arguments in the philosophical study of well-being is Robert Nozick's famous 'experience machine' thought experiment. Suppose that you had the opportunity to enter a machine that would give you the subjective experience of having an extraordinary life — it would […] Read More
In his comment on this post, Dave Shoemaker writes: Too often we act as kinds of gatekeepers, judging that if students aren't sufficiently "like us" (in terms of grades, drive, class participation, political inclination, Monty Python proclivities), then they probably shouldn't even try. This attitude […] Read More
Conference Announcement: "Justice, Rights and Institutions: Themes from the Political Philosophy of T. M. Scanlon" (Apologies for cross-posting. This conference now has an increased capacity, and so registration has just re-opened. Deadline for registration is 18 March 2009)
It's nearing that time when graduate programs admit students. Should any of us be encouraging our students to pursue a PhD in philosophy? If so, under what conditions? Thomas Benton takes up the issue in a recent CHE piece. His advice to undergraduates: you should […] Read More
There’s a story that I heard from my father many years ago, which I’m tempted to share with PEA Soupers. G. E. Moore was a Cambridge friend and contemporary of my great-grandfather Ralph L. Wedgwood (1874-1956), and so when my grandfather John H. Wedgwood (1907-1989) was […] Read More
Since we've had a lot of good discussions in the past at PEA Soup about journals' editorial practices, I thought I'd draw everyone's attention to this very useful article on how to parse the various publication verdicts (accept, revise and resubmit, etc.) that journals provide […] Read More
Suppose that S has the following imperfect duty: an imperfect duty to perform at least one of x, y, and z (where these are three distinct act-tokens). And assume that S does not have a perfect duty to perform x, nor a perfect duty to […] Read More
The Rutgers Institute for Law and Philosophy is pleased to announce that Margaret Little of Georgetown University will deliver its inaugural annual Lecture in Law and Ethics on Thursday, March 5th at 12:30pm, entitled "Intimate Assistance: Re-Thinking Abortion in Law and Morality." The Lecture is […] Read More
I'm watching a riveting movie. I have no desire to get up or do anything else. Good thing that because I'm on a transatlantic flight. Intuitively, I think I would be better off if I were watching that movie at home and could get up, […] Read More