The Utility of Selflessness
The Utility of Selflessness
Utilitarianism is a convenient solution for issues of morality. The concept is simple enough; maximize happiness and minimize pain for the most people in any given moral conflict. However much we may lay claim to other modes of thought, it seems to me that we often cleave to this system as a way of resolving …
Contra Kant’s Categorical: A Survey and Brief Critique of Kant’s Moral Theory
Kant’s moral theory begins where his pure[1] metaphysics ends. He aptly grounds the metaphysics of morals on the pure practical reason of his second Critique as opposed to the pure theoretical reason of his first Critique. By most accounts, his moral theory is in opposition to those of Aristotle’s and Mill’s, which are teleological and …
On the Nature of Rights as Described by the French National Assembly
The question of whether or not humans have intrinsic rights is not one that is frequently asked. We are taught from childhood that we must pursue and protect our intrinsic rights as far and as fiercely as we possibly can. The pursuit of rights has become such a major preoccupation that the language of justice …
Can Christianity Be a Form of Hinduism?
Many people have heard the following claim: “all religions are basically the same.” Though that claim is relatively new to many in the Western world, it’s old news to many in the East. Indeed, according to the Hindu philosopher Swami Prabhavananda, Hinduism has long been on a quest to “reconcile different faiths,” all of which …
Does the Good Have a Purpose Beyond Itself?
In his Nichomachean Ethics, Aristotle defines the Good as “that at which all things aim.” But, does the Good he is referring to give anything back? That is to say, do we gain anything from the Good? Within a Christian context, God is the Good; Christ declared that “There is none good but one, that …
King Arthur: The Romance of the Past
Why have so many British monarchs found Arthur an attractive leader to imitate? The authenticity of the story of Arthur, whether it be a myth, legend, folktale, or history, is not necessarily relevant in answering this particular question; Arthur’s name and achievements, real or not, were known and believed well enough to have carried great …
Clarifying the Principle of Double Effect Through Anscombian Action Theory
It is often difficult to determine the goodness of an action, even more so when the action might have good as well as bad effects. While it has been disputed for numerous reasons, the Principle of Double Effect (hereafter abbreviated PDE) is widely accepted as an effective tool that can assist an agent’s moral reasoning. …
To Marry or Not to Marry at 27? A Look at Marriage Through the Eyes of Harriet Martineau
I recently spoke with a friend of about 27 years who, after years of hard work earning her degree, holds a successful career in medicine and is almost finished repaying her loans. She recently broke up with her boyfriend; she has no desire to settle down in her stage of life. Yet she represents the brighter side …
Standing Firm: Jesus Christ, the Book of Job, and “Paradise Regained”
“Paradise Regained” takes place on an apparently smaller scale than its predecessor, Paradise Lost. However, Milton himself viewed it as an even greater achievement than that epic, and according to his nephew Edward Philips “could not hear [negative comparisons of the two] with patience . . . when related to him.”[1] The poet’s view of …
Toward a Phenomenology of Menstration
Human bodies spur a fascinating combination of beauty and shame, disgust and pride. Exemplifying this paradoxical combination is the female experience of menstruation. Menstruation is many things. Some of those things are essential elements of menstruation, while some come about as a result of the context of the menstruator. It is a biological process, a …