March 2, 2025 Luka Zurkic and Andreas Matthias The Myth of Thinking Machines Two Opinions on the Dangers of AI Artificial intelligence applications cannot fundamentally shape human existence; they cannot model, transform, or design our experiences in truly novel ways. (more...)
David Charles The Surprising Ethics of Climate Change Given that climate change is, quite literally, an existential problem, it’s strange that we’re not all rushing to solve it. (more...)
Luke Roelofs When Does a Fetus Have Rights? What sort of rights should a fetus or embryo have? A clear, comprehensive review of the arguments. (more...)
How Free is Free Enough? Ronald Dworkin on free speech and censorship Today, we are confronted with the need to weigh free speech against other values like inclusivity, respect and tolerance. We look at the arguments of philosopher Ronald Dworkin in defence of free speech. (more...)
Is Abortion Ethical? The main arguments Is abortion morally right? We look at the main arguments for and against abortion. (more...)
When Is an AI System Sentient? Blake Lemoine and LaMDA AI How can we tell whether an AI program “thinks” or “feels”? In the recent debate of Blake Lemoine’s claims about LaMDA, a functionalist approach can help us understand machine consciousness and feelings. (more...)
The Principle of Double Effect Philosophy and current affairs Should we teach philosophy to young people when accounting would be better for them? Is driving a car morally bad? Meet the doctrine of Double Effect. (more...)
The Ukraine Conflict: Conduct in War Philosophy and current affairs What are the laws that apply during a war? We discuss the jus in bello and the requirements of discrimination, proportionality and necessity. Just War Theory applied to the current conflict in the Ukraine. (more...)
The Ukraine Conflict and the Ethics of War Philosophy and current affairs What are the moral rules for war, how can wars be justified and are we obliged to help a country that has been attacked? Just War Theory applied to the current conflict in the Ukraine. (more...)
Sofia Jeppsson Retributivism and Uncertainty Why do we punish criminals? Why do we have a criminal justice system? What could possibly justify the state punishing its citizens? Retributivism is the view that we ought to give offenders the suffering that they deserve for harming others. (more...)
John Shand What Are We Responsible For? Intentions, consequences and character How far does our responsibility extend? What can we rightly be regarded as responsible for? (more...)
Seven Reasons to Outlaw Recreational Drugs The main arguments Should we legalise recreational drug use? This article explains seven arguments against legalising recreational drugs. (more...)
John Shand Assisted Voluntary Euthanasia The main arguments This a systematic survey of the arguments and counterarguments that are most commonly in play when considering the ethical rights and wrong of euthanasia and whether it should be legally permitted. (more...)
Six Reasons to Legalise Recreational Drugs The main arguments Should we legalise recreational drug use or not? This article explains the most important six arguments in favour of the legalisation of recreational drugs. (more...)
