Featured

The Cicada and the Bird

Chuang Tzu's ancient wisdom translated for modern life

For Chuang Tzu, the Tao is the surface isness (the presenting phenomenology) of things. Excerpt from the book The Cicada and the Bird by Christopher Tricker. (more...)

Luca Possati on Transhumanism

Philosopher interviews

Shénnóng and the Agriculturalist School

Ian James Kidd

According to Shénnóng, rulers had a limited number of very simple functions, mainly …

The Ballad of Marie and Elsie

Michael Hauskeller

A poem by Professor Michael Hauskeller.

Guides and Introductions

The Ultimate Guide to the Philosophy of Erich Fromm

Biography, ideas, books

A comprehensive overview of Erich Fromm’s philosophy of happiness. We discuss his life, his ideas and his main works, both in their historical context and how they are still relevant for us today. (more...)

The Ultimate Guide to Epicurus

Biography, ideas, books

A comprehensive overview of Epicurus’ philosophy of happiness. Epicurus is one of the few ancient philosophers who are more relevant today than they were in their own times. Learn all about him right here. (more...)

Epicurus: A Guide to the Principal Doctrines

Text, commentary and study guide

The Principal Doctrines is the main work of Epicurus on happiness. This article presents the original text with explanations and discussion questions. It also includes tips for organising an Epicurus reading group or book club. (more...)

Philosophy in Quotes

David E. Cooper

Jeremy Bentham on Animal Ethics

Philosophy in Quotes

A history of philosophy in its most famous quotes. Today: Jeremy Bentham on the suffering of animals: “The question is not, Can they reason? nor, Can they talk? but, Can they suffer?” (more...)

Immanuel Kant on Means and Ends

Philosophy in Quotes

Explore philosophy through its most famous quotes! Today: Immanuel Kant on how to treat human beings. (more...)

Marcus Aurelius on Opinions

Philosophy in Quotes

Explore philosophy through its most famous quotes. Today: Marcus Aurelius, Meditations: “It is in our power to have no opinion about a thing, and not to be disturbed in our soul…” (more...)

Interviews

Luca Possati on Transhumanism

Philosopher interviews

Luca M. Possati is researcher at the University of Porto, Portugal. Educated as philosopher, he has been lecturer at the Institut Catholique de Paris and associate researcher of the Fonds Ricoeur and EHESS (Ecole des hautes études en sciences sociales). (more...)

Andreas Matthias on Writing About Philosophy

Miguel Angel

Miguel Angel, editor and owner of Filosofia En La Red, interviews Andreas Matthias, …

Shane Epting on the Philosophy of Cities

Andreas Matthias

Shane Epting is an assistant professor of philosophy. In this interview, we discuss …

Luis de Miranda on Esprit de Corps

Philosopher interviews

Luis de Miranda is the founder of the Philosophical Health movement, author of Being …

Book reviews

Five More Inspiring Philosophy Books for Your Christmas

Our big Christmas gifts guide, part 2

Daily Philosophy’s recommendations for five more of the most inspiring books for your Christmas presents list. The best from Jill Taylor, John Stevens, Bill Porter, Eugen Herrigel and Aldous Huxley. With tips on whom to gift each book. (more...)

Robert Rodriguez: The Book of Hermits

Book review

Robert Rodriguez’ “The Book of Hermits” is a work of impressive scholarship, covering the global history and lore of eremitism from antiquity to the present. (more...)

July 20, 2022

Five Most Inspiring Philosophy Books

Life-changing wisdom for your summer reading list

Looking for a life-changing summer read? Here are Daily Philosophy’s recommendations for five of the most inspiring books that everyone should know. (more...)

Modern life

Catherine Greene

Asimov’s Psychohistory

The illusive quest to predict the future

Why is it so difficult to make predictions about society? The problem is not the complexity of the task, but the concepts we use to think about the world. (more...)

Let’s Talk About Love

The complexities of understanding love

Love is a very complex phenomenon that encompasses sex, friendship, self-love and selflessness, as well as God’s love in many religious traditions. (more...)

Catherine Greene

If only I hadn’t done that...

Why counterfactuals are misleading

What if the Second World War had turned out differnetly? This article explains why counterfactuals and alternative histories can be misleading. (more...)

Hermits

Hermits and Happiness

The long tradition of leaving it all behind

Hermits, from the Greek “eremites,” (=men of the desert), are found in all cultures and at all times. In this article, we look at the phenomenon of hermit life as a whole, before we go into more detail in future posts in this series. (more...)

Ian James Kidd

Gardens of Refuge

From the Garden of Eden to urban allotments, gardens have accompanied and enriched human history and culture from ancient times to now. In this article, Ian James Kidd traces the spiritual history of gardens as places of refuge from the world. (more...)

The Wisdom of the Dao

Main themes in the Dao De Jing

The Dao De Jing is often not so different from other philosophies of its time. Acting according to nature, virtue as a skill, and the Daoist praise of humility are reminiscent of similar passages in the works of Stoics, Epicureans and Aristotle. (more...)

Classics

Epicurus: A Guide to the Principal Doctrines

Text, commentary and study guide

The Principal Doctrines is the main work of Epicurus on happiness. This article …

What Are Friends For?

Epicurus on Friendship

Epicurus’ view on the value of friends has often been romanticised and equally often …

Can love be forever?

In Plato’s Symposium, Plato defines love as the desire for the eternal possession of …

Inspiration

St Augustine on the Function and Pleasure of Sex

The real cost of pure pleasure

For St Augustine, the pleasure inherent in any activity is good as long as the …

Life Is a Skill

Aristotle's Eudaimonia

Aristotle on living a life well through exercising one’s virtues.

Human Dignity and Freedom

Why restaurant menus may be destroying humanity

Erich Fromm and Richard Taylor on the perils of capitalism.

Ethics

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...)

Peter Singer's Drowning Child

Are we required to save lives if we can?

Peter Singer’s Drowning Child thought experiment: If, on the way to the office, we saw a child drowning in a pond, would we think that we have to save it? (more...)

August 3, 2022

Is Abortion Ethical?

The main arguments

Is abortion morally right? We look at the main arguments for and against abortion. (more...)

January 27, 2023

David E. Cooper

Necessary Vices

In our societies, an impressive array of vices is on display. Hypocrisy, greed, cruelty, prejudice… But what if many of these vices were necessary for human life? (more...)

Nick Munn, Lorenzo Buscicchi, Dan Weijers

The Utility Monster is... other people!

Imagine waking up every evening, putting on your happy face, walking over to your immaculately laid out recording studio and… Enthusiastically unwrapping that mysterious package someone just sent you… You have no idea what it is, no really! (more...)

Political violence

The Accented Philosophy Podcast

In this episode, Ezechiel and Andy discuss the ethics of employing violence as a means of politics. Are we ever justified to use violent means in pursuit of political goals? (more...)

Biographies

Epicurus (341-270 BC)

The misunderstood ascetic

Epicurus (341-270 BC) is often seen as an advocate of a luxurious life, rich in good food and other pleasures. This is incorrect. (more...)

August 19: Happy Birthday, Gene Roddenberry!

Creator of Star Trek and dreamer for a better world

Gene Roddenberry, creator of Star Trek (August 19, 1921 - October 24, 1991). (more...)

September 22: John Conway (1937-2020)

The inventor of the Game of Life

John Horton Conway (1937-2020), mathematician, inventor of the “Game of Life” simulation of cellular automata. (more...)

Recent

February 1, 2023

Catherine Greene

What is Ethical Investing?

We all want our money to serve the right cause – but how can we make sure that it will? Catherine Greene on what is involved in ethical investing and ESG considerations. (more...)

January 27, 2023

David E. Cooper

Necessary Vices

In our societies, an impressive array of vices is on display. Hypocrisy, greed, cruelty, prejudice… But what if many of these vices were necessary for human life? (more...)

January 22, 2023

Albert Schweitzer on the Reverence for Life

Philosophy in Quotes

Explore philosophy through its most famous quotes! Today: Philosopher and Theologian Albert Schweitzer on the Reverence for Life. (more...)

January 13, 2023

John Shand

Kant’s Joke: Are Practical Jokes Wrong?

According to Immanuel Kant, practical jokes would be considered immoral because they treat the subject as mere means to others’ enjoyment. (more...)

January 12, 2023

Welcome to the German site!

Daily Philosophy goes multilingual

Daily Philosophy is now also available in German under daily-philosophy.de (more...)

January 9, 2023

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...)