Why we welcome poetic justice and despair at poetic injustice
Sometimes people like poetic justice because the law is not in a position to mete out what is deserved.
Academic rigor, journalistic flair
Articles on Philosophy
Displaying 1 - 20 of 180 articles
What is wisdom, and is it unwise to pursue it?
It is a tall order to try to become wise. And the bad news is that it appears harder than many philosophers have thought.
How do we choose who gets the flu vaccine in a pandemic – paramedics, prisoners or the public?
Australia needs to think about who gets the flu vaccine first before the next pandemic strikes and supplies run low.
Happiness and meaning in life: The sweet spot where they meet
The best sort of life would include both happiness and meaningfulness. Although one sometimes has to choose between these two values, one ought to strive for a life in which there's plenty of both.
Dark Mofo’s slaughtered bull and the ethics of using animals in art
There is a history of mistreatment of animals in the name of art. But isn’t it about time artists made their point about human domination without themselves asserting dominance over beasts?
When it comes to euthanasia, not all slippery slope arguments are ‘bullshit’
People are right to be skeptical when it comes to many slippery slope arguments used by those against euthanasia. But some of them are valid and shouldn't be dismissed as 'bullshit'.
Should there be second referendums? Ask Duke Ellington
He's been gone for 40 years but the Duke could still make a valuable philosophical contribution to the Brexit debate.
How we edit science part 5: so what is science?
The final post in this series on how to understand and report science steps back to look at what science is, and what it isn't.
How teaching philosophy could help combat extremism
It nurtures empathy and rational thought.
Never mind truth and lies – ‘Trumpism’ rejects the very idea of making sense
You can't check if a statement is accurate if it's too incoherent to understand.
What a philosopher and the Thirty Years War tell us about Donald Trump
The divine right of kings was dismantled after a bloody conflict nearly 400 years ago. The impulse which led to that change should protect us from the reign of the White House emperor.
Eight podcasts to get between your ears this year
The Conversation asked eight authors from across its sections to tell us about their favourite podcasts – and why you should tune in.
Trump isn’t lying, he’s bullshitting – and it’s far more dangerous
Inflating his own grand persona is Trump's sole goal, and he doesn't care whether or not you believe him.
To what extent are you truly free?
Self-determination, freedom of thought, choice of risk arguably have freed society, but then there's inequality, ill-health and narcissism.
Is hunting moral? A philosopher unpacks the question
What place does hunting have in our urbanized society? Is it acceptable to kill for fun? For conservation? Philosophy doesn't have all the answers, but it can help us understand opposing views.
Where to start reading philosophy?
Want to contemplate some big questions this summer but don't know where to start? Here are some top picks from some of Australia's top philosophers.
The post-truth era of Trump is just what Nietzsche predicted
Are we all doomed to never agree on what is or isn't true?
Pavlov’s plants: new study shows plants can learn from experience
A new study appears to show plants can learn from experience and choose a response. This raises some intriguing questions about the possibility of plant cognition.
The dirty politics of scapegoating – and why victims are always the harmless, easy targets
The 'elite' can never be a scapegoat.
How to bridge the political divide at the holiday dinner table
Many are dreading meeting relatives for Thanksgiving after Donald Trump's surprise victory. A student of the cultural divide around climate change offers tips for opening dialogues on politics.
Top contributors
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Senior Lecturer in Philosophy, Deakin University
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Senior Lecturer in Philosophy, University of Notre Dame Australia
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Professor of Philosophy, La Trobe University
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Adjunct Lecturer, UNSW
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Lecturer in Critical Thinking, The University of Queensland
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Professor of Public Ethics, Centre For Applied Philosophy & Public Ethics (CAPPE), Charles Sturt University
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Associate Professor in Political Science and International Relations, University of Western Australia
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Philosopher, University of Melbourne
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Senior Lecturer in Philosophy, Western Sydney University
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Senior Research Fellow, Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics, University of Oxford
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Associate Professor in Philosophy, Deakin University
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Distinguished Research Professor of Philosophy, University of Johannesburg
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Adjunct Professor, Environmental Philosophy, La Trobe University
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Moral philosopher, Institute for Ethics, Governance and Law, Griffith University
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Associate Professor, University of Canberra
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