Is ‘Mind’ Fundamental to the World?

Dr. Jonathan Schaffer recently came on my podcast to discuss his new paper, "Ground Functionalism", which can be found here. Dr. Schaffer is a world-class philosopher working out of Rutgers University. In this paper he argues for a particular theory of mind called "functionalism" whereby the mind is a concrete realization of an abstract function...

Intro to Philosophy Through Problems| Lesson 1: The Problem of Definition

“It is necessary with regard to the science that we are seeking that we should first address those puzzles that first arise… For those who wish to make good progress must start well; for subsequent progress depends on the resolution of the first puzzles” -Aristotle, Metaphysics Philosophy and Definition Are definitions possible? Does our language...

My Trolley Problem – A Poem

Today’s the day, I know that well. Today I’ll have to take the L. The train is fine, for transportation. That’s not the source of my consternation. You see I avoid the L, at all cost, To keep my mind from getting lost. There is a dilemma and I can’t stand it, Which keeps me...

The Apostle Paul and The Liar Paradox

This sentence which you are now reading is a lie. Is that sentence true? If it is true then it is a lie because it said that it is a lie. But since it turned out to be true- then it is a lie and so it is not true. If it is not true,...

Silly Philology| That’s So Trivial!

“That’s so trivial!” We hear that all the time, but what does it mean? Well, I asked the same question as I was working on my last installment of Silly Philology, I Could Care Less. In that post I brought up the distinction between semantics and triviality or banality, which then led me to question...

My New Toy

My new toy is awesome,   It lights up my mind. It staves off the skeptic,  the willfully blind.  I use it for choosing,  and even for finding, It hides while I'm snoozing   but everywhere- binding.  It's tethered to feelings  as well as the will, It's allegiance debated,  by Jack and by Jill. Not human convention,...