With the modern day barrage of misinformation, disinformation and child exploitation that occurs on social media websites, it is often believed that this problem is hopeless and intractable. However, there may be a solution to this problem. This could be through a federal or state identification verification system to signup for certain websites. This general solution is not novel and there have seen many technology activists and politicians which have proposed it. This system has been met with some sharp considerations around privacy and trust in technology company’s possession of this sensitive information. …
In Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, he sets out on the project of understanding the good and how one ought to live in order to live a good life. In discussing how humans can live a good life, he does little to touch on what he would describe or define as a bad life. Without his express explanation, could we imagine a conception of what Aristotle’s views would be on how one could live a bad life, one lacking any ethical good? …
The concept of Philosophy evolved out of a familiar and natural route of inquiry, people exchanging ideas through discussion. Despite its origin, the use of the dialectic method is insufficient in the inquiry of platonic forms. Through an analysis of the dialogue Sophist by Plato this message is ever-present. I will argue my point by first positing that language is insufficient for the articulation and expression of platonic forms. Then I will define the dialectic method using Sophist as a technique that is inherently dependent on the use of human language and communication. …
Intuition is one of the most widespread forces across humanity. Some of our intuitions help us solve problems in what seems to be an unconscious way. Intuition is this almost spooky force that compels us to believe certain things as bold as a god-like creator or as simple as opening a door. Intuition allows us to experience instinct like feelings about certain actions we take and things we believe. Without our intuitions, or if they were significantly reduced, the most basic things we take for granted to know would require extensive explanation to understand. So, with this essential trait we possess is there any weakness we invite into our lives by being intuitive creatures? Unfortunately, some of our instincts and intuitions can be hijacked in an often-anonymous way. Certain fallacious arguments can play to our intuitions by using the strong force of our intuition against us. Also, the study of sciences like biology and psychology have factually shown many instances of our intuitive shortcomings or where it can lead us astray. In philosophy, intuitions are some of the most fundamental sorts of reasoning we often work with. We may hear an argument and instead of analyzing the cogency of premises and tracing them to a strong conclusion, we may be lured into considering the situation using reasoning that illicit phrases like “common sense”. An example of a philosophical paper that attempts to leverage our intuitions for a philosophical end is Frank Jackson’s Epiphenomenal Qualia. In the paper, Jackson presents The Knowledge Argument against physicalism. This argument appeals to our intuitions and attempts to put readers in a situation where they have no choice but to accept his conclusion or else, they must betray their most sturdy intuitions. …
Passive Listening: Surveying Causes and Effects on Music
When was the last time you sat down and listened to an album all the way through? When was the last time you just put on music and listened to it? Not studying, exercising, driving or even daydreaming. Chances are you can’t remember the last time you did. Maybe it hadn’t even dawned on you that this is something you don’t do anymore. The closest you probably came to this sort of experience was the last concert you went to. There you had virtually no option but to focus on the music. Have you ever realized after a concert how much you enjoyed the music, more so than just at home? It was almost like every song was so much more profound. You also found out that there are three or four songs you’ve never heard before the show, but now they might be your favorites. Many people come away from a concert experience like this often with a newfound appreciation of the artist and their album or whatever material they are touring with. Why is this? What if this sort of experience can be achieved without having to buy a ticket or even leaving your house? Chances are most of these newfound feelings towards the music came from actively listening to the music, through a context carefully decided by the artist. Today, this sort of task has become exceedingly rare. …
It is certainly uncommon to find something that is definitively universal. Across any society, race, religion or what you may, one thing is sure to be there, stress. The dualistic nature of stress allows it to be the immolating fire that motivates and inspires, while also being the perpetrator of anxiety. Stress can turn simple tasks like public speaking into a new form which is suddenly much more difficult and nerve-racking. Now whether or not stress is ultimately beneficial or not, is not what is being discussed. Here I would like to discuss the idea of stress’ relativity. I believe that stress is relative. In my opinion there is no escape from it. As I see it there is no feasible way to escape it and somehow lead a “stress free” life. First, we must discuss stress in purely the evolutionary reasons of why it exists. Stress’ existence comes from this idea of the fight or flight response. A response that may have helped ancient ancestors, but now it seems to create more problems that it solves. This is because as humans we have evolved past it. Fortunate people no longer have to deal with the reasons of why stress existed in the first place, survival. Was that a branch falling from a tree? Or Was it a hungry bear getting prepared to enjoy its delectable treat? These ideas and situations are why stress exists. Stress does not exist in order to bring fear and anxiety to students preparing for school exams, yet somehow it is still here. …
It’s 2011, the word on the street was there was some new app. At the time few people had smartphones and even less were proficient enough to even know how to use them. The app was Instagram. Photo editing app first, sharing platform second. Some were drawn in while others didn’t understand its existence or its rise. Fast forward to 2017, Instagram has become one of the most influential and trailblazing applications ever to come about. With over 500 million daily active users, 95 million shared photos and videos, and a valuation of over 50 billion thanks to the Facebook acquisition (Balakrishnan 1). …
