Abstracting the Self: Selfhood as Non-Existence

The discussion around the nature of selfhood is one which has seen no growing consensus in recent times. The Buddhist notion of anatman is often given much attention throughout this debate, but argumentation and refutation has developed far beyond the times of original Buddhist scripture. Mark Siderits approaches this Buddhist idea in a contemporary fashion, …

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Death and World-Collapse in Being and Time

Death is the most central issue of division two of Heidegger’s Being and Time. In division one, Heidegger completes the analysis of the ontological care-structure of Dasein. The aim of division two is to connect Dasein’s care-structure to temporality. Consequently, division two contains the existential aspect of Being and Time. As such, the concept of …

A Case Study in the Ethics of Technology: Sex Robots

Introduction In the field of artificial intelligence (A.I.), engineers are working hard on different kinds of robots. Many jobs, such as chauffeur, teacher, even doctor and judge[1], are bound to become replaced by robots sooner or later[2]. Even though this might seem a rather futuristic picture, the prospect is becoming ghastly realistic. This might sound …

On the Possibility of Objectivity under Relativistic Conditions

A popular theory of truth is that between cultures, truth is ‘relative’. This is often taken to mean that each culture can make its own legitimate claims to truth and can independently generate truth – even if between two cultures, all said truths are mutually exclusive and contradictory. In this essay, I will argue for …

An Ethical Accord

I have a problem with prescriptive ethics. In my opinion, one can only rightfully prescribe a manner of conduct when this manner is completely justified. To reconcile myself with, or to barter an accord between me and prescriptive ethical theory, in this paper I will examine the the justification of moral value in prescriptive moral …

The Meaning of ‘Self’: Why Personal Identity is not irrelevant

While I agree with the reductionists’ metaphysical analysis of a ‘person’ and of their concept of ‘personal identity’, I will argue that it is inappropriate and counterintuitive to adapt this position in our everyday life or in the way we perceive ourselves and other persons. Firstly, I will explain the main argument of Parfit’s reductionism …

A New Approach to Suffering: The Interdependence of Pleasure and Pain

The concept of suffering is at the core of the Buddhist tradition. One of the main teachings of the Buddha, and most pertinent to the school’s daily practices, is the goal of ascertaining nirvana. As individuals and a species, our aim, Buddhism argues, should be to dispel suffering of any form. In short, suffering, pain, …