Well, hello there. Due to the recent natural disasters and mass shootings there has been an influx of attention to mental health services in this country. It is yet to be determined if anything other than media discussions will arise from these problems, but I hope the rubber will one day hit the road with… Continue reading Moral Monday: On Empathy
Category: Ethics
The Difficulty With Discussing Gun Control
Let me state up front that I’m a moderate on this issue – I don’t own guns, but I also don’t believe they should be entirely banned. Also, I’m not making any claim to know exactly what the correct answer is in this debate. The real problem with discussing the issue of gun control is… Continue reading The Difficulty With Discussing Gun Control
How To Make The Best New Year’s Resolutions
Master Plans? In light of JustHeath’s post on some psychological studies to help live the good life in the new year, I thought I would follow-up with some suggestions from classical philosophy, mixed in with some of the experiences I’ve had over the past year, in order to think about how to make the best… Continue reading How To Make The Best New Year’s Resolutions
The Ethics of Santa Claus
First, I’d like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. It’s been quite the first year for Philosophy Matters, and today I’m thankful for the wonderful co-authors who contribute to this blog, the new friends we’ve made along the way, and the interesting discussion that we’ve been able to have! I’m also excited about what’s in… Continue reading The Ethics of Santa Claus
Guest Post: Does Religion Influence Our Decisions?
This post is the first in a series that was written by students in my introduction to philosophy course as an extra credit assignment. Today’s guest author is James Purvis. Everyday millions and millions of people interact with each other, socially, physically, and mentally. To some extent, the choices and decisions we make on a day-to-day basis… Continue reading Guest Post: Does Religion Influence Our Decisions?
#Winning: Thought-Priming to Influence Behavior
Merry Monday! JustHeath likes games. In fact, he is the co-sponsor for an Analog Gaming Club—get it?…non-digital. We recently had our last meeting for the semester (a tournament), and I recalled a famous psychological study involving a classic game. Today, I’m going to share with you Dijksterhuis and van Knippenberg’s (1998) research about a… Continue reading #Winning: Thought-Priming to Influence Behavior
The Epicurean Problem with YOLO: Short Term vs. Long Term Happiness
You’re 16 years old, your hormones are raging, and you’re finally making out with that hot girl from 4th period, hoping to push things to the next level. The last thing on your mind is the possible long-term consequences of that next level. Instead of pausing to think about sexually transmitted infections or the responsibilities… Continue reading The Epicurean Problem with YOLO: Short Term vs. Long Term Happiness
Black Friday and Overconsumption
I recently mentioned that I’m getting rid of a lot of book in the process of trying to simplify things in my life. One of the realizations I’ve had from this process is that I don’t find I have the need to go shopping nearly as much. When I am more consciously reflecting on the… Continue reading Black Friday and Overconsumption
Unreal Candy – Health, Sustainability, and Fair Trade
I had heard of a couple of months back, but assumed it wasn’t going to be available anywhere near where I live, however, I was pleasantly surprised to see them on the shelf at my local CVS! I happily picked up a package to try them out. The claim to fame is that they are… Continue reading Unreal Candy – Health, Sustainability, and Fair Trade
The Effects of TV: How To Be Happy and Live the Good Life
A new book explores the impact that a person’s media viewing habits can have on the quality of their life and ability to achieve happiness. WEBWIRE – Thursday, November 15, 2012 Meridian, Mississippi, USA – This November, author J.J. Sylvia IV has released the book “The Effects of TV: How To Be Happy and Live the Good… Continue reading The Effects of TV: How To Be Happy and Live the Good Life