All in Ethics

The Origin of Philosophy and its Connection to Tyranny

The Origin of Philosophy and its Connection to Tyranny

Ryan Dulaney
Ethics, Political Theory

Philosophy is the framework of modern law and morality. It is the software that governs our minds. In its practice, we question the nature of our existence and glean timeless wisdom that is passed on through the ages. Classical Athens has been in ruins for millennia, but because of philosophy, Socrates lives forever.

This article will investigate the origin of philosophy and the conditions which surround its unique conception. First, it will cover the cultural preconditions necessary to allow for philosophy to have come into existence. Then, it will focus on how those preconditions manifested in early Europe. Finally, it will expand on how these preconditions allowed for the origin of philosophy in classical Greece and its various consequences. 

Socrates and Censorship

Socrates and Censorship

Matthew Xiao
Ethics

Socrates is hardly the person one would conjure up when it comes to censorship. Yet in Book Two of Plato’s Republic, Socrates proposes a strikingly authoritarian education system, expurgating the works of Hesiod and Homer and allowing the youth to hear only tales that glorify the gods. He advocates for strict censorship in the education of the “guardians,” who are entrusted with the vital responsibility of safeguarding and governing the city. This approach, aimed at curbing independent thinking in favor of unquestioning acceptance, appears contradictory to Socrates' reputation as a champion of truth, raising the question of whether his education plan should be interpreted as a sincere proposal or a form of ironic critique.

Why the use of fetal cell lines shouldn’t stop you from taking the COVID-19 vaccine

Why the use of fetal cell lines shouldn’t stop you from taking the COVID-19 vaccine

Aishwarya Selvaraman
Ethics

I want you to reflect back to the time when you found out you were allowed to take the COVID-19 vaccine. Did you feel relief knowing that you would be just a little bit safer from this awful pandemic? Or did you feel dread because you knew you had to choose whether you should take the vaccine or not? I can imagine that the vast majority of you probably felt relief seeing as [as of October 23rd, 2021] 57.2% [1] of the total US population is fully vaccinated. Despite being the majority, there is still a vast population of the US that is still not vaccinated. This may seem reprehensible to you, or you may be the person who is still trying to decide whether to be vaccinated or not. In any case, I think it is important to take the time to consider why making that leap might be very easy for some and unbelievably difficult for others.