Is Torture Ever Justified?
Suppose a man has planted a bomb in New York City, and it will explode in twenty-four hours unless the police are able to find it. Should it be legal for the police to use torture [...]
Featured Discussions
Take from the Rich, Give to the Poor
According to philosopher Robert Nozick, when the government takes even a dollar from Bill Gates, a billionaire, and gives it to a poor person, it is like forcing Gates to work for [...]
Based on Merit
“Jobs, opportunities, and positions of authority should be distributed solely on the basis of merit.” Do you agree?
Unalienable Rights
Philosopher John Locke believes that your “unalienable right” to liberty does not include the right to kill yourself. Is he right? What does your liberty entitle you to do [...]
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Thrown To The Lions
Consider the example, of the Romans throwing Christians to lions in the Coliseum. If enough cheering spectators derive great pleasure from this violent practice, are there any grounds on which a utilitarian could condemn it?
The Greater Good
In general, is it permissible to harm a smaller number of innocent people to prevent greater harm to a larger number of people?
Government and Morality
How involved should government be in legislating morality?
Majority Rules
John Locke believes that government, once it is set up, should be guided by the principle of majority rule. However, he also believes that the purpose of government is to protect people’s rights, including their “unalienable” right to property. What if these two goals conflict? What if a poor majority wants to tax a rich [...]
What Can't Money Buy?
Are there things that money shouldn’t be able to buy? What are they?
Army of Mercenaries
Should military service be allocated by the labor market, like other jobs, or is there a case to be made for conscription? If places in the military should be filled according to market principles, then what, if anything, is objectionable about an army of mercenaries?
What is Moral Character?
What is moral character? Is it what you tend to do, or is it your beliefs and your attitudes?
Affirmative Action
To what extent is the distinction between “moral desert” and “entitlements to legitimate expectations” at stake in the affirmative action debate?
Inheritance Taxes
According to philosopher John Rawls, it’s not fair if the children of poor parents have much lower prospects in life than the children of rich parents merely because of the family they were born into; therefore, steep inheritance taxes are justified. Do you agree?
Golf Cart
Should the PGA be required to allow Casey Martin to use a golf cart in tournament play?
Separating Law and Morality
A question to consider as you think about the same-sex marriage debate: is it possible to decide what the law should be without entering into moral and religious controversies about the moral status of homosexuality and the purpose of marriage?