More on Philosophy and Ideas
True or false. Black or white. This or that. Is truth a simple binary choice? Does it change with the times? Neither science nor philosophy—nor traditional religion—has provided satisfactory answers.
In the Graeco-Roman world, the goddess Veritas embodied all that was understood as “truth.” The pursuit of this elusive quality was considered an essential journey for every Roman citizen.
The Gospel of John is replete with the discussion of truth, including the scenario of Jesus on trial before Pilate. The Roman governor asked Jesus a rhetorical question: “What is truth?” (John 18:38).
Alfred Adler named his approach Individual Psychology for its emphasis on viewing the individual holistically.Unlike Sigmund Freud, Adler saw no conflict between religion and psychology, but believed religion could support mental health.
Taken as a whole, the Bible establishes relationships as the most important aspect of human existence and boils all of its instruction down to two responsibilities: love of God and love of neighbor.
It’s an ages-old conundrum: If God is both good and all-powerful, why does He allow pain and suffering in the world?
Fear of an impending apocalypse has been with us for thousands of years. A review of doomsday’s history suggests why people tend to get so caught up in each new prediction, and also why it’s pointless to do so.
As the Mayan Calendar date of 2012 draws nearer, disastrous scenarios of various types have been predicted.
The following essay constitutes chapter 6 in What Makes Us Human? Edited by Charles Pasternak, biochemist and founding director of the Oxford International Biomedical Centre, the book features divergent viewpoints on an issue that has intrigued humanity for millennia. This chapter, by Vision publisher David Hulme, explores the question from the generally overlooked perspective of the ancient Hebrew Scriptures.
Like many other philosophical terms, monotheism is a product of the 18th century Enlightenment. It’s not that the belief in one God did not exist before then; it most certainly did. But that belief had never been named.
Six ways of thinking about the world have dominated the recent history of Western civilization. For millions they are the six great ideas of our time. In this special report Vision examines some of the background and impact of these ideas and their proponents.
Stanford University has established a subscription free philosophy site on which all submissions are subject to peer review.
Humanity’s relationship with truth has been complex, to say the least. Whenever times or circumstances change, people’s concept of truth changes with it. So what is truth?
Publisher David Hulme explores the concept of hot evil and cold evil.
We are to respect diversity, of course. But the God who created all of this wonderful diversity was nonetheless very specific about universal truths. After all, “truth” that is not universal—applicable to all people everywhere—is not truth but opinion. Religion that is not based on truth is therefore merely opinion and has no moral force.
Does the Bible say anything about class struggle as the definer of human life? No, it does not. However, it makes clear that the rich must not oppress those with less.
Ironically, it’s often claimed that the early Christians were the first communists. Where does this idea originate?
The influence of Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson.
This modern world economic order has some fascinating parallels in the pages of a book that deals in the very kind of values that Soros seeks—not the same precise values to be sure, but universal values nonetheless.
Several recent books address the allegation that God is dead. Can modern philosophy finally lay the God of the Bible to rest as a new millennium dawns? Or is it trying to bury the wrong god?
Can the mixing of pagan philosophy with biblical teachings result in anything but a lethal potion?
Democratic values and the free market are dominant ideologies in today's world, particularly following the collapse of Soviet communism. What are the responsibilities that come with the free choice inherent in these philosophies?
An analysis of the important ideas that have shaped the modern world suggests that, contrary to the message conveyed by the proponents of those ideas, faith and reason are not mutually exclusive.
A look at two philosophies that gained prominence largely as a result of 20th-century developments in science.
Religion has been criticized as being only for the weak-minded. But perhaps people are swallowing a great deal more than they realize in today's smorgasbord of ideas and philosophies.
Sigmund Freud's theories have helped to shape the mental framework of just about everyone, whether they have read his works or not.
Karl Marx may have influenced modern history more than any other intellectual, but what influenced his theories?
In the first article in a series examining the foundations of modern Western thought, Vision looks at a theory that removed God from His role as Creator.
What is the process that makes each human a unique individual—largely the same, yet different from every other?
Wisdom seems to be an increasingly rare commodity. Why, and what can we do to develop it?
Democracy seems to be catching on around the world. Does that mean peace is just around the corner?
A term borrowed from the film industry serves as a useful metaphor for how we think.