The Oracle (E-Journal)
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FREE WILL REIMAGINED
Get PDFGod is omniscient, omnibenevolent and omnipotent, which means he is all-knowing, all-good, and all-powerful, respectively. A common objection to the existence of God is the existence of evil, because it implies that God is not all-good. However, the problem of evil can be explained by his desire for humans to be free moral agents. This paper will discuss how free will justifies the existence of evil and how this kind of free will can occur alongside a limitless God. These points will be understood by examining Immanuel Kant’s views on moral freedom, J. L. Mackie’s objections, Richard Swinburne’s defense of free will, John Hick’s arguments about divine guidance, and how these theories relate to modern monotheistic religions
Is Prenatal Diagnosis Discriminatory Towards People With Disabilities?
Get PDFThe recent dialogue on abortion, largely implicating the life of the child-to-be, has been a fiery one—but little has been said about possible effects on the living, an oft overlooked locus of interrogation in this debate. While recent genetic techniques that locate disability in fetuses have been frequently proclaimed as opportune advancements in our culture, it has been argued by those in the disability rights community that such procedures have discriminatory effects on the currently disabled members of our society. It is argued that restricting a potential life due to the presence of a disability directly sends a message that the lives of those living with the same disability are of marginal value. I plan to show that many abortions which aim to prevent the birth of a disabled child can indeed be regarded as discriminatory. When abortions are acts that are based on uninformed societal views of the undesirability of a specific disability, then those who opt for an abortion may be implying that their disabled fetus has no right to life. In utilizing such unenlightened views to categorically prevent a fetus’ prospective life, a prima facie form of discrimination directed towards those currently living with a similar disability is expressed
The Meaning of a Just Existence as understood through the Self, the Soul, and God: Edited by Katy Keylis
Get PDFIn this paper, I will argue what it means to achieve a good life, which cannot be found in the Platonic world but rather in the various schools of thought that have included the principles of love, equality, and freedom. By drawing on the works of Plato, Descartes, and Biblical authors, and with references to Kierkegaard, Pascal, and Shakespeare, I will show that to reach a meaningful existence you must incorporate principles of ‘The Self’, Equality, the ‘Soul’, and God. From this, I will demonstrate exactly why these principles are necessary to push past the limiting and hierarchical realm of the finite. Lastly, I will show why it is important to not only recognize the Infinite but commit to living by the principles of the Infinite as well
An Argument for the Censorship of Hate Speech: Edited by Niki Hoveida
Get PDFHere it will be argued that censoring the expression of what I will call hateful beliefs is justified. I will present the framework and position of John Stuart Mill on the freedom of expression, which posits that no censorship is justifiable, and then present an argument against Mill’s view. I will begin by discussing Mill’s utilitarianism, his concepts of the harm principle and the tyranny of the majority, and then explain his arguments for total freedom of expression. Afterwards, I will argue that Mill’s reasoning, while generally correct, does not apply in cases of hate speech. Following this, I will argue hate speech is gravely harmful, and so should be censored on the basis of Mill’s own stance on utilitarianism and the harm principle
Reverse Engineering the Anthropocene: Can Human Consciousness Change Reality? Edited by Skye S. Javaheri
Get PDFA greater awareness of the Anthropocene brings to the surface critical questions about the nature of human reality or, more specifically, the role human consciousness plays in the formation of the physical world, its construction, functionality, and interactivity. This paper uses a dialogical correlation of Aristotle, Max Planck and Dean Radin in order to first, formulate parameters of reality formation and the active role of consciousness as part of this process; and, second, consider the possibility that humanity’s consciousness can be trained to effect deliberate change in the material world. This paper argues that one of the ways to understand the Anthropocene is through the idea that reality is “running away” from us because we are not aware of the role our consciousness plays in the process of reality formation. 
Positivism in Twin Studies: Edited by Vipusaayini Sivanesanathan
Get PDFPositivism is a philosophy of knowledge that influences the majority of sciences. However, using the positivistic approach as the sole method of ascertaining knowledge leads to a few problems. This essay will demonstrate the problems with positivism as a philosophy of science using psychology; specifically twin studies within psychology. This essay will provide a brief overview of the problems with positivism and how those problems are reflected in Twin Studies within psychology