Derek Parfit

Reasons and Persons is a four-part work, each successive section building on the last. Parfit believes that non-Religious ethics is a young and fertile field of inquiry. In many ways, he serves as a foil to Wittgenstein, directing his study inwards to address the everyday mechanics of moral problems. He asks questions about which actions are right or wrong, and shies away from meta-ethics which focuses more on logic and language. In Part I of Reasons and Persons Parfit discusses "self-defeating theories", namely the self ...

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Derek Parfit, Derek Parfit - Ethics and rationality, Derek Parfit - Self identity, Derek Parfit - The future, Derek Parfit - Works by Parfit

Read more here: » Derek Parfit: Encyclopedia II - Derek Parfit - Ethics and rationality

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List of philosophers, List of philosophers - A, List of philosophers - B, List of philosophers - C, List of philosophers - D, List of philosophers - E, List of philosophers - F, List of philosophers - G, List of philosophers - H, List of philosophers - I, List of philosophers - J, List of philosophers - K, List of philosophers - L, List of philosophers - M, List of philosophers - N, List of philosophers - O, List of philosophers - P, List of philosophers - Q, List of philosophers - R, List of philosophers - S, List of philosophers - T, List of philosophers - U, List of philosophers - V, List of philosophers - W, List of philosophers - X, List of philosophers - Y, List of philosophers - Z, List of philosophers - Notes, List of philosophers - General philosophy lists, List of philosophers - General philosophy topics, List of philosophers - General online philosophy resources

Read more here: » List of philosophers: Encyclopedia II - List of philosophers - Notes

Teleportation, or teletransportation, is the process of moving objects from one place to another more or less instantaneously, without using conventional transportation. There are many examples of success in this area. With present techniques, teleportation is conceivable only with elementary particles, or theoretically, by encoding information about an object, transmitting the information to another place, such as on a radio signal, and creating a copy of the original object in the new location. Teleportation has also been proposed to explain various anomalous phenomena, and ...

Including:

Teleportation - In Science Fiction Teleportation - In Reality
Teleportation - Davis report Teleportation - Teleportation scenario
Teleportation - Teleportation Lab Experiments Teleportation - Popular culture Teleportation - Sources

Read more here: » Teleportation: Encyclopedia - Teleportation

David Hume (April 26, 1711 – August 25, 1776*) was a philosopher and historian from Scotland. Along with Adam Smith and Thomas Reid, Hume was one of the most important figures in the Scottish Enlightenment. Many regard Hume as the third and most radical of the so-called British Empiricists, after the English John Locke and the Anglo-Irish George Berkeley. Historians most famously see Humean philosophy as a thoroughgoing form of Skepticism, but many commentators have argued that the element of naturalism has no less importance ...

Including:

David Hume - Career David Hume - Legacy
David Hume - Ideas and impressions David Hume - The problem of causation David Hume - The problem of induction David Hume - The bundle theory of the self David Hume - Practical reason: instrumentalism and nihilism David Hume - Moral anti-realism and motivation David Hume - Free will versus determinism David Hume - The is-ought problem David Hume - Utilitarianism David Hume - The problem of miracles David Hume - The design argument David Hume - Conservatism and political theory
David Hume - Works

Read more here: » David Hume: Encyclopedia - David Hume

All Souls College (in full: The College of All Souls of the Faithful Departed, of Oxford) is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. All Souls is an oddity among Oxford colleges in that it has no students. Its members automatically become Fellows, i.e., full members of the College's governing body. Every year, the top finalists of the University are invited to sit the examination for fellowship of the College. About two are elected to fellowship each year. Fellowship of A ...

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All Souls College Oxford - History All Souls College Oxford - Customs All Souls College Oxford - Fellows All Souls College Oxford - Those who tried and were disappointed

Read more here: » All Souls College Oxford: Encyclopedia - All Souls College Oxford

Though Hume wrote in the 18th century, his work seems still uncommonly relevant in the philosophical disputes of today compared to that of his contemporaries. A summary of some of Hume's most influential work in philosophy might include the following:: David Hume - Ideas and impressions. Hume believes that all human knowledge comes to us through our senses. Our perceptions, as he called them, can be divided into two categories: ideas and impressions. He defines these terms thus in his An Enquiry Concern ...

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David Hume, David Hume - Career, David Hume - Legacy, David Hume - Ideas and impressions, David Hume - The problem of causation, David Hume - The problem of induction, David Hume - The bundle theory of the self, David Hume - Practical reason: instrumentalism and nihilism, David Hume - Moral anti-realism and motivation, David Hume - Free will versus determinism, David Hume - The is-ought problem, David Hume - Utilitarianism, David Hume - The problem of miracles, David Hume - The design argument, David Hume - Conservatism and political theory, David Hume - Works

Read more here: » David Hume: Encyclopedia II - David Hume - Legacy

The paradox appears to show that it is better to have a large population, where everyone has a life that is just barely worth living, than a small population where everyone is very happy. The paradox arises from consideration of three different possibilities. The following diagrams show different populations, with population size on the x-axis, and the happiness of each individual on the y-axis. Note that for each group of people represented, everyone in the group has exactly the same level of happi ...

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Mere addition paradox, Mere addition paradox - The paradox, Mere addition paradox - Objections and resolutions of the paradox

Read more here: » Mere addition paradox: Encyclopedia II - Mere addition paradox - The paradox

Perhaps the earliest teleportation story in science fiction was printed in 1877: David Page Mitchell’s story "The Man Without A Body" details the efforts of a scientist who discovers a method to disassemble a cat’s atoms and transmit them over a telegraph wire. When he tries this on himself, the telegraph’s battery dies after only the man’s head was transmitted. Arthur Conan Doyle's The Disintegration Machine (a 1927 Professor Challenger st ...

See also:

Teleportation, Teleportation - In Science Fiction, Teleportation - In Reality, Teleportation - Davis report, Teleportation - Teleportation scenarios, Teleportation - Teleportation Lab Experiments, Teleportation - Popular culture, Teleportation - Sources

Read more here: » Teleportation: Encyclopedia II - Teleportation - In Science Fiction

Although the use of teleportation has traditionally been found only in science fiction, the theory and experimentation of quantum teleportation has been of interest to physicists. In June 2002 the Ph.D. project of Dr. Warwick Bowen([2])& ([3]), led by Dr. Ping Koy Lam, Prof. Hans Bachor and Dr. Timothy Ralph of the Australian National University achieved (quantum) teleportation of a laser beam. See also:

Teleportation, Teleportation - In Science Fiction, Teleportation - In Reality, Teleportation - Davis report, Teleportation - Teleportation scenario, Teleportation - Teleportation Lab Experiments, Teleportation - Popular culture, Teleportation - Sources

Read more here: » Teleportation: Encyclopedia II - Teleportation - In Reality

Part 3 argues for a reductive account of personal identity; rather than accepting the claim that our existence is a deep, significant fact about the world, Parfit's account of personal identity is like this: At time 1, there is a person. At a later time 2, there is a person. These people seem to be the same person. Indeed, these people share memories and personality traits. But there are no further ...

See also:

Reasons and Persons, Reasons and Persons - Self-defeating theories, Reasons and Persons - Rationality and time, Reasons and Persons - Personal identity, Reasons and Persons - Future generations

Read more here: » Reasons and Persons: Encyclopedia II - Reasons and Persons - Personal identity

List of publications in philosophy - Western philosophy. Plato, Charmides Plato, Lysis Plato, Laches Plato, Protagoras Plato, Euthydemus Plato, Cratylus Plato, Phaedrus Plato, Ion Plato, Symposium Plato, Meno Plato, Euthyphro Plato, Apology Plato, Crito Plato, Phaedo Plato, Go ...

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List of publications in philosophy, List of publications in philosophy - Historical texts, List of publications in philosophy - Western philosophy, List of publications in philosophy - Eastern philosophy, List of publications in philosophy - Twentieth-century philosophy, List of publications in philosophy - Ethics value and social philosophy, List of publications in philosophy - Logic language and mathematics, List of publications in philosophy - General philosophy lists, List of publications in philosophy - General philosophy topics, List of publications in philosophy - General online philosophy resources

Read more here: » List of publications in philosophy: Encyclopedia II - List of publications in philosophy - Historical texts

In the realm of science fiction and comic books, many fictional characters exhibit the endogenous power to teleport, including: Apocalypse Blink [Clarice Ferguison] Cole Turner Darklighters (Charmed) Deadpool Kamek Madelyne Pryor Magik [Illyana Rasputin] Magneto - by creating a wormhole Nightcrawler [Kurt Wagner] Psychic Pokémon "Q" Son Go ...

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Teleportation, Teleportation - In Science Fiction, Teleportation - In Reality, Teleportation - Davis report, Teleportation - Teleportation scenarios, Teleportation - Teleportation Lab Experiments, Teleportation - Popular culture, Teleportation - Sources

Read more here: » Teleportation: Encyclopedia II - Teleportation - Popular culture

Perhaps the earliest teleportation story in science fiction was printed in 1877: David Page Mitchell’s story "The Man Without A Body" details the efforts of a scientist who discovers a method to disassemble a cat’s atoms and transmit them over a telegraph wire. When he tries this on himself, the telegraph’s battery dies after only the man’s head was transmitted. Arthur Conan Doyle's The Disintegration Machine (a 1927 Professor Challenger st ...

See also:

Teleportation, Teleportation - In Science Fiction, Teleportation - In Reality, Teleportation - Davis report, Teleportation - Teleportation scenario, Teleportation - Teleportation Lab Experiments, Teleportation - Popular culture, Teleportation - Sources

Read more here: » Teleportation: Encyclopedia II - Teleportation - In Science Fiction

Part 1 argues that certain ethical theories are self-defeating. One such theory is ethical egoism, which Parfit claims fails due to the Prisoner's dilemma. Ultimately, Parfit rejects "common sense morality" on similar grounds. Parfit himself does not explicitly endorse a particular view; rather, he shows what the problems of different theories are. His only positive endorsment is of "impersonal ethics" --impersonality b ...

See also:

Reasons and Persons, Reasons and Persons - Self-defeating theories, Reasons and Persons - Rationality and time, Reasons and Persons - Personal identity, Reasons and Persons - Future generations

Read more here: » Reasons and Persons: Encyclopedia II - Reasons and Persons - Self-defeating theories

Although the use of teleportation has traditionally been found only in science fiction, the theory and experimentation of quantum teleportation has been of interest to physicists. In June 2002 the Ph.D. project of Dr. Warwick Bowen([2])& ([3]), led by Dr. Ping Koy Lam, Prof. Hans Bachor and Dr. Timothy Ralph of the Australian National University achieved (quantum) teleportation of a laser beam. See also:

Teleportation, Teleportation - In Science Fiction, Teleportation - In Reality, Teleportation - Davis report, Teleportation - Teleportation scenarios, Teleportation - Teleportation Lab Experiments, Teleportation - Popular culture, Teleportation - Sources

Read more here: » Teleportation: Encyclopedia II - Teleportation - In Reality

In the realm of science fiction and comic books, many fictional characters exhibit the endogenous power to teleport, including: Magik [Illyana Rasputin] Nightcrawler [Kurt Wagner] Blink [Clarice Ferguison] Kamek Deadpool Son Goku (dragonball) In computer and video games many games make use of teleportation to enhance both plot and the way the game plays. Popular examples include: In Chrono Trigger a teleportation device accidentally opens a time portal. ...

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Teleportation, Teleportation - In Science Fiction, Teleportation - In Reality, Teleportation - Davis report, Teleportation - Teleportation scenario, Teleportation - Teleportation Lab Experiments, Teleportation - Popular culture, Teleportation - Sources

Read more here: » Teleportation: Encyclopedia II - Teleportation - Popular culture

By his own account, Hume "was born the 26th April 1711, old style, at Edinburgh". From time to time throughout his life, he repaired to the family home at Ninewells by Chirnside, Berwickshire, Scotland. He attended Edinburgh University from the age of twelve. At first he considered a career in law, but came to have, in his words, "an insurmountable aversion to everything but the pursuits of philosophy and general learning." He did some self-study in France, where he also completed A Treatise of Human Nature at the age of twenty ...

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David Hume, David Hume - Career, David Hume - Legacy, David Hume - Ideas and impressions, David Hume - The problem of causation, David Hume - The problem of induction, David Hume - The bundle theory of the self, David Hume - Practical reason: instrumentalism and nihilism, David Hume - Moral anti-realism and motivation, David Hume - Free will versus determinism, David Hume - The is-ought problem, David Hume - Utilitarianism, David Hume - The problem of miracles, David Hume - The design argument, David Hume - Conservatism and political theory, David Hume - Works

Read more here: » David Hume: Encyclopedia II - David Hume - Career

Bertrand Russell, The Problems of Philosophy [ A ] G.E. Moore, "A Defence of Common Sense" [ A ] Edmund Gettier, "Is Justified True Belief Knowledge?", 1963 [ A ] John Dewey, Experience and Nature, c. 1929 [ A ] William James, Pragmatism [ A ] G. E. Moore, "The Refutation of Idealism", 1903 [ A ] Ludwig Wittgenstein, Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus (a.k.a. The Tractatus) [ A ] Alfred North Whitehead, Process an ...

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List of publications in philosophy, List of publications in philosophy - Historical texts, List of publications in philosophy - Western philosophy, List of publications in philosophy - Eastern philosophy, List of publications in philosophy - Twentieth-century philosophy, List of publications in philosophy - Ethics value and social philosophy, List of publications in philosophy - Logic language and mathematics, List of publications in philosophy - General philosophy lists, List of publications in philosophy - General philosophy topics, List of publications in philosophy - General online philosophy resources

Read more here: » List of publications in philosophy: Encyclopedia II - List of publications in philosophy - Twentieth-century philosophy

Parfit's most famous postulations come in Part IV of Reasons and Persons where he discusses possible futures for the world. He shows that, in the discussion of possible futures, both average and total utilitarian standards lead to unwelcome conclusions. Applying total utilitarian standards (absolute total happiness) to possible growth paths of population and welfare leads one to what he calls the Repugnant Conclusion. Parfit illustrates this with a simple thought experiment. Imagine a choice between possible futures, in A 10 billion p ...

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Derek Parfit, Derek Parfit - Ethics and rationality, Derek Parfit - Self identity, Derek Parfit - The future, Derek Parfit - Works by Parfit

Read more here: » Derek Parfit: Encyclopedia II - Derek Parfit - The future

Parfit uses many examples seemingly inspired by Star Trek and other science fiction, such as the teletransporter, to explore emotions and feelings regarding self-identity. He is a Reductionist, believing that self-identity can be reduced to a set of criteria that need not suppose that people do exist. To Parfit, Identity can be fully described impersonally: there need not be a determinate answer to the question "Will the person that continues to exist remain to be me?" We could know all the facts about an entity's continued existence and not ...

See also:

Derek Parfit, Derek Parfit - Ethics and rationality, Derek Parfit - Self identity, Derek Parfit - The future, Derek Parfit - Works by Parfit

Read more here: » Derek Parfit: Encyclopedia II - Derek Parfit - Self identity