The Philosopher's Shirt

Philosophical Dictionary

  • Colonial-era portrait of Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz in white nun's habit sitting at red-covered table in her library cell, surrounded by floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, writing with quill pen while wearing distinctive medallion.

    Nun of That! Sor Juana and the Fight for Women's Education

    By Caroline Black

    In which we write about the intellectual powerhouse that was Juana Inés de la Cruz, a 17th century Mexican nun who defied a hierarchy and patriarchy.
  • Open medieval manuscript showing pages from Hildegard of Bingen's "Scivias" with Latin text on the left page and illuminated miniatures on the right, featuring colorful religious figures in medieval artistic style with gold and red decorative lettering.

    Rock the Convent: Hildegard of Bingen's Concept of Veriditas

    By Caroline Black

    In today's blog post, we will discuss the medieval polymath Hildegard of Bingen and her philosophical concept of veriditas, as well as what we can get from it today. We will also show, through Hildegard, how some of our stereotypes of the Middle Ages are often misguided.
  • Cartoon showing Kant teaching "Critique of Pure Reason" to a classroom of sleeping students, with a starry cosmic sky visible through the window.

    Waking Up: Kant's Dogmatic Slumber and You

    By Caroline Black

    We discuss what Immanuel Kant called his "dogmatic slumber," how he woke from it to write his essential works in philosophy, sparking a revolution in thought that would shake the Western world.
  • Three people dressed for autumn activities near a park bench. In the background , day to day objects such as coffee cups, magic eight balls, and books float, along with a question mark.

    From the Academy to the Street: Where Can We Find Philosophy?

    By Caroline Black

    In this article, we will discuss the definition of philosophy, its professional practice, and whether we can find philosophy outside of our favorite big names and modern academia.
  • A bearded philosopher with his hands lifted in a shrug as a crowd of people in a darkened room point their fingers at him.

    Cancel This!: Cancel Culture and When to Reject a Thinker

    By Caroline Black

    Let's discuss the idea of cancel culture and its relation to problematic philosophers and public figures in general. We will try to see if and when cancel culture can be useful, and when we should cancel a thinker.
  • An antique table containing an array of playing cards in a moody style.

    The Other Pascal and His Wager: How a 17th Century Polymath Gambled on the Existence of God

    By Caroline Black

    Explore Pascal's Wager, the famous philosophical argument where 17th-century mathematician Blaise Pascal used probability theory to argue for believing in God. Discover how this thought experiment combines mathematics with theology, influencing existentialism and modern ethical thinking. A timeless gamble on faith versus reason.