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Philosophical Dictionary

  • Marble bust of Aristotle centered on a collage background of ancient manuscript pages, geometric patterns, and colorful abstract elements in red, blue, and orange tones

    Nichomachean Ethics: Virtue for a Rule-Loving Society

    By Caroline Black

    We share the difference between modern ethical theories and the virtue ethics system posed by the Ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle, explaining how virtue ethics offers us more than explanations of what is good or bad.
  • Utilitarianism: Trying to Predict the Future Like a Mind-Reading Superhero 🎯

    Utilitarianism: Trying to Predict the Future Like a Mind-Reading Superhero 🎯

    By Markus Uehleke

    Utilitarianism is all about maximizing happiness for the greatest number, a philosophy founded by Jeremy Bentham and refined by John Stuart Mill. Bentham treated all pleasures equally, which led to the joke: “If a pig’s happier than you, it’s better to be the pig!” Mill, worried we’d all become pleasure-chasing pigs, argued that higher pleasures (like thinking) are superior to lower ones (like eating).

    Though noble, utilitarianism gets tricky—predicting outcomes and balancing happiness can turn life into mental gymnastics. After all, we can’t analyze every choice, not even pizza toppings!

  • Bliss according to Epicurus

    Bliss according to Epicurus

    By Markus Uehleke

    What does "eudaimonia" mean and how does Epicurus' teaching on the good life differ from that of other philosophers?