Philosophyspeaking topic
“Wise men speak because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something.”
— Plato
practice with this topic
Set the timer (5-30 min), take 20 seconds of prep if you like, start talking. Jot your thoughts onto the sticky-note board.
similar topics
- The categorical imperative: could you will that everyone act the way you are acting? Should a behavior count as moral only if it could become a universal law?
- Searle's Chinese room: someone follows the rules of Chinese and gives correct answers without understanding a word. If a system produces the right outputs, where is the line between understanding and imitation?
- Wonder is the feeling of a philosopher, and philosophy begins in wonder.
- Nozick's experience machine: would you plug into a machine that guarantees lifelong happiness inside a fake life? If happiness is not enough, why does reality itself matter so much?
- Frankfurt cases: can we be morally responsible even when we could not have done otherwise? If we make a choice 'our own' despite being unable to change it, is freedom still required for responsibility?