To counter rhetoric of an increasingly precarious existence for humans all around the globe, the philosophy of New Optimism has arisen in recent years, endorsed by individuals such as Bill Gates and Hans Rosling. The book that best illustrates this ideology is Steven Pinker’s “Enlightenment Now: The Case for Reason, Science, Humanism, and Progress.” “If …
Tag Archives: philosophy
Origin & Development of the Word Nihilism
The word “nihilism” today refers to a belief that all values and existence itself is meaningless. It also refers to overwhelming cynicism towards the world or extreme skepticism towards everything. The word has been in the English language for a surprisingly short amount of time. The stem word of nihilism comes from the Latin word …
Continue reading “Origin & Development of the Word Nihilism”
For the Greater Good: A Look at Utilitarianism
What central rule could we create that governs how laws are created and what rights the citizens of a nation receive? A rule that could define what justice itself means? One such rule is the basis of the philosophy known as utilitarianism: An action is right if and only if it maximizes happiness and minimizes …
Continue reading “For the Greater Good: A Look at Utilitarianism”
Green Humanist 