Philosophical Essays
These essays are old university assignments and do not necessarily reflect my current philosophical thoughts, though they are reflective of the thought processes which lead me to my later philosophy. For my more developed philosophical writings, please see The Codex Sapientiae: A Pragmatic Analysis of Philosophy (currently still in progress).
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Zero Matter
An exploration and critique of the concept of material substances. (2006)
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That Thing-I-Know-Not-What
A defense of physicalism against George Berkeley's subjective idealism. (2006)
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Why Functionalism Works
A defense of the functionalist theory of mind. (2006)
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Inconceivable
An analysis of Descartes' "Evil Genius" conceivability argument. (2006)
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Unjustified
An examination of the hypothetico-deductive method and a critique of epistemological justificationism. (2007)
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An Account of Normal Science
A critique of Thomas Kuhn's paradigmatic philosophy of science. (2007)
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Shift It
Another critique of Thomas Kuhn's paradigmatic philosophy of science. (2007)
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Moral Foundations
An exploration of the Problem of Infinite Regress, particularly regarding moral or pragmatic justification. (2007)
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Evolution and Altrusim
An exploration of the relation between evolutionary altruism and altruism simpliciter. (2007)
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The Golden Rules of Kant and Mill
A comparison of utilitarian and deontological ethical theories. (2006)
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An Argument for Philosophical Anarchism
A rebuttal of the statist position put forward in Plato's Crito dialogue. (2007)
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Army of Angels
An examination of several arguments regarding the Problem of Evil. (2006)
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Oh Dear God No
A short analysis and rebuttal of a "first-cause" argument for the existence of God. (2006)
Other Essays
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Liberalism, Race, and Empire
An extensive analysis of several different concepts, for a political science class. (2007)
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The Teachings of Jesus
A report on a Buddhist's view of Christianity, for a class on early Christian history. (2006)
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A Survey of Anthropological Dichotomies
My final paper for a class on Cultural Anthropology. (2006)