Sounds Plausible? The Philosophy of Carneades
The philosopher Carneades advocated giving up on ideas of truth and the good life, arguing that we should focus instead on what is plausible.
Blogs
Justifying Ritual with Jaimini
The Indian philosopher Jaimini, founder of the Mīmāṃsā tradition, on why religious ritual is its own justification.
Desmond Tutu, Ubuntu and the Possibility of Hope
Desmond Tutu, and the idea of ubuntu: we are, because we belong.
Andy West on Philosophy, Prison, Freedom and Shame
A Looking for Wisdom exclusive interview with philosopher Andy West, about prison, shame, freedom and philosophy.
Getting Smart About Pleasure: The Philosophy of Epicurus
The trouble with pleasure, according to the philosopher Epicurus, is that we're not very good at it.
The Tastiness of the Gift
An alternative theory of gift-giving, drawing on philosophy from the Tanimbar islands of Indonesia, and from the philosophical traditions of India.
The Philosophy of Giving
Christmas is on the way, and you are facing your biggest philosophical challenge of the year: what gift do you get for a man like Uncle Pedro?
Chrysippus on How to Manage Our Emotions
The philosopher Chrysippus believed that emotions are not things that happen to us, but things that we do. This means that we can bring emotion under the control of reason.
Ritual Shapes the World
According to both philosophers of Ancient China and those of the Ancient Maya world, ritual has a powerful role to play in shaping ourselves - and the world.
It's a Kind of Magic: The Philosophy of Ritual
Getting philosophical about ritual, from Confucius and spirit sacrifice in Ancient China to the everyday miracle of shaking hands.
Pyrrho and the Trouble with Ethics
Pyrrho was the precursor of the ancient sceptical school. He was a philosopher who travelled widely and, according to some commentators, reinvented Indian modes of thought in the context of ancient Greece.
Hipparchia: Philosophy as Comedy
The Cynic philosopher Hipparchia defied social convention, in pursuit of a life free of hypocrisy and privilege.