Language and Philosophy

Imperialism refers to the policy or practice of extending power over foreign nations usually by force.  It involves the exercise of political, economic, and military power to establish control over other lands and peoples, often with the aim of extracting resources and wealth for the benefit of the imperial power. Imperialism is often associated with the ancient Greek and Roman empires and more popularly with the expansion of European powers to Africa, the Americas, and Asia from the 15th to the mid-18th centuries, as well as with the empire building of Germany, Italy and Japan, among others, during the 19th and 20th centuries. 1. Features One of the key features of imperialism is the use or threat of military force to establish control over other peoples and territories. This often involves the conquest and annexation of foreign lands, as well as the imposition of new political and social systems that reflect the interests and values of the imperial power. Examples of this are th...

Why do people believe—or not believe—in God? Is atheism simply “not believing,” or is it something more complex than we often think? In this post, we will explore:  what atheism actually is,  why people identify as atheists, and  some of the most common misconceptions surrounding atheism. Our goal here is not to persuade, but to clarify—to help us think more carefully about beliefs and worldviews. 1. What is Atheism? Essentially, atheism refers to the absence or rejection of belief in God or deities. Take note that it is not a religion, a moral code, or a complete worldview, but a position on one specific question: Does God exist? And this is where confusion often arises. Atheism is frequently confused with agnosticism , but the two address different things. Atheism concerns belief—whether or not one believes in God. Agnosticism concerns knowledge—whether we can know for certain whether God exists. Thus, it is possible for someone to be an agnostic atheist: a person who d...

1. What is Colonialism? Colonialism is a political and economic system in which one country takes control of another country or territory. The dominant country ( colonizer ) imposes its culture, values, and institutions on the subordinate country ( colony ), often resulting in the exploitation of the latter’s resources and inhabitants. 2. Short History Colonialism has a long history that dates back to the ancient Greek and Roman empires. However, it was during the 16th century that colonialism began to take on the form that we recognize today: with European powers establishing colonies in the Americas, Africa, and Asia. 3. Motives The motives for colonialism were varied, but they generally fell into two categories: A. Economic Colonial powers sought to control resources such as precious metals and spices, as well as establish trading routes that would enable them to dominate world commerce. B. Strategic In addition, they sought to establish strategic military bases that would allow...

Why do we act the way we do? Why do people make choices that seem irrational, and how does science help us understand these patterns? In this post, we explore: what behavioral science is what it studies why it’s important, and clarify a common misconception by differentiating it from psychology What Is Behavioral Science? Behavioral science is a multidisciplinary field devoted to understanding human behavior through observation, evidence, and analysis. Unlike approaches that rely on intuition or speculation, behavioral science uses systematic research to uncover why individuals and groups act the way they do. Its foundations come from several disciplines—most notably psychology, sociology, anthropology, economics, and political science. Each one contributes a different lens: Psychology focuses on individual cognition and emotion Sociology and anthropology look at group patterns and culture Economics examines decision-making and incentives Political science studies how power, institut...

The ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle is credited for saying that "man is by nature a social animal" ( Politics 1.1253a).  He believed that no human being can live on his own—or that if someone can, then he is not man, but either a beast or a god. S ociety, therefore, is something man naturally creates.  But why? What is society? And what is its role in human life? What is Society? Society is generally defined as an organized group of people whose members interact frequently and have a common territory and culture.  In philosophy, the question “what is society?” has been a topic of much inquiry since the modern period (17th-19th c.).  The British Enlightenment philosophers Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) and John Locke (1632-1704), for example, asked about society’s origin, nature, and justification.  In answering their questions, they formulated what is known as the “social contract theory.” The Social Contract Theory According to the social contract theory, socie...

Adam was the bridge operator of a railroad drawbridge; his job was to ensure that trains and boats passed safely on the bridge. One day, he took his eight-year-old son with him to work. At the bridge, Adam goes into the engine room, and tells his son to stay at the edge of the nearby lake. A ship is coming, so Adam lifts the bridge. Though supposed to arrive an hour later, a train filled with passengers also happens to arrive. Adam’s son sees this, and tries to warn his father. But Adam wasn’t paying attention and is unaware of the oncoming train. Just as the oncoming train approaches, his son tries to lower the bridge but falls into the drawbridge gear works, leaving Adam with a horrific choice: a) to save the train by lowering the bridge but crush his son, or b) save his son by leaving the bridge open and allowing the train to crash. What do you think should Adam do? Why?