Category Archives: Paper Topic

On Keeping and Dissolving Friends

Posted on June 7, 2009 by shaunmiller

This past week, I had the good fortune of seeing too good friends of mine.  I won’t give their names, but I’ll say where they’re from: Seattle and LA.  I first visited Seattle in a coffee shop.  She was friendly … Continue reading →

Posted in Friendship, Love, Paper Topic | 7 Comments

Being vs. Doing Again: Application in Ethics

Posted on May 23, 2009 by shaunmiller

I previously posted a blog about Being vs. Doing. It was dealing with how people looked at the world and weather a “being” philosophy has a higher status than a “doing” philosophy, or vice-versa.  I think this would also apply … Continue reading →

Posted in Abortion, Capital Punishment, Empiricism, Epistemology, Ethics, Paper Topic, Rationalism, Same-Sex | 5 Comments

How to do Philosophy

Posted on May 18, 2009 by shaunmiller

As an undergrad, I did philosophy by reading the material, trying to get an understanding of them, and then answer various questions in class.  In grad school, I did philosophy by trying to get a broader understanding of the philosophers … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Paper Topic | 2 Comments

Being vs. Doing

Posted on May 8, 2009 by shaunmiller

“Go out there and be someone.”  This is a line you often hear from parents, teachers, and other peers.  But what does it mean?  People usually mean that you must achieve something in your life and that your very being … Continue reading →

Posted in Empiricism, Epistemology, Paper Topic, Rationalism | 6 Comments

The Benefit of Dirtying your Hands

Posted on April 19, 2009 by shaunmiller

Today is the first day of mowing my lawn for the year.  I wasn’t too excited, but it needs to be done.  As I’m mowing the lawn, the mower gets clogged with grass.  I have to bend down, take out … Continue reading →

Posted in Paper Topic, Values | 2 Comments

On Open-Mindedness

Posted on April 18, 2009 by shaunmiller

What does it mean to be open-minded?  There’s this assumption that to be open-minded, you must accept everything that comes your way.  People always say, “Well, you’re not being open-minded.”  But that’s illogical.  Being open-minded means that you’re open to … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Paper Topic | 2 Comments

A New Look at Child Pornography

Posted on March 29, 2009 by shaunmiller

Think about why we consider child pornography wrong.  Legally (and morally), it’s because the child is being exploited.  However, the Supreme Court Case of Ashcroft v. Free Speech Coalition marked a significant change to child pornography. In the case, child … Continue reading →

Posted in Ethics, Law, Paper Topic, Pornography | 10 Comments

Another Difference on Democrats and Republicans

Posted on March 11, 2009 by shaunmiller

In a previous post, I mentioned some major differences between Democrats and Republicans. I think what it mainly comes down to is negative and positive rights.  In this post, I want to mention another main difference but this goes straight … Continue reading →

Posted in Empiricism, Free Will, Paper Topic, Politics, Pragmatism, Rationalism | 3 Comments

Benefit of the Doubt: An Inconsistency in the Pro-Life Abortion Movement AND the Environment

Posted on March 5, 2009 by shaunmiller

I’ve come across another inconsistency.  Let me be clear.  I’m not saying that the pro-life movement is itself inconsistent.  Nor am I saying that anything within environmental ethics is inconsistent either.  Taking them both together, however, is where the inconsistency … Continue reading →

Posted in Abortion, Environment, Global Warming, Paper Topic, Values | 3 Comments

Gay Animals

Posted on February 15, 2009 by shaunmiller

People have said that animals only have sex for reproduction.  That may be the case.  But what about homosexual animals (or animals that engage in homosexual activity)?  What can we say in those cases? It seems that we can only … Continue reading →

Posted in Paper Topic, Sexuality | 6 Comments