essay topics in philosophy

100+ Philosophy Essay Topics

Table of Contents

What is a Philosophy Essay?

A philosophy essay is an analytical piece of writing where the author critically explores philosophical concepts, theories, and arguments. Unlike typical essays that simply present information, a philosophy essay demands that you present a clear thesis or a specific point of view and then provide arguments or evidence to support or challenge it. The nature of philosophy is often abstract, dealing with questions about existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language, thus requiring a thoughtful approach and careful analysis.

Guide to Choosing a Philosophy Essay Topic

Selecting the right topic for your philosophy essay is essential for laying the foundation for an intriguing and insightful paper. Here’s how:

• Identify Your Interest : Pick topics that genuinely intrigue you. Philosophy is vast; find your niche!
• Consider Your Audience : Who will read the essay? Tailor your topic to match their level of understanding and interest.
• Research and Familiarize : Ensure you have enough resources and knowledge to write extensively on the chosen topic.
• Challenge Yourself : Opt for topics that allow you to analyze and present unique perspectives critically.

Philosophy Essay Topics Lists

Metaphysics.

• Is there a purpose to life, or is existence merely accidental?
• Can the idea of an omnipotent and benevolent God coexist with the presence of evil in the world?
• What is the nature of reality – is it objective or subjective?
• Do human beings have free will, or are our actions predetermined?

Epistemology

• What is the nature and scope of human knowledge?
• Can we ever know something with absolute certainty?
• How do belief, knowledge, and truth interrelate?
• Is skepticism about the external world justified?
• Is morality absolute or relative?
• What makes an action morally right or wrong?
• Is there a universal standard of good, or is it culture-specific?
• How does self-interest play into moral decisions?
• What defines beauty in art or nature?
• Can art be morally wrong and still be considered great art?
• Is the appreciation of beauty purely subjective?
• How does cultural context influence our interpretation of art?

Social and Political Philosophy

• Is democracy the best form of governance?
• How should resources be distributed in a society – equally or based on merit?
• Is there a right to privacy in the digital age?
• Should there be limits to freedom of speech?

Existentialism

• What is the essence of human existence?
• How does one find meaning in a seemingly meaningless world?
• Is authenticity necessary for a fulfilled life?
• How do death and the finite nature of life influence human behavior?

Ancient Philosophy

• How did Socratic irony influence philosophical dialogue?
• Plato’s allegory of the cave: What does it reveal about human perception?
• Aristotle’s conception of virtue ethics.
• Stoicism and its relevance in today’s world.
• Epicureanism: The pursuit of pleasure and the avoidance of pain.

Philosophy of Religion

• The problem of evil: Challenges to religious belief.
• Pascal’s Wager and its criticisms.
• Arguments for and against the existence of God.
• Religion and science: Are they compatible or conflicting?
• The concept of the afterlife in different religious traditions.

Philosophy of Mind

• Mind-body dualism: Arguments and implications.
• Is artificial intelligence capable of consciousness?
• The problem of other minds: How do we know others have consciousness?
• Emergent properties and the nature of consciousness.
• The philosophical implications of neuroscientific discoveries.

Feminist Philosophy

• The role of gender in epistemology.
• Feminist critiques of traditional ethical theories.
• The concept of the “male gaze” in feminist aesthetics.
• How does intersectionality reshape philosophical discussions on identity?
• The influence of Simone de Beauvoir on contemporary feminist thought.

Eastern Philosophy

• The Daoist conception of the “Way” and its significance.
• Buddhist philosophy on suffering and the path to enlightenment.
• Confucian values in modern Asian societies.
• The philosophy of karma and reincarnation.
• Comparing Western and Eastern notions of the self.

Philosophy of Science

• The demarcation problem: What distinguishes science from pseudoscience?
• Philosophical challenges posed by quantum mechanics.
• Scientific realism vs. anti-realism: Is science discovering truth?
• The role of paradigms and revolutions in the history of science, as posited by Thomas Kuhn.
• The ethics of genetic engineering and human enhancement.

Environmental Philosophy

• Deep ecology vs. shallow ecology: Different environmental ethics.
• The intrinsic value of nature: Should we value nature for its own sake?
• Philosophical perspectives on climate change and human responsibility.
• The rights of non-human animals: Ethical considerations.
• The anthropocentrism vs. biocentrism debate.

Postmodern Philosophy

• The nature of truth in a postmodern world.
• Derrida’s concept of deconstruction and its implications.
• The philosophical underpinnings of postmodern art and literature.
• Critiques of grand narratives and meta-narratives.
• Postmodernism and its impact on ethics and morality.

Logic and Argumentation

• The nature and types of logical fallacies.
• Inductive vs. deductive reasoning: Strengths and limitations.
• The paradoxes of Zeno and their resolutions.
• The importance of soundness and validity in argumentation.
• The challenges and limitations of formal logic in philosophical argumentation.

Applied Philosophy

• The ethics of euthanasia and assisted suicide.
• Philosophical arguments for and against capital punishment.
• The moral implications of global economic inequality.
• The philosophical challenges of privacy in the age of digital surveillance.
• The ethics of war: Just War Theory and its criticisms.

Philosophy of Language

• Wittgenstein’s “language games” and their implications for meaning.
• The Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis: Does language shape our reality?
• Deconstructionism: How does language conceal and reveal truth?
• The philosophy of names: What’s in a name?
• Metaphor in language: More than just a linguistic device?

Continental Philosophy

• Heidegger’s notion of “Being” and its significance.
• Sartre and existential freedom: Are we condemned to be free?
• Foucault’s philosophy of power: How is power dispersed in society?
• Husserl’s phenomenology: A fresh approach to consciousness.
• Derrida vs. Foucault: Debating the nature of discourse and power.

African Philosophy

• Ubuntu: The African conception of community and humanity.
• African communitarianism vs. Western individualism.
• Oral traditions in African philosophy: A different way of knowing?
• Colonialism and its effects on African philosophical thought.
• The concept of time in African philosophy.

Philosophy of Education

• The Socratic method: Is questioning the best way to teach?
• Education for liberation: Paulo Freire’s pedagogical approach.
• Philosophy in the classroom: Should ethics be a mandatory subject?
• The hidden curriculum: What are schools really teaching?
• Moral education: Can virtue be taught?

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Useful References

• Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
• Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy
• PhilPapers: Online Research in Philosophy
• MIT’s Free Philosophy Course Materials

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• A Research Guide
• Essay Topics

120 Philosophy Essay Topics

How to choose a topic for your philosophy essay:.

Philosophy Argumentative Essay Topics:

• The existence of God: Can the existence of a higher power be proven or disproven?
• The problem of evil: How can the existence of evil be reconciled with the concept of a benevolent God?
• Free will vs determinism: Are our actions predetermined or do we have the freedom to choose?
• The nature of reality: Is reality objective or subjective?
• The mind-body problem: Is the mind separate from the body, or are they one and the same?
• Ethical relativism vs ethical absolutism: Are moral values relative or are there universal moral truths?
• The nature of consciousness: What is consciousness and how does it arise?
• The concept of personal identity: What defines our sense of self and continuity over time?
• The problem of induction: Can we justify our beliefs based on past experiences and observations?
• The nature of knowledge: What is knowledge and how do we acquire it?
• The philosophy of mind: Can machines or artificial intelligence possess consciousness?
• The nature of beauty: Is beauty subjective or objective?
• The ethics of euthanasia: Is it morally permissible to end someone’s life to alleviate suffering?
• The ethics of animal rights: Do animals have rights and how should they be treated?
• The philosophy of science: What is the nature of scientific knowledge and how does it differ from other forms of knowledge?

Philosophy Persuasive Essay Topics:

• The existence of free will: Determinism vs libertarianism
• The ethical implications of artificial intelligence
• The nature of consciousness: Materialism vs dualism
• The problem of evil: Can an all-powerful and benevolent God coexist with evil?
• The ethics of animal rights: Should animals have the same moral status as humans?
• The concept of personal identity: Is the self defined by physical or psychological continuity?
• The morality of euthanasia: Should individuals have the right to choose when to end their lives?
• The nature of knowledge: Can we truly know anything with certainty?
• The ethics of genetic engineering: Should we manipulate the genetic makeup of humans and other organisms?
• The philosophy of mind: Can machines ever possess consciousness?
• The morality of capital punishment: Is it ever justified to take a life as punishment for a crime?
• The problem of induction: Can we rely on past experiences to make predictions about the future?
• The ethics of abortion: When does personhood begin and what are the rights of the fetus?
• The philosophy of time: Is time an illusion or a fundamental aspect of reality?

Philosophy Compare and Contrast Essay Topics:

• Dualism vs Materialism: Examining the nature of mind and body
• Rationalism vs Empiricism: Contrasting approaches to acquiring knowledge
• Utilitarianism vs Deontology: Evaluating ethical theories on the basis of consequences and moral duties
• Existentialism vs Nihilism: Exploring the meaning of life and existence
• Plato’s Theory of Forms vs Aristotle’s Theory of Substance: Comparing their views on the nature of reality
• Determinism vs Free Will: Analyzing the compatibility of human freedom and determinism
• Hedonism vs Stoicism: Contrasting philosophies on achieving happiness and fulfillment
• Egoism vs Altruism: Examining self-interest versus concern for others in ethical decision-making
• Epistemological Relativism vs Objectivism: Evaluating the nature of truth and knowledge
• Aesthetics of Beauty vs Aesthetics of Sublime: Comparing different approaches to appreciating art and beauty
• Social Contract Theory vs Natural Law Theory: Contrasting views on the origin and legitimacy of political authority
• Feminism vs Postmodernism: Analyzing different perspectives on gender, power, and identity
• Idealism vs Realism: Examining different ontological views on the nature of reality
• Pragmatism vs Essentialism: Contrasting approaches to understanding the essence and purpose of things
• Eastern Philosophy vs Western Philosophy: Comparing and contrasting different philosophical traditions and their core concepts

Philosophy Informative Essay Topics:

• The concept of free will and determinism: Exploring the debate between human agency and predestination
• The philosophy of mind: Examining the mind-body problem and different theories of consciousness
• Ethics and moral relativism: Analyzing the idea that moral principles are subjective and vary across cultures
• The nature of reality: Investigating different metaphysical theories, such as idealism, materialism, and dualism
• The philosophy of language: Exploring the relationship between language, thought, and reality
• The problem of evil: Examining the existence of evil in a world governed by an all-powerful and benevolent God
• The philosophy of science: Analyzing the nature of scientific knowledge and the scientific method
• The concept of identity: Investigating the philosophical questions surrounding personal identity and the self
• The philosophy of aesthetics: Exploring the nature of beauty, art, and the role of aesthetics in our lives
• The philosophy of religion: Examining different arguments for and against the existence of God
• The philosophy of time: Analyzing the nature of time, its relation to causality, and the possibility of time travel
• The philosophy of education: Investigating different theories of education and their implications for teaching and learning
• The philosophy of technology: Exploring the ethical and metaphysical implications of technological advancements
• The philosophy of happiness: Analyzing different theories of happiness and the pursuit of a meaningful life
• The philosophy of politics: Examining different political ideologies and their underlying philosophical foundations

Philosophy Cause and Effect Essay Topics:

• The impact of existentialism on individual freedom and responsibility
• The influence of utilitarianism on ethical decision-making
• The consequences of Descartes’ mind-body dualism on the understanding of human nature
• The effects of Nietzsche’s concept of the will to power on the pursuit of personal goals
• The relationship between Kant’s categorical imperative and moral duty
• The cause and effect of Plato’s theory of forms on the understanding of reality
• The consequences of Aristotle’s concept of virtue ethics on moral character development
• The impact of John Locke’s theory of tabula rasa on the understanding of human knowledge
• The influence of Sartre’s concept of bad faith on personal authenticity
• The effects of Hume’s skepticism on the nature of knowledge and belief
• The relationship between Hegel’s dialectic and historical progress
• The consequences of Rawls’ theory of justice on social equality
• The impact of feminist philosophy on gender equality and women’s rights
• The influence of Confucianism on social harmony and moral values in East Asian societies
• The cause and effect of Schopenhauer’s pessimism on the perception of human suffering

Philosophy Narrative Essay Topics:

• The Search for Meaning: A Personal Journey
• The Paradox of Free Will: Exploring the Boundaries of Choice
• The Nature of Reality: A Philosophical Reflection
• The Ethics of Artificial Intelligence: A Moral Dilemma
• The Existential Crisis: Navigating Life’s Uncertainties
• The Problem of Evil: Examining the Coexistence of Good and Bad
• The Philosophy of Happiness: Pursuit or Illusion?
• The Mind-Body Problem: Exploring the Connection between the Physical and Mental
• The Ethics of Animal Rights: Balancing Human Interests and Animal Welfare
• The Philosophy of Time: Is it Linear or Cyclical?
• The Meaning of Beauty: A Philosophical Exploration
• The Ethics of Genetic Engineering: Playing God or Advancing Humanity?
• The Philosophy of Education: Shaping Minds and Cultivating Knowledge
• The Nature of Consciousness: Unraveling the Mystery of Self-Awareness
• The Philosophy of Death: Contemplating the Afterlife and the Meaning of Mortality

Philosophy Opinion Essay Topics:

• The nature of reality: Idealism vs materialism
• The problem of evil: Does the existence of evil contradict the existence of a benevolent God?
• The ethics of artificial intelligence: Should AI be granted moral rights?
• The concept of personal identity: Is personal identity based on physical or psychological continuity?
• The mind-body problem: Is the mind separate from the body or are they one and the same?
• The ethics of euthanasia: Is it morally permissible to assist someone in ending their own life?
• The ethics of genetic engineering: Should we have the right to modify our own genetic makeup?
• The problem of induction: Can we justify our beliefs based on past experiences?
• The ethics of capital punishment: Is the death penalty morally justifiable?
• The nature of time: Is time an objective reality or a subjective construct?
• The ethics of abortion: Is abortion morally permissible?

Philosophy Evaluation Essay Topics:

• Evaluating the concept of free will in a deterministic universe
• Assessing the moral responsibility of corporations
• The validity of utilitarianism as a moral theory
• Evaluating the existence of objective moral values
• Assessing the ethical implications of genetic engineering
• The concept of personal identity: evaluating the mind-body problem
• Evaluating the role of reason in ethical decision-making
• Assessing the compatibility of faith and reason
• The concept of justice: evaluating different theories
• Evaluating the ethical implications of animal rights
• Assessing the concept of beauty in art and aesthetics
• The problem of evil: evaluating the existence of God
• Evaluating the ethical implications of climate change
• Assessing the concept of happiness in different philosophical traditions

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160 Philosophy Essay Topics

An essay on a philosophical topic can be challenging in several different ways. If you haven’t been assigned a topic, then you need to carefully consider both the type of philosophy you want to illuminate as well as the topic and the philosopher who originally championed the idea. This calls for a fair amount of research. If you need a place to start, there is an extensive list of topics below that are broken down by the schools of thought and/or the eras that inspired them.

Researching a Philosophy Topic

Philosophers are the embodiment of deep thinkers, and many of the best ones have offered up theories and perspectives that have gone on to influence the world. It helps to pick a specific school of thought, whether it is the classical Greek, Transcendentalism, Rationalism, or another, and then research the school of thought as well as the era that inspired them. This often calls for researching the specific philosophy and accomplishments of a specific philosopher.

While researching a topic or a school of thought try to think of examples you can cite in the body of the essay. This might be a historical example from the era the philosopher lived in or a real-world example that is pertinent today. A concept that was pertinent when it was originally written and is still relevant now will lend strength to your essay.

Tips for Writing a Philosophy Essay

Ideally, you want to choose a topic for your philosophy essay that has a strong and defensible position, as well as relevance in the present day. The research you have already done will provide you with an intellectual foundation to make a strong and well-supported argument.

When writing a philosophy essay, you want to compose it from a third-person point of view. This gives the essay an objective perspective that engages the reader while making it clear that the ideas being presented are not coming from your own personal bias. When providing supporting facts in your argument, make sure to quote them directly, include the source, and a relevant composition that it came from. You might also need to provide the date it was originally published.

How to Structure a Philosophy Essay

Depending on the required length of the philosophy essay, you can use a standard five-paragraph structure and expand the number of body paragraphs if necessary. This will give your philosophy essay a natural flow that makes it easy for the reader to follow.

This essay structure includes an introduction with a strong thesis statement, which might include a direct quote from a well-known philosopher. You then follow up with supporting body paragraphs that have their own distinct point that is supported by strong evidence, rather than flowing together into a single idea. Then you finish with a strong conclusion that illustrates the point or demonstrates its historical relevance or relevance in present times.

Introduction

A philosophy essay needs to directly state the topic in the introduction while enticing the reader to want to learn more about the topic. It’s best to use authoritative language, while also making sure that you are speaking to the reader, rather than talking down to them about a subject that might be disagreeable.

A strong thesis statement is a critical component of a philosophy essay’s introductory paragraph. The end of the introduction should include a sentence of two that leads into the first body paragraph.

Body Paragraphs

The first paragraph of your philosophy essay should have a strong connection to the thesis statement while also offering supporting evidence. This might include a direct quote from a philosopher or a well-known historical figure. Then make sure to document when it was said and who made the statement.

Each body paragraph should be its own idea and includes well-documented examples. If another philosopher argued against the thesis, you can include that information as well to demonstrate the counterpoint.

Each body paragraph should conclude with a sentence of two that leads into the next body paragraph’s point or central theme. If you are writing a topic that compares and contrasts two opposing opinions, you can give each view its own body paragraph.

The conclusion of your philosophy essay needs to have an assertive tone while providing a definite answer to the topic. This might be demonstrating why one view is more applicable to the modern world or why one view won out over the opposing view. If there is some lingering controversy about the topic, you should try to win encourage the reader to reexamine their own personal opinions on it.

Choosing the right topic for your philosophy essay can be challenging. There are many different schools of thought spanning thousands of years and historical eras. The following list of the topic below have been broken down into the schools of philosophy and relevant themes. They are a great jumping-off point for your research process.

Classical Greek and Roman Philosophy Topics

• Did Socrates really exist, or did Plato make him up to offer perceived validity to his own Philosophy?
• Does Aristotle’s concept of The Hearthless man have an equivalent in the modern age?
• Is Aristotle’s notion of Eudaimonia akin to the pursuit of happiness, or can Eudaimonia be accomplished like the Buddhist idea of Nirvana?
• In Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics he discusses the different forms of human friendship. Compare and contrast the differences between Telia Philea and friendships of convenience. Using modern-day examples.
• Was Socrates’ decision to drink the hemlock the correct moral choice, or was he driven to accept suicide by his ego?
• Does Plato’s Republic make sexism acceptable in his age, or was Plato uninformed about the importance of equality in ancient Greek society?
• Aristotle’s idea of Hexus notes that nature fits us with emotion for a reason and that no emotion is morally wrong. Instead, Aristotle notes that it is the reason or virtue behind that emotion that constitutes a good or a bad Hexus. With this in mind can you give real-world examples of when Anger was virtuous and Happiness was devoid of moral virtue?
• What did Socrates mean when he said that “The Unexamined Life Is Not Worth Living?
• Are the stoic philosophers the bridge between classical Roman polytheism and Christianity?
• Would the Renaissance Era have been possible, had it not been for the Golden Age of Islam preserving Greek & Roman philosophy during the European Dark Ages?
• What Did Plato Mean when he said “Those who tell the stories rule society.”
• Explain Aristotle’s view on the importance of intellectual virtue.
• Was Aristotle correct when he said, “The Moral Virtues Are Not Innate?”
• What did Plato mean when he said, “knowledge only comes when we are able to justify and account for our true beliefs.”
• Why did Cicero convalesce to stoicism?
• What is the Epicurean philosophy of life?
• What do epicureans believe about happiness?
• Does epicurean philosophy have a place in modern life?
• Compare and contrast the difference between how pleasure is valued in epicurean philosophy compared to how to is valued in hedonism?
• Compare and contrast the difference between epicurean happiness and Artistotle’s view on eudaimonia.

Stoicism Topics

• What are the three main beliefs of stoicism?
• Did the stoics see Gods as omnipotent apart from nature, or integrated as an active element of the natural world?
• Why is self-control a critical component of stoic philosophy?
• How do the Stoics believe happiness is achieved?
• What are the two duties of stoicism?

Hedonism Topics

• Does hedonism recognize other motivations besides please and pain?
• How does hedonistic philosophy define good and evil?
• What is hedonist moral philosophy?
• How does hedonistic philosophy interpret the appreciation of art?
• What is aesthetic hedonism?
• Does hedonism promote substance abuse?
• Does hedonism encourage the objectification of women?
• Does hedonism promote internet pornography?
• Is the drive to legalize marijuana a form of hedonistic philosophy?
• Does hedonism treat alcoholism as permissible?

Nihilism Topics

• What are the four different types of nihilism and what makes them different?
• Is Nihilism inherently pessimistic or realistic?
• Can nihilism co-exist with religious belief?
• What did Nietzsche mean when he said “God Is Dead?”
• Why did Nietzsche believe that all imposed values and meanings need to be repudiated

Existentialism Topics

• Explain the relationship between Anxiety and Authenticity through the lens of existentialist philosophy.
• Explain Irrationality/Absurdity through the lens of existentialist philosophy.
• What is Cartesian Dualism?
• What did Des Carte mean when he said “I think therefore I am?”
• Explain Kierkegaard’s writing in the context of his approach to Christianity.
• Why do existentialist philosophers believe that it is impossible to find the true reasons and explanations of events?
• Explain Jean-Paul Sartre’s Opinions on Existentialism and Human Emotions.
• What is the influence of existentialism in Stephen Crane’s The Red Badge of Courage?
• What is the influence of Existentialism in the Literature of Samuel Beckett?
• How did existentialism influence Psychoanalysis, and Behaviorism?

Topics on Transcendentalism

• What did Emerson mean when he said “The mind once stretched by a new idea, never returns to its original dimensions?”
• Did the philosophy of Emerson influence John Muir’s views on naturalism?
• What did Thoreau mean when he said a higher law than civil law demands the obedience of the individual.
• What is the common thread between the transcendentalist concepts of individualism, idealism, and the divinity of nature?
• What is the significance of the battle between the red ants and the black ants in Thoreau’s book On Waldon Pond?
• What did Thoreau mean when he wrote “I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life.”
• Compare and contrast the differences between Kant & Hume on the concept of transcendentalist idealism.
• Does transcendentalism offer a philosophy that promotes “The truest way of life?”
• Why is time in nature away from civilization a critical component of transcendental philosophy?
• What is the significance of Emerson’s “Consequences of Self-Doubt.”
• How does Transcendentalism make a link between philosophy and science
• Compare and contrast the differences between the American 19 th Century version of transcendentalism and the Eastern notions of transcendentalism.
• Explain transcendentalism’s conflict with the industrial revolution.
• Was John Muir a transcendentalist?
• Are Luddites their own philosophical system or an extreme version of transcendentalism?

Marxism Topics

• Has the negative relationship with failed communism hindered Marxism as a contemporary school of philosophy?
• What is the relationship between Marxism and social science?
• Explain Karl Marx’s Theory of Alienation.
• Do the ideologies of Marxism affect 21 st Century western culture?
• Why does Spencer believe that human nature is flexible and is in the process of advancement?
• How doe the concept of Surplus Value influence the division of social & economic classes?
• Why does Marxism devalue the importance of religion?
• Explain why the Young Hegelians refute religion in place of a philosophical system?
• Explain Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s view on the role of money in human life.
• Compare and contrast the differences between Marx’s view of socialism and the communism of Russia in the 20 th

Eastern Philosophy Topics

• Compare and contrast Zazen and Rinzai Zen forms of Buddhism.
• Is the “Ah-Ha” moment of “Satori” a requirement in the pursuit of nirvana as it is recognized in modern-day Buddhism?
• Is Buddhism a religion, a philosophical life practice, or both?
• The philosophy of the Buddha and Jesus of Nazareth are very similar. Though they both came from a completely different upbringing. Does this affect the principles of the religions they founded or is the exposure to the poverty of Jesus’ childhood and the wealth of the Buddha’s early years merely background details in their stories?
• When the Buddha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree he said “As the earth is my witness. Seeing this morning star, all things and I awaken together.”
• Why is begging for one’s meal an important tenant of classic Buddhist daily practice?
• How do Siddhartha’s four sights on the road influence the Buddha’s teaching about the four noble truths?
• What is the relationship between the Four Noble Truths and the Eight-Fold path?
• When Siddhartha gives up asceticism he takes food from a peasant woman, what does this symbolize, and does it influence his eventual awakening as the Buddha?
• Does Herman Hess’ novel Siddhartha make Buddhism more or less accessible for Western culture to assimilate?
• What did the Buddha mean when he said “If you truly loved yourself, you could never hurt another.”
• Is the Caste system of India based on moral philosophy and religious beliefs or is it a form of discrimination and classism?
• In Hindu philosophy what is the difference between dharma, and karma?
• Can the concept of Karmic rebirth be used to forgive someone’s misdeeds in this current life?
• Compare and contrast the moral influence of reincarnation offered by many Eastern Religions and the concept of eternal life offered by Christianity. How do these different philosophical concepts affect the choices made in everyday life?
• Do the six systems of Hindu philosophy Sankhya, Yoga, Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Mimamsa, and Vedanta work together seamlessly?
• Is Sun Tzu’s The Art of War a philosophy text or an ancient military guide?
• What is the relationship of ren (humanity) and li (ritual propriety) in the philosophy of Confucius?
• Explain the Confucian concept of de “Virtue.”
• How did the philosophy of Mencius and Xunzi differ from the philosophy of Confucius?
• How does the philosophy of Confucius address Family, filial piety,and ancestor worship?
• Is Neo-Confucian critical of Daoism and Buddhism
• Does Neo-Confucian philosophy offer up effective solutions to the problem of evil?
• Explain the Cheng-Zhu theory of human nature.
• Explain Neo-Confucian theories of mind and how it applies to modern culture
• What are the main tenents of Taoism?
• How are currents interpreted in Taology?
• Does the Tao concept of Letting Go have value in modern western culture?
• In Taoism is there a connective relationship between simplicity, patience, and compassion.
• Does Daoism compete with Confucianism or stand beside it?

Philosophy in Modern Literature and Movies

• Is the novel Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance truly about the Metaphysics of Quality, or is it Robert Pirsig attempting to cope with his electroshock therapy experience?
• Does William Van De Wettering’s novel The Empty Mirror make the Zen practice of Koan study more feasible, or less accessible to Westerner modalities of thinking?
• In Kahlil Gibran’s book The Prophet he says “If you love somebody, let them go, for if they return, they were always yours. If they don’t, they never were.” What did he mean by this?
• In Primo Levi’s book Bear Meat, he said “the sea’s only gifts are harsh blows and, occasionally, the chance to feel strong. Now, I don’t know much about the sea, but I do know that that’s the way it is here. And I also know how important it is in life not necessarily to be strong but to feel strong, to measure yourself at least once, to find yourself at least once in the most ancient of human conditions, facing blind, deaf stone alone, with nothing to help you but your own hands and your own head.” What does he mean by this?
• Is Dan Millman’s book “The Way Of The Peaceful Warrior” a bridge between Buddhist philosophy and Western Culture or is it a standalone philosophy onto itself?
• Explain the existentialist philosophy of the Shawshank Redemption?
• In Into The Wild does Chris McCandless succeed in “Killing The False Being Within?”
• Does the philosophy of the Celestine Prophecy offer a realistic way of life, or is it better off being classified as fiction?
• Does the heightened compassionate approach to the medical philosophy of Patch Adams have a place in modern medicine?
• Is transcendentalism properly represented in the movie Dead Poet’s Society?

Rationalism Topics

• Compare and contrast the differences between rationalism and empiricism.
• Is rationalism’s view of questioning everything tediously unnecessary?
• Is Des Carte truly a rationalist philosopher.
• Is there a difference between traditional rationalism and the Scottish Englightenment?
• What caused the Scottish Enlightenment.
• Compare and contrast the differences between the philosophy of David Hume and Adam Smith.
• Compare and contrast the differing philosophies of David Hume and Des Cartes.
• How does rationalism address the theory of knowledge?
• What is the conflict between rationalism and the romantic movement?
• Is constructivism a separate philosophy or a form of rationalism?

Humanism Topics

• Does humanist philosophy promote atheism?
• What are the three core beliefs of humanism philosophy?
• How has humanism philosophy influenced modern psychology?
• How has humanism philosophy changed over the last century?
• As a metaphysical doctrine, how does humanism related to the natural world?
• Does humanism reject the philosophical divinity of nature in transcendentalism?
• Humanism borrows many aspects of Aristotle’s notion of Eudaimonia, but not all of them, why?
• What is the importance of self-determination in humanism philosophy?
• Does humanism support scientific skepticism?
• How has humanism influenced modern politics?

Middle Eastern Philosophy

• Has the Koran discouraged the development of Middle Eastern Philosophy
• Is Islam a philosophy or a religion?
• Is Arabian philosophy a derivative of Classical Greek philosophy?
• Was the Golden Age of Islam bolstered by Classical Greek philosophy?
• What is Arabic Logic?
• Platos influence on Ab? Bakr Muhammad ibn Zakariyy? al-R?z?.
• How the philosophy of Saadia Gaon influenced Jewish Law.
• How did Yahya ibn Adi use philosophical knowledge to produce defenses of Christian theology that were grounded in classical thought?
• The influence of Aristotle on Avicenna.
• How did Aristotle influence Sohrevardi in founding the Islamic school of Illuminations?
• How did Fakhr al-Din al-Razi integrate philosophy into his model for the cosmos?
• How did the philosophy of Kâtip Çelebi influence 16th and 17th-century social change in the Ottoman empire
• How did the philosophy of Dara Shikoh find common underpinnings shared by Hinduism and Islam?
• How did the philosophy of Muhammad Abduh help introduce liberal thought to the Islamic world?
• How did Fatema Mernissi address the conditions for women in the Islamic world?

Political Philosophy Topics

• How do ethics affect socio-political policy?
• Is agrarianism philosophy represented in today’s political parties?
• How did the Federalist papers influence our modern democratic system?
• What is the difference between liberalism and socialism?
• What is the difference between conservatism and fascism?
• What is libertarian political philosophy?
• Does paternalism still affect political philosophy?
• What is progressivism in political philosophy?
• Is effective altruism necessary for globalism to thrive?
• How would Socrates view our current notions of Civil Disobedience?

Let us know if you would like us to help you with your Philosophy Essay – we are glad to make it easier for you to success in your classes.

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How to Write a Philosophy Paper: Bridging Minds

Table of contents

• 1 What is a Philosophy Paper?
• 2.1 Philosophy Research Paper Introduction
• 2.2 Body Sections
• 2.3 Writing a Philosophy Paper Conclusion
• 3 Template for a Philosophy Essay Structure
• 4 How to Format a Philosophy Research Paper
• 5.1 Choose a Topic
• 5.2 Read the Material and Take Notes
• 5.3 Think about Your Thesis
• 5.4 Make an Outline
• 5.5 Make a First Draft
• 5.6 Work on the Sections
• 5.7 Engage with Counterarguments
• 5.8 Don’t Niglet Citations
• 5.9 Check Formatting Guidelines.
• 5.10 Revise and Proofread
• 6 How to Select the Best Philosophy Essay Topic?
• 7.1 Argumentative Philosophy Essay Topics
• 7.2 Plato Essay Topics
• 7.3 Worldview Essay Topics
• 7.4 Transcendentalism Essay Topics
• 7.5 Practical Philosophy Essay Topics
• 7.6 Enlightenment Essay Topics
• 8 Let Your Philosophy Paper Shine

As a college student who has decided to take a philosophy course, you may be new to this science. A philosophy assignment may seem hard, and this subject is indeed pretty difficult. You read some text, but what you read is just one level of the text, as you need to think critically and analyze what the author is trying to get across. It also involves a lot of analytical and deep thinking. Thus, it is difficult to do an assignment unless you fully understand the text. Don’t freak out if you have little experience with this subject, as we have prepared a comprehensive guide on how to write a philosophy paper, from which you will know:

• The essence of philosophy paper, its structure and format
• Why it is important not to omit the outline stage
• Practical tips on writing a philosophy research paper.

What is a Philosophy Paper?

A philosophy research paper is an academic work that presents a comprehensive exploration of a specific philosophical question , topic, or thinker. It typically involves the analysis of arguments, the articulation of one’s own positions or perspectives, and the evaluation of philosophical texts and ideas. The primary objective of such a paper is to contribute to the understanding of philosophical issues by critically examining existing views, offering new interpretations, or developing novel arguments. The paper is characterized by rigorous logical reasoning, clear articulation of ideas, and grounding in relevant philosophical literature.

Drafting a philosophy essay begins with appreciating precisely what a philosophy research paper entails. It involves taking a definite position on a philosophical topic and defending that viewpoint with a logical, irrefutable claim. A good research essay generally uses rational arguments to lead readers down a path to a conclusive, hard-to-contradict resolution.

Philosophy Paper Outline Structure

Writing a quality philosophy paper means beginning with a first-rate outline. The best philosophy paper outline is straightforward in its intent, takes up a position, and is uncomplicated in its language. A proper outline makes drafting easier and less time-consuming. Moreover, philosophical writing with a clear-cut outline will lend assurance that your end result is condensed yet enlightening.

After determining a format, you are ready to begin writing out your philosophy paper outline. The first step in this process is to determine how to choose a topic for a paper. Great papers are those that the writer is most interested in. Once your topic has been chosen, your outline can be written with specific details and facts. Said specifics will take your introduction, body, and conclusion through an easy-to-follow guide.

Philosophy Research Paper Introduction

Your research essay should begin with a striking and  attention-grabbing hook . It should identify your topic of focus in some way and ensure that readers have the desire to continue on. The hook is intended to smoothly transition to your thesis statement, which is the claim your thesis is venturing to prove. Your thesis statement should lead readers to  the question of research – the distinct question that will be wholly explained in the body of writing. Finally, your  introduction for the research paper will close with your stance on the question.

Body Sections

The body aspect of a philosophy thesis is considered the meat of any paper. It is hard unless you find someone to  write my philosophy paper for me . This element is where most of the logic behind your stance is contained. Typically, bodies are made up of 3 sections, each explaining the explicit reasoning behind your position. For instance, the first chunk of the body will directly and logically answer the question posed.

In your second body section, use statements that argue why your position is correct. These statements should be informed, prudent, and concise in their reasoning, yet still presented without overly fancy lingo. The explanation of your argument should not be easily opposed. It should also be succinct and without fluff, insulating the explanatory material.

The third portion of the body section should defend your thesis against those that may have counterarguments. This will be the backbone of the essay – the portion that is too hard to refute. By ensuring that criticisms are properly and utterly denounced and the thesis is ratified, philosophical writing will begin to reach its end – the conclusion.

Writing a Philosophy Paper Conclusion

The conclusion is ultimately meant to tie the entire work together in a nice, coherent fashion. It should start with a brief rehash of the body section of your essay. Then, it will move into explaining the importance of the thesis and argument as a whole.  Quality conclusions are ones that will offer a sense of closure.

Template for a Philosophy Essay Structure

A suggested template to help guide you when writing out a philosophy outline is as follows:

The use of the above outline template is sure to help with the overall drafting procedure of philosophical writing. Understanding the proper use of the outline is ideal for the best end product.

Putting an outline to use makes the process of writing a philosophy paper much more simple. By using an outline to navigate your thoughts as you write, your essay nearly composes itself. The addition of detail to an outline as it is written provides pronounced facts and a full outline. Take the outline chock full of thoughts and ideas, add words and transitions, and you have a complete paper.

How to Format a Philosophy Research Paper

Formatting a philosophy paper starts with choosing a citation style . The choice between APA, MLA, and Chicago styles simply lay out citations in contrasting manners for your philosophical writing. Each of these styles requires a differing method of citing sources and varying types of organization. Most commonly, philosophy research paper citations are done in MLA or Chicago. While both are accepted, it may be best to choose which your supervisor requires.

Luckily, you can  APA research papers for sale and forget about this stress.

10 Steps to Write a Great Philosophy Paper Like a Pro

Learning how to write a philosophy research paper outline is a skill that can be carried over to numerous other subjects. While philosophical writing is a bit different than most other topics of discussion, the outline can be applied to others fairly easily. Proper utilization of outlines makes for a well-thought-out and structured thesis work that a writer can be proud of.

Choose a Topic

One of the primary steps is choosing a topic, and that is the first thing college students get stuck on. If you can not choose a topic you are interested in, talk to your university professor. You can also take a look at different lists of ideas on the Internet.

Read the Material and Take Notes

Read all materials carefully and take notes of important ideas. It is a good idea to read the material a couple of times as there will always be something you don’t notice at first. It is important to have a clear understanding of what you read to nail your assignment. If you feel like you don’t understand anything, then Google ‘ write my philosophy paper for me ’ and get help from real professionals.

Think about Your Thesis

Before you start writing, realize what you are going to show. Your work should have a strong thesis that states your position. The central component of the work is a clear thesis statement followed by supporting claims.

Make an Outline

An outline should include your ideas for the introduction, your thesis, main points, and conclusion. Having a philosophy paper outline before working on the assignment can help you stay focused and ensure you include all major points.

Make a First Draft

Don’t worry about perfection at this stage. Instead, focus on getting your ideas on paper. Following your outline, start building your arguments. Make sure to provide evidence or reasons for your claims.

Work on the Sections

Introduction: An introduction for a research paper is an essential part of any assignment because it gives your readers an overview of your work. It is your opportunity to grab their attention, so take this step seriously. Remember the thesis statement? You should present it here.

Main body: In this part, you need to present arguments and support your thesis. Start with providing a clear explanation of the philosopher’s ideas and move to the evaluation. Support your thesis by using examples.

Conclusion: A conclusion for any research paper is where you restate your central thesis. It should look like a mirror image of the introduction. Here you need to summarize the major points of your work.

Engage with Counterarguments

A good philosophy paper acknowledges opposing views. Make sure to address these counterarguments and provide reasons for why you believe your stance is more compelling.

Don’t Niglet Citations

Citations serve as a bridge. They link your ideas to the broader world of philosophical discourse, allowing readers to trace back your sources and delve deeper if they wish. Always remember, that citations are more than a mere formality. They correspond to specific ideas, arguments, or facts you present in your paper. This means every claim, idea, or quote you borrow from a philosopher needs to be clearly linked to its source. In this way, you will be sure that your work will be free of plagiarism .

Check Formatting Guidelines.

It’s also crucial to maintain consistency in your citation style. Whether you use APA, MLA, or Chicago, stick to one style throughout your paper.

Revise and Proofread

Once you finish your masterpiece, it is time to  edit and proofread the research paper . We recommend you put your work aside for a few days to have a fresh perspective when start editing it.

How to Select the Best Philosophy Essay Topic?

First of all, we recommend deciding on a direction that interests you more. It can be a theoretical aspect, applicative use of philosophy or even the integration of this science with others – for example, ontology or metaphysics. After all, it is essential to reflect your thoughts correctly in writing for any direction. You will need to use writing tools for students to show your judgments accurately in the essay. Sometimes this can be a difficult task when the authors of the papers get into a so-called flow state.

Secondly, choosing a good topic that can be compared with the opinions of already-known thinkers is necessary for a deeper justification of your point of view. To do this, use the appropriate essay quotation format to make your paper easy to read. After all, while we are not recognized philosophers, proving our claims will be helpful to get the highest score.

If you still need to get philosophy essay ideas, continue reading this article. Here you will find 70 interesting topics that you can use as a topic for your essay or get inspired to create your own.

Easy Philosophy Paper Topics

Often we want to avoid reinventing the wheel. We are interested in writing an exciting but easy essay. So, if you were looking for simple philosophical essay topics, here is the list of the top 10 topics in philosophy for your paper:

• Human Responsibilities in Different World Religions: Why are They Distinct?
• Good and Evil: Do They Have Anything in Common? Will They Be Able to Insulate One without the Other?
• Advantages and Disadvantages of a Hedonistic Approach to Life
• Life after Death: Should We Endure the Circumstances of the X-axis for a Better Future on the Y-axis?
• Why Ancient People Asked Themselves the Same Questions as We Do: Isn’t Humanity Progressing?
• Do We Fulfill Our Moral Obligation to Parents by Helping Children?
• Three Features: Each from an Animal and an Angel. What is the Nature of Man?
• Is Genetic Engineering Ethical with Respect to the Laws of Nature?
• How Society Can Influence the Personal Choice of the Sense of Life for Each of Us
• Self-Determination of a Person & the Formation of our Microuniverse

Argumentative Philosophy Essay Topics

If you think more analytically, use it to your advantage. The argumentative type of philosophy essay is an unusual and exciting option for such papers since it requires strong thesis statement points. If you want to write exactly this sort of essay, these essay topics ideas will come in handy to decide on the topic of your work:

• Peaceful Protests/Desperate Battle: a Critical Analysis of the Philosophy of Resistance
• The Borderland Situation and Absurdity: Analytical Review.
• Explanation of the Path of any Subject to the Point of No Return. A Critical Analysis of “The Myth of Sisyphus” 1942.
• The Paradox of Absurdity and How to Find a Way Out of It: Follow the Rules or Set Yours
• Comparative Analysis of Forms of Globalization from the Point of View of Philosophy
• E. Leroy, P. Teilhard de Shader and Volodymyr Vernandskyi: Together About the Noosphere, Separately About its Functioning.
• Analysis of the Origins of the First Thinkers from the Point of View of Metaphysics.
• The Legal Aspect of Organ Cloning and Entire Human Cloning. Does it Make a Difference?
• Are People Obliged to Always Tell the Truth and Nothing But the Truth?
• Is Experience Acquired through Lived Years or Situations? Explanation of Each of the Parties.

Plato Essay Topics

Plato and Aristotle were the founders of philosophy in their classical sense. That is why writing an essay that will outline or refute Plato’s reasoning is a surefire option to impress your teacher and stand out from the rest of the group. If you still don’t know what to write about, below are the topics in the philosophy type of paper:

• Understanding a Being as a Multiplicity of Organic Elements According to Plato’s Postulates.
• Reflection of the Philosophy of Truth As an Idea: Plato’s Teaching
• Plato’s way of Familiarizing themself with the Truth through Memories
• Is It Possible to Trace the Influence of Socrates on Plato’s Philosophy: a Detailed Analysis
• Truth Exists, but It does not Exist until Being Developed – the Main Contradiction of Plato’s System of Philosophy Understanding
• “Phaedo”: Philosophy is the Science of Death.
• Plato’s Dialectic: Philosophy is the Cornice that Crowns All Our Knowledge
• Platonic Vision of Four Types of Dialectics as Four Modes of the Soul Activity
• A Move Against Democracy from the Platonic Postulates of Understanding the State and Society According to Personal Philosophy
• Plato and the “Ladder of Love” in the “Banquet”: Beautiful Bodies, Souls, Tempers and Sciences.

Worldview Essay Topics

Worldview and philosophy are similar concepts; they are rooted in the history of the human race. That is why this type of essay is interesting for both writing and reading. Choose your worldview essay topic from the options below to create your perfect piece of writing:

• Three-Aspect Structure of Worldview: Elements, Levels, Main Subsystems
• Mythological and Religious Types of Worldview: What do They Have in Common?
• Worldview as an Individual Prism of Multilevel Interaction Between Man and the World
• The Influence of Previous Generations on Modern Prejudices of our Outlook
• Ideological Form of Globalization. How does Social Media Affect It?
• The Noosphere as a Part of Countering Global Warming
• Modern Beauty Standards and the Bodily Phenomenon of Existence: What is the Connection between Them?
• Human Rights. Philosophy and Ethics
• Religious Beliefs as a Form of Philosophy Existence
• A Complex and Fragmented Approach to Studying the Worldview of Different Nations

Transcendentalism Essay Topics

Transcendentalism, as a new stage in the formation of philosophy, played a key role in its modern appearance. If you are more inclined towards more modernist lines of philosophy, these topics will suit you perfectly:

• Classical German Philosophy. Rational and Intelligent Thinking
• Subjectively Realistic Description of the Environment According to Categories of Philosophy
• The Influence of Transcendentalism on the Ongoing Development of Philosophy Accordingly to the Categories of Multiplicity and Necessity
• 10 Categories Denoting Deep Connections in being Relative to Transcendentalism: What Unites and Distinguishes Them
• Scientific Contemplation as a Mental Category through the Prism of the 20s Years of the 20th Century
• Life at the Intersection of the Past and the Future: Influence on Currents of American Transcendentalism Philosophy
• Modes of Perception of Time & Time as Duration: New ideas of Transcendentalists or Paraphrasing of Hegel’s Postulates?
• Ontological Doctrines and their Essential Characteristics: Henry David Thoreau
• Concepts of Understanding Space and their Qualitative Changes Relative to New Views on Philosophy
• Nature for Self-Sufficiency as the Main Myth of Philosophy Currents at the Beginning of the 20th Century

Practical Philosophy Essay Topics

The theory is great. However, any science’s practical and applied meaning is interesting for each of us. If you are interested in delving into the use of philosophy in modern society, these topics will not leave you indifferent:

• Everyday/Life Level of Philosophy
• Philosophy of Principles. What does It Mean to be Guided by a Certain Life Principle?
• Approach of Philosophy to the Life of Tibetan Monks – does It Correlate with Reality?
• Prejudice against Residents of Third World Countries: Reasons for Contempt for Their Mentality and Lifestyle
• Unpreparedness of College Teachers for Changes in the Education System: What are They Afraid of?
• Truth as the Last Instance of Communication with People. Is It Always Necessary?
• The Philosophy of Excessive Consumption in the USA. What Basis does it Have?
• Does the Concept of One’s Opinion Exist in the Era of Oversaturation of Information?
• The use of Ancient Greek Postulates in Philosophy Today – is the Appeal to Classical Canons Still Relevant?
• The Concept of Ethical and Moral Principles in the Era of Excessive Permissiveness.

Enlightenment Essay Topics

Enlightenment played a huge role in all sciences and spheres of human life. It’s a mind-blowing theme to write about. So, if you were looking for some ideas for your Enlightenment essay topic, we’ve prepared the best ones for you:

• Does the Urge to Study and Develop the Beautiful in Man Still Influence Modern Philosophy?
• Empiricism and Rationalism: Julien Aufre de Lametre’s Attempt to Unite Them
• The Concept of Atheistic Speech of Enlightenment: Religious Dogmatics Debunktion by Voltaire
• Voltaire: Ignorance, Fanaticism, Delusion and Lies Are Cultivated by Christianity
• The State as a Level of Inequality between the Rich and the Poor, According to Rousseau’s Views.
• The Immense Book of Nature as an Object of Knowledge According to Denis Diderot
• The Structure of Existence through Its Concepts: Elements, Substratum, Substance, Objective Reality beyond Human Consciousness and the Condition of Multiplicity.
• Concepts of Understanding Space and Time in Enlightenment Philosophy
• “Molecular Motion” by Paul Holbach: What is It?
• Social Life Based on the Principles of Reason and Justice – “About Reason” Andrian Helvetius

Let Your Philosophy Paper Shine

Good philosophy research paper writing requires some craft and care. Edit your work until it feels right, and make sure you are confident about your claims. If this science is just not your thing, or you struggle to understand it and doing assignments is sheer torture for you, then order a philosophical work crafted by real professionals! The best way to do your assignment is to leave it to experts and forget about your problems.

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691 Philosophy Essay Topics & Good Ideas

18 January 2024

last updated

Philosophy essay topics are vast, engaging, and intellectually stimulating, focusing on metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, logic, aesthetics, and more. They challenge students to ponder on fundamental questions, from the nature of reality and existence to the basis of morality, the meaning of life, and the intricacies of human knowledge. From exploring ancient philosophies to scrutinizing contemporary philosophical debates, various concepts are designed to ignite critical thinking, enhance argumentative skills, and deepen students’ understanding of the world, themselves, and their place within it. Thus, philosophical essay topics, by their nature, encourage students to develop and formulate their own unique perspectives, fostering a culture of intellectual curiosity and rigorous analysis.

Best Philosophy Topics

• Unraveling Kant’s Perspective on Moral Imperatives
• Analyzing the Concept of Existentialism in Sartre’s Works
• Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave”: A Modern Interpretation
• Ethical Implications of Artificial Intelligence: A Philosophical View
• Nihilism’s Influence on Contemporary Thought and Culture
• The Intersection of Eastern Philosophy and Modern Science
• Nietzsche’s “Will to Power”: Relevance in the 21st Century
• Stoicism and Resilience: Ancient Wisdom for Modern Life
• Deciphering the Notion of “Tabula Rasa” in Locke’s Philosophy
• Dialectical Materialism: The Backbone of Marxist Philosophy
• Heidegger’s “Being and Time”: A Deep-Dive Into Existential Analysis
• Conceptualizing the “Simulated Reality” Hypothesis From a Philosophical Perspective
• Philosophical Implications of Quantum Physics: Bridging the Gap
• Utilitarianism vs. Deontology: An Ethical Debate
• Contributions of Indian Philosophy to Global Philosophical Discourse
• Philosophical Roots of Feminist Theory
• Aristotle’s Virtue Ethics: Relevance in Modern Society
• Philosophy of Language: Wittgenstein’s Revolutionary Viewpoint
• Re-Examining Solipsism in the Digital Age
• The Notion of “Free Will”: Philosophical Perspectives
• Descartes’ Meditations: Rationalism and Skepticism
• Spinoza and Pantheism: An Intriguing Relation
• Causality and Hume: Breaking Down Empiricism
• The Role of Suffering in Buddhist Philosophy
• The Paradox of Time Travel: A Philosophical Enquiry

Easy Philosophy Topics

• Epicurus on Pleasure: Hedonism Redefined
• The “Butterfly Effect” Concept: Philosophical Underpinnings
• Schopenhauer’s Pessimism: Understanding the Philosophy of Suffering
• Transcendental Idealism: Unpacking Kant’s Epistemology
• Philosophical Investigations Into the Nature of Consciousness
• Probing Into the Ethics of Cloning: A Philosophical Examination
• Postmodernist Views on Objective Reality: A Critical Evaluation
• Analyzing Ethical Egoism: An Inquiry Into Self-Interest
• Ayn Rand’s Objectivism: A Philosophical Analysis
• The Concept of “The Other” in Existential Philosophy
• Philosophical Assumptions in Freud’s Theory of Psychoanalysis
• Taoist Philosophy and Its Relevance to Sustainable Living
• Rethinking the Philosophy of Death: Perspectives on Mortality
• Philosophy of Mathematics: Beyond Numbers and Equations
• Metaphysical Debates Surrounding the Existence of God
• Interpreting the Principle of “Ma” in Japanese Aesthetics
• Philosophical Perspectives on the Dichotomy of Good and Evil
• Assessing the Phenomenological Approach in Philosophy
• Heraclitus’ Philosophy of Change: A Dynamic View of Reality
• The Mind-Body Problem: Insights From Dualism and Monism
• Evaluating Zeno’s Paradoxes: A Philosophical Perspective
• The Notion of Justice in Rawls’ Theory of Fairness
• Pyrrhonian Skepticism: An Examination of Radical Doubt
• Impacts of Existential Crisis on Human Behavior: A Philosophical Investigation

Interesting Philosophy Paper Topics

• Rousseau and the “Noble Savage”: Revisiting Romanticism in Philosophy
• Debating the Ethics of War: A Philosophical Approach
• The Perception of Reality in Hindu Philosophy: Maya and Brahman
• Analyzing the Philosophy of Crime and Punishment: Dostoevsky’s Perspective
• The Golden Mean: Aristotle’s Take on Balance and Moderation
• Philosopher Kings: Plato’s Vision of Ideal Rulership
• A Deeper Look Into the Philosophy of Stoic Joy
• Exploring the Boundaries of Human Knowledge: An Epistemological Enquiry
• The Socratic Method: Its Philosophical Foundations and Educational Implications
• Understanding the Notion of “The Absurd” in Camus’ Works
• Critical Examination of Hobbes’ “State of Nature”
• Kierkegaard’s Leap of Faith: A Philosophical Analysis
• Transhumanism and Its Philosophical Implications: A Critical Study
• Philosophy of Art: Aesthetic Theory and Practice
• Evaluating the Existentialism of Nietzsche’s “Ubermensch”
• Jung’s Archetypes: Unveiling the Philosophical Underpinnings
• Moral Obligations Towards Future Generations: A Philosophical Perspective
• Zen Buddhism: Its Philosophy and Influence on Eastern Thought
• Philosophical Perspectives on Human Rights: Defining Dignity and Freedom
• Confucius’ Philosophy of Harmony: Relevance in Contemporary Society
• The Evolution of Social Contract Theory: From Hobbes to Rawls
• Tracing the Evolution of Moral Relativism in Philosophy
• The Philosophical Aspects of Happiness: A Comparative Study
• Platonic Love: Its Philosophical Underpinnings and Influence on Western Thought

Argumentative Philosophy Topics

• Influence of Artificial Intelligence on Modern Ethics
• Death Penalty: Deterrent for Crime or Infringement on Rights?
• Free Will vs. Determinism: Influence on Human Behavior
• Assisted Suicide: Compassionate Choice or Ethical Misstep?
• Objectivity in History: Fact or Interpretation?
• Truth of Absolutism: Unwavering Certainty or Egotistical Illusion?
• Validity of Censorship in Safeguarding Public Morality
• Role of Religion: Source of Morality or Cause of Conflict?
• Virtue Ethics: Ideal Moral Compass or Unrealistic Standard?
• Merit of Utilitarianism in Policy-Making Decisions
• Ethical Implications of Genetic Engineering in Humans
• Vegetarianism: Moral Obligation or Personal Preference?
• Pacifism: Cowardice or Bravery in the Face of Conflict?
• Cultural Relativism: Respect for Diversity or Excuse for Human Rights Violations?
• Existentialism: Path to Authenticity or Descent into Nihilism?
• Intellectual Property: Protection of Creativity or Hindrance to Progress?
• Aesthetic Judgements: Subjective Preference or Objective Criteria?
• Human Nature: Innately Good or Inherently Evil?
• Moral Responsibility of Multinational Corporations in Developing Countries
• Ethical Dimensions of Universal Basic Income
• Privacy in Digital Age: Fundamental Right or Sacrifice for Security?

Philosophy Proposal Essay Topics

• Exploration of Ethical Implications Surrounding Genetic Engineering
• Unveiling Truth: An Investigation Into Epistemological Theories
• Analyzing Moral Dilemmas: A Deep Dive Into Kantian Ethics
• Perspectives on Existentialism: Influences and Repercussions
• Rationality vs. Emotion: A Comparative Study in Decision-Making
• Dialectics of Master and Slave: Hegelian Theory Revisited
• Nature of Reality: Examination of Metaphysical Concepts
• Aristotle’s Virtue Ethics: Relevance in Contemporary Society
• Buddhist Philosophy and Its Impact on Modern Mindfulness Practices
• Nietzsche’s “Übermensch”: Interpretation and Implications for Modern Man
• Empathy’s Role in Ethical Decision-Making: A Philosophical Perspective
• Aesthetic Judgement: Kant’s Analysis in the Modern Context
• Phenomenology’s Evolution: Sartre and Husserl Comparative Analysis
• Postmodern Deconstruction: Derrida’s Influence on Contemporary Thought
• Quantum Mechanics and Philosophy: Revisiting Determinism and Indeterminism
• Platonist Views on Love: An In-Depth Review
• Mysticism and Rationalism: Contrasting Views on Human Experience
• Panpsychism Reconsidered: Consciousness in the Universe
• Multiverse Theory: Philosophical Discussions and Considerations
• Nihilism in the 21st Century: An Evaluative Study

Philosophy Research Paper Topics

• Ethical Conundrums of Genetic Engineering: A Philosophical Analysis
• Unraveling Hegel’s Dialectics: The Synthesis of Thesis and Antithesis
• Tracing the Origin and Development of Libertarianism
• Environmental Ethics: Gaia Theory and Deep Ecology
• The Trolley Problem: A Philosophical Conundrum
• Examining “The Myth of Progress” From a Philosophical Lens
• The Philosophical Basis of Humanism: Secular and Religious Perspectives
• The Enigma of Time in Philosophy: Exploring Different Theories
• The Moral Dimension of Veganism: A Philosophical Exploration
• Materialism vs. Idealism: An Enduring Philosophical Debate
• The Philosophy of Music: From Pythagoras to Nietzsche
• Understanding the Philosophy of Education: Teaching and Learning Deconstructed
• The Role of Doubt in Philosophy: A Discourse on Skepticism
• Insights Into the Philosophy of Love: From Plato to Fromm
• Unpacking the Concept of “Collective Consciousness” in Durkheim’s Works
• Revisiting “The Allegory of the Sun” in Plato’s Republic
• A Phenomenological Approach to Perception: Merleau-Ponty’s Perspective
• Philosophical Implications of the Multiverse Theory: An Analysis
• Exploring the Concept of Karma in Indian Philosophy
• Philosophy of Space and Time: Unveiling the Mysteries

Comparative Philosophy Essay Topics

• Exploring the Distinctions Between Eastern and Western Concepts of Justice
• Contrasting Confucianism and Platonism: Ethics and Education
• Buddhism vs. Stoicism: A Comparative Study of Approaches to Suffering
• Existentialism in West versus Absurdism in East: Differing Views on Meaning of Life
• A Comparative Analysis of Aristotle’s and Confucius’s Views on Friendship
• The Role of Intuition in Eastern Mysticism and Western Rationalism
• Daoism and Epicureanism: Different Paths to Tranquility
• Relevance of Kant’s Categorical Imperative in the Context of Buddhist Ethics
• The Influence of Taoist Philosophy on Western Environmental Ethics
• A Comparative Study: Greek Hedonism and Indian Philosophy of Ananda
• Comparative Evaluation of Duty in Kantian Ethics and Dharma in Hindu Philosophy
• Parallel Themes in Zoroastrianism and Platonism: A Comparative Analysis
• Comparative Examination of Eastern and Western Perspectives on Forgiveness
• Kierkegaard’s Leap of Faith and Zen Buddhism’s Sudden Enlightenment: A Comparative Study
• A Comparative Analysis of Schopenhauer’s Will and Buddhism’s Desire
• Comparing Hindu Karma and Aristotelian Virtue Ethics: A Study of Moral Responsibility
• Nietzsche’s Eternal Recurrence and the Buddhist Notion of Samsara: A Comparative Analysis
• Analyzing the Differences in Hegelian and Taoist Dialectics
• Examining Sufism and Christian Mysticism: Comparative Analysis of Divine Love
• Understanding Free Will: A Comparative Study Between Sartre’s Existentialism and Islamic Determinism

Practical Philosophical Topics for Philosophy Essays

• Altruism vs. Egoism: Which Guides Humanity?
• Happiness Pursuit: The Role of Virtue Ethics
• Consequentialism and Its Impact on Decision-Making Processes
• Existentialism: Understanding Our Purpose and Meaning
• Justice Examination: Balancing Equality and Fairness
• Animal Rights: Ethical Obligations Towards Non-Human Creatures
• Perception of Reality: An Analysis of Solipsism
• Morality Origin: Divine Command Theory or Secular Humanism?
• Feminist Philosophy: Promoting Gender Equality and Justice
• Dilemmas in Bioethics: Dealing With Life and Death Decisions
• Vegetarianism Advocacy: A Case of Moral Obligation
• Capital Punishment: Weighing Retribution Against Rehabilitation
• Personal Identity: Analyzing Persistence Over Time
• War Ethics: Deciphering Justified Conflict
• Environmental Ethics: Our Responsibility Toward Nature
• Kant’s Imperative: Its Application in Modern Ethics
• Stoicism Influence: Practical Philosophy for Modern Living
• Political Philosophy: Understanding Social Contract Theory
• Business Ethics: Corporate Responsibility and Stakeholder Theory
• Utilitarianism: Critiquing Its Feasibility as a Moral Framework
• Metaphysics of Mind: Analyzing Dualism vs. Physicalism

Philosophy Essay Questions

• How Does Plato’s Theory of Forms Influence Modern Philosophy?
• What Are the Ethical Dimensions of Nietzsche’s “Will to Power”?
• In What Ways Does Kant’s Transcendental Idealism Contribute to Epistemology?
• How Does Existentialism Manifest in Kierkegaard’s Philosophical Writings?
• Which Holds Greater Influence: Empiricism or Rationalism?
• What Role Does Phenomenology Play in Husserl’s Thought?
• Can Derrida’s “Of Grammatology” Be Deconstructed?
• How Can Philosophical Perspectives Shed Light on Artificial Intelligence Ethics?
• What Are the Philosophical Implications of Quantum Physics?
• How Does Epicurus’ Philosophy Contribute to the Art of Happiness?
• How Does Camus’ Concept of the Absurd Explore the Search for Meaning?
• How Does Hegel’s Dialectic Theory Influence His Phenomenology of Spirit?
• What Are Feminist Perspectives Presented in Simone de Beauvoir’s “The Second Sex”?
• How Does Postmodernism Reflect in Baudrillard’s “Simulacra”?
• How Does Leibniz’s Monadology Shape the Metaphysics of His Time?
• Does the Paradox of Free Will Undermine the Concept of Personal Autonomy?
• How Does Popper’s Falsification Theory Reinforce the Philosophy of Science?
• How Has Wittgenstein’s Linguistic Turn Shaped Analytic Philosophy?
• What Insights Does Heraclitus Provide on the Philosophy of Constant Change?
• How Does Sartre’s Phenomenological Ontology Emerge in Being and Nothingness?
• How Does Singer’s Utilitarian Ethics Shape the Argument for Animal Rights?

Aesthetics Philosophy Topics

• Significance of Form in Aesthetic Appreciation
• Relationship Between Aesthetics and Emotion
• Impacts of Culture on Judgments of Beauty
• Evolution of Aesthetic Taste Throughout History
• Aesthetic Philosophy and the Nature of Creativity
• Concept of the Sublime in Aesthetic Experience
• Philosophy of Aesthetics and the Perception of Art
• Roles of Imagination in Aesthetic Appreciation
• Aesthetic Judgment and Criteria for Beauty
• Philosophy of Aesthetic Experience and the Mind-Body Problem
• Aesthetics and the Interpretation of Art
• Connections Between Aesthetics and Ethical Values
• Aesthetic Education and Development of Artistic Taste
• Influence of Technology on Aesthetic Perception
• Authenticity in Art and the Philosophy of Aesthetics
• Aesthetics and the Concept of Artistic Intention
• Temporal Perception in Aesthetic Experience
• Philosophy of Art Restoration and Aesthetic Preservation
• Aesthetic Appreciation of Nature and the Environment
• Aesthetics and the Ethics of Environmental Responsibility
• Philosophy of Architecture and Aesthetic Design
• Aesthetic Pleasure and the Concept of Catharsis

Analytic Philosophy Essay Topics

• The Epistemological Significance of Conceptual Analysis
• Language’s Roles in Analytic Philosophy
• Exploring the Ontological Status of Abstract Objects
• Ethical Considerations in Language and Communication
• The Problematic Nature of Induction in Scientific Reasoning
• Mental States: Identity or Functionalism?
• Unveiling the Metaphysics of Causation and Determinism
• The Logical Structure Underlying Scientific Explanation
• Perception and Sense Data: Epistemological Insights
• Philosophical Perspectives on Mathematics: Platonism vs. Nominalism
• Exploring Consciousness: Physicalism or Dualism?
• The Epistemology of Testimony and Trustworthiness
• Philosophy of Time: Presentism or Eternalism?
• Understanding the Nature of Natural Laws
• Ethical Dimensions of Human Enhancement Technologies
• The Problem of Personal Identity and Continuity
• The Epistemology of Scientific Realism and Anti-Realism
• Philosophy of Language: Referentialism or Pragmatism?
• Analyzing the Concept of Analyticity in Language Philosophy
• Ethics of Animal Rights and Welfare

Ancient Philosophy Essay Topics

• Stoicism and the Pursuit of Apatheia: Examining Emotional Detachment
• Epicurus’ Hedonistic Philosophy and Its Critique of Pleasure
• The Significance of Reason in Seneca the Younger’s Philosophy
• Divine Providence in Stoic Metaphysics: Unraveling Its Meaning
• Pythagorean Ethics: The Interplay of Virtue and Mathematics
• Heraclitus’ Doctrine of Flux: A Paradigm Shift in Ancient Thought
• Pythagorean Philosophy: Exploring the Harmony of Body and Soul
• Aristotle’s Ethics: The Concept of Telos and Human Flourishing
• Parmenides’ Metaphysics and Its Influence on Pre-Socratic Philosophy
• Epictetus on the Integration of Reason and Passion in Moral Development
• Zeno’s Paradoxes: The Philosophy of Paradox in Ancient Greece
• Neoplatonism and the Anima Mundi: Unveiling the Cosmic Soul
• The Aesthetic Dimension in Ancient Greek Philosophical Thought
• Ethics and Politics: The Interconnectedness in Aristotle’s Philosophy
• The Influence of Sophists on Rhetoric and Philosophical Discourse
• The Logos: Stoic and Heraclitean Perspectives on Rationality
• Divine Retribution in Ancient Roman Philosophical Thought
• Skepticism and the Quest for Knowledge: An Ancient Philosophical Inquiry
• Marcus Aurelius: Reason and Virtue in Stoic Philosophy
• Stoicism and Epicureanism: Exploring the Concepts of Fate and Destiny
• The Interplay of Ethics and Metaphysics in Plato’s Philosophy
• Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave”: Political Philosophy and the Quest for Truth

Continental Philosophy Essay Topics

• Metaphysical Foundations of Existentialism
• Phenomenological Analysis of Perception and Reality
• Language and Interpretation in Hermeneutics
• Hegelian Dialectics: Freedom Unveiled
• Merleau-Ponty’s Embodied Phenomenology: Corporeality, Perception, and the World
• Ethics of Care: Feminist Perspective in Continental Philosophy
• Power’s Ontology: Foucault’s Discourse Analysis
• Deconstruction: Critiquing Binary Oppositions
• Emmanuel Levinas: Exploring the Notion of “Otherness”
• Hannah Arendt: Political Philosophy and the Power of Action
• Spirit’s Absolute Nature: Hegelian Philosophy
• Sartre’s Existentialism: Crisis of Meaning
• Heidegger’s Analysis of Being-in-the-World: Authentic Existence
• History’s Roles in Walter Benjamin’s Philosophy
• Bergson’s Philosophy of Duration: Time Unveiled
• Ethics of Alterity: Julia Kristeva’s Perspective
• Phenomenology of Love: Jean-Luc Marion’s Insights
• Alienation: Marx and Adorno’s Conceptual Framework
• Desire’s Philosophy: Gilles Deleuze’s Perspective
• Sublime Aesthetics: Immanuel Kant’s Notions
• Poststructuralist Critique: Challenging Essentialism and Identity

Eastern Philosophy Essay Topics

• Analyzing the Four Noble Truths in Buddhism
• Non-Attachment in Advaita Vedanta: A Transcendent Concept
• The Significance of Mindfulness in Eastern Philosophies
• Eco-Philosophy: Embracing the Way of Nature
• Karma Yoga: Selflessness in Hinduism
• Leadership and Daoism: The Way to Govern
• Exploring the Three Jewels of Buddhism
• The Paradox of Wu: Unveiling Daoist Mysteries
• Impermanence: A Key Tenet in Buddhist Philosophy
• Neo-Confucianism’s Influence on East Asian Societies
• The Bhagavad Gita: Self-Realization through Yoga
• Daoist Alchemy: Inner Transformation and Eternal Life
• Shintoism: Rituals and Their Significance
• Zen Koans: Illuminating Enigmatic Teachings
• Qi: Vital Energy in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Philosophy
• Laozi’s Teachings: Insights From “The Dao De Jing”
• Asceticism: Renunciation in Indian Philosophy
• Yogic Perspectives: Mind, Consciousness, and Beyond
• Tea Ceremony: Harmony and Zen Aesthetics
• Confucianism’s Ethical Teachings in Modern Society

Enlightenment Philosophy Essay Topics

• The Influence of Descartes’ Dualism on Enlightenment Thought
• Voltaire’s Critique of Religious Dogma and Superstition
• Kant’s Concept of Reason and Its Role in Enlightenment Thinking
• Empiricism in Hume’s Philosophy and Its Impact on Enlightenment
• Locke’s Theory of Natural Rights and Its Influence on Enlightenment Politics
• Rousseau’s Social Contract and the Idea of Popular Sovereignty
• The Enlightenment’s Impact on the American Revolution
• Montesquieu’s Theory of Separation of Powers and Its Influence on Modern Governments
• The Feminist Critique of Enlightenment Philosophy
• Diderot’s “Encyclopédie” and the Dissemination of Enlightenment Ideas
• Enlightenment’s Influence on the French Revolution
• Spinoza’s Pantheism and Its Relation to Enlightenment Metaphysics
• Skepticism’s Roles in Enlightenment Philosophy
• The Ethical Implications of Enlightenment Rationalism
• Enlightenment’s Impacts on Education and the Spread of Knowledge
• Critique of Colonialism in Enlightenment Philosophy
• Aesthetics in Enlightenment Thought and Its Significance
• Leibniz’s Monadology and Its Relation to Enlightenment Metaphysics
• Newtonian Physics’ Influence on Enlightenment Philosophy
• Freedom of Speech in Enlightenment Thinking and Its Importance
• The Concept of Happiness in Enlightenment Ethics

Epistemology Philosophy Topics

• The Nature of Knowledge: Exploring Epistemological Foundations
• Rationality and Reasoning: Investigating Logic in Knowledge Attainment
• Inductive Dilemma: Assessing Generalization Validity
• Skepticism and Certainty: Unveiling Limits to Human Understanding
• Empiricism vs. Rationalism: Contrasting Approaches to Epistemology
• Epistemic Relativism: Evaluating Subjectivity in Knowledge
• Warranted Belief: Examining Criteria for Epistemic Justification
• Intellectual Virtues: Identifying Knowledgeable Traits
• Foundationalism vs. Coherentism: Analyzing Knowledge Justification Theories
• Gettier’s Challenge: Critiquing Traditional Knowledge Definition
• Epistemic Authority: Investigating the Role of Experts
• Ethical Dimensions of Knowledge: Exploring Epistemic Responsibility
• Social Epistemology: Understanding Social Factors in Knowledge Acquisition
• Epistemic Norms: Evaluating Standards for Knowledge
• Testimony and Trustworthiness: Assessing Reliability in Second-Hand Knowledge
• Internalism and Externalism: Contrasting Perspectives on Justification
• Reliabilism: Analyzing Cognitive Processes in Knowledge Formation
• A Priori vs. A Posteriori Knowledge: Distinguishing Analytic and Synthetic Truths
• Epistemic Closure Principle: Assessing Knowledge Inference
• Pragmatic Epistemology: Considering Practical Consequences of Beliefs

Existentialism Philosophy Topics

• Existentialist Perspectives on Life’s Purpose
• Freedom and Authenticity in Existentialist Thought
• The Absurdity of Human Existence: An Existential Inquiry
• Existential Anxiety and Dread: Navigating the Uncertainty
• The Existential Crisis: Questioning the Fundamentals of Existence
• Reflecting on the Nature of Being in Existentialist Philosophy
• God and Existentialism: Exploring the Existential Dimension
• Mortality and Existentialism: Reflections on Life and Death
• Individualism and Authenticity in Existentialist Ideology
• Ethical Dilemmas and Freedom of Choice in Existentialism
• Human Condition: An Existentialist Perspective
• The Existential Hero: Embracing Freedom and Responsibility
• Existential Angst: Navigating the Depths of Existence
• The Search for Meaning: Existentialism and the Void
• The Quest for Authenticity in an Existentialist Framework
• Phenomenology of Existence: Exploring the Essence of Being
• Embracing Uncertainty: Existentialism and the Unknown
• Personal Fulfillment: Existentialist Insights and Perspectives
• The Paradox of Freedom: Choices and Limitations in Existentialism
• Existential Responsibility: The Weight of Our Choices
• Rejecting Objective Morality: Existentialist Perspectives

Feminist Philosophy Essay Topics

• Intersectional Feminism: Exploring the Interconnected Struggles of Gender, Race, and Class
• Agency and Autonomy: Reconceptualizing Women’s Empowerment in Feminist Thought
• Ethics of Care: Rethinking Relationships and Responsibilities in Feminist Philosophy
• Embodiment and Subjectivity: The Role of the Female Body in Feminist Philosophy
• Epistemology of Gender: Challenging Male-Centered Knowledge Systems
• Gender and Power: Analyzing Patriarchy’s Impact on Women’s Lives
• Feminist Perspectives on Sexuality and Desire: Embracing Pleasure and Liberation
• Reproductive Justice: Examining Women’s Rights Over Their Bodies and Reproduction
• Environmental Feminism: Valuing Women’s Contributions to Sustainability
• Language and Gender: Deconstructing Gendered Discourse and Linguistic Norms
• Capitalism and Feminism: Unveiling Gendered Exploitation and Economic Inequalities
• Sexual Violence and Consent: Reshaping Consent Culture in Feminist Philosophy
• Feminist Ethics in Healthcare: Redefining Medical Decision-Making
• Feminist Philosophy of Science: Challenging Biases in Scientific Research
• Gender Identity and Transgender Rights: Recognizing Diverse Experiences
• Feminist Perspectives on Marriage and Family: Reimagining Relationships and Roles
• Feminist Pedagogy: Transforming Education to Empower Women
• Body Politics: Exploring Appearance and Beauty Standards in Feminist Philosophy
• Feminist Perspectives on Globalization: Analyzing Neoliberal Policies’ Impact on Women
• Feminist Approaches to Political Theory: Reconceptualizing Power and Democracy

Metaphysics Philosophy Topics

• The Essence of Reality: Unveiling the Fundamentals of Existence
• Consciousness and Its Role in Metaphysics: Exploring the Mystery
• Causality and Determinism: Investigating the Link Between Cause and Effect
• Metaphysical Dualism: Examining the Mind-Body Connection
• Free Will and Determinism: Reconciling Human Choice With Universal Laws
• Ontological Arguments for the Existence of God: Unraveling Deity’s Nature
• The Problem of Evil: Addressing Suffering in a Perfect World
• Time and Temporality: Delving Into the Nature of Chronology
• Personal Identity and the Self: Defining Being’s Essence
• Metaphysics of Space: Exploring Universe’s Dimensions and Boundaries
• The Nature of Knowledge: Epistemological Considerations in Metaphysics
• Essentialism and Nominalism: Debating Universals’ Nature
• Teleological Arguments for God’s Existence: Examining Design in the Universe
• Metaphysics of Morality: Investigating Ethical Principles’ Foundation
• Substance and Attribute: Understanding Objects’ Fundamental Properties
• Identity and Individuation: Exploring Criteria for Personal Distinction
• Metaphysics of Language: Analyzing Words’ Relationship With Reality
• Idealism and Realism: Examining Diverse Views on the World’s Nature
• Metaphysical Paradoxes: Investigating Logical Inconsistencies in Reality
• The Problem of Induction: Evaluating Generalized Knowledge’s Validity
• Theories of Universals: Debating Abstract Concepts’ Existence

Modern Philosophy Essay Topics

• Ethical Implications of Technological Advancements
• Epistemological Challenges in the Digital Era
• Consciousness and Selfhood in Contemporary Metaphysics
• Impacts of Postmodernism on Art and Aesthetics
• Existentialist Perspectives on Freedom and Responsibility
• Power Dynamics and Oppression in Critical Theory
• Feminist Philosophy: Embodiment and Phenomenology
• Ethics in the Era of Artificial Intelligence
• Consumer Culture: The Paradox of Choice
• The Intersection of Philosophy and Science in the Mind
• Language, Communication, and Analytic Philosophy
• Environmental Ethics in the Anthropocene Era
• Exploring Evil: Contemporary Philosophy of Religion
• Temporal Concepts in Contemporary Metaphysics
• Cultural Diversity and Moral Relativism
• Animal Rights: Ethics and Contemporary Philosophy
• Transhumanism: Technology and Human Flourishing
• Quantum Philosophy: Understanding Reality
• Social Contract Theory and Political Legitimacy
• Philosophy of Education in a Globalized Context

Phenomenology Philosophy Topics

• Human Consciousness and the Lived Experience
• Intentionality in Phenomenological Analysis
• Embodiment and the Phenomenology of Perception
• Temporality and the Experience of Time in Phenomenology
• Social Interactions and Intersubjectivity in the Phenomenological Context
• Phenomenology of the Other: Encounter With Alterity
• Emotions and Their Role in Phenomenological Investigation
• Authenticity: Exploring the Phenomenology of Being
• Place and Space: Phenomenological Perspectives
• Selfhood and the Phenomenology of Identity
• Existential Inquiry: Unveiling Meaning Through Phenomenology
• Embodied Mind: Phenomenological Reflections on the Body-Mind Relationship
• Art and Aesthetics: Phenomenological Engagement
• Temporality: The Structuring Principle of Consciousness in Phenomenology
• Language and Its Significance in Phenomenological Discourse
• Ethics of Care: Phenomenological Considerations
• Objectivity and Intentionality in Phenomenology
• Perception and Its Role in Phenomenological Inquiry
• Technology and Its Impact on Phenomenological Reflection
• Lifeworld: Foundation of Phenomenology

Philosophy Ethics Topics

• Freedom, Responsibility, and Existential Ethical Inquiry
• Ethical Dilemmas in Medical Decision-Making
• Feminist Ethics: Gender, Equality, and Justice
• Moral Relativism and Cultural Diversity
• Capital Punishment: An Ethical Assessment
• Ethical Considerations in Artificial Reproduction
• Implications of Human Cloning: An Ethical Examination
• Ethics of War and Justifications for Violence
• Ethical Issues in Biomedical Research
• Ethical Dimensions of Privacy and Surveillance
• Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide: Ethical Perspectives
• Moral Realism vs. Subjectivism: A Philosophical Debate
• Ethical Challenges in Globalization and Trade
• Corporate Ethics: Responsibilities and Accountability
• Resource Allocation in Healthcare: Ethical Considerations
• Ethical Questions in Genetic Privacy and DNA Analysis
• Obligations Toward Future Generations: An Ethical Inquiry
• Artificial Intelligence in Warfare: Ethical Implications
• Criminal Justice Ethics: Balancing Punishment and Rehabilitation
• Ethical Considerations in Organ Transplantation
• Human Enhancement and Transhumanism: Ethical Perspectives

Philosophy of Education Essay Topics

• The Role of Ethics in Educational Practices: Cultivating Moral Responsibility
• Examining the Influence of Technology on Teaching and Learning: Enhancing Educational Approaches
• Philosophy of Inclusion: Embracing Diversity Within Educational Settings
• Constructivism and Its Impact on Education: Fostering Active Knowledge Construction
• The Importance of Critical Thinking in Educational Environments: Nurturing Analytical Minds
• Play-Based Learning in Early Childhood Education: Promoting Holistic Development
• Examining the Purpose of Education: Cultivating Lifelong Learners
• Ethics of Standardized Assessment: Balancing Accountability and Student Well-Being
• Existentialism in Education: Nurturing Authenticity and Personal Freedom
• The Significance of Emotional Intelligence in Educational Contexts: Fostering Social and Emotional Learning
• Promoting Creativity in Education: Unlocking the Potential of Imagination
• Exploring Cultural Education: Celebrating Diversity and Promoting Intercultural Understanding
• Examining Progressivism in Education: A Student-Centered Approach
• The Importance of Education for Sustainable Development: Fostering Environmental Responsibility
• Addressing Gender Equity in Education: Promoting Equality and Inclusivity
• Perennialism in Education: Cultivating Enduring Knowledge and Universal Truths
• Ethical Considerations in Classroom Management: Balancing Discipline and Empathy
• Philosophy’s Roles in Teacher Education: Shaping Educators’ Perspectives and Practices
• The Influence of Socioeconomic Factors on Education: Addressing Educational Disparities
• Philosophy of Epistemology in Education: Examining the Nature of Knowledge Acquisition

Philosophy of Language Topics

• Linguistic Constructs: Exploring the Role of Language in Shaping Reality
• Verbal Determinism: Examining the Influence of Language on Thought
• Expressive Boundaries: Unraveling the Ineffability of Linguistic Expression
• Intentional Communication: Understanding Meaning in Verbal Acts
• Referential Dynamics: Investigating the Relationship Between Words and the World
• Social Significance: Analyzing Power Dynamics in Linguistic Interactions
• Semantics and Truth: Exploring the Correspondence Between Language and Reality
• Contextual Meaning: Examining Pragmatics in Language Usage
• Language Acquisition: Unveiling the Process of Learning and Acquiring Verbal Skills
• The Challenge of Indeterminacy: Exploring Ambiguity and Vagueness in Language
• Figurative Language: Analyzing Metaphors and Metonymy in Linguistic Representation
• Linguistic Influence on Identity: Investigating Language’s Impact on Personal and Cultural Identities
• The Nature of Naming: Understanding the Significance of Lexical Representation
• Theories of Referentiality: Comparing Descriptive, Causal, and Direct Reference
• Linguistic Relativity Debate: Examining the Influence of Language on Thought and Perception
• Evolutionary Aspects of Language: Tracing the Origins and Development of Human Communication
• Meaning in Interpretation: Exploring Context, Intention, and Understanding
• Language and Power Structures: Investigating the Relationship between Linguistics and Social Hierarchies
• Translation Challenges: Unraveling the Philosophical Implications of Language Transfer
• Cognitive Representations: Examining the Connection Between Language and Thought
• Logical Structures: Analyzing the Formalism of Language and Reasoning
• Language and Technological Influence: Exploring the Impact of Digital Communication on Linguistic Practices

Philosophy of Law Essay Topics

• Ethical Dilemmas in Legal Punishment
• Reasoning and Decision-Making in Legal Systems
• Metaphysics of Rights and Legal Personhood
• Intersection of Morality and Legal Enforcement
• Epistemological Foundations of Legal Systems
• Ontological Status of Legal Norms and Obligations
• Concept of Justice in Legal Theory
• Hermeneutics of Legal Texts and Interpretation
• Relationship Between Law and Social Change
• Teleology of Legal Institutions and Systems
• Deontological Perspective on Legal Ethics
• Aesthetics of Law and Legal Systems
• Pragmatism in Legal Positivism
• Roles of Equality in Legal Rights and Obligations
• Existential Dimensions of Legal Responsibility
• Dialectics of Individual Liberty and Legal Constraints
• Precedents and Case Law: Hermeneutics and Interpretation
• Phenomenology of Legal Authority and Obedience
• Ethics of Civil Disobedience and Legal Reform
• Epistemological Challenges of Legal Realism

Philosophy of Mind Topics

• The Conceptualization of Consciousness: Exploring Self-Awareness Phenomena
• Dualism and Materialism: Examining Mind-Body Relationship Nature
• Embodied Cognition: Understanding Role of Body in Cognitive Processes
• Free Will and Determinism: Investigating Boundaries of Human Agency
• The Problem of Other Minds: Unveiling Understanding of Mental States in Others
• Intentionality and Mental Representation: Unraveling Nature of Cognitive Content
• Personal Identity: Analyzing Self-Continuity Over Time
• The Nature of Qualia: Discussing Subjective Experience of Sensations
• Artificial Intelligence and Consciousness: Exploring Potential Machine Sentience
• Epistemological Challenges of Perception: Examining Reliability of Senses
• Mental Causation: Investigating the Relationship Between Mental Events and Physical Events
• Panpsychism: Contemplating Mind Presence in All Things
• Reductionism and Emergence: Analyzing Explanation Levels in Mind-Body Problem
• Consciousness and Brain Activity: Linking Neural Processes to Subjective Experience
• Philosophy of Memory: Understanding the Nature of Remembering
• The Problem of Induction: Examining Justification for Generalizing From Experience
• The Nature of Belief: Investigating Epistemology of Mental States
• Philosophy of Emotion: Exploring Subjective Experience of Feelings
• Philosophy of Language: Analyzing the Relationship Between Language and Thought
• Introspection and Self-Knowledge: Reflecting on Inner Experience Nature
• Mental Imagery and Perception: Examining Role of Mental Images in Cognition

Philosophy of Religion Essay Topics

• The Existence of God: A Critical Examination
• The Problem of Evil: Reconciling Divine Omnipotence and the Presence of Suffering
• Religious Pluralism: Is There One Ultimate Faith?
• The Teleological Argument: Investigating Design and Purpose in the Cosmos
• The Cosmological Argument: Exploring the Origin of the Universe
• The Ontological Argument: Examining the Concept of a Necessary Existence
• Faith and Reason: Coexistence or Conflict?
• Mystical Encounters: Understanding the Significance of Spiritual Experiences
• The Euthyphro Dilemma: Does Morality Depend on Divine Commands?
• Divine Hiddenness: Why Does God Not Reveal Himself Universally?
• Supernatural Interventions: Exploring Miraculous Events
• Divine Foreknowledge and Human Free Will: A Philosophical Inquiry
• Religious Language: Expressing the Ineffable?
• Soul and Personal Identity: Investigating Immortality and the Self
• Theodicy: Justifying God’s Actions in the Face of Evil
• Religion and Science: Navigating the Relationship Between Two Ways of Knowing
• Pascal’s Wager: Rationality in Belief
• Ineffability: The Challenge of Describing the Divine
• Afterlife Beliefs: Exploring Concepts of Existence Beyond Death
• Divine Sovereignty and Human Freedom: A Paradoxical Connection

Philosophy of Science Essay Topics

• The Epistemological Significance of Experimentation in Scientific Inquiry
• The Role of Induction in Scientific Theory Formation
• Metaphysical Implications of Quantum Mechanics
• Ethical Considerations in Scientific Research
• The Nature of Causality in Scientific Explanations
• Time’s Concept in Philosophy of Science
• Observation-Theory Relationship in Scientific Practice
• Social Dimensions of Scientific Knowledge Production
• Underdetermination Problem in Scientific Theories
• Mathematics’ Roles in Scientific Understanding
• Exploring Life and Its Fundamental Principles in Philosophy of Biology
• Objectivity’s Concept in Scientific Inquiry
• Falsification Methodology in Science
• Models and Simulations in Scientific Explanation
• Space’s Philosophy: Examining the Nature of Physical Reality
• Epistemological Status of Scientific Laws
• Explanation’s Concept in Science
• Ethics of Animal Experimentation in Science
• Philosophy of Neuroscience: Understanding Mind and Brain
• Rationality in Scientific Reasoning
• Emergence Concept in Complex Systems Science

Plato Philosophy Essay Topics

• Metaphysical Concepts in Plato’s Philosophy
• Forms and Their Role in Plato’s Theory of Ideas
• Epistemological Foundations: Understanding Plato’s Philosophy
• Ethical Implications: Exploring Plato’s Allegory of the Cave
• Political Idealism: Plato’s Vision in the Republic
• Recollection and Knowledge: Unraveling Plato’s Theory
• The Philosopher-King Concept: Plato’s Ideal Ruler
• Reason and Knowledge: Key Elements in Plato’s Philosophy
• Dialectic Method: Examining Plato’s Dialogues
• Education in Plato’s Philosophy: Unlocking the Mind
• Justice: Plato’s Concept in the Republic
• The Dualistic Nature of the Soul: Plato’s Unique Perspective
• Love’s Philosophy: Analyzing Plato’s Symposium
• Immortality of the Soul: Plato’s View in the Phaedrus
• Beauty’s Essence: Plato’s Philosophical Reflection
• Poetry’s Significance: Exploring Plato’s Republic
• Critique of Democracy: Plato’s Examination of Governance
• Body and Soul Relationship: Plato’s Intriguing Connection
• Mathematics: Plato’s Philosophical Exploration
• Virtue’s Essence: Unpacking Plato’s Ethics

Political Philosophy Essay Topics

• The Role of Democracy in Modern Governance
• Ethical Implications of Political Authority
• Justice and Equality in Political Systems
• Examining the Nature of Political Obligation
• Conceptualizing Freedom in Political Philosophy
• Ethics Surrounding Political Violence
• The Interplay of Ethics and Politics
• State’s Responsibility in Safeguarding Individual Rights
• Justifying Political Authority Legitimacy
• Ethical Challenges in Political Campaigning
• Civil Disobedience as a Democratic Instrument
• Consent as the Basis of Political Legitimacy
• Ethics of Promoting Political Correctness
• Political Philosophy’s Roles in Policy Formation
• Balancing State Intervention in Economic Affairs
• Significance of Political Ideologies in Contemporary Politics
• Moral Foundations of Social Welfare Programs
• Moral Dilemma of Political Power
• Ethics in Global Political Governance
• Educational Influence on Political Philosophy
• Linking Political Stability to Economic Development

Postmodern Philosophy Essay Topics

• Deconstruction and Its Impact on Language
• The Influence of Postmodernism on Contemporary Art
• Identity Construction in the Postmodern Era
• Epistemological Challenges in Postmodern Philosophy
• Postmodern Ethics and the Question of Moral Relativism
• The Role of Power in Postmodern Political Thought
• Postmodernism and the Crisis of Metanarratives
• Language Games and Meaning in Postmodern Philosophy
• The Rejection of Objectivity in Postmodern Thought
• The Relationship Between Postmodernism and Postcolonial Theory
• Aesthetics in the Postmodern Era: The Collapse of Beauty Standards
• The Fragmentation of Self in Postmodern Philosophy
• Deconstructing Gender: Postmodern Feminist Perspectives
• Consumer Culture Critique in Postmodern Philosophy
• Enlightenment Dialectics: Postmodern Interpretations
• Challenging Traditional Design Principles: Postmodern Architecture
• Rethinking Authorship in Postmodernism
• The Critique of Modern Science in Postmodern Philosophy
• Postmodernism and Literary Theory: Influence and Implications
• The Crisis of Representation in Postmodern Visual Arts

Transcendentalism Essay Topics in Philosophy

• The Influence of Nature in Transcendentalist Philosophy
• Self-Reliance: A Core Tenet of Transcendentalism
• Intuition’s Roles in Transcendentalist Thought
• Transcendentalist Perspectives on Divinity
• Individualism vs. Society in Transcendentalism
• Transcendentalism’s Quest for Truth
• Imagination’s Significance in Transcendentalist Philosophy
• Nonconformity as an Ethical Principle in Transcendentalism
• Transcendentalism’s Oversoul Concept
• Transcendentalism’s Impacts on American Literature
• Mind-Body Connection in Transcendentalist Philosophy
• Transcendentalism’s Environmental Ethics
• Seeking Spiritual Enlightenment in Transcendentalism
• The Self in Transcendentalist Thought
• Transcendentalism’s Influence on Civil Disobedience
• Transcendentalism’s Embrace of Immediacy
• Transcendentalism’s Critique of Materialism and Consumerism
• Universal Truths in Transcendentalism
• Art and Spirituality in Transcendentalist Philosophy
• Transcendentalism’s Rejection of Traditional Institutions
• Nonviolence as an Ideal in Transcendentalism

Worldview Philosophy Topics

• Metaphysics of Reality: Exploring the Nature of Existence
• Ethical Dilemmas in a Globalized Society
• Technological Advancements: Ethical Implications and Considerations
• Aesthetics: The Philosophy of Art Appreciation
• Epistemology: Foundations of Scientific Inquiry
• Mind-Body Dualism: Understanding the Relationship
• Reason’s Roles in Ethical Decision-Making
• Identity Construction: Gender, Race, and Social Constructs
• Searching for Meaning in an Absurd Universe
• Free Will’s Significance in Human Action
• Environmental Ethics: Conservation and Sustainability
• Ontological Arguments for God’s Existence
• Philosophy of Language: Meaning and Communication
• Political Authority: Justification and Statehood
• The Problem of Evil: Philosophical Reflections
• Epistemology of Perception: The Limits of Knowledge
• Biomedical Research Ethics: Human Experimentation
• Philosophy of History: Understanding the Past’s Significance
• Temporal Metaphysics: Exploring the Nature of Time
• Authenticity and Personal Freedom: An Existentialist Perspective

To Learn More, Read Relevant Articles

744 critical thinking essay topics & analysis ideas, 502 ethics essay topics & ideas.

100 Philosophy Essay Topics For Students

This article will consider what a philosophical essay is and what philosophy essay topics are. We will consider how one type of paper differs from another. In addition, we will tell you by what criteria and how to choose a topic for your essay and give some ideas and examples of philosophy essay topics (created with our professional) to practice.

What Is a Philosophy Essay?

Philosophy is one of the oldest sciences that arose with the first intelligent thought of man. The concept of “philosophy” is translated as “search for truth.”

How much do we want to know about this world and its order or disorder if we succeed? How necessary is this knowledge for us? Any academic writing that defends a claim that can be proven valid can be considered a philosophy essay.

Argumentative philosophy essay topics follow a strictly basic format that must always be considered. When you write, you present your statement or fact as a reality throughout the essay.

Throughout the article, the writer seeks to defend his statement and provide a wide range of facts that support it.

How to Come Up With a Topic For the Philosophy Essay?

The first challenge of writing a philosophy essay is choosing a philosophy paper topic. The first step in selecting good philosophy paper topics is choosing the most appropriate field of study within philosophy. It is necessary to apply critical thinking in knowledge, which concerns the five branches of philosophy, metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, politics, and aesthetics.

When it comes to writing a philosophy essay, it can be difficult to come up with topics. Thankfully, there are plenty of resources available to help students brainstorm and come up with topics for their essays. For instance, a quick search online can lead to a wealth of resources such as articles, books, and websites that discuss a variety of philosophy topics. Additionally, it is possible to buy college essay papers specifically tailored to cover a range of philosophical topics.

Good Philosophy Essay Topics

These ideas are classic but, at the same time, well-suited to modern philosophical questions. By choosing one of these philosophy topics for essays, you can reveal one or another relevant philosophical question that is relevant nowadays.

• Being, substance, and matter: What is movement? What is space for you? What is the time?
• The problem of “dialogue” between a person and computer systems.
• Consciousness is a necessary condition for the restoration of culture.
• Is it possible to know the world altogether?
• Man and woman: equal or unequal?
• Death penalty: to be or not to be?
• Under what conditions do you consider euthanasia acceptable?
• Nonviolence is a categorical moral prohibition.
• The problem of human death and immortality.
• Modern civilization and childbirth. Your attitude to abortion.
• Childfree and large families.
• Artificial insemination, surrogate motherhood, adoption, or loneliness?
• Your mindset to monogamy and polygamy.
• Religion and atheism in the 21st century.
• Unequal marriage: pros and cons.
• Love and love. Do we know how to love?
• Man and nature: unity or opposition?
• Gender diversity in the 21st century.
• Parents in the life of an adult.
• Nationalism or cosmopolitanism: Which ideology is relevant in today’s world?

Easy Philosophy Essay Topics

The philosophy topics ideas below are suitable for beginners or people for whom philosophy is not the science they study at the university. These easy philosophy paper topics can lead you to specific philosophical thoughts, but creating a unique essay on one of them will not be difficult.

• How does music affect the way we live?
• Big money in sports is the essence of competition.
• Maslow’s hierarchy of needs – is it relevant in the 21st century?
• Personality tests – help you find yourself or drive you to limits.
• Traumatic events should be openly discussed, not hidden.
• Are people who love animals generally kinder and more optimistic?
• Is it true that beauty is in the eye of the beholder?
• For or against keeping animals in zoos?
• How can technology be used to preserve the environment?
• Describe how you made the decision about which career to choose.
• Should modern education eliminate evaluation systems – yes or no?
• A phrase that changed my life.
• What is the difference between courage and fear?
• What internal prisons have you already built from your fears?
• Are people inherently more good or bad?

Political Philosophy Essay Topics

Politics is an integral part of our life. These essay topics will help you look at ethical issues of the critical social components from a philosophical point of view. By writing philosophy paper topics from this list, you will be able to understand better what politics is. So check these expository essay ideas .

• Reasons for high unemployment.
• Is money a tool or the goal of life?
• Why do athletes become more socially active and proactive?
• My ambitions are how I see my life in 10 years.
• What does it take to become a politician?
• In the world, everyone in it will do their own thing.
• The development of the world is a chain of transformations of possibility into reality.
• Social ontology. Image of flat ontologies.
• We don’t have time to be ourselves.
• The concept of fact in modern politic
• Concept of person, individual in politics.
• The concept of experiment in politics.
• Humans as the main subject of political analysis
• The concept of equilibrium in modern political philosophy.
• The concept of risk in politics.

Ancient Greek Philosophical Topics for Essays

Mentioned below are philosophy topics to write a paper on your own for those who want to know more about the most magnificent world’s philosophy period. So, check these narrative essay topics , which can help better grasp that period.

• Rational knowledge is supplemented by wisdom as an understanding of people’s life experiences.
• The thoughts of the sophists (Protagoras, Gorgias, Antiphon, etc.).
• Man is the measure of all things.
• Is everything wrong in cognition?
• Nothing exists, and if it does exist, it is incomprehensible.
• A person should take care of himself first of all.
• Is self-knowledge a requirement of reason?
• Goodness begins with presentation and knowledge of it.
• The sense organs give us information only about unrealities.
• Being exists, and non-being does not have the unity of matter and form.

Philosophy Of Mind Essay Topics

These interesting philosophy paper topics often relate to the human mind, the study of the depths of human understanding of specific issues. Writing an essay on one of these topics will enable you to comprehend how the mind works from a philosophical perspective. If you feel you have little experience with such topics, you can get help from custom essay writing services .

• The nature and essence of man: Freedom, choice, and responsibility
• Man in biological and social dimensions
• Meaning of life. Death and immortality.
• The concept of risk in classical science.
• The idea of risk in non-classical science.
• The concept of sustainability in modern science.
• The idea of the soul in European science.
• The concept of the mind in Eastern science.
• How does Eastern science understand “internal” knowledge?
• “Everything was old; everything will happen again.” O. Mandelstam

Modern Philosophy Paper Topics

While studying the phenomenon of modernism in philosophy, it is possible to single out several questions that need explanation: this is the problem of the chronological status of modernism, the relationship between modernism and the modern, the prerequisites for the emergence of modernism, the connotations of modernism and its essential features. Also, you can ask some professionals to help you with writing a philosophy paper . Examining our suggested essay topics will allow you better understand these questions.

• The transition of philosophy to other principles of self-determination. Concepts of marginality and liminality
• The philosophy of cinema. The theory of photography by S. Sontag, R. Barth, and V. Fluser
• Linguistic turn – the transition of philosophy to a concept value.
• Iconic, visual turn / from the power of ideologues to the power of hieroglyphs.
• The speech factor of polarization of modern philosophical science.
• Problems and concepts of analytical philosophical science.
• The main directions and problematic field of continental philosophical science.
• Postpostmodernism: conditions of emergence and approaches to classification.
• Postmodernism as pure proceduralism and postmodernism as reflection

Argumentative Philosophy Essay Topics

These essay topics require specific skills and a certain level of knowledge from the author. If the topics presented in the previous sections seem too easy for you, we advise you to choose one of these. Also, you can ask for some assistance from an argumentative essay writer .

Philosophy of Science Essay Topics

The topics we gathered for you will help you gain a deeper understanding of the science of philosophy . Writing philosophy papers on one of these topics requires some scientific knowledge, so we advise you to think carefully before you start to write your philosophy paper .

• Social conditions of formation of philosophical science.
• Spiritual sources of philosophical science.
• Correlation between philosophical and generally scientific methods.
• The subject of philosophical science and its historical evolution.
• How does worldview determine worldview?
• Philosophy is a unique form of social consciousness.
• Forms and methods of philosophical science.
• Prove that philosophy is a methodology of scientific knowledge.
• How the “main question of philosophical science” is transformed within the limits of the theory of knowledge.
• The relationship between ideology and politics.

Every essay topic in this article can help students better understand philosophy as a science, proving that interesting philosophy exists. So look at our lists of philosophy essay topics and choose the one or a few you like the most.

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Guide on How to Choose Philosophy Paper Topics

f you get lucky, you'll be able to choose philosophy paper topics instead of having to handle the complex prompts suggested by your tutors. At the same time, you need to pick topics very carefully to write a quality philosophy paper.

As an excellent philosophy essay is argumentative or persuasive in most cases, we recommend following these principles of topic choice from our custom term paper writing service .

How to Choose the Right Idea for a Philosophy Essay

The basic rule to follow when choosing philosophy essay topics is evaluating your knowledge about a discussed problem and the number of available sources to work with. We also recommend that you read definition essay topics .

Here is several more hint to make the right choice:

• Study classroom discussions and notes

Take notes during your classes. It helps to pick philosophy essay topics related to what you study.

• Come up with a list of options

Put down the best philosophy essay topics that you have to analyze on a separate sheet of paper. Look through them and decide which of the issues you can cover in-depth.

• Create content to persuade

The philosophy papers should explain why the prospected dispute is critical. Include some philosophical judgments to support your idea.

• Select something you have an opinion about

Your argument will sound bad in case you select the question you have no interest in.

• Choose a problem you can see both sides of

Do not be narrow-minded: it is up to you to pick a topic that has two sides, just like a coin. An opposite problem could be a good idea to discuss in a philosophical work. View the subject from multiple perspectives to have a stronger case while refuting the opposition.

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Good Philosophy Paper Topics

The tips above alone could be insufficient to understand how a great title for a philosophy essay should sound. Our write my dissertation service has listed philosophy paper topics to help students with their choices.

5 Easy Philosophy Research Paper Topics

If you are a freshman having no idea which theme to choose, we suggest that you take a look at these easy to write philosophy research paper topics.

• Reasons why animals inhabit this planet
• Missions that every man should accomplish during his life
• Are males and females that different as media present them?
• Causes and effects of living in a dream
• Why do I prefer blond hair?

Interesting Philosophy Paper Topics for Essay Writing

If you have a deep interest in studying philosophy, you may offer more unique issues to observe. Think about covering one of the following philosophy essay topics:

• Select a preferred account of specific particulars (e.g., alternative version or the Aristotelian theory) and interpret the concept of particular details that it endorses.
• Explain what the slingshot argument is and discuss its key assumptions
• What is the relation of exemplification?
• Offer and evaluate one of the claims adduced by Loux in support of Metaphysical realism
• Discuss Austere Nominalism with the help of a single argument of your choice

5 Political Philosophy Paper Topics

Most often, students will have to cover political philosophy paper topics in a thoughtful piece of writing. These topics might work:

• The pros & cons of violent and non-violent resistance/revolution
• Socialism VS Capitalism on unplanned and planned economics
• Locke VS Thoreau on the question of property
• Cultural unity VS multicultural plurality
• Bentham VS Mill on Utilitarianism

Easy Philosophy Paper Topics

There are some philosophy topics that are widespread and thus easy to write on:

• The Game Theory by J. von Neumann
• How does language influence people?
• Knowledge and imagination: what is prevalent?
• A prior and a posteriori
• The gens and how they influence people's behavior

Fun Philosophy Paper Topics

Sure thing, philosophy is a serious subject, but some topics may be funny to write essays on. Here are some examples.

• How do AI helpers like Siri or Alice affect our lives?
• Is there a human being without society? According to L.Tolstoi.
• The influence of comedies and dramas on human life perception.
• Does existentialism make sense in the 21 century?
• Extraterrestrial life: pieces of evidence and whether governments should reveal them to everyone.

Excellent Philosophy Essay Topics

• Is there a life after death? Discuss and prove with arguments.
• Family file traditions and principles.
• To Lie or not to lie? Discuss the cases when lying may be helpful.
• What is a perfect life?
• Is it possible to always be happy?

Interesting Philosophy Topics

• Ageism in 18 and 21 centuries.
• Feminism and religion.
• The use of genetic engineering research and how it affects our life
• How useful can preserving cultural heritage be?
• How important is achieving self-development?

After you choose the topic, do not forget to consult your tutor. Ask whether the issue is acceptable to discuss in your upcoming excellent philosophy essay. Now that we have an idea about how to select the right, we can move on to the next stage of crafting a good philosophy paper, which is writing a strong thesis statement.

If you want to pay someone to write your essay , contact us. Our professionals provide psychology, law, history essay help , or any other.

Discover How to Write a Thesis for a Philosophy Paper

If you wonder how to start a philosophy paper, think about a compelling thesis first. So, what is a thesis statement? A thesis is a central argument to defend. Compared to other types of essays, in a philosophy paper, a student often has to analyse the thesis offered by the distinguished author. Let's jump right to how to write a thesis statement for a philosophy paper.

When writing a thesis statement, you may decide which strategy to choose to support the claim of some philosopher:

• Interpret the thesis statement
• Propose an argument to support the thesis
• Come up with an objection
• Defend against a complaint to the thesis
• Assess points for and against the principal claim
• Think about the possible outcomes
• Define if some other argument commits one to the thesis
• Decide whether some different positions can be held consistently with the main argument

The last few options are more challenging than the first several, but such strategies make the paper much more interesting to read. It is more difficult to object one's opinion than defend it. A writer should find a defence versus the criticism of other sides, search for exact reasons to reject the theory of another person, include numerous counter-examples, and operate with credible data to object.

Anyway, here are some things to keep in mind that will help to support the thesis no matter which strategy you choose for your writing process:

• Add examples from both sources and real life;
• Compare & contrast the weak and strong points of the central argument;
• Make the thesis more plausible by offering alternative theories — show your objectivity;
• Imagine what would happen if the thesis - key arguments - were correct;
• Find out if some philosophers are committed to the argument by personal views;
• Proofread & edit the thesis several times to make sure it is specific, narrow, concise, compelling, reasonable, and has a hint concerning the rest of the paper.

Do you still wonder how to write a good thesis? How about the examples of thesis statements that could help you? Look at them to have an idea:

“I have to argue that Singer's thesis should be revised in light of Steve's criticism, but not entirely. I want to offer an improved version of Singer's central argument… And I should admit that this updated version avoids Steve's rejections. My final mission is to protect the updated thesis statement against other possible objections.”

“I should argue that if the fetus is an individual who possesses a right to live, abortion is moral even though it might not be viewed as an ethical activity. The fetus has no right to use the female's organism without her tacit consent. If the woman gets pregnant after a violent sexual act, she has all the moral rights to get rid of the fetus with the help of abortion.”

“I disagree with most of the positions that do not support the death penalty in this state. The one who took away the life of another one does not deserve to live. Murderers and papers should not be set free even after ages spent in jail as nothing can change a human being. By letting the serious criminals out, we put the lives of our children under threat!”

A Few Words About Evidence

Having proper evidence to support your claim is the critical success factor when it comes to writing a philosophy paper . Philosophers always find something to debate even when they leave empirical questions aside. On the one hand, what type of empirical evidence would be required to solve the problem might itself appear as a non-empirical issue that philosophers study. On the other hand, philosophers spend plenty of time discussing how various arguments are logically interconnected. An essential tool to use when rationalizing your statement is a reductio ad absurdum .

What Is Reductio ad Absurdum?

A reductio ad absurdum is an argument that aims to show how several views cannot be held consistently with each other. It may also point that even though a few ideas are consistent with each other, together, they entail an implausible final claim. Reductio allows having exact reasons to disagree with at least one of the offered premises.

Example of a Question-Begging

Another type of argument for your philosophical writing is a question-begging one . Here is how it looks like:

Keep in mind that ambitious terms like “religious experiences,” in our case, are a common issue, and can mask other pitfalls.

Another Way to Classify Arguments

It is possible to categorize arguments for the philosophy paper in a different way. The more popular division is deductive and non-deductive arguments.

A deductive argument is one that insists on the truth of the conclusion in case the premises are all true. An example could be, “They released 10,000 tickets for the Sweden Rock Festival. There will be no extra tickets, and the time is limited for all users to purchase them online. Thus, my chance of getting one ticket is 1 in 10,000.”

A non-deductive argument is one that states that there is just a high degree of probability for the conclusion. For instance, “All cats that I have ever met in my life will love playing with humans. Buffy is a cat. Therefore, Buffy will probably like playing with me.”

Checklist to Start a Philosophy Paper

• Study discussions and notes that you have made in a classroom
• Create a list of philosophy essay topics
• Explain why disputes are critical
• Select a topic you have an opinion about, and you can see both sides of its problem
• Choose a central argument to defend and write a thesis statement
• Find proper evidence to support your claim

Our readers find the Great Gatsby summary very interesting, we recommend you read this article from our authors.

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100+ Philosophy Research Paper Topics

One of the most difficult tasks philosophy students faces each year is in having to come up with a philosophy topic to write a paper on. Students can get notifications of big projects months ahead of time and then spend weeks trying to figure out whether their philosophy essay topics are good enough to earn a good grade.

We get it. It’s hard to pull this task together with schedules and responsibilities. This is why we work to find philosophical topics that are current and relatable. We stick to important issues that are at the forefront of the discipline and bring them to you in one convenient philosophical topic for the essay list.

Finding the right philosophy topics can turn regular assignments into A+-winning assignments and we’ve done the work to help you and hundreds of other students get started with these philosophy paper topics. Here are our top 100 philosophy topics for the current school year:

Argumentative Philosophy Research Paper Topics

• Do people naturally have good and bad qualities?
• Do we need family support to find happiness?
• How humans can be happy without reproduction?
• What is the definitive explanation of happiness?
• Do most people feel they aren’t living their full lives?
• Would you marry for money if it meant you could never be happy?
• Would you like to live your life more than once?
• Would you rather work vocationalation job or a high-paying job?
• Are personalities unique or are they just template?
• Do you think that it is moral to follow all the rules?

Good Philosophy Paper Topics for All Levels

• Does one need to lead a moral life to achieve happiness?
• Why do people find life harder than expected?
• Which is the better teacher? Experience or learning?
• Do people always do what they want at that moment?
• Is truth universal or does it change because of perspective?
• Do animals have a better sense of morals than humans?
• Can people gain an education without proper schooling?
• Does one need to be literate to understand philosophy?
• Which ie preferable? Determinism or Free Will?
• Is capital punishment ethical in today’s world?

Controversial Topics in Philosophy

• How does society shape a person’s life and beliefs?
• Do you need a lot of money to live a rich life?
• Why are some people living without actually experiencing things?
• Is spiritual power more important than free will?
• Do genetics play a bigger role in the way people behave?
• What impact does the word “love” have on positivity?
• What is the real reason we live our lives?
• Is it possible to form a perfect world?
• Do religion and philosophy contradict one another?
• Can a world exist without laws or regulations?

Fun Philosophy Paper Topics for High School

• What would be your form ideal government?
• What are the different ways in which humans understand each other?
• How is the concept of happiness defined by different philosophers?
• Is existence simply a dream experienced by a larger being?
• If you can spend a week in any period, which would it be?
• Are we alone in our galaxy or are there other intelligent life forms?
• What does it mean to have free will versus determinism?
• If you can change one thing from your past, what would it be?
• Does religion limit our abilities to explore the meaning of life?
• What does it mean to be loved or to love others?

Topics for Philosophy Paper on the Classics

• What does it mean to understand our universe?
• Does happiness come from our actions toward others?
• Are our thoughts evidence that we exist?
• What is the definition of evil as it relates to the modern world?
• Could societies exist without laws and regulations?
• Are people born good or evil or are they raised to be one or the other?
• Is torture a justifiable form of punishment?
• How can past leaders influence today’s youth positively?
• Is beauty truly in the eye of the beholder?
• Can we refocus our minds to think more positively?

Easy Philosophy Paper Topics for High School

• What does it mean to be moral in today’s world?
• Can wars be justified if it supports the greater population?
• What does it mean to be a postmodern philosopher?
• What are today’s most important life values?
• What is the current perspective on the definition of loneliness?
• How does one prepare for life after death?
• Would you like to repeat your life with full knowledge of the prior?
• Does something better than nothing always lead to benefits?
• Do people choose to suffer or is it a feeling beyond our control?
• Should people have to right to die by suicide?

Philosophy Topics to Write About Quickly

• Do we exist in some form after death?
• Do supernatural entities exist in the world?
• Are video games negatively impacting people’s moral values?
• How does one boost his or her ability to be creative?
• Is it important to spend your entire life learning?
• What does it mean to be mentally conscious?
• What is the definition of loneliness and have you experienced it?
• What are the most important character traits for leaders to have?
• Does one need a lot of money to be considered rich?
• Are we alone in the universe or is there another life?

Philosophical Topics for Essays on Current Issues

• Are parents responsible for how their children behave?
• Are the U.S. and U.K. meritocratic societies?
• Has social media had an impact on people’s morals?
• Do you agree with the notion that love only exists for 3 years?
• Are humans more likely to cause trouble because of boredom?
• Is capital punishment morally justified in modern society?
• Do humans have the same ideas about what is right and what is wrong?
• How does death affect how humans view life?
• Is it complicated to live a life of happiness?
• Should teenagers be given the responsibility to make their own choices?

Philosophy Thesis Topics for a Big Project

• Do religion and the belief in God change a person’s behavior?
• Are Machiavellian ideals still relevant in today’s government?
• Is animal experimentation ever justified to protect humans?
• What are the pros and cons of a utilitarian society?
• What are the pros and cons of a communist government?
• Why are humans the only species to be violent?
• Is economic justice more important than legal justice?
• Should women have univerabortion rightstion?
• What impact did the 20th-century wave of philosophy have on the U.S.?
• How do you know that you are different from other people?

Philosophy Research Paper Topics

• What are the tendencies we see most in humans?
• Are our morals connected to or influenced by culture?
• Would you live your life a second time?
• Should religion have a voice in a nation’s government?
• What do you think makes for an ideal society?
• Are truths relative to specific situations or circumstances?
• What is the most important aspect to gain human knowledge?
• What is something that veritably upsets you?
• What is something in your life that you would like to change?
• What is the most effective way to increase one’s IQ?

Getting a good grade on a philosophy research paper requires you to consider several different options and narrow down those options to a topic you feel you can conduct complete philosophy research on. The topic should also be something that interests you and verges into new areas in the discipline and area of study. This can be a difficult task for many students, so we create custom philosophy research topics to suit every situation. If you can’t find a topic you like from this list, just give us a call, email us, or send us a message via chat. We can direct you to a qualified philosophy expert writer to create a custom list of philosophical ideas to fit your assignment needs.

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450 Philosophy Topics & Questions for Your Essay

When you start studying philosophy, you may think it’s boring and has nothing to do with the real world. It couldn’t be further from the truth! The study of philosophy deals with the most exciting and mysterious aspects of reality. It is closely connected with science, psychology, art, and politics. Philosophy is an integral part of universal knowledge, as well as our everyday lives. Everyone who had ever asked the question “who am I?” engaged in philosophy.

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• 🔝 Top 10 Topics

💭 What Is Philosophy?

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• What is metaphilosophy?
• Compare 2 schools of thought
• Ancient vs. modern philosophy
• Philosophical concepts of space
• Applied aesthetics in fashion design
• The concepts of the philosophy of self
• Ancient traditions of political philosophy
• How philosophical traditions vary by region
• Modern problems of the philosophy of religion
• Contemporary issues of environmental philosophy

As you can see, philosophy studies a lot of things, and can be divided into the following branches:

• Metaphysics studies reality: what it is, what its properties are, where does it come from, and so on. It is also concerned with the problems of personal identity, free will, and religion.
• Epistemology , which is the study of knowledge and thinking. For example, it asks such philosophical questions as “what is knowledge?” “can knowledge ever be sufficient?” “how can a certain belief be justified?” “how does perception work?” and so on.
• Logic , which studies arguments and reasoning. It includes such types of thinking as induction, abduction, and deduction.
• Ethics , which is concerned with the concepts of right and wrong behavior. It studies ethical principles, their origin, and ways by which they can be improved. Ethics also covers controversial subjects, such as abortion, animal rights, and capital punishment.
• Aesthetics , which is the study of beauty. It includes the study of artworks, perception of beauty, aesthetic experience, and other related concepts.

All these different types of philosophies are equally valid and exciting! Choose any of them and have a philosophical discussion about life, justice, happiness, time, or beauty.

• What is action theory?
• Definition of anarchism
• Philosophy of business ethics
• What is the soul made of?
• Why you should study logic
• Are beauty standards objective?
• Is religion relevant in the modern world?
• Can happiness be scientifically measured?
• Does higher intelligence make you less happy?
• Does personality consist of memories?

✍️ Philosophy Topics

Here you will find a list of philosophy topics for essays, discussions, or presentations. It can be used by high school as well as university students.

Ancient Greece can be regarded as a cradle of Western philosophy. Plato, Aristotle, Socrates, and many others were the first who started questioning the world around us. Initially, Ancient Greek philosophy was interested in the essence of the universe, but then it also became oriented at the problems of consciousness, politics, and existence.

• Materialism and naturalism of the pre-Socratic period. Pre-Socratic philosophers believed that only matter was real, rejecting the ideas of spirituality. You can compare and contrast it with Platonic idealism .
• Democritus and pre-Socratic atomism. The concept that all matter is made of small particles dates back to ancient times. You can compare the idea of atomism with what we know today.
• Pre-Socratic view on knowledge and perception . This topic refers to the idea that we get all information by perceiving images of everything that surrounds us.
• Diogenes and the Sophists. Sophists believed that the universe is ruled by intelligence. They also popularized ethics and politics as philosophical aspects.
• What are the key elements of Socrates’ philosophy? Socrates was an enigmatic figure with a unique philosophical outlook. His ideas influenced everything from politics to pop culture.
• Heraclitus of Ephesus and his school. Philosophers of the Ephesian school believed that everything in the world is connected by a logical structure called Logos. This idea parallels several other concepts, such as the Tao.
• Plato’s Republic: what is democracy? In the Republic, Plato describes his views on an ideal society . It includes the concepts of what later became communism and totalitarianism.
• The Eleatic school’s doctrines. It’s a fascinating philosophy paper topic that includes the concept of one omnipotent God as opposed to many gods, as well as new standards of logical reasoning .
• Philosophy of Empedocles. Empedocles was a pre-Socratic philosopher who introduced the idea of cosmogony and fundamental forces. You can write an excellent essay about how Empedocles’ views are reflected in science.
• Plato’s ethics. Here you can discuss Plato’s ideas about virtues, happiness, harmony, and other concepts.
• Plato and idealism. Plato’s central doctrine included the notion of perfect “ideas,” which manifest itself in our material world as all objects. You can write an excellent paper on this subject!
• Plato: allegory of the cave. In this essay, you may talk about Plato’s concept of reality, definitions of microcosm and microcosm, and the “unifying idea.”
• Aristotle : logic and dialectic. Aristotle was the first philosopher who formulated the rules of logical reasoning. They were crucial in the development of exact sciences.
• Aristotle’s Metaphysics and its legacy . You can write an essay about Aristotle’s major work and how it influenced philosophers such as Thomas Aquinas .

• Hellenistic philosophy and Stoicism . The ideas of Stoics originated in Greece but were especially popular in Rome. One of the most prominent stoics, Marcus Aurelius, was also a Roman emperor.
• Stoicism and Buddhism: a comparison. This exciting philosophy essay topic allows you to compare the common concepts in these very similar philosophies : from self-discipline to eternal recurrence.
• What are the key characteristics of Skepticism? Ancient skepticism was rooted in the desire to find truth by continually questioning it. See what other ideas made the Skeptics so influential.
• The concepts of the soul in Ancient Greece. You can include Plato’s Aristotle’s , and the Stoic theory of the soul into this essay.
• Psychology in Aristotle’s De Anima. Aristotle’s writings often include ideas concerning psychology. In De Anima, he attempts to describe the human mind in connection to psychology, as well as biology.
• What were Plato’s ideas about aesthetics ? This stunning philosophy paper topic covers Plato’s concept of beauty, art, and inspiration in his dialogues Hippias Major, Republic, and Phaedrus .
• How did other philosophers influence Plato’s ideas?
• The Lyceum: Aristotle’s school and its impact.
• Mathematics and philosophy of Pythagoreanism.
• What were the concepts of principal substances in Greek philosophy ?
• Heraclitus: universal flux and the unity of opposites.
• Cosmological ideas in Ancient Greece: Plato, Aristotle , Heraclitus, Empedocles.
• Seneca’s views on anger arguments by Aristotle .
• Explanation of natural phenomena: mythology vs. philosophy .

• Xenophanes and monotheism .
• Melissus of Samos: the concept of “what-is.”
• Zeno of Elea: the impact of paradoxes on philosophy and science.
• The philosophy of Democritus: anthropology .
• Diogenes: the founder of cynicism.
• Plato’s and Aristotle’s thoughts on knowledge: a comparison .
• Philosophy of Protagoras: ethics, language, argument.
• Plato’s concept of reality.
• Ancient Greek types of love: eros, agape, and philia .
• Moral Philosophical Views: From Plato to Nussbaum .
• Theophrastus: ideas on psychology, logic, and metaphysics .
• What is “the Socratic method?”
• What is Plato’s theory of recollection?
• What was Plutarch’s idea of God and daemons?
• Anaximander’s philosophy: substantial opposites and the origins of things.
• What was the concept of “logos” in different philosophies ?
• Diairesis: the Platonic method.
• Aristotle’s concept of catharsis.
• The ever-changing nature of reality in ancient philosophy .
• The concept of pneuma in works of Aristotle and Stoics.
• What was Homer’s influence on Greek philosophy?
• The study of ontology in Plato, Aristotle, and Avicenna.
• Natural philosophy as the prototype of natural science.
• Moral intention concept in philosophy .
• Apeiron and other concepts in Anaximander’s cosmological theory.
• What were Hesiod’s theogony and cosmogony?
• What is the concept of “becoming” in atomism?
• What are the definitions of monad and dyad in Pythagoreanism?
• Eudemonia in works of Socrates, Plato , Aristotle, and Stoics.

• What is the definition of arete in Plato ?
• What are the forms of the good in Plato’s Republic ?
• Aristotle’s virtue ethics .
• Aristotle’s idea of hyle vs. Plato’s eidos.
• Hylozoism in pre-Socratic philosophies .
• What is tabula rasa ?
• Metempsychosis as the concept of reincarnation.
• Ousia: the feminine principle in Ancient Greek philosophies .
• What are physis and nomos in pre-Socratic philosophies ?
• What are Aristotle’s “four causes”?
• The concept of predication in Ancient Greek philosophy .
• What is the Euthyphro dilemma ?
• What Plato meant by “philosopher-king”?
• The lost city of Atlantis .
• What was the problem of universals in Ancient Greek philosophy?
• Golden mean as a virtue and an attribute of beauty.
• Pyrrhonism and its philosophy.
• The concepts of episteme and doxa.
• The problem of the criterion in Pyrrhonism.
• Acatalepsy vs. katalepsis in Stoicism.
• What are the main features of Homeric worldview?
• Aporia in rhetorics.
• What is Platonic realism ?
• Ionian school and its philosophies.
• Trivium: the three arts of discourse .
• Pathos in Aristotle and other philosophers.
• Aristotle’s views on euthanasia .
• Isocrates: rhetoric and influence.
• What is the place of hedone in Aristotle’s ethics ?
• Tetrapharmakos and other Ancient Greek views on happiness .
• Epicureanism vs. Stoicism.
• The philosophy of Epicureanism .
• Logic and ethics in works of Antisthenes.

Medieval philosophy was mostly focused on studying nature and religion. The most popular school of thought at that time was Scholasticism. It refers to a particular way of teaching and education. The Classical ideas mostly lost their influence, though some philosophers tried to incorporate the ideas of Ancient Greeks into their doctrines.

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• Roger Bacon’s re-interpretation of Aristotle . In this philosophy essay, you can write about Bacon’s views on soul-body dualism , matter, universals, and knowledge

• Robert Grosseteste as the founder of the modern scientific tradition. This philosopher was one of the most remarkable figures in Medieval England. His ideas in theology and natural sciences helped to make Oxford the center of intellectual life.
• Aquinas’ five proofs of God’s existence vs. Aristotle’s four causes: a comparison. Aquinas’ Five Ways are exciting from a logical point of view. You can discuss each of them and find parallels with Aristotle’s causes of being.
• Augustine of Hippo’s idea of illumination vs. Plato’s conception of recollection: a comparison. Similarly, you can compare the theory of illumination with Plato’s “prior knowledge.”
• Aquinas : logic and debate. Aquinas famously came up with a very effective model of debate. It is based on Ancient Greek ideas and is based on including both thesis and antithesis.
• Avicenna: metaphysics . Avicenna’s study of metaphysics was aimed at understanding the connections between all things in the world. It includes his “cause chains” and the concept of intelligence .
• Augustine’s philosophy of language. Write an essay about the connections between Augustine’s thoughts and Stoic theories of grammar. Mention his original ideas, too.
• John Duns Scotus’ natural theology . Here you can discuss Scotus’ elaborate arguments for the existence of God as the first cause of everything.
• Rucelinus as the founder of nominalism. Nominalism is based on the rejection of everything abstract, as well as the absence of universals.
• What makes the Ockham’s razor principle so widely applicable? William of Ockham was a nominalist, too, and preferred simple explanations to miracles. His “razor” method is still considered very effective.
• What did Averroes contribute to philosophy and law?
• Aquinas : knowledge and perception.

• The medieval conception of motion: Aristotle vs. Avicenna.
• Avicenna’s views on natural science and atomism.
• Cosmological argument as a philosophical concept .
• Augustine’s ethics: eudaimonism in the context of Christianity.
• Augustine’s understanding of memory .
• What was St. Anselm’s conception of divine attributes?
• What were the ways of integrating sacred doctrine with secular learning in medieval philosophy?
• In what ways does faith relate to reason in medieval philosophies?
• Medieval theology as philosophy of religion .
• Scholasticism: principal characteristics.
• How did Averroes re-interpret Aristotle’s idea of time ?
• The Scholastics attitude towards Aristotle .
• Religious concepts in Eastern philosophy .
• What characterized the problem of universals in medieval philosophy?
• Peter Abelard: dialectics and conceptualism.
• Guillaume de Champeaux: the founder of moderate realism.
• What was Peter Lombard’s concept of marriage ?
• What was Albert the Great’s interpretation of Aristotelian metaphysics?
• Christian teaching of St Augustine .
• The discourse of the Apologetics : Islam, Hinduism, Judaism.
• Philosophical apologetics : main categories of arguments.
• What characterized the idea of a human soul in Aquinas and Augustine ?
• The doctrines of John Wycliffe.
• Plato’s role in medieval concept of soul-body dualism.
• Theological approaches comparison: Thomas of Aquinas and Saint Augustine .
• What was the philosophy of the Dominican order ?
• The problem of free will : theological point of view.
• What are the concepts of sin and divine providence?
• What was Bonaventure’s conception of creation?
• John Duns Scotus’ contribution to Aristotelian study of matter.
• East and West teachings’ concepts differences .
• What characterized Albert of Saxony’s logic and metaphysics ?
• Nicholas of Autrecourt’s concepts of experience and perception.
• Insolubilia, or the “liar paradox”, in medieval philosophy.
• Richard Kilvington’s theology: influences and legacy.
• What was the problem of theodicy in medieval philosophy?
• William of Ockham: the notion of mental language.

• The concept and discourse of the divine freedom .

The fundamental concept of the Renaissance philosophy is humanism. It appeared as an alternative to strict religious doctrines of the Medieval period. The main inspiration for the Renaissance philosophy came from Ancient Greek and Roman sources, that’s why it is called Renaissance: a “rebirth” of classical philosophy.

• The concept of “renaissance man”. “Renaissance man” is defined as someone who embraced all available knowledge and used their full potential. See what outstanding Renaissance personalities fit this description!
• Roger Bacon’s contribution to philosophy and sciences. This philosophy paper topic includes Bacon’s ideas about logic, semiotics , optics, and other subjects. Bacon is a prime example of a “renaissance man” who excelled in many areas.
• Why is Petrarch called the “father of humanism “? Discuss Petrarch’s attitude towards ancient authors, and how his writings gave rise to a humanist philosophy that defined Renaissance .
• Tommaso Campanella’s The City of the Sun as a utopia . This book was inspired by Plato’s Republic and Atlantis, and it describes a perfect world united by a theocratic monarchy.
• Plato’s influence in the Renaissance era vs. Aristotelianism in the Middle Age. It’s an interesting philosophical topic that can show you why during the Renaissance humanism became so popular.
• Humanists vs. Calvinists: a comparison. Here you can write about the Calvinist concept of predestination and Humanist idea of freedom.
• François Rabelais as a humanist. Discuss Rabelais’ Gargantua and Pantagruel books and point out humanist ideas in them!
• The Renaissance critique of scholasticism. With the rise of humanism , scholasticism lost its popularity. It was now considered formalistic and too rigid. Find out why!
• In what ways does Calvinism parallel capitalism? The way Calvinist influenced capitalism and the American Dream can be an excellent topic for an essay or a research paper.
• How did Machiavelli bring humanism into politics? Niccolo Machiavelli revolutionized the concept of politics. He promoted the idea of ambition and innovation as opposed to virtue.

• The critique of Pelagianism by Jerome and Augustine .
• Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam’s “Christian humanism.”
• Jacques Lefèvre d’Étaples’s role in Protestant reformation .
• Thomas More’s Utopia .
• Giovanni Pico della Mirandola’s “manifesto of the Renaissance”.
• How did Martin Luther’s theology change Europe ?
• John Calvin and his philosophy .
• Mona Lisa and Renaissance humanism .
• Who were the heretics?
• Nominalism: impact on doubting faith.
• What philosophical, intellectual, and political conditions led to the Reformation ?
• Skepticism during the Renaissance period.
• How did Paul of Venice expand on Averroes’ ideas?
• The question of the immortality of the soul in Renaissance-era philosophy.
• What characterized Nicoletto Vernia’s gnoseology and logic?
• Pietro Pomponazzi’s discussion of the supernatural .
• Jacopo Zabarella’s new method of scientific inquiry .
• What was Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa’s Pyrrhonic skepticism ?
• What were Lorenzo Valla’s methods of textual analysis and criticism?
• How did Rudolph Agricola revolutionize rhetorical studies?
• Why is Juan Luis Vives considered “the father of modern psychology ?”
• Political influence of William Shakespeare .
• The evolution of psychology during the Renaissance period : spiritual and biological aspects.
• What characterized Platonism and Neoplatonism in the Renaissance era?
• How did Marsilio Ficino merge ideas of both Plato and Aristotle ?
• The history of European alchemy .
• John Dee’s philosophy, alchemy, and divination.
• Magic and science in Giovanni Pico della Mirandola and Marsilio Ficino.
• What were Nicholas of Cusa’s political and philosophical contributions?
• What was the influence of Kabbalah in Renaissance-era Italy?
• What were the key differences between medieval and Renaissance notions of probability?
• What characterized Bessarion’s Neoplatonic views on science?
• The concept of Platonic love in Ficino, Bembo, and Leone Ebreo.
• Michel de Montaigne’s skepticism and its legacy.
• René Descartes’ philosophy and influence .

• Francisco Sanches: empirical skepticism .
• Pierre Gassendi and atomism of the Renaissance era.
• Bernardino Telesio’s critique of metaphysics and the importance of empiricism .
• The legacy of Giordano Bruno .
• Franciscus Patricius’ theory of the universe .

Classical German philosophy is synonymous with Idealism. The most influential philosopher of that period, Immanuel Kant, paved the way for the exploration of human will, consciousness, and ego. Later the ideas of idealists inspired psychoanalysis.

• How did Johann Gottlieb Fichte transform Kant’s critical idealism into absolute idealism? It includes the elimination of the “thing-in-itself” concept and proclaiming the self as the ultimate reality .
• Friedrich Wilhelm Joseph von Schelling’s absolute idealism . According to von Schelling, everything we see are the works of imagination, and nature itself is spiritual. These ideas influenced German Romanticism.
• How did Kant differentiate modes of thinking? In this essay, you can discuss analytic and synthetic propositions, their definitions, and applicability.
• Kant’s ethical ideas . See how they’re connected to his belief in everyone’s fundamental freedom.
• How did Immanuel Kant influence other philosophers? Kant was hugely influential: in particular, he provided the basis for what later became Marxism .
• Leibniz’s concept of knowledge . You can include Leibniz’s idea that it’s possible to understand everything in the world with the help of logic and analysis.
• How did Indian philosophy influence Schopenhauer ? For example, you can study the influence of Buddhism in Schopenhauer’s idea that the world is full of suffering , which can be overcome by way of renunciation.
• What did Nietzsche mean by saying that “God is dead”? This quote is often misunderstood. In fact, it is hinting at the fact that traditional values have lost their power.
• What were Immanuel Kant’s antinomies? Antinomies are contradictions that can both be justified. They create logical paradoxes.
• What are the main points of Kant’s transcendentalism ? In short, transcendental idealism focuses on the self as the center of reality. People get information about the outer world, but it will never be able to know the world as it is.
• Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel and his philosophy.

• The problem of subjectivity and consciousness in German Idealism .
• What are paralogisms?
• Ends-in-themselves and means-to-ends: definition and comparison.
• What is Hegel’s absolute spirit?
• Schopenhauer ‘s philosophy of pessimism.
• How did Nietzsche influence the ideas of the National Socialists?
• Kierkegaard’s angst and “fear and trembling.”
• What are Leibniz’s contributions to metaphysics and epistemology ?
• Benedict de Spinoza and his doctrines.
• F.W.J. Schelling’s understanding of nature.
• Ethics and moral philosophy in Kant, Nietzsche, and others .
• Schelling’s identity philosophy .
• Ludwig Feuerbach anthropological materialism .
• Kierkegaard’s conception of irony.
• What were Christian Thomasius’ views on reason and prejudice ?
• What was Christian Wolff’s role in German philosophical thought?
• What are the main features of Pietism?
• Who were the Thomasians?
• How did Sturm und Drang movement influence philosophy?
• Baumgarten’s Aesthetica and the concept of art.
• What characterized Elisabeth of the Palatinate’s critique of Descartes ?
• Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s impact on German philosophy .
• What did Johann Gottfried Herder mean by “the great chain of being”?
• What was Richard Warner’s influence on Nietzsche’s philosophy ?
• What was Johanna Charlotte Unzer’s contribution to feminism ?
• Friedrich Hölderlin as an Idealist.
• Epistemology and metaphysics: philosophers views .
• What are Karl Marx’s concepts of labor, class, and capital ?
• What were Schleiermacher’s thoughts on psychology and knowledge?
• What was Schleiermacher’s influence on Gadamer and Heidegger?
• What were Nietzsche’s main “positive values?”
• What was Nietzsche’s interpretation of nihilism?
• Nietzsche’s doctrine of “will to power.”
• What impact had Eastern philosophy on Nietzsche’s work ?
• Nietzsche’s concept of Apollonian vs. Dionysian and its impact on culture.
• What was the role of Plato and Aristotle in classical German philosophy?
• Leibniz’s vs. Pythagorean theory of monads: a comparison.
• What is Leibniz’s “fundamental question of metaphysics ?”
• Gottfried Leibniz’s contribution to logic.

In the 20th century, philosophy was developing just as rapidly as technology. New standards of living, change of values, wars, and conflicts led to increased disappointment and alienation among people. Philosophers of that era tried to reflect on these changes and come up with new outlooks on life and the world around us.

• Karl Popper’s concept of three worlds. This philosophy topic includes the analysis of three categories of reality (physical objects, mental works, and objective knowledge ) and their interactions.
• How did the theory of relativity and quantum mechanics influence idealism in the 20th century? It’s a terrific philosophy question that shows the complexity of our reality.
• The philosophy of modernism as a reflection of societal changes. It includes the massive influence of art on modernism . See what led to the rejection of realism and increased focus on personal experience.
• Lyotard’s Postmodern Condition: technology, communication, and mass media . Lyotard’s book offers a surprisingly accurate glimpse into the 21st century’s spread of communication technologies . It can be an exciting paper topic.
• Marxism-Leninism : key concepts and legacy. In this essay, you can discuss world revolutions , vanguardism, and other concepts that led to the popularity and eventual demise of Marxist-Leninist philosophy.
• Marxism vs. Freudism differences . Freudism was based on psychoanalysis; later, Freud’s ideas about the human psyche were expanded into a philosophy concerned with society as a whole.
• Slavoj Zizek’s concept of The Real. Inspired by Lacan’s psychoanalysis , Zizek formulated a classification of different types of The Real. He provided examples from pop culture, such as The Matrix .
• Feminist philosophers: Rosa Luxemburg , Sandra Bartky, Julia Kristeva . While the philosophy of the 20th century was dominated by men, there were also many outstanding women. You can choose to write about them!
• Foucault’s theories of power, knowledge, and subjectivity. Foucault’s philosophy was very influential in society, as well as in the arts. In many ways, he shaped postmodernism as we know it.
• Deconstruction as a critique of Platonism. Deconstructivism concerned everything from architecture to queer studies. It was influenced by Nietzsche and critiqued Plato’s idea of forms .
• Walter Benjamin ‘s “angel of history.” This is a wonderful topic that covers Benjamin’s concept of history and the importance of remembering the past exactly as it was.

• Jacque Derrida’s key concepts: an overview. Here you can discuss the ideas Derrida introduced to philosophy as well as literature studies and politics.
• Karl Marx views on history . Karl Marx’s historical materialism was tremendously influential in early socialist societies. Explore it in your essay!
• Theodore Herzl and Zionism . This philosophy topic is closely connected with 20th-century history. You can also discuss arguments for and against Zionism .
• Jacques Lacan’s impact on philosophy , linguistics, and film theory . Discuss Lacan’s concepts such as the “mirror stage” and” the Other” in your philosophy essay!
• International development, colonialism, social inequality and class stratification . This topic is centered on the influence of the colonial past on today’s politics. You’d be surprised to see how much colonial worldview affected almost every facet of life in all countries.
• Behaviorism and philosophy of mind. It’s a very interesting branch of philosophy that has elements of natural science, linguistics, and psychology . See what different approaches to behavior were proposed by philosophers, and describe them in an argumentative essay!
• Being-in-itself in Heidegger and Sartre . This topic is closely connected with several other concepts, such as Dasein and bad faith, and it can be an excellent theme for an extended research paper.
• John Searle’s “Chinese room.” It is an exciting topic about the philosophical aspects of artificial intelligence . “Chinese room” is a thought experiment that led to many curious replies.
• Existentialism in Jean-Paul Sartre’s Nausea: an analysis . Here you can study one of the most brilliant books of the 20th century from the philosophical point of view! Discuss what made Sartre’s Nausea so famous and influential.
• Anarchism in the 20th century: the classical era.
• Communism: theory and reality .
• The fundamental concepts of existentialism: angst, despair, the absurd .

• Existentialism in France after WWII: key figures.
• Karl Popper’s critique of historicism.
• Determinism : mathematical models and the quantum realm.
• Post-modernism vs. modernism: a comparison.
• Foucault’s conceptions of biopower and biopolitics.
• Structuralism concept in philosophy .
• What was Karl Marx’s idea of a higher-stage communist society?
• Friedrich Engels ‘ socialism vs. the Soviet economic model.
• How Aristotle and other Greeks influenced Heidegger?
• Heidegger’s concepts of “present-at-hand” and “ready-to-hand.”
• Bertrand Russell and analytical philosophy .
• What was Frankfurt school’s dialectical method of investigation?
• Freudian perspective on dreams .
• Jaques Maritain and neo-Thomism.
• What were the breakthroughs of 20th-century feminism ?
• What was the influence of war and globalization on the late 20th-century anarchism ?
• Queer theory and philosophy of gender.
• The concept of the Other in philosophy, psychology, and film.
• The power of ideas: from ancient to modern philosophies .
• Hans-Georg Gadamer’s philosophical hermeneutics .
• What are the key ideas of Jean-Paul Sartre’s philosophy ?
• Simone de Beauvoir’s existentialist philosophy .
• What is the concept of Dasein in Heidegger’s Being and Time ?
• The Decline of the West: what caused Oswald Spengler’s bleak outlook on the future?
• Philosophical views of Albert Camus : absurdism, existentialism, anarcho-syndicalism.
• Absurdism: parallels with nihilism and existentialism .
• Nihilism in the 20th century: Deleuze , Derrida, Heidegger, Lyotard.
• Jean Baudrillard: the concept of simulacra .
• Camus’s The Stranger and Rousseau’s Natural Man .
• How do Derrida’s concepts of différance and trace correspond to ideas of Plato and Aristotle ?
• What was Edmund Husserl’s contribution to phenomenology?
• Roland Barthes’ semiotics and structuralism .
• “Death of the Author”: Bartes vs. Foucault .
• Hannah Arendt : the origins of Nazism and Stalinism.
• Julius Evola’s critique of fascism and national-socialism.
• Iris Murdoch’s philosophy and influences.
• Feminist philosophers: Rosa Luxemburg, Sandra Bartky, Julia Kristeva.
• How did Russian cosmism influence space exploration?
• What was Heidegger’s influence on Sartre’s Being and Nothingness?
• Of Grammatology: Derrida’s critique of structuralism .
• Henry Thoreau’s Civil Disobedience .
• Berlin and Vienna circles of logical positivism and their characteristics.
• Marxist feminism as opposed to the exploitation of women in capitalism.
• The Communist Manifesto and its legacy .

• The concept of social privilege from Du Bois to the late 20th century.
• Richard Taylor’s view of cruelty and compassion .
• The development of the “collective conscious” concept.
• Emile Zola’s positivism.
• Activity theory and its field of usage.
• The philosophy of Maoism.
• What is “Moore’s paradox,” and how can it be used?
• Philosophy of artificial intelligence .
• Umberto Eco’s philosophical works.
• What are the characteristics of empiricism?
• The “cultural turn” of the ’70s.
• Claude Lévi-Strauss: philosophical and anthropological ideas.
• Social character and social psychology .
• Georg Simmel’s philosophy of money .
• What is the role of classical pragmatism in the development of feminist theories ?
• Jane Addams and her ethical principles .
• Holism in philosophy: an overview.
• Can the concept of noosphere be considered real?
• Pierre Teilhard de Chardin: controversies and influence on the New Age movement.
• Bertrand Russell’s Problems of Philosophy .
• Edmund Husserl’s phenomenology of temporality.
• Intentism: authorial intent vs. death of the author.
• The concept of aboutness in philosophy of mind .

The basic definition of ethics is “moral philosophy.” It is concerned with the problems of good and evil, right and wrong, and everything in-between. The first ethical teachings appeared in ancient times, but they’ve always been changing throughout history, and they vary among different nations.

• What are the three main theories of ethics ? In this essay, you can talk about utilitarian, deontological , and virtue ethics as the basis for ethical reasoning.
• What are the main principles of utilitarian ethics ? The main appeal of utilitarianism is its promise to produce greater good for a greater number of people. However, it also has a number of dubious aspects.
• What is Internet ethics? Write about the ethical problems of the information age and discuss their role in globalization.

• Virtue ethics and its main concepts . This topic includes the definitions of virtues and vices given from different points of view. You can also trace these concepts throughout the history of philosophy and show how they have changed.
• What are the main challenges of deontological ethics ? Here you can discuss problems that arise out of the principle “people should be treated with respect according to their rights.”
• The problem of free will . The discussion of moral responsibility and control can serve as an excellent basis for a research paper!
• What are the peculiarities of Chinese ethics? Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism , and globalization – see what influenced the ethics of Chinese people over the course of history.
• The ethics of religious belief: Christianity, Judaism , Islam, Buddhism. Different religions have their ethical peculiarities. Some people argue that without religious belief , a person can’t be moral. Discuss it in your paper!
• Personal information, privacy , and other ethical issues of Internet search engines. You can mention both the positive and negative aspects of private data collection via search engines.
• The ethics of cultural appropriation . It is a controversial topic that should include the definition of what can and can’t be qualified as offensive. Discuss past events, such as colonialism, that contributed to the problem of cultural appropriation .
• What are the specifics of feminist ethics?
• Gender binarism as an ethical issue.
• Emotions: definition of love .
• The ethics of the US voting system .
• What are the distinctive features of morality ?
• The concepts of freedom and responsibility in relation to metaethics.
• The benefits of “human-values approach” to computer ethics .
• Ethics of working environment .
• What are the main views on public health ethics?
• What are the ethical problems of human tests in clinical research ?
• The milestones of animal rights activism.
• What is beneficence and benevolence in ethical theory?
• The ethical problems of social justice .
• Business ethics: from Ancient Greece to modern era.
• Confronting physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia .
• Environmental ethics and deep ecology.
• What are the ethical issues of Manifest Destiny ?
• Bioethics and its main disciplines.
• Axiology: the relations between ethics and aesthetics.

• What are the issues of organ donation ?
• Neutrality vs. moral agency in ethics of technology.
• What are the central moral issues of human enhancement?
• The “is-ought problem” of evolutionary ethics.
• The issues of human/non-human chimera creation.
• Should animals have the same rights as humans?
• What is the definition and issues of informed consent ?
• The moral challenges of parent-child relationships .
• The ethics of war: the “just war” theory .
• What’s the difference between utilitarianism and hedonism?
• Ethics in psychotherapy : principles and issues.
• Conscience and its main characteristics.
• What are the moral issues of stem cell research?
• Disability ethics: promotion and optimization.
• What is the role of ethics in education?
• The principles of global justice.
• Gender issues in public ethics.
• What is the difference between ethical and unethical marketing ?
• Abolition of capital punishment .
• What are the possible ethical questions of postmortem autopsies?
• Should abortions be legal?

🧐 Top 50 Philosophical Questions

• Is there such a thing as free will?
• What are the constituents of a good life ?
• Can mathematical concepts be considered real?
• Does chaos always triumph over order?
• What is the role of religion in modern society?
• Can a lie be justified ?
• Should we strive for immortality ?
• What makes us human?
• Is evil a necessary part of life?
• Is it possible to find answers to all questions about the Universe ?
• What’s the point of art?
• Is there such a thing as destiny ?
• Does knowledge make up happier?
• Can we separate art from the artist ?
• Do our small actions affect the world?
• Is it possible to know a person completely?
• Does power corrupt?
• Is religion necessary for morality?
• Is hedonism a right way of life?
• What does it mean to be conscious ?
• What makes a genius ?
• Can thoughts exist without language?
• Why do people need poetry and fiction?
• Can a murder be justified?
• Is there inherent order in nature?
• What are the limits of free speech ?

• Is media censorship necessary?
• Why is beauty associated with morality?
• How can we eliminate prejudice ?
• How will the spread of AI change the world ?
• Should genetic engineering be allowed?
• Is it possible to bridge the gap between the wealthy and the poor?
• Is democracy an effective way of government?
• Why have women been oppressed throughout history?
• Can perfect laws ever be created?
• Why do many people like conspiracy theories ?
• Is a formal education important ?
• Will there be an end to technological progress ?
• Is it possible to be completely free?
• How much do genetics influence human personality?
• Is there such a thing as synchronicity?
• Should animals be used in medical experiments?
• Why is it important to preserve cultural heritage ?
• Should coma patients be kept on life support?
• What is the true nature of time?
• Is it possible to free ourselves from all material thoughts?
• Why is success so important to people?
• Why are people afraid of death ?
• Is there such a thing as soulmates?
• How much freedom should children have?

Throughout history, philosophers have developed many schools of thought. Their ideas vary, but they’re also interconnected. Here is the list of philosophies from Philosophy 101 book that will help you prepare for exam or test:

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• Aristotelianism is a school of thought inspired by Aristotle and his followers. Aristotle rejected Plato’s concept of “ideas” and placed more emphasis on practical wisdom. He also developed what we know as the deductive method of reasoning, as well as a highly influential idea that everything has a purpose. Aristotelianism served as a basis for Scholasticism.
• Atomism is an ancient idea that everything in the world is made out of tiny “atoms.” It proved to be very accurate in the Modern era. The conception of atoms was used not only in natural sciences but also as a way to answer philosophical questions, such as “ why does everything change? “
• Cynicism can be considered a way of life. The Cynics opposed conventions and lived in harmony with nature. They were also famously straightforward and advocated free speech. The most prominent Cynic was Diogenes.

• Stoicism was partially inspired by cynics. Stoics such as Seneca and Epictetus thought that a true sage should be impassionate and calm. They taught people not to worry about things beyond one’s control and that “virtue is sufficient for happiness.”
• Platonism was founded by Plato. According to him, there exists another realm beyond our material world. It is filled with abstract objects (“ideas” or “forms”) which manifest themselves in our world as concrete objects of different kinds. Platonism was popular during the Renaissance, and it served as a basis for Idealism and Humanism.
• Zen Buddhist philosophy originates from Japan. It aims at attaining perfection by way of achieving enlightenment. According to Zen Buddhists, all things in life are equally important. A person should always live “here and now,” and free themselves from all unnecessary thoughts and feelings.
• Scholasticism can be characterized as a method of learning. Initially, it was meant to combine the ideas of Christianity with Aristotelian philosophy. Later it encompassed logic, science, psychology, linguistics, and many other elements. Scholasticism introduced many essential aspects of logical reasoning, such as thesis, antithesis, and synthesis. It was especially popular during the Middle Ages.
• Humanism was the leading philosophical school during the Renaissance. It was influenced by the Italian poet Petrarch, who popularized classical Greek writings. It lead to the re-discovery of Ancient Greek philosophers, such as Plato, as well as classical arts and literature. Humanism was characterized by the increased importance of human life as opposed to God, striving for perfection, and reliance on scientific methods.
• Existentialism is a significant philosophical school of the 19th-20th centuries. In the center of existentialism was a person with their unique subjective experience. Some of the leading Existentialists, such as Sartre, were novelists and influenced literature with their writings. It also influenced psychology by introducing concepts of anxiety and dread.
• Absurdism is closely related to Existentialism. Its main idea is that searching for the meaning of life is meaningless, as it does more harm than good. We must come to terms with the absurdity of the universe and learn to accept it as it is, without resorting to religion.
• Idealism is another influential school of philosophy which is based on Platonism. It emphasizes the mind and human perception. Some Idealists postulate that the world is an illusion, and only what’s inside our minds is real. Immanuel Kant is considered the most influential Idealist. He argued that the brain perceives reality in a distorted way, and we can never see things as they really are.
• Postmodernism is one of the most prominent philosophical schools of the 20th century. It re-contextualized the notions of identity, reality, difference, and meaning while introducing new concepts. Postmodernism can be described as playful, skeptical, and ambiguous.
• Marxism is a philosophical school that played a massive role in the history of the 20th century. It is mostly concerned with economics and sociology. It introduced the ideas of the proletariat, class struggle, and socialism. These concepts became crucial in the development of Socialist and Communist societies, such as the USSR and China. The most prominent Marxist thinkers are Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels.
• Feminist philosophy is focused on justice for women, as well as marginalized groups. It fights prejudice and tackles many controversial topics, such as racism and disability. Besides, feminists rethink existing philosophical ideas and make their original contributions to philosophy and science.

Writing a philosophy essay can be a great experience! It teaches you to see the problem from different angles, analyze it, and improve your critical thinking. Besides, studying a philosophy topic allows you to learn new things about the world and even about yourself!

First of all, you need to choose a good paper topic . It can be a classic philosophy topic concerning different schools of thought, or it can be a more abstract existential question. If the problem is too broad, try to narrow it down as much as possible. Also, if you’re only starting to study philosophy, find an easy topic that you can work with. Choose something that will be interesting for you to research!

When you come up with a theme, think of something you can discuss from different sides . Philosophy is all about questioning, debating, and a deeper understanding of things, both real and hypothetical. If you choose to write about the works of a famous philosopher, go ahead and add your own thoughts on the topic!

e.g., Plato’s Republic has many outstanding ideas, but I disagree with his concept of selecting the wisest people to be rulers.

The second step is the thesis statement . Express the main point of your essay or paper in one sentence. It is possible to write it at a later stage. However, if you start with a thesis statement, it would help you stay on topic. It should present the aim of your paper and convince the readers that your work is important. It will also be beneficial if you write an outline!

Get an originally-written paper according to your instructions!

e.g., Socratic dialogue helped to advance the way of thinking.

Then you come up with arguments for and against your thesis statement . This way, you’ll see the subject from multiple points of view, and you’ll be able to discuss it more fully.

You can present your arguments in different ways:

The arguments can be positive or negative – that is, they can either support or refute the thesis statement. You can use evidence from life or quote the ideas of other philosophers. If you’ve chosen a big philosophical question, e.g., “ what is the meaning of life? ” you can select arguments for related problems, such as “should everything always have meaning?” or “why is meaning important?” Don’t forget to show how all these questions are related to your main topic!

e.g., the Socratic method can be very beneficial in education and psychotherapy; at the same time, it may be used for manipulating people.

When coming up with arguments, choose only the strongest ones . The same thing goes for examples. They can be empirical or hypothetical, but most important of all, credible. As philosophy is interconnected with all kinds of arts and sciences, you can find your evidence everywhere: in fiction, physics, or psychology. The choice is yours!

We are sure that these tips will help you to write a perfect philosophy paper. Now it’s time to choose your topic and get started! Good luck!

The most interesting topics in philosophy are usually concerned with politics, the human mind, and ethics. They can also be inspired by modern-day problems. E.g. how does philosophy apply to an AI, or can AI become better than humans.

Philosophy covers a vast number of topics. They can be related to everything from politics to quantum physics. There are classical questions, such as the purpose of life, but also new topics about the modern world, like computer ethics.

The Greek philosopher Socrates is often called the father of western philosophy. He taught his disciples the importance of asking questions, showing that philosophy is the art of searching for the truth.

There are five major areas of philosophy: metaphysics, epistemology, logic, ethics, and aesthetics. They study reality, knowledge, debate, morality, and beauty.

🔎 References

• Scholasticism: Philosophy Basics
• Renaissance Philosophy: Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy
• History of Philosophy | Ancient Philosophy: Illinois State University
• Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: Main Page
• Ethics: Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy
• Virtue Ethics: Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
• Ethical Theories: The Arthur W. Page Center
• Atomism: Encyclopedia Britannica
• A Brief Guide to Writing a Philosophy Paper: Harvard University
• Feminist Philosophy: Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
• What is Marxism: All About Philosophy
• Idealism: CUNY
• Postmodernism Philosophy: Encyclopedia Britannica
• Ancient Greek and Roman Philosophy: Encyclopedia Britannica
• What is Philosophy?: Florida State University
• Karl Marx | Biography, Philosophy and Facts: Famous Philosophers
• Kant and the Foundations of Analytic Philosophy: Academia
• Immanuel Kant: International Bureau of Education
• Friedrich Nietzsche Philosophy: The Quintessential Mind
• German Idealism: New World Encyclopedia
• Greek Philosophy: Ancient History Encyclopedia
• Medieval Philosophy: Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy
• Medieval Philosophy: The University of Tennessee Martin
• Renaissance Philosophy Review: Birkbeck University of London
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190 Top-Notch Philosophy Essay Topics For All

Philosophy is a vast academic field that tackles every aspect of human life. Contrary to how most college and university students believe, philosophy essays are not walking in the park. Like writing essays in technical fields, philosophy papers demand a little critical analysis alongside extensive reading and massive research. There is a broad spectrum of philosophy topics you can choose to handle.

Nonetheless, it is hard to come by a case that compliments your interest besides being easy to write about in college. We have compiled exceptional philosophy essay topics that will quickly get you to the top of your class. Check them out below.

Interesting Philosophy Topics

• Examine the freedom teenagers should have
• Explain why success is so vital to people’s lives
• Evaluate whether people can free themselves from all material thoughts
• Discuss whether coma patients should be on life support
• Examine the importance of preserving cultural heritage
• What is the link between genetics and human personalities?
• Evaluate whether there will be an end to technological progress
• Examine whether democracy is an effective way of government
• Explain if it is possible to bridge the gap between the poor and the rich in society
• Elaborate how the development of AI will affect the world
• What is the association between beauty and morality in today’s world
• Determine if thoughts can exist without language
• Investigate if it is possible to find all questions about the universe
• Explain the role of religion in the modern world

Top Topics In Philosophy

• Outline the constituents of a good life
• Elaborate the likely ethical questions regarding postmortem autopsies
• Point out the difference between unethical and ethical marketing
• Discuss the role of ethics in higher education
• Examine conscience and its key features
• What are the issues and principles of ethics in psychotherapy?
• Discuss the difference between hedonism and utilitarianism
• What are the possible moral barriers if parent-child relationships
• Explain the definition and problems related to informed consent
• Examine whether humans and animals should have the same rights
• Discuss the significant moral advantages and disadvantages of human enhancements

Great Philosophy Essay Topics

• Elaborate the link between moral agency and neutrality in ethics of technology
• Explain the link between ethics and aesthetics in axiology
• Outline the main issues associated with manifest destiny
• What are the central moral issues related to euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide
• Investigate the concept of responsibility and freedom as it relates to metaethics
• Explain the distinctive critical attributes of morality
• Take a look at the specifics of feminist ethics
• Discuss the ethics of religious beliefs as it relates to Buddhism, Islam, Judaism and Christianity
• Elaborate the critical challenges related to deontological ethics
• Define virtue ethics and highlight its key concepts
• Define utilitarian ethics and explain its fundamental principles

Top-Grade Philosophy Thesis Topics

• Explain the role of classical pragmatism in the development of feminist theories
• Highlight the main features of empiricism
• Point out the influence of Russian cosmism on space exploration
• Explain the prominent contributions of Edmund Husserl’s to the field of phenomenology
• Define the concept of the Other and elaborate how it is in film, psychology, and philosophy
• Discuss the influence of globalization and war on the late 20 th -century anarchism
• Examine critical figures associated with existentialism in France after WWII
• What are the basic concepts of existentialism
• Explain how the theory of quantum mechanics and relativity affected the 20 th century
• Examine the role of Plato and Aristotle in classical German philosophy
• Elaborate the Schleiermacher’s influence on knowledge and psychology
• Highlight Karl Marx’s concepts of capital, class, and labor
• Investigate the contributions of Johanna Charlotte Unzer towards feminism

Easy Philosophy Paper Topics

• Explain the critical attributes of Pietism
• Point out Christian Thomasius’ thoughts on prejudice and reason
• Discuss moral philosophy and ethics in Nietzsche, Kant, and others
• Discuss the political, intellectual, and philosophical conditions that led to the reformation
• Explain how Martin Luther’s theology impacted Europe
• Elaborate the problem of theodicy in medieval philosophy
• Discuss what characterized Albert of Saxony’s metaphysics and logic
• Explain the concepts of divine providence and sin
• Highlight the problem of free will from a theological point of view
• Compare the theological approached of Saint Augustine and Thomas of Aquinas
• Explain what characterized the problem of universals in medieval philosophy
• Investigate medieval theology as a philosophy of religion
• What is the link between faith and reason in medieval philosophies

A-Grade Philosophical Questions

• Evaluate how to integrate secular learning and sacred doctrine in medieval philosophy
• Discuss metempsychosis as the concept of reincarnation
• Explain different forms of the good according to Plato’s Republic
• Define the idea of “becoming” in atomism
• Explain the concept of moral intention as detailed in philosophy
• Examine Homer’s influence on Greek philosophy
• Discuss the constantly changing nature of reality in ancient philosophy
• Define the concept of “logos” in different philosophies
• Discuss the ideas of principal substances in Greek philosophy
• What is the relationship between the doctrine of Pythagoreans and Mathematics

Argumentative Philosophy Essay Topics

• Elaborate the main attributes of Skepticism
• What influence do movies and video games have on our morals
• Explain the impact of social media on our moral values
• Explain the purpose behind evil and good
• Discuss whether it is possible to live without regulations and laws in the world
• Define death and explain its purpose
• Investigate whether knowledge is a result f experience and learning
• Explain whether or not morality should be subjective
• Discuss the future of humans and humankind
• What are critical moral issues around genetically modified products
• What are the reasons and solutions to mass panic and hysteria
• Explain why governments should conceal the evidence of extraterrestrial life

College Topic For Philosophy Paper

• Examine why modern celebrities should be positive models for modern teenagers
• Define the American dream and explain if it exists
• Highlight postmodernism ideas in philosophy
• Discuss the idea that there is life after death
• Investigate the concept of happiness through the eye of modern youths
• Explain the basic principles and ideas that a family file should have
• Discuss the ethics behind the application of Bitcoin and other digital currencies

Excellent Topics For Philosophy Paper

• Evaluate why violent and offensive content should not be on the internet
• Define patriotism and explain why it should be a virtue
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of child-free families
• Assess whether it is ethical to have zoos and circuses
• Is death the beginning of something new or the final point of human life
• Discuss ethical issues surrounding organ transplant
• Explain why it is essential to lie sometimes
• Evaluate whether governments should legalize abortion
• What is the connection between culture and morals
• Define communism and explain its pros and cons

General Philosophy Research Paper Topics

• What is the essence of religious sects, and should they be legalized?
• What impact does the belief in God have on humans
• Explain the advantages and disadvantages of committing suicide
• Define the concept of Supernatural and highlight any proof of its existence
• What are the best methods to solve issues between children and their parents
• How are war and peace interrelated to each other?
• What impact has the church had on US politics in the past ten years?
• Define free will and determinism and point out which one you support
• Define a perfect life and explain what keeps people from living it
• Discuss why folks need education and how its significance has changed over the years

World-Class Philosophy Topics For Essays

• Elaborate five key character traits that determine who you are and state whether you would change any of them
• Explain why some individuals may live life without feeling alive
• Elaborate the role society plays in the formation of one’s personality
• Discuss ethical questions that revolve around Covid-19 and examine the response to the pandemic
• Outline the reasons for banning hate speech on social media and the internet
• Define ageism and explain how we can tackle it
• Explain why white Americans should be held responsible for the disadvantaged position of black Americans
• Is feminism opposed to religion?
• Examine the goals that feminism as a movement has achieved so far
• Investigate if gender parity is attainable

Brilliant Philosophical Topics For Essays

• What should come first; economic benefits or morality
• What are the ethical issues around using embryos in genetic engineering research
• Is it ethical to invest in pet operations when people in developing countries still lack primary health care?
• Explain why it is our moral duty to take care of the environment
• Discuss whether environmental awareness should be a virtue
• Investigate the moral responsibility that developed countries hold in tackling hunger issues in the world
• Determine if charity should be a moral obligation
• What ethical questions surround the use of drugs enhancing cognition?
• Explain why cloning is ethically admissible
• Elaborate ethical reasons behind mass surveillance

Philosophy Term Paper Topics

• Discuss if a convict should have the freedom to accept the death penalty or serve a life sentence
• Explain why abortion is wrong on moral grounds
• Evaluate moral rules that enslave people
• Assess if people can violate moral rules to achieve a common good
• Examine whether science is compatible or incompatible with religion
• Discuss the impact of colonialism on the behavior of modern-day colonists
• Explain the key differences between Freudism and Marxism
• Highlight how modernism reflects societal changes
• What are the effect of quantum mechanics and relativity on idealism

Fun Philosophy Paper Topics

• Examine whether getting information out of the outer world is real
• Investigate the synthetic propositions of the Kantian modes of thinking
• Define probability and explain why it might be a construct of the mind
• Assess if magic draws inspiration from science
• Discuss the effects of divination and alchemy on modern society
• Outline how the biological and spiritual aspects of life coexist

Good Philosophy Paper Topics

• Explain the potential limitations of the concept of Utopia
• Analyze the impacts of influences and legacy
• Discuss the free will in man from a theological point of view
• Evaluate how doctrines shape a group’s belief system
• Define atomism and outline its principal characteristics
• What is the impact of Augustine’s ethics in the context of Christianity?
• Compare and contrast between Epicureanism and Stoicism
• Explain if Platonic realism affects modern realism

Philosophy Topics To Write A Paper On

• Discuss how the feminine gender was in ancient Greece
• Investigate how natural philosophy impacts science
• Detail the contrast between mythology and philosophy in explaining natural phenomena
• Show whether there exists a unity of opposites within the universal flux?
• Elaborate if philosophy is the ultimate answer to all questions in life
• Explain what attracts short ladies to tall boyfriends and vice versa
• Discuss what matters between the lives of citizens and the economy in the event of a pandemic
• Explain why anxiety may be an indication that you are not well prepared
• A case study of the psychology behind cheap products and their quality
• Examine if someone can mentally offend another without necessarily inflicting any physical damage

Amazing Philosophical Essay Topics

• What is the truth of the statement that critics are mean people who only want their ideas to prevail?
• Is it possible to provide help to a stranger without doubting their intentions?
• Explain whether achieving self-development has anything to do with self-esteem
• Discuss the attributes that define beautiful and excellent among women and men
• Explain whether endorsement has anything to do with acceptance of a particular cause
• A case study of how community-guided practices impact the lives of its inhabitants
• Elaborate the role of interests and abilities in shaping a person’s decisions in life
• Investigate why conceptual rigor and argumentative rigor are necessary when handling life issues

World-Class Philosophy Essay Questions

• Explain the link between the natural world and the spirit
• Discuss who should determine the ethics and morals of a community
• Explain whether it is worth preserving memories of past events even though we cannot relive them
• Investigate why our superstitions and cultural myths about life and death are important
• What are the philosophical effects of staying up too late at night?
• Explain the essence of matter, space, and time in the study of philosophy
• Discuss whether everyone has a choice or obligation towards a particular responsibility
• Which is more important, to be loved by someone or to love someone?

Additional Philosophy Paper Ideas

• Explain if there are any situations in particular where it is better to lie than tell the truth
• Discuss whether capital punishment is morally justified in today’s world
• Explain the effect of the philosophical wave of the 20 th century
• What is the most crucial attribute to gain human knowledge?
• Investigate whether our morals are influenced by or connected to culture
• Would you please explain the difference between economic justice and legal justice and show which of them is most important
• Examine if Machiavellian ideals are still applicable in today’s government
• Elaborate whether teenagers should have the responsibility to make their own choices
• Examine if humans have the same perception about what is wrong and what is right
• A case study of the main character traits that an ideal leader possesses
• Define the term mentally conscious and how it applies to human life
• Examine how to get ready for life after death

Now that we have simplified your work, completing a comprehensive philosophy essay should be a breeze. Nevertheless, you may still have a hard time if you do not know how to write a philosophy essay, start a philosophy essay, or start a philosophy paper. You can get a quality online essay writing service that offers dependable writing help on the bright side.

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357 Philosophical Topics to Write About for Essays & Term Papers

• 🔝 Top-10 Philosophy Topics
• ⛪ Philosophy of Religion
• 🗳️ Political Philosophy
• ⚖️ Philosophy of Law
• 🔬 Philosophy of Science
• 😊 Easy Philosophy Topics
• 😀 Fun Philosophy Topics

✅ Philosophy Argumentative Essay Topics

📝 philosophy term paper topics, ✒️ philosophical topics to write about, ❓ philosophy essay questions.

• ✍️ Bonus: 17 Writing Tips

There is a joke that in successful relationships, one becomes happy, and in unsuccessful, one becomes a philosopher. Unfortunately, that could be true only if the person read philosophical books on philosophy or developed their philosophical research theories in the latter case.

Philosophy is a Greek word meaning “love for wisdom.” It analyzes how we perceive the outside and inner world using logic and reason. This discipline teaches us close reading, clear writing, critical thinking, and logical analysis. These methods try to formulate the appropriate language to describe reality and our place in it.

🔝 Top-10 Philosophy Essay Topics

• How does death shape the meaning of life?
• Do our senses reflect the accurate picture of the world?
• Why do we consider some actions to be morally incorrect?
• Is there a correct way to live a life?
• What makes humans different from other mammals?
• If art is subjective, how can we tell whether a given artist is talented or not?
• Knowledge can hurt. Why do we strive for it?
• Idealism: A way to perfection or fantasy?
• Does love have a meaning beyond itself?
• Should happiness be the ultimate purpose in life?

⛪ Philosophy of Religion Topics

• Do religious beliefs contradict scientific thinking ?
• Does religion improve or degrade humanity?
• Religion and Politics in Durkheim’s Theories .
• The belief system of each person limits their faith.
• How do different faiths envision the ultimate reality?
• Islam and Its Influence on the World Society .
• Can God’s existence be justified on rational grounds?
• If God exists, does it mean that only one religion is genuine?
• Same-sex Marriage as a Religious Issue .
• Omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, omnibenevolent: Is that true?
• What is the source of any religious belief?
• Descartes’ proof of the existence of God.
• Philosophy and religion: theory and practice.
• Differences between religion and philosophy of religion.
• Does philosophy admit that god exists?
• Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
• Harmonization of god’s purposes with human goods in Kant’s philosophy.
• Reason and religious belief. An introduction to The Philosophy of Religion’ by M. Peterson.
• Religious Studies and Theology .
• Aristotle’s god: the universal source of change in the universe.
• Human rights from the perspective of Islam .
• Christian Religious Fundamentalism and Family Role Identities .
• Do you think the five philosophical proofs of god’s existence are trustworthy?
• Evangelical theology: Jesus Christ.
• Does Hegel’s doctrine of god match Christian theology ?
• Religion and public life in “American Grace” by Putnam.
• Pragmatic views in “The Will to Believe” by William James.
• God in Descartes and Nietzsche.
• Which model of faith do you prefer?
• Sociology of religion: purpose and concept.
• Describe the constant conflict of creationism.
• Relation between god, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.
• Can religious experiences confirm the existence of ultimate reality?
• Islamic civilization: religious practices.
• How could one distinguish the genuine experience of god from the ungenuine?
• What is the highest good in Buddhism ?
• Descartes and God’s existence.
• Is morality possible without religion?
• Buddhism: teachings of Buddha.
• Can there be free will if god is omniscient?
• Afterlife in different world cultures.
• Miracle: A transgression of the natural law or a transgression of our understanding of it?
• Which side of the mind-body debate would you take?
• Religious beliefs and political decisions.
• Establish the relationship between a person’s belief in the afterlife and their theistic position.
• Karma, dharma, and samsara in Indian religions.
• How to make sense of religious diversity ?
• Conceptions of Christ.
• Can the language of god be understood from the human position?
• Judaism concepts.
• The nature of miracles in the philosophy of religion.
• Moses in Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.
• The difference in the conceptions of god in monotheist and pantheist religions.
• World religions studies and key concepts.
• Does the doctrine of the trinity relate Christianism to pantheism?
• What is the logical problem of evil?

🗳️ Topics in Political Philosophy

• Why is the term “political” a problem in philosophy?
• The Research of Morality in Politics .
• Why is climate change an issue for political philosophy?
• Political Science, Philosophy & Social Criticism .
• Is it possible to establish global justice?
• What does it take to be a free citizen ?
• Political Ideologies From the Philosophic Point of View .
• Does a fair way to distribute wealth exist?
• Does a nation owe anything to another country?
• Utopia: ideal state basic principles.
• What are the limits of the legal obligations of a citizen?
• The destructive nature of capitalism.
• Civil liberties in the supreme court.
• Nationalism vs. Cosmopolitanism: A comparative study.
• Political justice: Muslims discrimination.
• The equality in opportunity for racial justice .
• Marxism and realism in international relationships.
• What are an individual’s rights against the state?
• Karl Marx’s ideas: society alienation and conflict theory.
• Alternative theories in international relations.
• Is democracy another unattainable ideal?
• International relations theories: realism & green politics.
• To which degree should the state force its people to do something for their own good?
• Democracy: pluralist theory and elite theory.
• Realist versus liberal international relations theory.
• Democracy vs. Epistocracy: which one do you support and why?
• Realism and idealism in modern international relations.
• Does the government have the moral right to ban unhealthy behavior?
• Liberal international relations theories and global security.
• Explain the importance of political philosophy in the education of future citizens.
• Italian fascism and German nazism contrast analysis.
• What could Aristotle tell us about the world of globalization : A critical study of ancient philosophy.
• Political realism is the theory of international relations.
• Why are there no permanent answers in political philosophy?
• The role of the state: ideologies and policies.
• What are the principal goals of a decent society?
• Marxism philosophy, a constitutional republic, and American criminal justice.
• Why should a person obey the law?
• The Idea of Republican Theory
• What is the basis of human dignity: freedom, virtue, friendship, and love?
• Neoliberalism: history and modern perception.
• What are the meeting points between the philosophy of religion and political philosophy?
• “The german ideology” by Karl Marx and materialism.
• Is there a single best political regime ?
• Karl Marx’s theory of exploitation: a critical analysis.
• Can humanity exist without wars?
• Tocqueville and the idea of America moving toward communism.
• The mechanism of redirecting conflict to the common good in politics.
• The essential concepts and principles of democracy.
• Is international politics a sum of the regimes of the member countries?
• Concept and the significance of soft power.
• What is the standard character type of a democratic society
• Democratic society and the capitalist system.
• What is the most praiseworthy thing for a community?
• “Civil disobedience” essay by Henry David Thoreau.
• Do you believe that humanity will find something better than democracy in the future?
• Bureaucracy and its role in society.
• Are people capable of establishing a government based on reflection and choice?
• Federalism: challenges and debates.
• What are the qualities of successful and wise statesmanship ?
• Neoliberalism and human suffering.

⚖️ Philosophy of Law Topics

• Should we obey the law because of fear of punishment or because it is good?
• Capital Punishment: The Philosophical Perspective .
• Why cannot humanity adopt single legislation for all countries?
• Individual and Social Theories in Explaining a Crime .
• The difference between consequential and categorical moral reasoning of crimes.
• The theory of rational choice in criminology.
• Are the institutions of punishment morally justifiable?
• Stanford Prison Experiment and Its Consequences .
• Wrongful conviction in the criminal court system.
• A Utilitarian Approach to Capital Punishment .
• What distinguishes law from ethical norms?
• Crime theories and countermeasures.
• How did the principal legal issues transform through the ages?
• Assisted suicide: euthanasia and self-determination.
• Do the changes in morality entail changes in the legal systems?
• The common law background of the Fourth Amendment.
• Is morality objective or subjective?
• Is healthcare a civil or human right?
• Can the empowerment of a certain population group limit the opportunities for another?
• Rights protected by the Second Amendment.
• Where is the line between the right to free speech and discrimination?
• Poverty or low income as a cause of crime.
• Can we say that law has conventional nature?
• Constitution and system of separation of powers.
• A legal system requires a sanction for non-compliance.
• Rights and freedoms in the US.
• Legal realism: the law is the product of court decisions.
• The financial cost of crime to society.
• The law of human interpretation in law.
• Is the Bill of Rights necessary or not ?
• Deontology : preserving the autonomy of other people.
• Importance of drug legalization in the USA.
• The abortion debate – understanding the issues.
• Life in prison and death penalty comparison.
• Capital punishment and the concept of redemption.
• Death penalty for and against.

👼 Philosophy & Ethics Topics

• Moral right and wrong vs. moral good and evil: A personal experience.
• Capital Punishment and Its Ethics .
• Any society has its specific moral outlook.
• Positive Psychology and Philosophical Concepts .
• Ethics and morality: Interchangeable terms?
• Ethical Decision-Making & Counseling on Abortion .
• Will humanity ever find a correct way to live?
• Philosophical Ethical Theories: Kantianism and Utilitarianism .
• Should secondary education comprise ethics?
• What is the current theory of ethics prevailing in philosophy?
• Death Penalty: Crime and Morality .
• Ethics in Descartes and Nietzsche .
• Does the level of schooling define a person’s morality?
• “The Allegory of the Cave” – The philosophy of Plato and Socrates.
• Is there a moral justification for the class system?
• Is there anything morally wrong with abortions ?
• Moral Philosophy and Peter Singer .
• Lawyers and ethics: the attorney-client privilege .
• Mass surveillance as an anti-crime measure: An ethical perspective.
• Equal consideration of interests to non-human animals.
• Is honesty a must for a moral person?
• Police ethics and misconduct.
• Wealth: A prerequisite for charitable actions?
• Do we have a moral responsibility over developing countries ?
• The ethics of cloning: morality and issues.
• The ethical side of human cloning.
• Should governments consider the ethical aspects of new laws?
• Morality, ethics, and ethical integrity.
• The ethics of discrimination : is there any?
• Censorship: should we ban morally harmful content?
• Lifestyles in Don Giovanni and Dangerous Liaisons.
• Are criminals evil by nature?
• Animal experiments: benefits, ethics, and defenders.
• Do you support or discard utilitarianism ?
• Do you think there is such a thing as a moral fact?
• Animal research, its ineffectiveness, and amorality.
• Can ethical rules limit free will?
• Ethical life issues in works by Cicero and C.S. Lewis.
• Write a dissertation on the drivers of human behavior.
• The problem of moral superiority.
• Socrates and Thrasymachus’ views on justice in Plato’s Republic.
• Do we have the right to restrict the immigrant inflow?
• Does every action presuppose an intent?
• Plato and Kant’s understanding of justice.
• Does the current state of morality make us civilized?
• Case study on models of making ethical decisions.
• Is a good death possible?
• Al-Ghazali philosophy.
• Deontological ethics vs. value ethics: Research project.
• Does there exist a bad motivation for procreation?
• Euthyphro’s definition of “Holiness” or “Piety.”
• Ethics in the institutions of global governance.
• Nihilism in Nietzsche’s, Kierkegaard’s, and Heidegger’s views.

🔬 Philosophy of Science Essay Topics

• The future of technology : The responsibility of philosophers?
• Human Being in the Modern Science .
• Time travel: Should we learn to do that?
• Thinking and Intelligence in Psychological Science .
• Is artificial intelligence our only hope for unparalleled technological development?
• Explain the distinction between science and non-science.
• Einstein and his Contribution to Science .
• What are the ultimate aims of science?
• Is there a universal way to interpret scientific findings ?
• St. Thomas Aquinas’ cosmological argument analysis.
• A scientific theory and antirealism: Useful but not trustworthy.
• Is the philosophy of science useful for scientists?
• Debates of Using Animals in Scientific Analysis .
• Theory vs. empirical data: What comes first?
• Hobbes and Locke in the state of nature.
• What is a measurement in science?
• The Vienna Circle of Positivism: A historical outlook.
• Legal Positivism and Natural Theory .
• How and why did the science of ecology emerge?
• Popper’s philosophy of science and falsification.
• Describe the difference between a semantic view and a model-based approach.
• Which research problems compose the evolutionary theory ?
• Philosophical views and cultural influences.
• What does it take to obtain authoritative knowledge ?
• Analyze the social nature of any scientific knowledge.
• Clifford’s and James’ knowledge theories.
• Does gender define trust in science?
• What does it mean to be an objective scientist?
• Feminist Approaches to Gender and Science Issues .
• Mind plus computer: Homunculus theory.
• Compare Aristotle’s and Plato’s approaches to knowledge.

😊 Easy Philosophy Paper Topics

• Do you believe in the extra-sensory powers of some people?
• In which ways does God speak to people?
• Death as the Final Destination .
• Describe the future of humanity in 200 years.
• Aristotle and relationships at work.
• The way we treat nature is worse than ever before.
• Describe the ideal society.
• The Role of the Belief System in Projecting the Future .
• Analyze the most famous words of your favorite philosopher.
• Dreams : A parallel world or our fears and wishes?
• A fallacy: term definition and examples.
• Heaven and hell are our visions of good and evil.
• What is the nature of intuition?
• Immanuel Kant and John Stuart Mill’s Moral Theories .
• Why do people lie?
• Mind-body relationship.
• Onlooker’s responsibility: When should you not interfere?
• When do children become adults?
• Skepticism Theory of Knowledge .
• Each death is a tiny end of the world.
• People and the meaning of life.
• Can international relations be moral?
• Happiness or success: What is our purpose?
• The Concept of Justice According to Socrates and Augustine .
• Are human virtues so good for everyone?
• Plato’s allegory of the cave.
• What would happen if animals spoke?
• Luck is a form of optimism.
• The relationship between money and happiness.
• Where does responsibility come from?
• Virtue and Human Good by Aristotle and Socrates .
• Tolerance : A gateway to discrimination?

😀 Fun Philosophy Paper Topics

• Why are clowns scary and fun at the same time?
• How do our names define our personalities?
• Why Do We Make Bad Decisions ?
• Light meal vs. large snack: How do we form our eating habits?
• How do you know you are not sleeping now?
• Why Do People Behave the Way They Do?
• Why don’t passengers get a parachute on a plane?
• How do you think your pet calls you?
• What Justifies My Existence?
• What makes you “elderly?”
• Why Do Adolescents Engage in Risk-Taking Behaviors ?
• Embalming the dead: The pointless attempt to stop decomposition.
• What is the gap between living and existing?
• Why Marijuana Should Be Legalized?
• Is it moral for a vegetarian to eat animal-shaped cookies?
• Most time-saving devices are a total waste of time.
• Why Does Crime Require Punishment?
• Does a white painting on white paper exist?
• If you plan to fail, do you succeed when it happens?
• Why Should We Pay for Music?
• Everyone can be replaced.
• What would happen if you told only the truth?
• Why Are Reality Shows So Popular ?
• Knowing the date of your death: The best motivator?
• Who do we owe for our success?
• Courage and Fear: What Do You Know About Them?
• How do you know that something has a meaning?
• What does it mean to control your life?
• What Is Consciousness and How Does It Work ?
• What comes first: the ends or the means?
• Is utilitarianism morally correct?
• Should abortion be legal around the world?
• Are current policies properly protecting individuals from discrimination?
• Does Plato provide a compelling argument for the immortality of the soul?
• Al Gore and Steven Koonin have competing views on climate change awareness. Which one is better?
• Should hate speech on the Internet and social media be prohibited?
• Has feminism as a movement accomplished all of its goals?
• Is presentness a real property of events?
• Is it acceptable to have zoos and circuses?
• Do wealthy countries have a moral obligation to help reduce global hunger?
• Does faith in God transform a person?
• Michael Bloomberg and Wayne LaPierre have opposite views on gun control. Which one is better?
• The development of the notion of government by social contract.
• The issues of democracy and possible solutions.
• Civil disobedience and its efficiency in advancing social change today.
• The role of government in the distribution of economic justice.
• The textual genesis of Wittgenstein’s philosophical investigations.
• The defense of Julian Simon’s views of the environmental crisis.
• The essence of time: how do we perceive the past, present, and future?
• The current status of measures of spirituality.
• The problem of free will in the context of metaphysics.
• Analysis of Isaiah Berlin’s understanding of “positive” and “negative” liberty.
• The key principles of just and unjust wars.
• The morality of field research on animals.
• The absolute way to achieve a happy state of mind.
• What is the problem with synthetic a priori knowledge?
• The role of AI technologies in wiping humanity.
• True beauty: subjective or objective?
• The meaning of rich and poor in the modern world.
• The importance of having a perfect life.
• Does religion have an impact on scientific thinking?
• The role of spirituality in a world of material prosperity.
• Life purpose and methods to find it.
• The possibility of time travel in the modern world.
• The methods to control human thoughts.
• Is it beneficial to be aware of your consciousness?
• How can we know for certain that there is an afterlife?
• Why are people the biggest threat to humanity?
• Does religion provoke more conflict than it solves?
• Does effective time management make our lives more meaningful and happier?
• Can money buy happiness?
• Why do we respect dead people more than the living?
• Is peace the only way to stop war?
• What is the primary goal of humanity?
• How does consciousness fit into the physical world?
• Will stronger regulations create a better world?
• How do we know about what there is outside of ourselves?
• Do guns protect people or kill people?

✍️ Bonus: 17 Tips on Writing a Philosophy Paper

When you’re assigned a philosophy paper, it can be a perfect moment to obtain a philosophical attitude: “This too shall pass.” However, while working on it, it’s better to concentrate and make maximum effort to do it right. Here are 17 quick tips that can help you a lot.

• Scholar.google.com
• The OALster database
• Internet Public Library
• Biblioscape
• Brainstorm your topic. This simple method can save you plenty of time and bring surprising results. Set a timer and try to generate as many ideas as possible within a chosen time period. Make it a rule to write down every idea crossing your mind (even if it seems crazy). You’ll have time to sort out your ideas later.
• Create an outline. After you choose all major arguments, work on the logical structure of your paper. As an option, draw a mind map for your would-be paper.
• Create a thesis statement. Just like any other academic paper, your Philosophy term paper will require a strong thesis statement, the last sentence in the introduction part, and briefly summarizing the main idea of your paper.
• Write a stunning introduction. Start with an attention hook – a quote, a rhetorical question, striking stats, or an interesting fact.
• Explain why you chose this topic.
• Write an effective literature review. Divide your sources into groups according to the authors’ conclusions. Point out the gap in the literature.
• Make transitions between sections. Make your Philosophy term papers flow. Just a couple of words connecting sections can improve the logical structure of your paper.
• Use hamburger paragraph structure. Start every paragraph with a topic sentence – a brief summary of what you’re going to discuss in the paragraph. Complete every paragraph with a concluding sentence – a brief repetition of what you’ve just said. It’s a great way to make your writing more logical and convincing.
• Spend 70% of word count on your own ideas. One of the best things about Philosophy writing is that you should include your own vision of the problem. Instead of jumping from one quote to another one, balance the quotes you use by adding your own ideas.
• Align your ideas with your course readings. Include a couple of terms you discussed in class or heard in lectures in your Philosophy term papers to impress your teachers.
• Discuss counterarguments. Show your deep understanding of the topic, shedding light on the conflicting points of view.
• Point out the limitations. Show your analytical thinking. Make it obvious that you understand that any research can have certain flaws, such as sampling or research method.
• Use spell, grammar, style, and plagiarism checkers. The software can help you improve the quality of your writing and help you avoid trouble.
• Cite all sources. Make sure that you give credit to the authors whose writing you used.
• Write a logical conclusion. Briefly repeat what you have said in your paper and add a new perspective – ideas for further research. Avoid including any new information in the conclusion of your Philosophy term paper.

We hope that our examples of philosophy topics for essays have inspired your philosophical thinking. Still, if you haven’t found what you are looking for, try out the topic generator . Enter the related keyword and check dozens of philosophy of science essay topics, philosophy of law topics, and many more.

❓ Philosophy Essay FAQ

What topics are in philosophy.

Philosophy topics for essays are subdivided into topics on law, politics, science, ethics, existential issues, and philosophy of religion topics. You can also research feminism, logical argumentation, human rationality, empiricism, stoicism, metaphysics, and epistemology. The broadest and the most exciting title could be: What is the world we live in really like?

How to Come up With a Topic in Philosophy?

• Select the domain. Would you like to discuss ethics, metaphysics, or epistemology? These are the three pillars of philosophy.
• If you prefer something more practical, choose topics on political philosophy.
• Read through your notes over the last semester. You will find an interesting research question.

What Is a Good Philosophy Essay Topic?

A good philosophy topic for an essay does not reveal your position but instead suggests an argumentative question. Does life have a superior meaning? Does an individual have the right to suicide? Can we build a happy society without international conflicts? Such questions allow you to develop arguments and explain your opinion.

What Are Easy Topics to Write About on Philosophy?

Philosophy ethics topics are probably the easiest papers to write because each person has their moral code, which could serve as a reference point. Consider the following:

• Why do all societies have different moral standards?
• Is there a universal paradigm of ethics?
• Is it ethical to apply euthanasia?

🔗 References

• Why Study Philosophy? | University of Washington
• Research Areas | Department of Philosophy
• How death shapes life | The Harvard Gazette
• Reflections on Death in Philosophical/Existential Context
• Research Overview | Department of Philosophy
• Philosophy of art | Britannica
• Research Clusters – Philosophy – Columbia University
• Political philosophy | Britannica

IELTS Preparation Tips & Resources [How to Study IELTS by Myself?]

How to prepare for pte academic test: study guide & tips.

243 Plato Essay Topics & Examples

If you’re writing a Plato essay, look through the topics collected by our team . Explore the philosopher’s relationships with Socrates, the concepts of cave and utopia, and more.

🏆 Best Plato Essay Examples & Topics

👍 good plato’s republic essay topics, 🔍 great topics for plato essays, 🎓 simple & easy plato essay titles, 💡 most interesting plato topics to write about, ❓ essay questions about plato.

• The Concept of Plato’s Ideal State Essay Being a part of a group that had access to knowledge and power, he believed that the state needed to have some people who were cleverer than the others as it was one of the […]
• Plato and Aristotle on Literature Compare & Contrast Essay The controversy over the effects of literature has made the great philosophers, Plato and Aristotle, to differ in their perceptions of the literature impacts on the society.
• Compare and Contrast: Plato and Aristotle Essay Aristotle was a “the son of a renowned physician from Thrace” and he began his philosophy studies at the Plato’s academy.
• Plato vs. Aristotle: Political Philosophy Compare and Contrast Essay Plato went further to associate all the parts of the soul to parts of the body with reason connected to the head, will connected to the heart and appetite connected to the abdomen and sensory […]
• Plato’s Theory of Forms: Summary Essay Therefore, the main purpose of this paper is to discuss theory of Forms as one of the main contributions of Plato.
• Philosophy: Plato’s Republic Versus Aristotle’s Politics Plato as well turns off the partition amid the private and the public and he contends for common kids and wives for the guardians in a bid to create a society amongst the rulers of […]
• Plato and Aristotle’s Views of Virtue in Respect to Education Arguably, Plato and Aristotle’s views of education differ in that Aristotle considers education as a ‘virtue by itself’ that every person must obtain in order to have ‘happiness and goodness in life’, while Plato advocates […]
• Socrates Influence on Plato’s Philosophy He was accused of corrupting the morals of the youth and misleading the citizens with his unorthodox political and religious views. Plato was so attracted to Socrates philosophy that he made him the principal character […]
• Guardians and Justice in Plato’s “The Republic” The books begin with the discussion of the ideal city and more importantly, the concept of justice. As a result, justice of the soul and the individual is achieved.
• Plato on Knowledge and Opinion The primary division of Plato’s classification is the division of knowledge into sensory and intellectual knowledge. The first category of knowledge, namely sensory knowledge, is perceived as a lower type, and intellectual knowledge is the […]
• Plato on Death: Comparison With Aristotle Afterlife – Essay on Life After Death Philosophy On the other hand, religion has maintained that the soul is immortal and survives the death of the body. Plato argued that the soul is immortal and therefore survives the death of the body.
• Lessons From Plato’s Book ‘the Apology’ Though called ‘apology’ by Plato, the speech is not actually an apology- Socrates was attempting use his wisdom to justify his teachings and beliefs, and not to apologize for his actions.[2] First, his concise and […]
• The Role of Gods in Plato’s Philosophy As Plato recounts the episode “Myth of Er” found in the republic dialogue phaedo and the story of time reversal in the statesman, a clear view of the hierarchical arrangement of the cosmos is illuminated.
• Plato’s Philosophy The allegory of the cave can serve in revealing some of the key reasons to mistrust the views of the majority.
• Why Did Plato Hate the Sophists? – Philosophy He claimed that the sophists were selling the wrong education to the rich people. The methods of teaching that the sophists portrayed in Athens were in conflict with Plato’s school of thought.
• Epistemologies of Plato and Aristotle It is also worth mentioning the Allegory of the Cave, in which Plato explains the relationship between people and the world of the Forms.
• Ideal Society by Plato The task of the social leaders is to orient to interests of the majority in order to avoid the opposition of the public which can lead to revealing the negative qualities of people living in […]
• Aristotle’s and Plato’s Views on Rhetoric One of the points that Plato expresses in this philosophical work is that rhetoric should be viewed primarily as the “artificer of persuasion”. This is one of the similarities that can be distinguished.
• Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave” and Aristotle’s “High-Minded Man” The concept of a High-Minded man is close to Aristotle’s understanding of success and the contribution of different virtues to an individual’s happiness.
• Social Contract in Plato’s, Hobbes’, Locke’s Works In Plato’s opinion, because the guardian class would be the judge of the people, there would be no need for laws, and this would make it easier to run the city.
• Plato’s Republic and Hobbes’s Leviathan Philosophical Comparison In order to form a solid basis on how the two theories visualize the ability of man to reason, it is important to have a valid understanding of the theories themselves.
• The Affinity Argument in Plato’s Phaedo Religious leaders also pray for the body and the soul of the dead but lay a lot of emphasis on the soul.
• The Perspectives of Plato and Augustine on Metaphysics For Augustine, God was the source of all forms, and subsequently, all of the objects and phenomena existing in the physical world were manifestations of the ideals kept in the mind of God.
• The Film “Soul” by Pixar: Understanding Plato’s Rhetoric Plato believes that the function of the soul in the conception of noble rhetoric is the ability of the orator to understand other people and execute the art of rhetoric.
• “The Apology” by Plato: Socrates Accusations The main accusations that played a significant role in Socrates’ death sentence were the accusations of impiety and corrupting the young people of Athens.
• Plato’s Allegory of the Cave In Plato’s Allegory of the Cave, there is much darkness in the cave and only very little light can be found in this place and it is so hard for a person who is in […]
• Philosophical Issues on Plato’s Phaedo Weiss argues that Plato used the argument by Socrates that true philosophers hate the pleasures of the body, for example, drinks, sex, and food.
• Plato’s Dialogue Crito Crito insists that a person must listen to the opinion of the majority, and Socrates argues that it is impossible to pay attention to the opinions of all the people because it is important to […]
• Plato’s “The Allegory of the Cave” and Le Guin’s “The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas” In general, Plato’s “The Allegory of the Cave” and LeGuin’s “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas” address the same theme the truth and how it may affect people’s reality.
• Plato’s Ideal State: Self-Enclosed and Unstable Plato’s proposed alternative is the rule of a philosopher-king a wise person able to see the essence of justice and, consequently, have the precise knowledge rather than a mere opinion of what is right.
• Confucius, Plato, and Aristotle: Views on Society In the video, it is highlighted that both Plato and Confucius shared a commitment to reason and the value of the state.
• The Allegory of the Cave by Plato Review First of all, Plato created the people in the cave captives in order to rhetorically appeal to the audience’s emotions and arouse the sensations that already exist in them, which, of course, already produces an […]
• “The Apology” a Work by Plato I will also aim to explore the validity of a suggestion that, while pointing out that no one is wiser than Socrates, the Oracle of Delphi meant to say that people are being just as […]
• Plato, the Philosopher: His Life and Times He could have attained the name because of the nature of his forehead or because of his extensive knowledge. Due to the wealth and political influence of his family, his father gave him the best […]
• “Statesman” by Plato: A Critique Plato extols the virtues of a statesman stating that it is not the power of the statesman that is important but his knowledge.
• Plato’s Philosophy in “The Republic” In his description of the ideal society, Plato explains that people in the society are not advised to act without knowledge such that before a city is erected, full understanding of justice should be known.
• Plato’s Theory of Natural Depravity Even in times of ancient Jews and peoples which surrounded them the core accent consisted in the purity of spirit, soul and body, but most of all they emphasized the concept of spiritual life minding […]
• Plato and Aristotle: Criticisms of Democracy To speak of it in our present time, there are only a few people who are given the power of ‘sound judgement about what is right and what is wrong’ and should have the power […]
• Important Virtues in Human Life: Plato’s Protagoras and Hesiod’s Works and Days Plato and Hesiod tried to evaluate the ideas of justice in their worlds and the ways of how people prefer to use their possibilities and knowledge using the story of Prometheus; Plato focused on the […]
• “The Republic” by Plato: Book X It is a fundamental theory defining society, and with the theme continuing throughout the book, the reader reconceptualizes their place and purpose in the community.
• Plato’s Allegory of the Cave and Descartes’ Meditations on First Philosophy Allegory by the Cave is one of the widely read and used books of Plato. Plato’s view on a Utopian society is slightly different in the sense that it is aligned more towards religion compared […]
• Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave”: Nature of Reality His exceptional and genius ideas included the theory of forms, platonic realism, and platonic idealism.”The Allegory of the Cave” is written in the form of a dialogue between Socrates and Plato’s brother Glaucon.
• Plato’s Imitative View of Art. An understanding of the essence of art is inseparable from the understanding the world of human nature and views on society.
• Communication in Plato’s “The Phaedrus” The Phaedrus compares oral and written communication and outlines the advantages of the two forms. At the beginning of the 21st century, the Internet becomes the main and the most popular form of communication.
• Plato’s and Aristotle’s Theories of Human Nature Chapter five of Kupperman’s book “Theories of human nature” looks at great philosophers, namely Plato’s and Aristotle’s points of view in trying to define humanity. The writer tries to illustrate the complexity of defining a […]
• Comparison of Descartes’ “Meditation” and Plato’s “Phaedo” In general, the Descartes’ philosophy is linked to the church’s connotation of the most significant part of an individual’s body, which is acknowledged as existent, even after the end of physical life.
• Plato and Socrates on the Ideal Leader’s Virtues In the context of a community, different factors contribute to the definition of this ultimate success. This is important, as people in the community will stand a chance to achieve the higher statuses that they […]
• Comparison of Plato’s and Aristotle’s Approaches to the Nature of Reality In contrast to Plato, Aristotle asserted that the senses were necessary for accurately determining reality and that they could not be used to deceive a person. Aristotle and Plato both considered that thoughts were superior […]
• Machiavelli’s vs. Plato’s Justification of Political Lies As we will see, claims of lying and deception and the desire to deceive and mislead seem to be linked to incorrect expectations, false beliefs, and self-delusion on both sides of the political and public […]
• Plato, Augustine and Descartes Views on Religion The decision to return to the cave to enlighten the rest of the prisoners is viewed by Plato as the work of philosophers in enlightening the rest of the population to know the truth.
• Aspects of Justice in Plato’s Republic Or to put it the other way around: For the moneymaking, auxiliary, and guardian classes each to do its own work in the city is the opposite.
• Philosophers: Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, Marx The philosophical dilemma is how to do it, because in the overwhelming majority of cases, a human being is driven by the desire.
• “The Republic” by Plato Review The allegory of the cave illustrates the place of the form of the good at the top of Plato’s hierarchy. It addresses the images of education and governance.
• Plato’s “The Apology of Socrates” Speech Analysis He also suggests that the speech could be the real account of the apology of Socrates based on the premise that the people in Athens at the time Plato had written the speech could have […]
• Plato and the Allegory of the Caves Occasionally, the carriers of the objects speak to one another, but their voices reach the prisoners in form of echoes from the wall ahead of them.
• Plato’s Apology: Is Socrates Guilty? The accusations placed against Socrates include: Studying the activities in the heavens and below the earth. Predicting the things in the heavens and below the earth associates him with the physicists such as Thales and […]
• Cameron’s “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” and Plato’s “Symposium”: Comparison The plot of the story is unique, while the character of Hedwig and her life story emphasize the difficulties that people can go through.
• How Plato and Epicurus Viewed Help for People In the Republic, Plato gives a detailed analysis of the “good” while Epicurus describes the notion of “good life” in his Letter to Monoeceus. The conversations between Glaucon and Socrates help the reader equate and […]
• The Theme of Vocation in “Apology” by Plato Then if I do not think he is, I come to the assistance of the god and show him that he is not wise.
• Plato’s Concept of the State: The Philosophy of Justice Taking into consideration the fact that Plato was actually trying to create the image of the ideal state and show the means which in his understanding are the key issues to building up the society […]
• Plato’s Five Dialogues Importance for the Art of Philosophy Given that Socrates knows that Euthyphro is a good lawyer, he asks him to explain to him so that he can know the whole truth about what is pious.
• Greek Philosophies of Socrates, Plato and Aristotle It is argued that the origin of philosophy as a discipline owes its origin to the contribution of Socrates, Plato and Aristotle.”Socrates’ contribution to the love of wisdom was manifested by the belief that philosophy […]
• “Allegory of the Cave” by Plato As Plato was a disciple of Socrates and the source of much of the information we have regarding much of what this man had to say, Socrates’ concept of ethics is relevant to an understanding […]
• Plato’s Theory of Eros in Nussbaum’s Interpretation This is done so that in the end there is a way that the individual can be able to conquer or attain the trust of the other party.
• Explaining “The Apology of Socrates“ by Plato He claimed that his wisdom was greater than that of other humans which means that the judges and the accusers did not possess any of it for he believed that they were invented people who […]
• Socrates by Aristophanes and Plato In “The Apology” by Plato, the characterization of Socrates is tied to the fact that the setting of the book was Socrates’ execution.
• Human Excellence From Nietzsche’s and Plato’s Perspectives According to Nietzsche, the highest kind of human excellence is the ability to be oneself and to make one’s own choices, as well as being self-content.
• Plato’s “Republic”: Moderation and Justice In order to understand the relationship of justice and moderation both in a person and a polis, it is vital to assess Plato’s understanding of the soul.
• Aristophanes in Plato’s Symposium His speech has a somber tone and tells the fabled story of the beginning of love. Aristophanes creates the notion that the earliest humans were androgynous a combination of both male and female using his […]
• The Work “Republic” by Plato: Arguments for Democracy The primary argument that democracy is worse than timarchy and oligarchy derives directly from the text of Republic, where Socrates agrees that only tyranny is worse than democracy.
• Allegory of the Cave by Plato Among them is the existence of objective truth, which is independent of people’s opinions; the presence of constant deceptions that make a person stay away from this truth; and the need for qualitative changes to […]
• The Article “Plato on Democracy and Expertise” by R. W. Sharples The central message permeating the writing is that the rigidity of truth on which the conceptual model of democracy is built is a problem since any system needs to acknowledge the malleability of the underlying […]
• The Importance of Education in Plato’s Kallipolis This paper evaluates Plato’s Republic to show how the differentiation between justice and injustice, the worth of a successful beginning, and the exchange of knowledge through education contribute to creating the perfect Kallipolis.
• Machiavelli’s vs. Plato’s Ideas of Political Morality According to him, reconciling the gap between ideal and reality is necessary for the development of a political philosophy capable of guiding the Greeks in their quest for liberty.
• Plato’s Theory of Musical Education Hertzler bestows perfection on utopia, arguing that it is “purged of the shortcomings, the wastes, and the confusion”. It is noteworthy that Sargent shares the opinion of Patrick and considers Hertzler not proper.
• Plato’s, Aristotle’s, and Augustine’s Ideas Although the basis of the ideas of the four philosophers may be different regarding God, it is similar in terms of the creation of the world and, in my opinion, differs only in terminology and […]
• Plato’s “Parable of the Cave”: The Socratic Method In conclusion, the allegory of the cave by Plato is a parable about knowledge, wisdom, and ignorance. The cave represents a world in which a person is placed initially, but by examining one’s life and […]
• Plato’s Philosophy on Exposure to Education Plato establishes what education is worth for both the individual and the state in The Republic, emphasizing the crucial function of those who select the materials to educate the state’s future guardians.
• Plato’s Account of Socrates’ Trial Though the described behavior might seem as unexpected and uncalled for, Socrates’s actions are justified by his decision to explore the nature of social justice and understand the citizens’ stance on their status and the […]
• Concept of Piety in Plato’s “Euthyphro” Thus, the first answer to the question of piety shows that Euthyphro’s piety is what he is doing at the moment, that is, accusing his father of murder.
• Plato’s and Aristotle’s Works and Their Effects The first insight from these philosophical writings that shifted my viewpoint about this field was the distinctive role of the end goal and action in Plato’s and Aristotle’s works.
• Eros in Plato’s Symposium Speeches Therefore, in most cases, the product of love, or Eros, is the fulfillment of the need for admiration. The role of self-love in Aristophanes’ speech is to inspire people to find lovers that connect to […]
• Plato’s Theory of Forms and Personal Perception In his philosophical dialogues, the thinker divides the divine, unchangeable world of forms and the world of material, physical objects that was constantly changing and existed only as a shadow of the ideas.
• The Gyges Mythology by Plato: Personal Review Over the decades, the intensification in the flow of information and automation of the communication domains provides an opportunity for anonymity.
• Plato’s “Republic” and the Issues of Justice To oppose this, the philosopher offers a discussion to convince the opponents of the need for a passage for himself, receiving in response a symbolic phrase from the Polemarchus who says, “How can you convince […]
• Plato’s Allegory of the Cave and the Main Features of His Philosophy The sense of opposing the reality and the perceived in the Cave myth is epistemological and is tied to the replacement of reliance on sensory cognition with mental comprehension. The reality of the Cave is […]
• The Freedom Concept in Plato’s “Republic” This situation shows that the concept of democracy and the freedom that correlates with it refers to a flawed narrative that liberty is the same as equality.
• The State’s Role in “The Republic” by Plato Even being unaware of the three categories of people, the reader can learn that the state’s role is to function and create the conditions under which every person is able to exist. One of the […]
• “Euthyphro” Philosophical Book by Plato The setting of the dialogue is near the Athenian courthouse where the two meet to discuss of the notions of holiness and piety.
• Plato’s “Apology” Review In this quote, Socrates makes it clear to the audience that the accusation against him is based not on evidence but rather on the lack of understanding of philosophers by other people.
• Understanding the Concept of ”Beauty” by Plato In his view, beauty is connected to the idea of forms. Plato would consider all three pieces of artwork, including The Creation of Adam, The Persistence of Memory, and Fountain, as an imitation.
• Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave” Analysis It would not be an exaggeration to state that Plato’s allegory of the cave only makes perfect sense if one views it in the light of the theory of forms.
• Plato’s Concept of Education and Wisdom For the people in the cave, the only reality they are aware of is the shadows from the figures cast by the fire’s light.
• Discussion Questions for Plato – The Allegory of the Cave Therefore, the inability of individuals to discover the truth and leave the cave makes them unable to choose between actual reality and the world that they falsely believe to be true.
• Plato’s Views on Democracy Plato’s point of view appeared to me as a more appealing out of the two presented opinions on the best course for a political regime within a country.
• Plato’s Justice and Injustice Theory The reading focuses only on the subjective benefits of a particular action and, in most cases, unjust actions that are dishonest towards others, but at the same time, favorable to oneself are more likely to […]
• Euthyphro: Plato’s Notion of Justice in Stratified Societies As among humans, the disagreement between the gods is related to the line between the just and the unjust, the beautiful and the ugly, the good and the evil.
• Plato’s and Aristotle’s Concepts of Political Theory In The Republic by Plato and The Politics by Aristotle, two unique originations of the state, equity, and political investment introduce themselves.
• Philosophy of Socrates, Plato, Aristotle Logic as understood by Socrates was to some extent influenced by the Pythagoreans since he practiced the dialectic methods in investigating the objectivity and authority of the different propositions.
• Plato’s “The Allegory of the Cave”: Personal Review The sun represents the realm of knowledge illustrated by Plato’s Allegory of the Cave. I think that an individual has the power to shape their ideas and perspective of knowledge.
• Examining Plato’s Ideas About the Universe Along with Socrates and Aristotle, Plato is one of the members of the Big Three that made a significant impact on the emergence and development of philosophy.
• Plato’s “Euthyphro” The Euthyphro dilemma refers to the state Euthyphro found himself in after the conversation with Socrates, whereby it was difficult to decide whether God loves holiness because it is holy or whether holiness is holy […]
• Plato’s “Method of Division” According to Plato, rhetoric is an art of philosophy that helps in controlling the minds of the crowd or any kind of meeting such as congregation.
• Wisdom as Discussed in Plato’s Meno and Phaedo In addition, Socrates says that an action may be right and its quality determines whether it is an act of wisdom.
• “Not Knowing”: Plato’s Cave and Descartes’s Meditations And it is not the way of “the sceptics, who doubt only for the sake of doubting”. And a redundancy of information also is a huge power, which confuses people to get the pure Knowledge.
• Democracy Emergence in Ancient Greece and Why Plato Was Opposed to It The result of this war was the defeat of Athens by Sparta at the end of the fifth century which led to the overthrow of many democratic regimes.
• Analysis of Socrates and Plato Theories One element of the Soul, the Nous, or reason, he maintained that has to try to order the irrational part of it by getting it to contribute in the Good.
• Gaines’ “A Lesson Before Dying” and Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave” This situation resembles the one found in Plato’s Allegory of the Cave discourse whereby the prisoners fixedly stare at the wall.
• Plates Forms and Its Association to Plato’s Cave The theory of forms of Plato portrays to us that abstract non-material forms have the highest kind of fundamental reality as compared to this material world that is known well to us by sensation.
• Art Theory and Beauty in Plato’s The Symposium The Platonic dialogue in The Symposium epitomizes the progression that Diotima describes as pursuance of beauty in highly refined and generalized forms and each speech in the symposium takes the reader closer to the comprehension […]
• Plato: Redefining Objectiveness in Life According to Kreiss, through the Allergy of the cave, the allergy is presented as the sense in which we reveal our world, yet it is actually not exactly that, rather, an intellectual approach can comprehensively […]
• Twain’s “The Adventure of Huckleberry Finn” and Plato’s “The Allegory of the Cave” The judge goes to the extent of taking the boy’s father in his own home to help him reform his drinking problem. The father then decides to visit the house of the widow during which […]
• Plato’s Meno: Philosophical Dialogue The discussion begins by Meno asking Socrates whether there is a definition of the word ‘Arete’ because he thinks that it cannot be taught in class because there is apparently no definition of the word.
• Medieval Philosophy of Plato The description of the existence of universals in a domain that is devoid of time and space gives universals an extra-ordinary picture.
• Plato’s Principles in Murray’s Book Real Education Having based the main propositions of his work on the categories of inherent abilities and education of Plato’s Philosophy, the contemporary American scientist adapted them to the present-day realities and used Plato’s ideas as axioms […]
• Plato and Socrates: Differences in Personal Philosophy The question that enters my mind when I read the Republic is in regards to the fact that Plato considers education to be the defining act that separates those who do not know from those […]
• Politics and Ethics in Plato’s Republic After the Peloponnesian war, he was convinced by his uncle to join the oligarchical rules of Athens but as an alternative, he joined his two brothers in becoming a student of Socrates.
• Plato’s and Aristotle’s Views on Oedipus People in the Oedipus play lived in the dark of the unknown meaning of the riddle; until Oedipus answered the riddle.
• Plato, Aristotle and Socrates: Knowledge and Government It appears that Socrates believed in an intellectual aristocracy, where those who had more education and had proven themselves in sophistry the “Socratic method” of exchange and analysis of ideas as a path to all […]
• Plato’s Republic: An Introduction Plato’s dialogues bring out the nature of justice in the society. The issue of guardian of the society is a major issue in the society.
• Plato’s “Leaving the Cave” The author discusses positive and negative features of the individuals, describes the forms of government, and introduces the idea about the necessity of the education in order to create a perfect state with perfect people, […]
• “Republic” by Plato: Social and Political Philosophy As well, the ruler will do his job in the best way if one does not abstract from one’s responsibilities.”Therefore, I suggest that we first consider the nature of justice and injustice as they appear […]
• Eros in Plato’s Symposium and Sappho’s Poems The truth of love is to follow the way of love like philosophical way and see the soul behind the body, everlasting beauty of virtue, and idea behind the beauty of transient love.
• Plato’s Allegory of the Cave in “The Republic” They also are learning the things that I am learning and starting to see dimensions where before there were not any.
• Plato’s “Meno”: On the Nature of Virtue In 95c, the author assumes that Sophists are also not qualified to teach virtue, due to the fact that one of the respected philosophers is quite critical about those who make some promises and believes […]
• Answers to Questions From Plato’s Republic The framers had in mind the preservation of the public good, and not the promotion of private interest. The notation that the motivation to maintain a position of power can be destructive was addressed by […]
• Plato’s and Socrates’s Views on the Immortality of the Soul Such wisdom is useless to a common man who is limited to materialism and lacks the wisdom to see his inner self-understanding that constitutes and provides the ground of Socratic rationalism in the sense of […]
• Plato’s Descartes’ and Hume’s Philosophy Also, his philosophy conveys the importance and the beauty of the life of faith in the midst of a discouraging world.
• “Apology” by Plato and the “Plea for Captain John Brown” by Thoreau The Apology by Plato is the account of Socrates’ defense in the court of law, while the Plea for Captain John Brown by Henry David Thoreau is the essay defending the captain who rebelled against […]
• The Life of Plato and His Philosophy One of the founders of Greek ancient thought was Plato whose works became the handbooks of many modern philosophers and scientists.
• Plato’s “Myth of the Cave”: Identification and Assignment of Symbols Of these, he would be able to study the things in the sky and the sky itself more easily at night, looking at the light of the stars and the moon, than during the day, […]
• Philosophy Ideas Ascent: Plato’s and Socrates’s Ideas Their points of view help us to understand history better, the development of people’s thought and the changes which occur in people’s lives for passed times.”A Guided Tour of Five Works by Plato” by Christopher […]
• Plato’s Parable of the Cave and Dennis Carlson In today’s terms, one might say he linked the operations of the germ to the entire system of the disease or the understanding of the student to the entire organization of the literate world.
• Plato’s and Socrates’ Philosophical Views In the light of the current political or social system one can see that Plato’s comments about the involvement of the people in the public sector to destroy the republic is absolutely right.
• Psychological Relevance of Plato’s Parable of the Cave The parable of the cave, the metaphor of the cave, terms describing the same topic commonly known as the Allegory of the cave.
• Plato’s Metaphysical Ideas Validity By utilizing the Theory of Opposites, Socrates suggests that the existence of soul could not possibly end with the death of one’s body, because life and death actually derive out of each other: “Suppose we […]
• “Apology of Socrates” by Plato: Socrates’ Defense He was accused of corrupting the minds of the youths in Athens, creations of his deities, and not respecting the gods of the state.
• “Socrates’s Apology” by Plato The point about his defense is that he wanted to stick to the speech he had prepared and it was planned and was well prepared.
• Plato’s, Aristotle’s, Petrarch’s Views on Education To begin with, Plato believed that acquisition of knowledge was the way to being virtuous in life but he tended to differ with philosophers like Aristotle stating that education to be acquired from the natural […]
• Classical Political Thought. Democracy in Plato’s Republic During Plato’s life, the democratic constitution set the seal on the work of the tyranny, for it ensured the exclusion of the large landowner from a predominating influence on politics, and it put effective power […]
• The Teachings of Plato Socrates and Machiavelli In The Apology, Socrates stands before a jury of his peers accused of “committing an injustice, in that he inquires into things below the earth and in the sky, and makes the weaker argument the […]
• Socrates Figure: Based on “The Apology” by Plato This is evidenced within the text of the Apology as Socrates begins his defense of himself against the old enemies that have spoken falsely “telling of one Socrates, a wise man, who speculated about the […]
• Plato’s Forms and Its Association to Plato’s Cave It is important to note the importance of the term paradigm in analyzing a correlation or link between Plato’s Forms and the Allegory of the Cave.
• Plato and Aristotle Thoughts on Politics Aristotle emphasized that the lawgiver and the politician occupied the constitution and the state wholly and defined a citizen as one who had the right to deliberate or participate in the matters of the judicial […]
• Plato’s Republic: Perspectives on Politics No doubt to avoid engendering such reactions in their first experiences with Plato, Rice has sought to minimize the buzz of controversy virtually to the point of elimination from view and to focus instead on […]
• Logic and Insight in Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave” The world outside the cave is the logical place; which is reachable to logic but not to insight; the voyage outside of the cave into daylight of the world is the soul’s inclination to the […]
• Life Purpose and Substance in Plato’s Philosophy Maybe she was right, but life is not going the way we want it to; in contrary we are bound ourselves to the circle of life by the stress of existence.
• Theory of Justice According to Plato The next task is to find the existence and nature of justice in this state. Plato adds to this that justice is “the principle of doing one’s own business”.
• Aristotle’s “Knowing How” and Plato’s “Knowing That” The goal of Aristotle is knowledge in action and real knowing, which merge in the higher stratum of existence – the active mind.
• Reasoning in Plato’s “Phaedo” Dialogue The author of this paper will outline all four of the philosopher’s lines of reasoning that a person’s soul is immortal while promoting the idea that it specifically the second one, concerned with one’s possession […]
• Socrates’, Plato’s and Descartes’ Philosophical Ideas In my case, I have always had that striving to be right, get to the root of every problem, and understand the world’s phenomena.
• Plato’s Gorgias Applied to the Pursuit of Power In the pursuit of power, I hold the view that the aim is more valuable than the method or the approach employed.
• Justice and Ideal Society in Plato’s Republic Thrasymachus argues that the moral values in the society are a complete reflection of the interests of the ruling group and not the society as a whole.
• Plato’s and Aristotle’s Philosophical Differences According to Plato, the functioning of every human being is closely linked to the entire society. Therefore, the major difference here is that for Plato, the function of every individual is to improve the entire […]
• Plato’s Apology of Socrates He says that he is not a sophist or physicalist, he is not irreverent, and he does not corrupt the youth.
• Vocation in Plato’s “Apology” and Dostoyevsky’s “The Grand Inquisitor” I will use the texts of Plato’s “Apology, the Trial and Death of Socrates” and Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s “The Grand Inquisitor” in order to comprehensively analyze the theme and consider the questions of who I am, […]
• Conflict in Hobbes’, Marx’s, Rousseau’s, Plato’s Works Therefore, conflict can be defined in terms of the struggle to get wealth and power that are usually the main issues that propel people to fight.
• Puzzles in Plato’s Philosophical Work Therefore, to conclusively draw his philosophical views, it is paramount that we take what the characters say to represent Plato’s stance and view of the world.
• Examined Life in Plato’s and Conners’ Works We should say that Platos Allegory of the Cave could be used to prove the importance of an examined life and the role a person living according to this principle might play in the community.
• Plato’s Cave Analogy in “The Republic” The prisoners in the cave for example, refused to hear anything about the reality outside the cave, and got angry with the prisoner that had seen the reality.
• Art and Media Censorship: Plato, Aristotle, and David Hume
• Knowledge in Plato’s Dialogue and Pritchard’s View
• Plato’s Eros in Boethius’s The Consolation of Philosophy
• Plato Diner Restaurant’s Poor Management
• The Cave Analogy in “The Republics” by Plato
• Philosophical Exploration in Plato’s Book ‘The Republic’
• Art Effects on Society: Plato and Nochlin Views
• Political Philosophies: Plato and Hegel Conceptual Differences
• Justice in Human Gene Transfer Therapy: Plato Views
• Socrates in “Phaedrus” by Plato
• Ancient Greek Philosophy: Socrates and Plato Comparison
• “Meno” a Socratic Dialogue by Plato – Philosophy
• Plato’s Allegory of the Cave – Philosophy
• Plato Statements on the Best Moves in Life – Philosophy
• Philosopher Plato and His ‘The Republic’
• Aristotle and Plato: How Do They Differ?
• Addressing Love in Plato’s “Symposium”
• Philosophy Issues in “Euthyphro” by Plato
• Thrasymachus Ideas in The Republic by Plato
• “Crito” by Plato – Politics and Philosophy
• Literature Studies: “Phaedo” by Plato
• Musical Education and The Laws by Plato
• Plato’s Thoughts About Education
• “The Laws” by Plato
• Views on Writing Style by Plato, Aristotle and Dante
• Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave” and “You, Screws”
• Plato and Nietzsche’s Approaches
• Connections Between Plato’s Allegory of the Cave & Galileo Galilei’s Dialogue of Two Chief World System
• Taxes, Capitalism, and Democracy: Karl Marx vs. Plato
• “The last Days of Socrates” by Plato
• Plato on Who Should Rule
• “The Allegory of the Cave” by Plato
• Parable of the Cave by Plato: The Way Towards Enlightenment
• “Parable of the Cave” by Plato
• Five Worlds of Plato’s Cave
• Plato on Power and Republic
• Essence of Happiness of Indira’s Life According to Plato’s and Aristotle’s Views on Education
• Ancient Political Theory: Plato and Aristotle
• Plato’s and Socrates’s Philosophy
• Meno by Plato: Philosophical Ideas
• Allegory of the Cave: Conception of Education in Plato’s The Republic
• Justice and Leadership as Expressed by Plato and Ibn Khaldum
• Plato’s Story of the Cave
• Comparison Between Descartes’ and Plato’s Notion of “Not Knowing Is at Times Fruitful”.
• Philosophy of Plato’s Ideal City
• Justice as the Advantage of the Stronger: Thrasymachus’s Ideas (plato’s the republic) vs. Charles Darwin’s Principle of Natural Selection: a Comparison
• Plato’s Visions of Beauty and Déjà Vu
• The Republic by Plato
• Education Concept in “Parable of the Cave” by Plato
• The Truth and Reality in the “Parable of the Cave” by Plato
• Plato and Descartes on Confusion or the Sense of Not Knowing
• Plato’s Parable of the Cave
• The Dangers of Dogmatism With Approaches Adopted by Martin Luther King Jr and Plato
• Plato: Piety and Holiness in “Euthyphro”
• Philosophical Concept of the Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave”
• What Is Your Evaluation of Plato’s Accounts on Human Nature?
• Why Plato Thinks Philosophers Should Be Kings?
• What Are the Four Arguments for the Immortality of the Human Soul by Plato?
• What Are the Emotional and Intellectual Revelations in Plato’s Works?
• How Humans Are Afraid of Change in Plato’s “The Allegory of the Cave”?
• What Machiavelli Praised about Plato’s Republic?
• How Can Plato’s Allegory of the Cave Be Read in Contemporary Social Environment?
• What Are the Insights Into the World of Ignorance in Plato’s “Myth of the Cave”?
• What Way Did Philosophy of Plato Influence Psychology?
• What Is Plato’s Theory of Reality?
• How Plato and Sophists Would View the World of “Brave New World” by Huxley?
• Why Does Plato Considers Ordinary Human Existence to Thatos Chained Prisoners?
• What Famous School Did Plato Found?
• How Does Aristotle’s View of Politics Differ From That of Plato’s?
• Which Definition of History Was Made by Plato?
• How Does Plato Relate the Soul of Virtuous Individual to Ideal Republic in “Republic”?
• How Does Plato’s Theory of the Psyche Relate to Modern Management Practice?
• Why Thucydides and Plato View Democracy as the Worst Form of Government?
• What Is the Explanation of the Virtues and the Normative Ethical Theory of Plato?
• What Plato Thinks about God?
• What Are the Attitudes Expressed Towards Democracy by Plato?
• How Plato Reconciles the Opposition Between Parmenides and Heraclitus?
• Where the Real Socrates’ Ideas Leave Off and Where Plato’s Own Ideas Begin?
• What Did Plato Expect from Astronomy?
• What Did Plato Say on Knowledge and Forms?
• What Are Plato’s Views on the Individual’s Relationship to Society?
• What Might Plato Say About Delacroix’s “Painting of a Bed”?
• What Is the Relationship Btween Plato and the Mouth-Piece Theory?
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

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1.1 What Is Philosophy?

Learning objectives.

By the end of this section, you will be able to:

• Identify sages (early philosophers) across historical traditions.
• Explain the connection between ancient philosophy and the origin of the sciences.
• Describe philosophy as a discipline that makes coherent sense of a whole.
• Summarize the broad and diverse origins of philosophy.

It is difficult to define philosophy. In fact, to do so is itself a philosophical activity, since philosophers are attempting to gain the broadest and most fundamental conception of the world as it exists. The world includes nature, consciousness, morality, beauty, and social organizations. So the content available for philosophy is both broad and deep. Because of its very nature, philosophy considers a range of subjects, and philosophers cannot automatically rule anything out. Whereas other disciplines allow for basic assumptions, philosophers cannot be bound by such assumptions. This open-endedness makes philosophy a somewhat awkward and confusing subject for students. There are no easy answers to the questions of what philosophy studies or how one does philosophy. Nevertheless, in this chapter, we can make some progress on these questions by (1) looking at past examples of philosophers, (2) considering one compelling definition of philosophy, and (3) looking at the way academic philosophers today actually practice philosophy.

Historical Origins of Philosophy

One way to begin to understand philosophy is to look at its history. The historical origins of philosophical thinking and exploration vary around the globe. The word philosophy derives from ancient Greek, in which the philosopher is a lover or pursuer ( philia ) of wisdom ( sophia ). But the earliest Greek philosophers were not known as philosophers; they were simply known as sages . The sage tradition provides an early glimpse of philosophical thought in action. Sages are sometimes associated with mathematical and scientific discoveries and at other times with their political impact. What unites these figures is that they demonstrate a willingness to be skeptical of traditions, a curiosity about the natural world and our place in it, and a commitment to applying reason to understand nature, human nature, and society better. The overview of the sage tradition that follows will give you a taste of philosophy’s broad ambitions as well as its focus on complex relations between different areas of human knowledge. There are some examples of women who made contributions to philosophy and the sage tradition in Greece, India, and China, but these were patriarchal societies that did not provide many opportunities for women to participate in philosophical and political discussions.

The Sages of India, China, Africa, and Greece

In classical Indian philosophy and religion, sages play a central role in both religious mythology and in the practice of passing down teaching and instruction through generations. The Seven Sages, or Saptarishi (seven rishis in the Sanskrit language), play an important role in sanatana dharma , the eternal duties that have come to be identified with Hinduism but that predate the establishment of the religion. The Seven Sages are partially considered wise men and are said to be the authors of the ancient Indian texts known as the Vedas . But they are partly mythic figures as well, who are said to have descended from the gods and whose reincarnation marks the passing of each age of Manu (age of man or epoch of humanity). The rishis tended to live monastic lives, and together they are thought of as the spiritual and practical forerunners of Indian gurus or teachers, even up to today. They derive their wisdom, in part, from spiritual forces, but also from tapas , or the meditative, ascetic, and spiritual practices they perform to gain control over their bodies and minds. The stories of the rishis are part of the teachings that constitute spiritual and philosophical practice in contemporary Hinduism.

Figure 1.2 depicts a scene from the Matsya Purana, where Manu, the first man whose succession marks the prehistorical ages of Earth, sits with the Seven Sages in a boat to protect them from a mythic flood that is said to have submerged the world. The king of serpents guides the boat, which is said to have also contained seeds, plants, and animals saved by Manu from the flood.

Despite the fact that classical Indian culture is patriarchal, women figures play an important role in the earliest writings of the Vedic tradition (the classical Indian religious and philosophical tradition). These women figures are partly connected to the Indian conception of the fundamental forces of nature—energy, ability, strength, effort, and power—as feminine. This aspect of God was thought to be present at the creation of the world. The Rig Veda, the oldest Vedic writings, contains hymns that tell the story of Ghosha, a daughter of Rishi Kakshivan, who had a debilitating skin condition (probably leprosy) but devoted herself to spiritual practices to learn how to heal herself and eventually marry. Another woman, Maitreyi, is said to have married the Rishi Yajnavalkya (himself a god who was cast into mortality by a rival) for the purpose of continuing her spiritual training. She was a devoted ascetic and is said to have composed 10 of the hymns in the Rig Veda. Additionally, there is a famous dialogue between Maitreyi and Yajnavalkya in the Upanishads (another early, foundational collection of texts in the Vedic tradition) about attachment to material possessions, which cannot give a person happiness, and the achievement of ultimate bliss through knowledge of the Absolute (God).

Another woman sage named Gargi also participates in a celebrated dialogue with Yajnavalkya on natural philosophy and the fundamental elements and forces of the universe. Gargi is characterized as one of the most knowledgeable sages on the topic, though she ultimately concedes that Yajnavalkya has greater knowledge. In these brief episodes, these ancient Indian texts record instances of key women who attained a level of enlightenment and learning similar to their male counterparts. Unfortunately, this early equality between the sexes did not last. Over time Indian culture became more patriarchal, confining women to a dependent and subservient role. Perhaps the most dramatic and cruel example of the effects of Indian patriarchy was the ritual practice of sati , in which a widow would sometimes immolate herself, partly in recognition of the “fact” that following the death of her husband, her current life on Earth served no further purpose (Rout 2016). Neither a widow’s in-laws nor society recognized her value.

In similar fashion to the Indian tradition, the sage ( sheng ) tradition is important for Chinese philosophy . Confucius , one of the greatest Chinese writers, often refers to ancient sages, emphasizing their importance for their discovery of technical skills essential to human civilization, for their role as rulers and wise leaders, and for their wisdom. This emphasis is in alignment with the Confucian appeal to a well-ordered state under the guidance of a “ philosopher-king .” This point of view can be seen in early sage figures identified by one of the greatest classical authors in the Chinese tradition, as the “Nest Builder” and “Fire Maker” or, in another case, the “Flood Controller.” These names identify wise individuals with early technological discoveries. The Book of Changes , a classical Chinese text, identifies the Five (mythic) Emperors as sages, including Yao and Shun, who are said to have built canoes and oars, attached carts to oxen, built double gates for defense, and fashioned bows and arrows (Cheng 1983). Emperor Shun is also said to have ruled during the time of a great flood, when all of China was submerged. Yü is credited with having saved civilization by building canals and dams.

These figures are praised not only for their political wisdom and long rule, but also for their filial piety and devotion to work. For instance, Mencius, a Confucian philosopher, relates a story of Shun’s care for his blind father and wicked stepmother, while Yü is praised for his selfless devotion to work. In these ways, the Chinese philosophical traditions, such as Confucianism and Mohism, associate key values of their philosophical enterprises with the great sages of their history. Whether the sages were, in fact, actual people or, as many scholars have concluded, mythical forebearers, they possessed the essential human virtue of listening and responding to divine voices. This attribute can be inferred from the Chinese script for sheng , which bears the symbol of an ear as a prominent feature. So the sage is one who listens to insight from the heavens and then is capable of sharing that wisdom or acting upon it to the benefit of his society (Cheng 1983). This idea is similar to one found in the Indian tradition, where the most important texts, the Vedas, are known as shruti , or works that were heard through divine revelation and only later written down.

Although Confucianism is a venerable world philosophy, it is also highly patriarchal and resulted in the widespread subordination of women. The position of women in China began to change only after the Communist Revolution (1945–1952). While some accounts of Confucianism characterize men and women as emblematic of two opposing forces in the natural world, the Yin and Yang, this view of the sexes developed over time and was not consistently applied. Chinese women did see a measure of independence and freedom with the influence of Buddhism and Daoism, each of which had a more liberal view of the role of women (Adler 2006).

A detailed and important study of the sage tradition in Africa is provided by Henry Odera Oruka (1990), who makes the case that prominent folk sages in African tribal history developed complex philosophical ideas. Oruka interviewed tribal Africans identified by their communities as sages, and he recorded their sayings and ideas, confining himself to those sayings that demonstrated “a rational method of inquiry into the real nature of things” (Oruka 1990, 150). He recognized a tension in what made these sages philosophically interesting: they articulated the received wisdom of their tradition and culture while at the same time maintaining a critical distance from that culture, seeking a rational justification for the beliefs held by the culture.

Connections

The chapter on the early history of philosophy covers this topic in greater detail.

Among the ancient Greeks, it is common to identify seven sages. The best-known account is provided by Diogenes Laërtius, whose text Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers is a canonical resource on early Greek philosophy. The first and most important sage is Thales of Miletus . Thales traveled to Egypt to study with the Egyptian priests, where he became one of the first Greeks to learn astronomy. He is known for bringing back to Greece knowledge of the calendar, dividing the year into 365 days, tracking the progress of the sun from solstice to solstice, and—somewhat dramatically—predicting a solar eclipse in 585 BCE. The eclipse occurred on the day of a battle between the Medes and Lydians. It is possible that Thales used knowledge of Babylonian astronomical records to guess the year and location of the eclipse. This mathematical and astronomical feat is one of Thales’s several claims to sagacity. In addition, he is said to have calculated the height of the pyramids using the basic geometry of similar triangles and measuring shadows at a certain time of day. He is also reported to have predicted a particularly good year for olives: he bought up all the olive presses and then made a fortune selling those presses to farmers wanting to turn their olives into oil. Together, these scientific and technical achievements suggest that at least part of Thales’s wisdom can be attributed to a very practical, scientific, and mathematical knowledge of the natural world. If that were all Thales was known for, he might be called the first scientist or engineer. But he also made more basic claims about the nature and composition of the universe; for instance, he claimed that all matter was fundamentally made of up water. He also argued that everything that moved on its own possessed a soul and that the soul itself was immortal. These claims demonstrate a concern about the fundamental nature of reality.

Another of the seven sages was Solon , a famed political leader. He introduced the “Law of Release” to Athens, which cancelled all personal debts and freed indentured servants, or “debt-slaves” who had been consigned to service based on a personal debt they were unable to repay. In addition, he established a constitutional government in Athens with a representative body, a procedure for taxation, and a series of economic reforms. He was widely admired as a political leader but voluntarily stepped down so that he would not become a tyrant. He was finally forced to flee Athens when he was unable to persuade the members of the Assembly (the ruling body) to resist the rising tyranny of one of his relatives, Pisistratus. When he arrived in exile, he was reportedly asked whom he considered to be happy, to which he replied, “One ought to count no man happy until he is dead.” Aristotle interpreted this statement to mean that happiness was not a momentary experience, but a quality reflective of someone’s entire life.

Beginnings of Natural Philosophy

The sage tradition is a largely prehistoric tradition that provides a narrative about how intellect, wisdom, piety, and virtue led to the innovations central to flourishing of ancient civilizations. Particularly in Greece, the sage tradition blends into a period of natural philosophy, where ancient scientists or philosophers try to explain nature using rational methods. Several of the early Greek schools of philosophy were centered on their respective views of nature. Followers of Thales, known as the Milesians , were particularly interested in the underlying causes of natural change. Why does water turn to ice? What happens when winter passes into spring? Why does it seem like the stars and planets orbit Earth in predictable patterns? From Aristotle we know that Thales thought there was a difference between material elements that participate in change and elements that contain their own source of motion. This early use of the term element did not have the same meaning as the scientific meaning of the word today in a field like chemistry. But Thales thought material elements bear some fundamental connection to water in that they have the capacity to move and alter their state. By contrast, other elements had their own internal source of motion, of which he cites the magnet and amber (which exhibits forces of static electricity when rubbed against other materials). He said that these elements have “soul.” This notion of soul, as a principle of internal motion, was influential across ancient and medieval natural philosophy. In fact, the English language words animal and animation are derived from the Latin word for soul ( anima ).

Similarly, early thinkers like Xenophanes began to formulate explanations for natural phenomena. For instance, he explained rainbows, the sun, the moon, and St. Elmo’s fire (luminous, electrical discharges) as apparitions of the clouds. This form of explanation, describing some apparent phenomenon as the result of an underlying mechanism, is paradigmatic of scientific explanation even today. Parmenides, the founder of the Eleatic school of philosophy, used logic to conclude that whatever fundamentally exists must be unchanging because if it ever did change, then at least some aspect of it would cease to exist. But that would imply that what exists could not exist—which seems to defy logic. Parmenides is not saying that there is no change, but that the changes we observe are a kind of illusion. Indeed, this point of view was highly influential, not only for Plato and Aristotle, but also for the early atomists, like Democritus , who held that all perceived qualities are merely human conventions. Underlying all these appearances, Democritus reasoned, are only atomic, unchanging bits of matter flowing through a void. While this ancient Greek view of atoms is quite different from the modern model of atoms, the very idea that every observable phenomenon has a basis in underlying pieces of matter in various configurations clearly connects modern science to the earliest Greek philosophers.

Along these lines, the Pythagoreans provide a very interesting example of a community of philosophers engaged in understanding the natural world and how best to live in it. You may be familiar with Pythagoras from his Pythagorean theorem, a key principle in geometry establishing a relationship between the sides of a right-angled triangle. Specifically, the square formed by the hypotenuse (the side opposite the right angle) is equal to the sum of the two squares formed by the remaining two sides. In the figure below, the area of the square formed by c is equal to the sum of the areas of the squares formed by a and b. The figure represents how Pythagoras would have conceptualized the theorem.

The Pythagoreans were excellent mathematicians, but they were more interested in how mathematics explained the natural world. In particular, Pythagoras recognized relationships between line segments and shapes, such as the Pythagorean theorem describes, but also between numbers and sounds, by virtue of harmonics and the intervals between notes. Similar regularities can be found in astronomy. As a result, Pythagoras reasoned that all of nature is generated according to mathematical regularities. This view led the Pythagoreans to believe that there was a unified, rational structure to the universe, that the planets and stars exhibit harmonic properties and may even produce music, that musical tones and harmonies could have healing powers, that the soul is immortal and continuously reincarnated, and that animals possess souls that ought to be respected and valued. As a result, the Pythagorean community was defined by serious scholarship as well as strict rules about diet, clothing, and behavior.

Additionally, in the early Pythagorean communities, it was possible for women to participate and contribute to philosophical thought and discovery. Pythagoras himself was said to have been inspired to study philosophy by the Delphic priestess Themistoclea. His wife Theano is credited with contributing to important discoveries in the realms of numbers and optics. She is said to have written a treatise, On Piety , which further applies Pythagorean philosophy to various aspects of practical life (Waithe 1987). Myia, the daughter of this illustrious couple, was also an active and productive part of the community. At least one of her letters has survived in which she discusses the application of Pythagorean philosophy to motherhood. The Pythagorean school is an example of how early philosophical and scientific thinking combines with religious, cultural, and ethical beliefs and practices to embrace many different aspects of life.

How It All Hangs Together

Closer to the present day, in 1962, Wilfrid Sellars , a highly influential 20th-century American philosopher, wrote a chapter called “Philosophy and the Scientific Image of Man” in Frontiers of Science and Philosophy . He opens the essay with a dramatic and concise description of philosophy: “The aim of philosophy, abstractly formulated, is to understand how things in the broadest possible sense of the term hang together in the broadest possible sense of the term.” If we spend some time trying to understand what Sellars means by this definition, we will be in a better position to understand the academic discipline of philosophy. First, Sellars emphasizes that philosophy’s goal is to understand a very wide range of topics—in fact, the widest possible range. That is to say, philosophers are committed to understanding everything insofar as it can be understood. This is important because it means that, on principle, philosophers cannot rule out any topic of study. However, for a philosopher not every topic of study deserves equal attention. Some things, like conspiracy theories or paranoid delusions, are not worth studying because they are not real. It may be worth understanding why some people are prone to paranoid delusions or conspiratorial thinking, but the content of these ideas is not worth investigating. Other things may be factually true, such as the daily change in number of the grains of sand on a particular stretch of beach, but they are not worth studying because knowing that information will not teach us about how things hang together. So a philosopher chooses to study things that are informative and interesting—things that provide a better understanding of the world and our place in it.

To make judgments about which areas are interesting or worthy of study, philosophers need to cultivate a special skill. Sellars describes this philosophical skill as a kind of know-how (a practical, engaged type of knowledge, similar to riding a bike or learning to swim). Philosophical know-how, Sellars says, has to do with knowing your way around the world of concepts and being able to understand and think about how concepts connect, link up, support, and rely upon one another—in short, how things hang together. Knowing one’s way around the world of concepts also involves knowing where to look to find interesting discoveries and which places to avoid, much like a good fisherman knows where to cast his line. Sellars acknowledges that other academics and scientists know their way around the concepts in their field of study much like philosophers do. The difference is that these other inquirers confine themselves to a specific field of study or a particular subject matter, while philosophers want to understand the whole. Sellars thinks that this philosophical skill is most clearly demonstrated when we try to understand the connection between the natural world as we experience it directly (the “manifest image”) and the natural world as science explains it (the “scientific image”). He suggests that we gain an understanding of the nature of philosophy by trying to reconcile these two pictures of the world that most people understand independently.

Read Like a Philosopher

“philosophy and the scientific image of man”.

This essay, “ Philosophy and the Scientific Image of Man ” by Wilfrid Sellars, has been republished several times and can be found online. Read through the essay with particular focus on the first section. Consider the following study questions:

• What is the difference between knowing how and knowing that? Are these concepts always distinct? What does it mean for philosophical knowledge to be a kind of know-how?
• What do you think Sellars means when he says that philosophers “have turned other special subject-matters to non-philosophers over the past 2500 years”?
• Sellars describes philosophy as “bringing a picture into focus,” but he is also careful to recognize challenges with this metaphor as it relates to the body of human knowledge. What are those challenges? Why is it difficult to imagine all of human knowledge as a picture or image?
• What is the scientific image of man in the world? What is the manifest image of man in the world? How are they different? And why are these two images the primary images that need to be brought into focus so that philosophy may have an eye on the whole?

Unlike other subjects that have clearly defined subject matter boundaries and relatively clear methods of exploration and analysis, philosophy intentionally lacks clear boundaries or methods. For instance, your biology textbook will tell you that biology is the “science of life.” The boundaries of biology are fairly clear: it is an experimental science that studies living things and the associated material necessary for life. Similarly, biology has relatively well-defined methods. Biologists, like other experimental scientists, broadly follow something called the “scientific method.” This is a bit of a misnomer, unfortunately, because there is no single method that all the experimental sciences follow. Nevertheless, biologists have a range of methods and practices, including observation, experimentation, and theory comparison and analysis, that are fairly well established and well known among practitioners. Philosophy doesn’t have such easy prescriptions—and for good reason. Philosophers are interested in gaining the broadest possible understanding of things, whether that be nature, what is possible, morals, aesthetics, political organizations, or any other field or concept.

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Philosophy Extended Essay Topics and RQs for IB Students

Table of contents

• Writing Metier

Greetings, budding philosophers! I, the co-founder of Writing Metier , extend a warm welcome to this curated selection of IB Philosophy Extended Essay topics designed to ignite your intellectual fire and engage your critical thinking. My team of IB writers has spent several days selecting some interesting options for you.

At its core, philosophy encourages us to grapple with the fundamental questions of our existence, encompassing everything from ethics to the very fabric of reality. 

Our mission? To inspire you! To walk you through the Odyssey, where you’ll crack the intricacy of human thought and contribute your own voice to the ongoing discourse of philosophy. 

If you’re captivated by the pressing ethical issues of our modern world, intrigued by the labyrinthine pathways of knowledge, or captivated by the existential mysteries of metaphysics, this guide is meticulously crafted to fuel your imagination. 

IB Philosophy EE Topic Ideas

Every topic invites us to engage with philosophical thought, interacting with the profound ideas that have shaped our understanding of the world.

Here are three unique and manageable topics with corresponding research questions for each subcategory in IB Philosophy, designed to meet the IB Extended Essay criteria:

Fellow thinkers and seekers, welcome to the world of Ethics , where we grapple with questions of right and wrong, good and evil. It’s a realm where we examine the principles that guide our actions and shape our moral landscape.

Moral Relativism vs. Moral Absolutism

• Research Question: How does cultural diversity support or challenge the principles of moral relativism?
• Research Question: Can moral absolutism provide a universal foundation for human rights?
• Research Question: Can ethical pluralism reconcile the differences between moral relativism and moral absolutism?

Utilitarianism and Its Critiques

• Research Question: How does the trolley problem challenge the principles of utilitarianism?
• Research Question: How can utilitarianism address ethical dilemmas in environmental conservation?
• Research Question: How does the concept of happiness in utilitarianism compare with contemporary understandings of well-being?

Virtue Ethics

• Research Question: How can virtue ethics be applied to ethical decision-making in modern business practices?
• Research Question: How does Aristotle’s concept of virtue ethics contribute to personal development and flourishing?
• Research Question: How can virtue ethics guide ethical behavior in the context of social media and digital communication?

As we move from the moral complexities of Ethics, we venture into the realm of Epistemology, where we explore the foundations of knowledge and truth.

Epistemology

In Epistemology, we dive into the quest for understanding how we know what we know . Let’s travel through theories of truth, skepticism, and the justification of beliefs.

Theories of Truth

• Research Question: How does the pragmatic theory of truth apply to the analysis of truth in political discourse?
• Research Question: How does the correspondence theory of truth support the claims of scientific realism?
• Research Question: How does the coherence theory of truth impact legal reasoning and the establishment of facts in court?

Skepticism and Knowledge

• Research Question: How does Descartes’ method of skepticism contribute to the philosophical quest for certainty?
• Research Question: How do skeptical arguments challenge our knowledge of the external world?
• Research Question: How do contemporary epistemologists respond to traditional skeptical challenges regarding knowledge?

Justification of Beliefs

• Research Question: How do foundationalism and coherentism differ in their approaches to justifying beliefs?
• Research Question: How does perception serve as a basis for justifying empirical beliefs?
• Research Question: How does the Gettier problem challenge the traditional concept of knowledge as justified true belief?

Leaving the realm of knowledge, we now enter the world of Metaphysics, where we confront the fundamental questions of existence and reality.

Metaphysics

No, it’s not physics ; it’s metaphysics, and it invites us to ponder the nature of reality, the mysteries of identity, and the debates surrounding free will and determinism. It’s a domain where we explore the very essence of being.

Free Will and Determinism

• Research Question: How does compatibilism attempt to reconcile the concepts of free will and determinism?
• Research Question: How does libertarianism defend the existence of free will against determinist arguments?
• Research Question: How do interpretations of quantum mechanics challenge traditional views of determinism?

Identity and Personal Identity

• Research Question: How does the Ship of Theseus paradox shed light on the concept of identity over time?
• Research Question: How does John Locke’s memory criterion contribute to the understanding of personal identity?
• Research Question: How do recent neuroscientific discoveries challenge or support existing theories of personal identity?

The Nature of Reality

• Research Question: How does Platonic realism defend the existence of abstract objects and their role in the nature of reality?
• Research Question: How does the simulation hypothesis challenge our perceptions of reality and our understanding of existence?
• Research Question: How does the concept of the multiverse influence metaphysical debates on the nature of reality?

From the abstract questions of Metaphysics, we shift our focus to the Philosophy of Mind, where we examine the nature of consciousness and the intricacies of mental phenomena.

Philosophy of Mind

In the Philosophy of Mind, we delve into the complexities of consciousness, the mind-body problem, and the implications of artificial intelligence. It’s a realm where we seek to understand the workings of our own minds.

Consciousness and the Mind-Body Problem

• Research Question: How do dualism and physicalism provide different solutions to the mind-body problem?
• Research Question: How does the hard problem of consciousness challenge our understanding of the nature of subjective experience?
• Research Question: How does panpsychism offer a unique perspective on the relationship between consciousness and the physical world?

Artificial Intelligence and Personhood

• Research Question: How does the Turing Test contribute to the debate on machine intelligence and its implications for personhood?
• Research Question: Can artificial intelligence systems be considered moral agents, and what are the ethical implications?
• Research Question: What are the philosophical challenges in attributing consciousness to artificial intelligence systems?

Perception and Reality

• Research Question: How do direct realism and representationalism differ in their accounts of the relationship between perception and reality?
• Research Question: To what extent does perception construct our reality, and what are the philosophical implications?
• Research Question: What do illusions and perceptual errors reveal about the nature of perception and its impact on our understanding of reality?

From the inner workings of the mind, we move to the broader sphere of Political Philosophy, where we explore the principles that govern societies and the concepts of justice and liberty.

Political Philosophy

Political Philosophy takes us through the ideas of justice, equality, and the balance between liberty and authority. It’s a field where we examine the foundations of political systems and the nature of societal organization.

Justice and Equality

• Research Question: How does John Rawls’ theory of justice apply to contemporary issues of inequality and social justice?
• Research Question: How does libertarianism approach the concept of distributive justice, and what are its implications for social inequality?
• Research Question: How do feminist perspectives challenge and enrich traditional philosophical conceptions of justice and equality?

Liberty and Authority

• Research Question: How does John Stuart Mill’s harm principle define the limits of individual liberty in relation to state authority?
• Research Question: How can societies balance the protection of civil liberties with the need for national security?
• Research Question: What are the criteria for legitimate authority in democratic societies, and how is it maintained?

Social Contract Theory

• Research Question: How does Hobbes’ concept of the social contract in “Leviathan” justify the establishment of an absolute sovereign?
• Research Question: How does Rousseau’s concept of the general will in “The Social Contract” reconcile individual freedom with collective governance?
• Research Question: How do feminist critiques challenge the assumptions and implications of traditional social contract theory?

Leaving the realm of politics, we venture into the Philosophy of Science, where we scrutinize the nature of scientific inquiry and the principles that underpin our understanding of the natural world.

Philosophy of Science

In the Philosophy of Science, we explore the debates between scientific realism and anti-realism, the challenges of induction, and the nature of scientific explanations.

It’s a fascinating intersection of philosophy and the empirical world.

Scientific Realism vs. Anti-Realism

• Research Question: How do scientific realism and instrumentalism differ in their interpretations of the success of scientific theories?
• Research Question: How does the role of observation in scientific inquiry support or challenge the claims of scientific realism?
• Research Question: How does the underdetermination of theory by evidence support anti-realist positions in the philosophy of science?

The Problem of Induction

• Research Question: How does Hume’s problem of induction challenge the reliability of inductive reasoning in scientific methodology?
• Research Question: How does Karl Popper’s falsificationism address the problem of induction in the philosophy of science?
• Research Question: How does Bayesianism offer a solution to the problem of induction through probabilistic reasoning?

The Nature of Scientific Explanations

• Research Question: How does the deductive-nomological model account for the nature of scientific explanations?
• Research Question: How is causality essential to understanding scientific explanations, and what challenges does it pose?
• Research Question: How do scientific explanations differ in historical sciences, such as evolutionary biology and geology, compared to experimental sciences?

From the empirical rigor of science, we transition to the subjective realm of Aesthetics, where we contemplate the nature of beauty and the role of art in human experience.

Aesthetics invites us to reflect on the concepts of beauty, the interpretation of art , and the relationship between art and morality. It’s a domain where we appreciate the aesthetic dimensions of life and the power of artistic expression.

Beauty and Aesthetic Judgment

• Research Question: How does Immanuel Kant’s theory of aesthetic judgment and the concept of disinterestedness contribute to our understanding of beauty?
• Research Question: To what extent is aesthetic judgment subjective, and how does this impact the universality of beauty?
• Research Question: How has the digital age, with its proliferation of images and art forms, influenced contemporary notions of aesthetic judgment and beauty?

Art and Morality

• Research Question: What are the ethical responsibilities of artists when representing sensitive or controversial subjects in their work?
• Research Question: How does an artist’s intent influence the moral interpretation of their artwork, and should it?
• Research Question: How do societies balance the need for artistic freedom of expression with the enforcement of moral values, and what are the implications for censorship in art?

The Role of Intention in Art

• Research Question: Is it possible or desirable to evaluate art independently of the artist’s intention, as argued by the intentional fallacy?
• Research Question: How does the concept of authorial intent impact the interpretation of literary works, and what are the challenges it presents?
• Research Question: How does the role of intent differ in conceptual art compared to traditional art forms, and what does this reveal about the nature of artistic meaning?

All these topics and research questions aim to inspire IB Philosophy students to engage in deep and critical thinking , exploring the multifaceted nature of philosophical inquiry and contributing to ongoing debates in the discipline . 

Each field offers a unique lens through which to view the world, challenging us to think deeply and critically about the human experience.

Whether interested in the ethical dimensions of human behavior, the foundational questions of knowledge and reality, or the aesthetic considerations of art and beauty, these topics provide a solid foundation for an insightful and thought-provoking Extended Essay in Philosophy.

As we conclude this exploration of IB Philosophy extended essay topics, I trust you feel empowered and ready to undertake your own philosophical quest. Remember, philosophy is not merely a pursuit of answers; it’s about cultivating the skill of asking the right questions. 

At Writing Metier, we have a fantastic team of philosophy essay writers , and we stand firmly behind your growth as you walk the intricate pathways of research and writing. Our team of experts stands ready to offer unwavering guidance, constructive feedback, and unwavering IB essay help at every step of the way, even if you are running out of time and have only several days to do it.

With Writing Metier at your side, your exploration into the captivating world of philosophy transcends academic pursuit; it’s an opportunity to engage with the world in a meaningful and insightful way. 

Free topic suggestions

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Vasyl Kafidoff is a co-founder and CEO at WritingMetier. He is interested in education and how modern technology makes it more accessible. He wants to bring awareness about new learning possibilities as an educational specialist. When Vasy is not working, he’s found behind a drum kit.

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