Are We Wired for Religion?

According to some people, there seems to be a biological imperative for we as humans to search for purpose in a world largely devoid of meaning. One such person's work is linked here http://rationalargumentator.com/issue196/telosdrive.html> Why is it that every single human culture in history had some form of religion? Is there an easy, scientific explanation to this phenomenon? Or does it go deeper than that, right into the very core of what it means to be human? Is religion essential to humanity?

A God Chasing His Tail?

Antoine Arnauld famously accuses Descartes of arguing in a circle: the principle of clear and distinct ideas requires a non-deceiving God to validate it, but the proof of a non-deceiving God requires the principle of clear and distinct ideas. Is Arnauld correct? If not, why not? If not, at what cost?

The Existence and/or Role of God

Descartes attempts to prove the existence of God not only for its own sake but also to further the goals of his foundational project. Is either argument successful? Does God actually do the metaphysical work that Descartes wants? Should an epistemological project have God play such a prominent role?

The "So What" Defense

Descartes is obsessed with the pursuit of knowledge. He devotes enormous intellectual energy to the refutation of skepticism. But is skepticism really the disaster that Descartes envisions? Is knowledge really an important goal? Or is it like immortality -- something nice if you could get it, but not a necessary component of a flourishing human life? So what if I know nothing.

When the Walls Come Down . . .

Descartes realizes that some of the beliefs he thought were true turned out to be false. In the pursuit of knowledge he seeks to tear down his previous beliefs and build them up again upon a firm foundation. In other words, he is engaged in a foundational project, searching for a class of beliefs that themselves are not in need of justification in order to justify his other beliefs. But is this quest a misguided one? Do such beliefs exist? If not, does that mean that knowledge is impossible? Or is there some other way to justify our beliefs?

Moral Consumerism

Is it morally permissible to consume as much as you can afford? If you can afford something do you have the inherent right to take resources from other people who could use the resources but are unable to purchase them. Specifically consider this in the context of American consumerism and exploration of resources.

Genuine vs. Fake Happiness

Tex Hambone, the multibillionaire oil tycoon, just married his fifth wife. She is young and beautiful, 50 years younger than his 80 years. Tex is madly in love with her. So madly in love, in fact, that he will leave her every penny when he dies.

Does it matter if she REALLY loves him or if she is just a fabulous actor waiting until he has a heart attack and keels over so she can rake in the billions? Given that the pleasure Tex enjoys is the same either way, is the happiness based on true love any better than one based on illusion? Is his happiness valuable even she hates his guts?