A new Mini-Heap…

1. “I think the benefits of the vast majority of academic research are tiny at best, possibly negative, and much less than the costs” — says Michael Huemer (Colorado), who has “no intention of ceasing philosophical research”
2. How Huemer’s “framing of the issue leads him to overlook the main sources of value” of the institutions that produce such research — a reply from Richard Yetter Chappell (Miami)
3. Must we mean what we wear? — Marilynn Johnson (San Diego) on the meaning of clothes and other adornments
4. “We should at least be able to agree that it is not acceptable for us to exploit them so thoroughly that, afterward, we have no choice but to keep them confined or kill them” — Jeff Sebo (NYU) on research on chimpanzees and other nonhuman subjects
5. The metaphysics of the self — Majid Davoody Beni (Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran) is blogging at Brains this week
6. AI is already doing things no human can do. For example, it’s getting the Pentagon to hire an ethicist! — The Pentagon is looking for an ethicist to help with the moral issues that arise in using AI in military contexts
7. “I am carrying out a debate of ideas, and getting the ideas right is the most important thing I can do.” — an interview with John Roemer (Yale)

Halloween Bonus (in case you missed it): The Philosophy Basement

Mini-Heap posts appear when 7 or so new items accumulate in the Heap of Links, the ever-growing collection of items from around the web that may be of interest to philosophers.

The Heap of Links consists partly of suggestions from readers; if you find something online that you think would be of interest to the philosophical community, please send it in for consideration for the Heap. Thanks!

COMMENTS POLICY