Category Archives: Society
>What is ‘Civilisation’? What is it to be ‘civilised’?
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In addition to the above questions, are we the only civilised ones?
>Ban the Burqa?
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In 1994 France began clamping down on religious symbols, including the Muslim headscarf, in state schools. In 2004 it banned all “ostentatious” religious signs, including the veil, from many public buildings.
Last year Sarkozy famously said that the Burqa (a head to toe covering with a narrow slit for the eyes) is “not welcome on French soil”. Since France banned it Belgium has also jumped on board, angering many human rights organisations because they didn’t launch any national consultations as did France.
Do you agree with Sarkozy? Do you think it should be banned in your country?
>Is reforming the media a good idea? If so how should we do it?
>Is our perception of beauty changing?
>Today the question of beauty isn’t really considered to be a subject of philosophy anymore. But for most of our history it has been. Plato was obsessed with it. It also formed a big part of philosophy throughout the renaissance and enlightement. Yet there are still many questions today.
Do we see beauty in a different light today? Will we see it in a different light in the future. Most men now say there are many models they don’t find attractive. Often people retort that they’re merely trying to present themselves in certain way. But what if it’s more than that? What if our idea of beauty is starting to change? Do you ever find yourself saying “most people would find him/her/that sight beautiful, but I don’t”?
>Leadership
>James MacGregor Burns, winner of the Pulitzer prize, once said that there is no such thing as ‘bad leadership’, only good leadership or an absence of leadership altogether.
Do you agree?
>Is ‘freedom of speech’ a natural right?
>The last few years have seen the words “freedom of speech” bandied around as if it were the most common phrase in the world. People fall on both sides of the debate in every country around the world.
Yet some journalists claim that the majority of people don’t even understand what ‘freedom of speech’ means. A Canadian journalist (Marni Soupcoff) published an article today saying that the majority of Canadians just “don’t get” freedom of speech.
What does ‘freedom of speech’ mean to you and to what extent should it be supported?
>Should we aim to achieve happiness?
>We often talk about happiness, and all people agree that it’s a nice thing to have. But should we try to achieve it as individuals and/or as collectives e.g. states?
>Broken Britain?
>We’ve all heard the claim that Britain has a ‘broken’ culture, even if we don’t live there. The issue has become one of the Conservatives strongest campaigning points. But is it true?
>Great Modern Books
>The great books are held to be great cultural achievements and long term assets. Many films have entered this category too over the past few decades. But what books remain either undiscovered or worthy of being made into film that have not yet been already?
In other words what stories would you like to see made into film?
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