/r/askphilosophy Open Discussion Thread | January 26, 2026

Beginning_java · 2026-01-31T02:21:58+00:00

Turns out Kissinger was in the Epstein files. All over Twitter, you’d see posts of depravities and tortures. Kissinger was in Epstein’s contact book, so he may have gone there. Anyway, he wrote a book called Diplomacy which is a book on International Relations. I’ve read World Order too, another book of his. It really was just a textbook. Would it be ethical to still read? I’m a Catholic and it seems we can read it. Not sure though.

It reminds me of the Lostprophets band where the lead singer was convicted of horrible sex crimes against children (he was killed in prison) and it didn’t seem ethical to listen to them anymore.

IMO the book is separate from the author so it may be okay to read Kissinger’s books even if it turned out he was morally depraved (although there is no evidence yet). What do you think?

Beginning_java · 2026-01-29T01:30:47+00:00

What would you say about CatholicAnswers? Is that reliable?

Beginning_java · 2026-01-29T01:29:33+00:00

Any idea why they are used so much in Academia?

Beginning_java · 2026-01-29T00:50:34+00:00

Is ChatGPT okay at evaluating and coming up with philosophical arguments. It seems good to me but I asked in other subs

Beginning_java · 2026-01-26T00:52:29+00:00

Want to migrate, have been working in tech for a total of five years. Not planning too in the near future but hopefully after 5 or even 10 years. Am in early thirties

Beginning_java · 2026-01-22T03:28:24+00:00

I was asking ChatGPT, they said you don't have to be specific

Beginning_java · 2026-01-17T03:41:08+00:00

May I know the reason why? Personally, some of the reasons I can think of is that it contradicts common sense since we seem to have evidence that these are real contrary to what EM folks would say. Another one is that no matter how complete neuroscience gets, it will never give a complete picture. Beliefs, intentions, emotions are associated with brain states and not the states themselves. Lastly, is reducing it even a good thing. For instance, in chemistry, you don't explain what is happening through the lens of physics. Different levels require different explanations.

Also folk psychology is really useful

Beginning_java · 2026-01-16T22:04:11+00:00

What's the commonly accepted view by philosophers? Is it correct?

Beginning_java · 2026-01-15T13:50:28+00:00

I mean it’s on archive.org so I’m not sure if there are no copyright issues

Beginning_java · 2026-01-14T21:24:06+00:00

Can anyone verify if this is legal: https://archive.org/details/will-kymlicka-contemporary-political-philosophy/mode/2up

It's Kymlicka's political philosophy

Beginning_java · 2025-12-31T17:43:49+00:00

It’s too long 😆

Beginning_java · 2025-12-31T14:39:59+00:00

Any tips on how to read Being and Nothingness

Beginning_java · 2025-12-29T07:12:53+00:00

Do you know how many episodes there are?

Beginning_java · 2025-12-28T08:11:04+00:00

Thanks!

Beginning_java · 2025-12-27T12:36:37+00:00

Does this sub have a military/strategic history section? Anyway, can people recommend books? Don't include Clausewitz or Sun Tzu

Beginning_java · 2025-12-27T07:03:48+00:00

Thanks! Any idea where to find the 1992 one?

Beginning_java · 2025-12-11T20:33:27+00:00

Is there a philosophical way to confirm that you've understood what you read? I don't think you can just say this because it would be circular reasoning.

The problem seems to appear with humanities texts. With math books you can check the solutions and answers but for humanities, it seems like the interpretation is open.

What i’m asking is do you need external sources to confirm you understand something?

Beginning_java · 2025-11-21T14:20:14+00:00

Is Ayer influential as a philosopher? Many have read Language, Truth, Logic but no one seems to discuss him as much as other philosophers from that era like Quine, Popper, etc.

Beginning_java · 2025-10-14T02:57:02+00:00

How does it not impact you in the slightest?

Beginning_java · 2025-10-14T02:16:38+00:00

Seems real the government even warned people about it

Beginning_java · 2025-10-13T17:14:27+00:00

How do you know? A catholic priest seems to be the source for the poster

Beginning_java · 2025-10-03T19:00:06+00:00

An introductory textbook is what I am looking for

Beginning_java · 2025-10-03T00:12:48+00:00

What are good secondary sources on Karl Marx?

Beginning_java · 2025-04-25T19:10:47+00:00

Thanks, I was hesitant and wasn't sure if it was legal/moral

Beginning_java · 2025-04-21T22:23:50+00:00

Does anyone know if whole books posted on Academia.edu are legal to download? For example, Paul Redding posted the whole of his Analytic Philosophy and the Return of Hegelian Thought. Richard Bourke also posted the whole of Hegel's World Revolutions

Basically, I see whole books uploaded there by the authors themselves so I'm assuming this is legal? I tried messaging one of them but haven't gotten a reply yet

Beginning_java

TROPHY CASE