Ethics

In this thought-provoking talk, Victoria Fe explores how the language we use to describe war shapes the way we understand it. Metaphors are not just figures of speech — they influence how we think, what we focus on, and what we overlook. From everyday expressions like “defending an argument” or “fighting a disease,” to political narratives that frame conflicts as battles between heroes and villains, language often simplifies complex realities.

This discussion, based on The Language of War presentation by Vicoria Fe reflects on how metaphorical language shapes the way we think about conflict, influences public opinion, and simplifies complex realities into familiar narratives. Topics include the role of media framing, the use of hero-and-villain storytelling, and how everyday language can subtly guide our understanding of international relations and global events.

In this presentation for the Aurora Philosophy Institute (API), Shishir Lakhani poses a striking existential question: What if peace breaks out?

To explore this question, Shishir examines war from multiple perspectives—economic, social, psychological, moral, and philosophical—tracing the deep and often overlapping forces that give rise to human conflict. Rather than focusing on war as a series of historical events, the talk investigates the underlying impulses, narratives, and structures that have allowed war to remain such a persistent feature of the human condition.

Georgism: The Remedy to Economic Inequality — Part I (Presentation)

Samuel Yigzaw shares his thoughts on Georgism and its potential to reshape our understanding of wealth and property. The presentation is followed by a Q&A session where he engages with Aurora Philosophy Institute members in a discussion of the ideas and principles presented.

In this video Torrey Byles spoke to the Aurora Philosophy Institute about the possibility of Communitarianism.

Professor David Barrows discusses the psychology and moral and social consequences of hate and its corollary Anti-Semitism.

This talk and discussion took place on February 27, 2024. Shishir Lakhani discusses the ideas of Machiavelli and his relevance to daily life.

Henry Chausovsky: The Philosophy of Stoicism (Discussion)

In this video John and Ronen discuss some contemporary moral theories which have gained prominence and which have limited the interest in Virtue Ethics.