Category Archives: Ask Aristotle

Dear Aristotle, I have a friend who is a vegan, a friend who is an environmentalist, a friend who is a feminist activist, a friend who is a yada-yada-yada! How do I pick a cause to champion when there are so many to choose from!? Thank you. – Nina Dear Nina, I find it interestingContinue reading “How to Pick a Cause?”

Dear Aristotle, Is it ethical to end a friendship over extreme political differences? I had a friend that had very different views from me and it often got in the way of our conversations. I felt like it was a reflection of her moral character. Thanks. – Sam Dear Sam, Thanks very much for this timelyContinue reading “Ending Friendships Over Politics?”

Hello Aristotle, I just read about a researcher in China who was sentenced to three years in prison for creating, what he says are, the first “gene-edited babies.” This may be a broad question, but regarding these new gene-editing technologies, what would be some ethical questions to consider in regards to gene-enhancement? Oh, and welcomeContinue reading “Is Gene-Enhancement Ethical?”

Dear Aristotle, Hi Aristotle, love your column. Glad to see you writing again; it’s been a few years. I’m wondering what you think about video games. Is there a difference in virtue between video games and other types of recreation? Is it morally and/or aesthetically better to spend one’s free time, say, learning a musicalContinue reading “Are Video Games Good?”

Dear Aristotle, Why should we read literature? I am a second-year engineering student at El Camino College in LA and I feel like I don’t learn anything from my English classes. I don’t see how Charles Bukowski or Herman Melville can teach me about balancing a budget or about getting a job after graduation. It’sContinue reading “Why Read Literature?”

Dear Aristotle, Should I wear a mask outside in public? I walk my dog every day and am seldom within 20 feet of another person. Yet I feel like society would frown upon me for not wearing a mask in this situation. I don’t mind wearing one if it would make others feel more comfortable,Continue reading “Conformed to Mask?”

Dear Aristotle, I recently was debating with a History professor about whether or not humans were inherently rational. As a philosophy student who was well aware of Aristotle’s definition of man as “rational, political animals” I was firmly rooted in the position that people were naturally rational as it was part of what distinguished usContinue reading “Are Humans Rational?”

Dear Aristotle, Working out and staying healthy are huge parts of my life, and I really want to get back into the gym. I don’t want to get other people sick, but I want to get back into a workout routine because my mental health is negatively impacted. Is it okay for me to goContinue reading “Working Out During a Pandemic?”

Dear Aristotle, What are the ethics of dating in a pandemic? If I want to date someone, should I do it, or should I wait until things get better? Sincerely,Devin  Dear Devin, Presumably, at the heart of your questions is what ethical factors related to dated are different in pandemics compared to dating in ordinaryContinue reading “Pandemic Dating?”

Dear Aristotle, Is self-plagiarism ethical? Would I be doing something wrong if I did self-plagiarize?Thanks, Harrison Hello, Harrison.  Let us start (as much of philosophy starts) with defining our terms. You didn’t say exactly what you meant by ‘self-plagiarism,’ and the concept is an ethically complicated one. ‘Plagiarizing’ simpliciter, is something along the lines of, ‘passing offContinue reading “Self-Plagiarism?”