Seeking the Perfect World: A Critical Discussion of Global Challenges for the Bright and Curious

Cover
Half Title
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements
Introducing the Party: A Time-Traveling Affair to Do Political Philosophy
	1 Time Traveling to Party With Philosophers
		The Philosophers’ Party
		Bibliography
	2 What Is Political Philosophy? (Or Why You Should Read This Book)
		Asking Questions
		Assumptions
		Different Perspectives
		Critical and Creative Thinking and Philosophy
		A Note On Feelings and Critical, Ethical, Thinking
		A Note On Philosophers Included and Excluded – Now and in the Past
		A Note On Judging Ideas
		Starting the Book
		References
	3 How to Read This Book
	4 A Quick Note On Utopias and Dystopias
		References
Excuse Me, Who Are You?: Starting the Party With Questions About Identity and Human Nature
	5 What Do You Want?: Discussing the Ideal Life
		What Is Freedom Anyways?
		Is It All About You?
		All for Us, None for You
		Looking at Global Issues – Ecuador
		Changing Economic Policies – Degrowth
		Conclusion
		Chapter Summary
		Pondering Points
		References
	6 Who Makes You, You?: Discussing Identity
		You.exe
		You Can Never Step Into the Same River Twice
		Being in the Twenty-First Century
		Are You Who You Say, Or Who I Say?
		How Do You Know You Are?
		You Are What You Do
		Memories
		Conclusion
		Chapter Summary
		Pondering Points
		References
	7 Why Do We Go to War?: Discussing Human Nature and International Relations
		Humans in Space
		Are Countries Like People?
		Was Hobbes Right?
		Nature Versus Nurture
		A Matter of Numbers?
		The Impact of War
		Conclusion
		Chapter Summary
		Pondering Points
		References
Who Said You Could Dance On the Table?: Questions About Rules, Contracts, Rights, and Wrongs
	8 Who Should Rule?: Discussing the Perfect Government
		Do As I Say, Not As I Do!
		Who Should Be in Charge?
		Power to the People: Democracy
		Problem 1: Should Sheep Carry Guns – Or Democracy and the Tyranny of the Masses
		Problem 2: Power to the (Confused?!) People? Democracy and Information
		Problem 3: Vote for Me, I Will Save You! Democracy and Populism
		Improving Democracy
		Conclusion
		Chapter Summary
		Pondering Points
		References
	9 How Do You Know That?: Discussing the Perfect Education
		Don’t Read This Book!
		Education, Knowledge, and Power
		The Intrinsic and Instrumental Value of Education
		Education and Government
		Who Should Be in Charge of Education
		Plato’s Allegory of the Cave – Education and Truth
		Education for the Future
		Conclusion
		Chapter Summary
		Pondering Points
		References
	10 Who Owns What?: Discussing Ownership and Reparations
		When Does Something Become Yours?
		Reparations
		Common Ownership and Marxism
		What Does the State Own?
		Do You Believe in Invisible Hands?
		Conclusion
		Chapter Summary
		Pondering Points
		References
	11 Should Humans Be Like Geese?: Discussing Migration and Citizenship
		Walls and Borders
		Open Borders – Safety, Economics, and History
		Golden Visas
		Blood Or Land
		Losing Your Citizenship
		Citizenship, Immigrants and the Social Contract
		Conclusion
		Chapter Summary
		Pondering Points
		References
Should We Eat a Guest Or 3-D Print Sushi?: Questions About Nature and Technology
	12 Should Nature Have Rights?: Discussing How Humans Relate to Nature
		Speciesism and Religion
		Sumak Kawsay
		Human as an Ecosystem?
		The Rights of Nature
		Testing the Rights of Nature
		Conclusion
		Chapter Summary
		Pondering Points
		References
	13 Is Having Pets Immoral?: Discussing Our Favourite Animals
		Humans and Non-Human Animals
		My Dog Is Not Just an Animal, He Is My Pet
		The Creation of Pets
		A Lonely Life and a Sad End
		The Cost of Pets
		Ending Pet Ownership
		Cloning Our Pets
		Conclusion
		Chapter Summary
		Pondering Points
		References
	14 Would You Like to Become a Cyborg?: Discussing Transhumanism and Posthumanism
		What Makes You Human?
		Improving Humans – A Dark History
		Inequality and Change
		Playing God
		Bio-Hacking Or Taking Science to the People
		Rights of Cyborgs
		Can We Go Beyond Humans
		Conclusion – Those Left As ‘Normal’
		Chapter Summary
		Pondering Points
		References
	15 Should We Be Afraid of AI?: Discussing the Future of Technology
		Am I Typing This On a Living Thing?
		What Exactly Is AI?
		Computers Are Fair: Robocop to the Rescue!
		Intelligent But Misinformed?
		Will You Trust Your Car?
		What Rules Should AI Follow?
		Can Computers Be Friends?
		What If AI Hurts Humans?
		Competing With Robots
		The Carbon Footprint of AI
		Conclusion
		Chapter Review
		Pondering Points
		References
Justice as a Parting Gift: Questions About Language, Beauty, and Justice for the Past and the Future
	16 How Do You Say Knowledge?: Questions of Language, Knowledge, and Justice
		Languages and Power
		Thinking and Language
		Words, Politics, and Power
		Other Languages
		Governing Diversity
		Language Is Constructed
		Conclusion
		Chapter Summary
		Pondering Points
		References
	17 Should the Government Pay for Opera?: Questions About Art, Beauty, and Politics
		Art and Beauty as Political
		Art as Experience
		Why Make Art?
		What Is Art?
		Controversial Art
		Tearing Art Down
		Conclusion
		Chapter Summary
		Pondering Points
		References
	18 Does the Past Affect the Future?: Questions About Colonialism, Knowledge, and Justice
		Decolonisation: A Short Definition
		What Does Decolonisation Have to Do With Philosophy?
		The Psychological and Ethical Impact of Decolonisation
		Guilt and Fragility
		Museums
		Conclusion and This Book
		Chapter Summary
		Pondering Points
		References
	19 How Can We Build a Just World?: Questions About Justice, Diversity, and the Future
		Cake Or Distributive Justice
		The Veil of Ignorance
		Rawls’ Principles
		Utilitarianism and Consequentialism
		Deontological Versus Virtue Ethics
		Do We Sacrifice Ourselves for Others?
		Justice a Quick Review and Application to Breaking the Social Contract
		Diversity and Justice
		Conclusion
		Chapter Summary
		Pondering Points
		References
Until We Meet Again
	20 Conclusion
		Ideologies Are Dangerous
		There Is No Simple Path to a Better World. Seeking Perfection Is Silly Or, Even Worse, Dangerous.
		Be Critical of All Ideas
		Technology, Nature, and Humanity
		Hope and Human Nature
Notes
	Time Traveling to Party With Philosophers
	What Is Political Philosophy? (Or Why You Should Read This Book)
	What Do You Want?
	Who Makes You, You?
	Why Do We Go to War?
	Who Should Rule?
	Who Owns What?
	Should Humans Be Like Geese?
	Should Nature Have Rights?
	Is Having Pets Immoral?
	Would You Like to Become a Cyborg?
	Should We Be Afraid of AI?
	How Do You Say Knowledge?
	Should the Government Pay for Opera?
	Does the Past Affect the Future?
	How Can We Build a Just World?
	Conclusion