Philosophy

The Proximity of Pain: The Role of Pleasure in Suffering

The premise of classic utilitarian philosophy rests on the fundamental status of pleasure and pain, each denoted as the countervailing opposites of experience.  Pain is inherently bad and pleasure inherently good; the course of moral conduct aims to maximize pleasure and minimize pain for the greatest number of sentient subjects.  Modern proponents of act utilitarianism

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When I Practice, I Practice for All

             “I am human, and therefore nothing human can be foreign to me.”  This quote from Terence, ancient Roman poet and playwright, crystalizes the unity of human experience.  In a world of diversity and intersectionality, to ponder universality is to tread on dangerous ground.  One cannot easily generalize personal experience, and there are many lived

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