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Oluwole, Sophie. Socrates and Ọ̀rúnmìlà: Two Patron Saints of Classical Philosophy
2014, Ark Publishers.
Topics: Culture; Ethics and Socio-Politics of Philosophy; Historiography of Philosophy; Normative Ethics
Keywords: Socrates; Yoruba; oral philosophy; Ọ̀rúnmìlà
Traditions: Comparative/Intercultural; Critical; Cultural; Historical; Sub-Saharan African
Languages: Ancient Greek; English; Yoruba

Figures: Socrates; Sophie Bosede Oluwole; Ọ̀rúnmìlà

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Added by: Rebecca Buxton
Publisher’s Note:
Oluwole's teachings and works are generally attributed to the Yoruba school of philosophical thought, which was ingrained in the cultural and religious beliefs (Ifá) of the various regions of Yorubaland. According to Oluwole, this branch of philosophy predates the Western tradition, as the ancient African philosopher Orunmila predates Socrates by her estimate. These two thinkers, representing the values of the African and Western traditions, are two of Oluwole's biggest influences, and she compares the two in her book Socrates and Orunmila.
Comment (from this Blueprint): This book compares Socrates to Ọ̀rúnmìlà, an 'Orisha' or an important sprit in Yoruba. Both Socrates and Orunmila undertook their philosophy orally and passed their teachings and thinking onto students. Oluwole therefore challenges the western assumption that African philosophy does not have a long-standing on deep tradition.
Difficulty: Easy, Intermediate
Recommended use: Introductory

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Orlandi, Nicoletta. Ambiguous Figures and Representationalism
2011, Phenomenology and the Cognitive Sciences, 10 (2011), 307-323
Topics: Intentionality; Mental States and Processes; Ontology and Metaontology Keywords: Nonconceptual content; perception; phenomenal properties
Traditions: Analytic; North American Languages: English
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Added by: Simon Fokt, Contributed by: Simon Prosser

Abstract: Ambiguous figures pose a problem for representationalists, particularly for representationalists who believe that the content of perceptual experience is non-conceptual (MacPherson in Nous 40(1):82–117, 2006). This is because, in viewing ambiguous figures, subjects have perceptual experiences that differ in phenomenal properties without differing in non-conceptual content. In this paper, I argue that ambiguous figures pose no problem for non-conceptual representationalists. I argue that aspect shifts do not presuppose or require the possession of sophisticated conceptual resources and that, although viewing ambiguous figures often causes a change in phenomenal properties, this change is accompanied by a change in non-conceptual content. I illustrate the case by considering specific examples.

Comment: Specialised further reading on nonconceptual content and representationalism.
Difficulty: Advanced
Recommended use: Specialised
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Osborne, Catherine. Eros Unveiled: Plato and the God of Love
1994, Oxford University Press.
Topics: Applied Ethics; Deities and their Attributes; Gender Sex and Sexuality; Mental States and Processes; Metaethics; Moral Psychology; Normative Ethics
Keywords: ancient philosophy; ethics; love; philosophy of love
Traditions: European; Historical; Religious
Languages: Ancient Greek; English

Figures: Plato

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Added by: Laura Jimenez
Publisher's note: This unique book challenges the traditional distinction between eros, the love found in Greek thought, and agape, the love characteristic of Christianity. Focusing on a number of classic texts, including Plato's Symposium and Lysis, Aristotle's Ethics and Metaphysics, and famous passages in Gregory of Nyssa, Origen, Dionysius the Areopagite, Plotinus, Augustine, and Thomas Aquinas, the author shows that Plato's account of eros is not founded on self-interest. In this way, she restores the place of erotic love as a Christian motif, and unravels some longstanding confusions in philosophical discussions of love.
Comment: The author’s view represents a new approach to ancient views on eros and its place in the Christian tradition. It is suitable for undergraduate or postgraduate courses on Ethics and Ancient Philosophy. Perfect as a secondary reading for students working on Plato's Symposium and Lysis, or Aristotle's Ethics and Metaphysics.
Difficulty: Easy
Recommended use: Further

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Oshana, Mariana. Autonomy and the Partial-Birth Abortion Act
2011, Journal of Social Philosophy, 42 (1): 46-60.
Topics: Applied Ethics; Culture; Gender Sex and Sexuality; Law and Public Policy; Normative Ethics; Personal and Social Identity
Keywords: abortion; autonomy; partial-birth abortion act; strict scrutiny
Traditions: Analytic; North American
Languages: English

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Added by: Rochelle DuFord
Summary: In this paper, Oshana argues that the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to affirm the Partial-Birth Abortion Act was mistaken. She claims that the Partial-Birth Abortion Act cannot withstand the test of strict scrutiny, that the Act fails to respect the privacy rights of individuals, and that there are compelling reasons (based in autonomy) to allow partial-birth abortion up until the point of fetal viability. As such, she claims, the Act violates the integrity of law.
Comment: This text would be excellent to use in a course focused on abortion, any course that covers the suite of U.S. Supreme Court cases involving the right to privacy, or a course that wishes to discuss and apply the doctrine of strict scrutiny. While it requires a significant amount of background knowledge (concerning the legislative history on abortion in the United States), it provides an excellent example of applying both the principle of autonomy and the principle of strict scrutiny.
Difficulty: Intermediate
Recommended use: Further, Specialised

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Oshana, Marina. Personal Autonomy and Society
1998, Journal of Social Philosophy 29(1): 81–102.
Topics: Culture; Free Will; Personal and Social Identity; Philosophy of Action
Keywords: autonomy; free will; internalism; responsibility; self-determination
Traditions: Analytic; North American
Languages: English

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Added by: Simon Fokt
Content: Oshana argues against 'internalist' theories of autonomy that focus exclusively on psychological conditions internal to the agent - what goes on inside her head - and suggests instead that certain social relations must obtain between the agent and those around her for genuine autonomy to be possible.
Comment: Oshana argues that personal autonomy is a socio-relational phenomenon partially constructed by external, social relations. She also offers an interesting and detailed critique of internalist accounts, which makes the text very useful in teaching on autonomy and free will in general. The text is best used as a further reading in undergraduate and a more central required reading in postgraduate teaching. It offers a good synopsis of Gerald Dworkin's influential conception of autonomy.
Difficulty: Intermediate
Recommended use: Further

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Overall, Christine. Miracles as Evidence Against the Existence of God
1985, The Southern Journal of Philosophy 23(3): 3447-353.
Topics: Deities and their Attributes; Divination Faith and Miracles; Religious Development, Experience, and Personhood
Keywords: arguments for/against God's existence; arguments from miracles; laws of nature
Traditions: Analytic; North American; Religious
Languages: English

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Added by: Emily Paul, Contributed by: Helen De Cruz
Abstract: An assumption in debates about the philosophical significance of miracles is that if a miracle (a violation of natural law or a permanently inexplicable event) were to occur, it would be evidence for the existence of the Christian God. The paper explores reservations by several philosophers about this connection between God and miracles, and presents arguments to show that if a miracle would occur there would be good reason to deny that God exists.
Comment: Great text that would spark a lot of debate. Could be a core reading for a unit on miracles or on agnosticism/atheism. If the latter, this would be particularly useful if miracles had already been discussed. Could be discussed alongside Hume on Miracles.
Difficulty: Intermediate
Recommended use: Overview, Specialised

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Pacherie, Elisabeth. Qualia and representations
1999, In Denis Fisette (ed.), Consciousness and Intentionality: Models and Modalities of Attribution. Springer. pp. 119--144.
Topics: Consciousness; Intentionality; Mental States and Processes; Metaphysics of Mind and Body
Keywords: naturalism; perception; qualia; representationalism
Traditions: Analytic; European
Languages: English

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Added by: Clotilde Torregrossa, Contributed by: Simon Fokt
Abstract: Dretske has recently offered a representational theory of perceptual experience - considered as paradigmatic of the qualitative and phenomenal aspects of our mental life. This theory belongs, as do his previous works, to a naturalistic approach to mental representation
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Padilla, Amado, Salgado De Snyder, V. Nelly. Psychology in Pre-Columbian Mexico
1988, Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 10 (1): 55-66
Topics: Psychology Keywords: aztec medicine; aztec thought; pre-columbian psychology; psychological equilibrium; talking therapy; wellbeing
Traditions: Central American; Cultural; Historical Languages: English; Nahuatl
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Added by: M. Jimena Clavel Vázquez and Andrés Hernández Villarreal
Abstract:

Aztec psychological thought is described in this paper. The Pre-Columbian world of the Aztecs was characterized by Spanish chroniclers as being as sophisticated in the sciences and medicine as anything found in Europe at the time of the conquest of Mexico. This knowledge included a belief structure about the development of personality and the way in which Aztec society socialized the person. Concepts of psychological equilibrium and well-being are also found within Aztec medicine. Psychological dysfunctions were identified by Aztec healers and "talking" therapies not unlike today's psychotherapeutic techniques could be found.

Comment (from this Blueprint): The sections “Psychological well-being or in ixtli – in yollotl”, “Teachers of knowledge and face”, “Illness and the community”, and “Aztec healers or psychotherapists” provide a clear and helpful discussion on the concepts of destiny, free will, precarious nature of human beings on earth, and, more generally, on Nahua psychology.
Difficulty: Intermediate
Recommended use: Specialised
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Padró, Barrio, Eduardo A.. El problema de la adopción de reglas lógicas
2022, Análisis Filosófico, 42(1): 33-42.
Topics: Epistemology; Logic and Mathematics Keywords: Kripke; adoption problem; epistemology of logic; philosophy of logic
Traditions: Analytic; Geographical; South American Languages: Spanish
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Added by: Viviane Fairbank
Abstract:

¿Seguimos reglas de inferencia al razonar? Por más intuitiva que resulte la respuesta positiva a esta pregunta, hay una serie de dificultades para vincular reglas lógicas y prácticas inferenciales. El Problema de la Adopción de Reglas de Inferencia constituye un desafío para todo aquel que proponga que podemos seguir nuevos patrones inferenciales a partir del reconocimiento de reglas. En esta sección temática se exploran diversos asuntos conectados a si podemos seguir un nuevo patrón inferencial en virtud de una regla.

Comment: This is a clear, Spanish-language introduction to the so-called Adoption Problem in the philosophy of logic.
Difficulty: Easy
Recommended use: Introductory
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Paine, Lynn S.. Managing for Organizational Integrity
1994, Harvard Business Review 72 (2):106-117.
Topics: Applied Ethics; Work Labor and Leisure
Keywords: integrity; management; responsibility
Traditions: Experimental; North American
Languages: English

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Added by: Clotilde Torregrossa, Contributed by: Simon Fokt
Abstract: An integrity-based approach to ethics management combines a concern for the law with an emphasis on managerial responsibility for ethical behavior. Though integrity strategies may vary in design and scope, all strive to define companies' guiding values, aspirations, and patterns of thought and conduct. When integrated into the day-to-day operations of an organization, such strategies can help prevent damaging ethical lapses while tapping into powerful human impulses for moral thought and action. Then an ethical framework becomes no longer a burdensome constraint within which companies must operate, but the governing ethos of an organization.
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