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2024 Book Prize Winner Announced

The Royal Institute of Philosophy (TRIP) is thrilled to announce the winner of the 2024 Nayef Al-Rodhan International Prize in Transdisciplinary Philosophy.

08 Nov 2024

Think Essay Prize

The Royal Institute of Philosophy is pleased to announce the inaugural essay competition for Think.

21 Oct 2024

Professor Ted Honderich, (1933-2024)

Professor Ted Honderich, (1933-2024), previous Chair of The Royal Institute of Philosophy, dies on the 12th October 2024. Our thoughts are with his friends and family.

18 Oct 2024

2024 Book Prize Shortlist Announced

TRIP is delighted to announce the shortlist to the 2024 Nayef Al-Rodhan Book Prize in Transdisciplinary Philosophy.

10 Oct 2024

Vacancy: Assistant to the Editors of Philosophy Journal

TRIP is seeking an assistant to support the Editors of its journal Philosophy.

17 Sep 2024

2024 Book Prize Longlist Announced

TRIP has announced the longlist of the 2024 Nayef Al-Rodhan International Book Prize in Transdisciplinary Philosophy.

09 Sep 2024

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Free articles

Philosophy

Causal Closure Principles and Emergentism

Causal closure arguments against interactionist dualism are currently popular amongst physicalists. Such an argument appeals to some principles of the causal closure of the physical, together with certain other premises, to conclude that at least some mental events are identical with physical events. However, it is crucial to the success of any such argument that the physical causal closure principle to which it appeals is neither too strong nor too weak by certain standards. In this paper, it is argued that various forms of naturalistic dualism, of an emergentist character, are consistent with the strongest physical causal closure principles that can plausibly be advocated

By E. J. LOWE

Think

What is phenomenology?

Simon Glendinning explains the mysteries of phenomenology

By Simon Glendinning

Philosophy

Is There Anything it is Like to be a Bat?

The concept of consciousness has been the source of much confusion over the past two decades. Current orthodoxy in ‘consciousness studies’ has it that the key to understanding the concept of consciousness is to grasp the idea of qualia. But the appearance of mystery here is the product of conceptual confusion. There is nothing to ‘the qualitative character of experience’ beyond the individual character of a specific experience and how the subject felt in undergoing it, and here there are no mysteries beyond empirical ignorance and conceptual mystification.

By P. M. S. Hacker

Philosophy

Wrongdoing and Forgiveness

Joanna North explores the nature and value of forgiveness, arguing that it requires recognizing the wrongdoer's responsibility and involves a conscious effort by the one wronged to improve their relationship with the wrongdoer. She highlights that modern moral philosophers often overlook the moral significance of forgiveness outside a religious context and addresses the challenges in defining this complex moral response.

By Joanna North

Think

Behaviourism

Behaviourists take the view that mental states are essentially behavioural: to be in pain, for example, is just to behave, or be disposed to behave, in certain ways (to writhe and go ‘Ow!’, and so on). Behavourism, if true, would neatly explain how mind and body are related.Nowadays behaviourism, as a philosophy of mind, is philosophically out of fashion. But here, Rowland Stout explains why he still believes it may be true.

By Rowland Stout