Topics for Future Discussion

Is a Hole a Thing? ..... A hole is a strange thing. It is not an abstract entity (like a number), but it is made of nothing (the glass is not the hole, nor the beer it holds). So what is it? A portion of space-time? A negative part of its material host? A disturbance within it? Something else? Or perhaps holes are nothing. (ADDED 18/1/23)

An Argument for Libertarian Free Will? ..... David Hodgson argues that, while our conscious experiences correspond with physical processes, they can have effects beyond those explicable in terms of physical laws of nature, and this means that we have free will and are responsible for our actions. Is he right? (ADDED 13/4/21)

What is a Woman? ..... According to the dictionary, a woman is (simply) an adult human female. According to some philosophers and activists, however, "woman" is a social category rather than a biological one, so that some adult human males also count as women. So, what IS a woman? (ADDED 18/1/23)

Can We be Harmed After We are Dead? ..... Death is nothing to us, said Epicurus, since it is not present when we are alive, and we are no longer around when it is. Joel Feinberg disagrees, and argues that people can be harmed before they die by events after they are dead. Is he right? (ADDED 13/9/22)

Do Numbers Exist? ... Skepticism about numbers has a long history. Some numbers are irrational, and others imaginary. Where in the world are they to be found? Not on earth, it seems. In heaven, as Plato thought? Or are they are all just very useful fictions? (ADDED 8/2/23)

He She, They Ze? .... If another asks us to refer to them as "he" or "she", or by some non-gender-specific pronoun, we should probably respect their wishes. But should we avoid any use of gender-specific pronouns, with anyone? Should everyone be "they" (or perhaps "ze")? (ADDED 18/1/23)