Doing Our Duty
by Mortimer J. Adler, Ph.D.
Dear Dr. Adler,
Duty is the highest virtue of the soldier. But there are also political, moral, and Religious duties, as...
The Pursuit of Happiness—Mortimer J. Adler
by Mortimer J. Adler, Ph.D.
Dear Dr. Adler,
The Declaration of Independence proclaims the pursuit of happiness as an inalienable human right. Being unhappy is supposed...
What is Truth?
by Mortimer J. Adler, Ph.D.
Dear Dr. Adler,
I find it hard to define what truth is. Some of my friends say that truth is what...
On the Conflict Between Liberty and Equality
by Mortimer J. Adler, Ph.D.
Only justice is an unlimited good. One can want too much liberty and too much equality -- more than it...
Inalienable Rights—Adler
by Mortimer J. Adler, Ph.D.
A right is either inalienable or it is not -- you cannot have it both ways.
What is being denied by...
Universals
by Mortimer J. Adler, Ph.D.
I will try, as briefly as possible, to summarize the argument that I think supports the view that the intellect...
Real vs. Apparent Goods
American philosopher Mortimer J. Adler briefly discusses real vs, apparent goods, natural vs. acquired desires, needs vs. wants.
by Mortimer J. Adler, Ph.D.
The distinction between...
On Aristotle—Adler
Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics, properly construed, is the only sound, pragmatic, and undogmatic work in moral philosophy that has come down to us in the...
Emotions—Adler
by Mortimer J. Adler, Ph.D.
In the tradition of Western thought the word "emotion" is generally misused for feelings and sentiments -- in general, for...
On Situation Ethics
American philosopher Mortimer J. Adler briefly discusses why situation ethics is inadequate and unsound as moral philosophy.
by Mortimer J. Adler, Ph.D.
Unfortunately, the exponents of...
J.S. Mill’s Utilitarianism
In addition to suffering from the serious defect of its failure to distinguish between natural needs and conscious desires, and between real and apparent...
Conceiving and Defining God
by Mortimer J. Adler, Ph.D.
We must ask about God's nature before we ask about God's existence. We must have some meaning for the term...
On Eternity, Mortimer J. Adler
by Mortimer J. Adler, Ph.D.
This word has two meanings that should never be forgotten. Most individuals use the word in common speech to refer...
Exegetical Method vs Higher Criticism, Mortimer J. Alder
by Mortimer J. Adler, Ph.D.
Scriptural interpretation calls for a special mode of interpretation--the kind of interpretation that the faithful give to scriptures they look...
Adler on Science
by Mortimer J. Adler, Ph.D.
The word "science" has changed its meaning as we pass from antiquity and the Middle Ages to modern times, especially...
On Ludwig Wittgenstein, by Mortimer J. Adler
by Mortimer J. Adler, Ph.D.
I read Ludwig Wittgenstein's "Tractatus Logico-philosophicus" (1922) when I was a graduate student at Columbia University immediately after it was...
Descriptive vs Prescriptive
by Mortimer J. Adler, Ph.D.
A prescriptive statement or judgment is one that asserts what ought or ought not to be done. A statement about...
The End Justifying the Means
by Mortimer J. Adler, Ph.D.
Does the end justify the means? Can it sometimes be right to use a bad means to achieve a good...
On Justice – Mortimer J. Adler
Adler discusses the two main spheres of interest which are the domain of justice, related philosophical errors, needs and wants in human nature, the...
On Fairness – Mortimer J. Adler
Adler briefly discusses the difference between fairness and justice, equality and inequality, and how various crimes and violations of rights fit in this discussion.
by...