Dr John Scott

My interests are mostly in applied philosophy, autonomy, the emotions and love.

[Dr John Scott @woolerscottus]

Kate Darling questions whether we need conscious robots even if this is possible? Is she right? Might such entities reason in a way we can’t understand? New episode at https://t.co/pCZTKW1h5W

[Dr John Scott @woolerscottus]

Many wish for a future without work but we should be careful what we wish for. Work has value. New podcast at https://t.co/XXKFT3PbEZ

[Dr John Scott @woolerscottus]

Does work have intrinsic value? If so what are the consequences in an age of AI automation or when we become old or infirm? New podcast at
https://t.co/XXKFT3PbEZ
https://t.co/iQzeuGv5kZ but apologies for production quality

[Dr John Scott @woolerscottus]

Good palliative care is essential for terminally ill patients but doing so doesn’t make the question of assisted suicide go away, new episode at woolerscottus

[Dr John Scott @woolerscottus]

A failure to respect persons is wrong. Rudeness fails to respect the views of others and is wrong. But rudeness is wrong in a different way. Mill argued failing to attend to the views and arguments of others damages us by denying us potential knowledge.
https://t.co/49DDlXoo9C

[Dr John Scott @woolerscottus]

Does the need to love explain the difference between a nihilist and a terrorist? Nihilists have lost their need to love and be loved whilst terrorists have retained theirs even if this is misplaced. https://t.co/1yshm6fosL

[Dr John Scott @woolerscottus]

Do purely private misogynistic or racist thoughts which never be acted on matter? If morality is solely concerned with actions, no. if character matters, yes perhaps morality should be limited to actions but character leaks into them
https://t.co/3G95K47OlS

[Dr John Scott @woolerscottus]

Stoics have problems with hope and aspiration because they make them vulnerable. Kant argued that hoe matters more than a simple emotion. Was he right? Is hope connected to our identity?. https://t.co/GGJgjEQZC5

[Dr John Scott @woolerscottus]

Let us accept the death penalty is wrong, if so some offenders will serve lifelong sentences, for example Lucy Letby. Should such offenders have a right to assisted suicide if they so desire? https://t.co/vddU2DL2My

[Dr John Scott @woolerscottus]

Do our purely private thoughts matter? Do a tv presenter’s private fantasies matter? An argument for why they do https://t.co/3G95K47OlS

[Dr John Scott @woolerscottus]

Lying is usually wrong but can be justified sometimes but do we know when? Perhaps only to protect autonomy? https://t.co/NBWdS0PFIW

[Dr John Scott @woolerscottus]

The Coronation places much emphasis on loyalty but is loyalty an outdated virtue? If so is monarchy an outdated institution? https://t.co/moTnAW8WIQ

[Dr John Scott @woolerscottus]

Am I wrong? Unwarranted apologies diminish the power of apology and weaken the importance of forgiveness.
https://t.co/FrdKy9LvVP let me know

[Dr John Scott @woolerscottus]

Playing sport has instrumental value because it increases our fitness and helps us to socialise. Does it also have intrinsic value due to achievement? Id so then perhaps a lonely long distance runner us doing something which has intrinsic value https://t.co/i05p15vO1n

[Dr John Scott @woolerscottus]

Are those who disrupted the Grand National guilty of grandstanding or even self- indulgence? Their actions focussed attention on their disruption rather than three dead horses

[Dr John Scott @woolerscottus]

Should the Royal family apologise for slavery? Apology involves some guilt. Individuals can be guilty but families? Regret and reparations may be due even if when apology isn’t. In some cases apology is an insincere, trendy and easy option https://t.co/FrdKy9LvVP

[Dr John Scott @woolerscottus]

The dangers of advanced AI. https://t.co/Lv1EvllHDv Wittgenstein asked if a lion could speak we couldn’t understand him. Seems a trivial question but matters when considering advances AI https://t.co/iT2R7sLmsN

[Dr John Scott @woolerscottus]

Do we as a nation or as individuals need to apologise for past slavery? Much apology is simply grandstanding but a duty to compensate might exist even if harder to do https://t.co/W0VOo0j7jo

[Dr John Scott @woolerscottus]

World’s scientists say 1.5C still achievable but ‘humanity on thin ice’ https://t.co/oi8mam1aaR Also what duties do we owe to ecological refugees due to global warming? https://t.co/jn169piSqr

[Dr John Scott @woolerscottus]

Do stoics merely exist in the world rather than fully engage with it? https://t.co/dncZON5jTR