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Virtually every activity and every profession raise philosophical issues. Science, psychology, the practice of law and medicine, and even taxation all involve questions that more or less directly force us to address philosophical issues. Mark Woodhouse invites us to consider the following examples: 1. A neurophysiologist, while establishing correlations between certain brain functions and the feeling of pain, begins to wonder whether the “mind” is distinct from the brain. 2. A nuclear physicist, having determined that matter is mostly empty space containing colorless energy transformations, begins to wonder to what extent the solid, extended, colored world we perceive corresponds to what actually exists and which world is more “real.” 3. A behavioral psychologist, having increasing success in predicting human behavior, questions whether any human actions can be called “free.” 4. Supreme Court justices, when framing a law to distinguish obscene and non-obscene art forms, are drawn into questions about the nature and function of art. 5. An IRS director, in determining which (religious) organizations should be exempted from tax, is forced to define what counts as a “religion” or “religious group.” And, as Woodhouse also suggests, philosophical questions are continually raised in our everyday life and conversations. Consider, for example, the following statements, which all involve philosophical issues: Sociology is not a science. Drugs reveal new levels of reality. History never repeats itself. Every religion has the same core of truth. We should all be left free to do our own thing, as long as we don’t hurt anyone else. All truth depends on your point of view. The most important thing you can do is find out who you are. This could all be a dream. QUESTIONS 1. Identify other areas of life that involve philosophical issues and explain the issues they raise. 2. What are your views on the issues that Woodhouse lists? Can you give any good reasons to support your views on these issues, or is it all “just a matter of opinion”?