Gift Ideas for the Philosopher

I absolutely love philosophy. I studied it at A-Level and again at Manchester University. It's one of those subject that people are just proud to study, or to teach! My favourite philosophers include Descartes, Nietzsche and Bentham. Not necessarily because I agree with their views, I just find them fascinating to read. Descartes Meditations is a must read for any budding philosopher!

Philosophers love to drink tea or coffee, and ponder. So a mug is the perfect gift for a philosopher. You might be a wondering philosophy student, and need a philosophical 'to go cup'.

Or, you may be a Philosophy teacher wanting a school mug. Whether you are a philosopher, or buying a gift for someone who loves philosophy, I am sure that you will enjoy this fabulous selection of Philosophy mugs!

Intro Image from: www.zazzle.co.uk

Are you a Philosopher?

I always used to think about things such as God and Death when I was trying to get to sleep at night. I remember thinking to myself 'Is this normal?' It is normal, of course, if you are a philosopher!

Many of the ancient Greek philosophers were also scientists and mathematicians. Religion and science used to go hand in hand, with human beings at the center of God's creation. As scientific discoveries developed and the enlightenment period hit Europe, science posed many challenges to Christian perspectives.

Nietzsche is most famous for his philosophical concepts of The Ubermensch and the Death of God. He was often mistook for a nihilist. In fact, many of his ideas overcame the void of nihilism. He is also probably famous for his moustache!

Many people say that Nietzsche was a nihilist due to his dark perception of religion. But is Nietzsche a nihilist? He does, in fact declare that 'God is Dead!' Yet Nietzsche did not mean that God was dead literally. God is dead if we are to rely on Christian ethics in such an immoral world.

Nietzsche overcomes the concept of nihilism with a new ethical approach of the revelation of all values. By becoming the Ubermensch, man becomes powerful and does not have to succumb to the ethical values of Christianity.

Epicurus is probably most famous for his Epicurean Trilemma in response to the problem of evil. There is evil in the world, therefore either God chooses not to prevent it and does not love us (God is not omnibenevolent) or God does not have the power to stop the evil in the world, or God does not exist.

Epicurus had a scientific view of life in an eternal universe. Rewards and punishments were based on pleasure and pain according to Epicurean Philosophy.