Topics for your philosophy paper

Here are some of the most talked-about topics right now. Each entry is linked to a Wikipedia article. Look at the table on the left-hand side of the Wikipedia entry and find the different angles "FOR" and "AGAINST" any given topic. If you don't see the arguments "against" the topic in the entry, you must do your research (and I'll help). 

NEVER CITE WIKIPEDIA IN YOUR PAPER; LOOK AT THE WIKIPEDIA CITATIONS AND CITE THEM.  


Abortion vs. Pro-Life 

The abortion debate—often framed as pro-choice versus pro-life—is a central issue in philosophy because it forces us to grapple with foundational questions about moral status, bodily autonomy, and the definition of a person. At its core, the debate hinges on a conflict between two deeply held ethical principles: the sanctity of human life and the right to self-determination. 

Factory farms and/or Animal welfare

(Generally, it is little appreciated that this topic has ecological and human/animal dimensions: the link between animal-processed foods, environmental degradation, and vegetarianism, all tied to the still obscure field of animal ethics).

Gun control vs. Second Amendment

(A problem intersecting Second Amendment rights, civil rights, policy, government interference, mental health, and terrorism).

Social media & culture 

(Privacy issues, information overload, cyberbullying, fake news, social isolation, net addiction, etc).

Climate change 

(Global warming is at the forefront of today's scientific and sociopolitical discourse; many issues here are worth discussing: what is nature? Generational responsibility, presentism, economic growth, etc.

Capital Punishment vs. Abolitionism 

Free Speech vs. Hate Speech 

Online free expression must yield when it causes social harm. Counter: Restricting speech online undermines democratic discourse. Urgent amid misinformation, hate speech, and debates over platform regulation. 

AI (doomers vs. skeptics vs. pragmatists)

The ongoing debate surrounding the future of artificial intelligence is fundamentally shaped by three core perspectives: doomers, skeptics, and pragmatists, each playing a vital role in determining how humanity builds and regulates technology.