S/P/299. Viewed from a Lacanian perspective, is self-help literature like Carter-Scott's really helpful?

The paper looks at the so-called self-help literature reviewing Freud's, Lacan's and Carter-Scott's ideas on the origin and development of the personality, the drivers of life, the perception of the image as the self, the search for pleasure, etc. evaluating their contribution to psychoanalysis and practical psychology.

S/P/303. Design Argument of Paley

The paper examines the theory of William Paley stating that the complexity of the human eye is a manifestation of design, and therefore, proves the existence of a designer. Criticism of the design argument by Hume is reviewed pointing at the strong and weak points in Paley's logic.

S/P/248. Critically examine the proof Descartes gives for the existence of God in the Third Meditation

The paper examines Descartes' proof of God's existence claiming that the idea of perfection must have a perfect source (God) outside the man's own imperfect intellect. The flaw in Descartes' argumentation is discussed reviewing the critique of his approach by Foucault, Derrida, etc.

C/N/143. Social divisions in sports participation in UK

The paper looks at the participation in sports in the UK, finding that there are deep social divisions governing participation in sports, with ethnic minorities, women, and the disabled being under-represented in sports. Marx's theories on leisure and Bourdieu's theories on hegemony and habitus are used to explain social divisions in sports participation. Statistics are presented as evidence of these deep-rooted social divisions reflecting institutionalised racism in the sports industry.

C/P/78. Review of A. Giddens' "The Constitution of Society"

This paper looks at Giddens' theory explaining how social structures work and being sustained. The theory is discussed in the context of modern trends in society. A detailed analysis of Giddens' book "The Constitution of Society" is offered with an emphasis on structuration. The concept of structuration is described and assessed; its weaknesses and strengths are outlined highlighting the issues related to cognitive factors.

C/S/62. Review of P. Bourdieu's "Distinction – A Social Critique of the Judgement of Taste".

The paper examines Bourdieu's theories of social structure reviewing his work "Distinction – A Social Critique of the Judgement of Taste". The concepts of "habitus" and "field" are analysed in the context of socialisation with reference to specific examples showing how taste serves to define social groups. The weaknesses and strengths of the work are outlined.

C/P/81. Social Theory, Modern thought and the Enlightenment

The paper critically examines the contribution of Jorgen Habermas to the understanding of the human condition in the modern world discussing his claim that Enlightenment ideas of reason can provide the basis for a fuller development of communicative rationality. A case study of the ruling elite manipulating communities through the misuse of communication systems is investigated. Conclusions are made about the role of post-Enlightenment thinking in the modern world.

S/P/237. Philosophical biography of Alan Watts

The paper examines the life and work of Alan Watts looking at various sides of his character and exploring his social roles. Stages in his biography are reviewed with reference to the development of his philosophical ideas.

S/P/236. Voegelinian Perspective on the Significance of Meditation to Voegelin's Theory of Consciousness

The paper examines Voegelin's views on the relationship between self and consciousness discussing the experience of transcendence through meditation, the creation of myths and symbols, the state of mataxy as a transition between the divine and the human, etc.

S/P/235. What is modern about Modern Philosophy?

The paper examines the features of the philosophical movement that started in the early 17th century and is known as 'modern philosophy'. The positive and negative implications of 'departing from God' are discussed with reference to science, art and morality.

S/P/234. Discuss the search for meaning in life with reference to Thomas Nagel's essay on absurdity

The paper reviews the ideas of Nagel discussing the duality of the subjective and objective aspects of life, the nature of the absurd, the steps of enlightenment, etc.

S/P/233. Discuss the Metaphysics of Immanuel Kant

The paper examines the central notions of Kantian philosophy discussing his attempts at integrating metaphysical and scientific claims and analysing the concepts of space and time, 'things in themselves', etc.

S/P/232. Discuss the claim that Locke's justification of private acquisition is central to his development of the primacy of individual rights

The paper examines John Locke's views on the concept of property and individual rights reviewing the key ideas of his political philosophy and discussing the position of state towards freedom and equality.

S/P/203. Philosophers of Enlightenment

The paper examines the impacts of the 'Age of Reason' on shaping the modern world reviewing the ideas of the Enlightenment philosophy, comparing them to the scientific understanding of the previous centuries and discussing the contributions of Adam Smith, Rousseau, Locke, Montesquieu, etc.

S/P/239. "The Picture is a model of reality" (Tractatus, 2.12). Present and evaluate the picture theory of the proposition evident in the 'Tractatus'

The paper examines Wittgenstein's theory of proposition analysing the language meaning with reference to the external world and arguing the forms of mental (logical) representations of reality. Criticism of the picture theory is reviewed.

S/P/230. Comparison of Bauman and Fromm's views on the role of love in contemporary society

The paper examines the views of Erich Fromm and Zygmunt Bauman on social and psychological aspects of love discussing love in relation to loneliness, separateness, sex, creative capacity, integrity, insecurity, etc.

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