Both are smart guys, and I haven’t read the book or the review, but I am fascinated by the social dynamic, which follows a common pattern: What could be an engaged and productive argument devolves quickly into insults, exasperation, uncharitable interpretations about who said what, claims of immoralities, and suggestions of lawsuits. Also fascinating is
Steve Patterson and Jason Brennan Read More »
Football player Marshawn Lynch in an interview, on his independence of judgment: “If you tell me to do something and I want to know why and you don’t want to tell me why — No.” Take that, hero-of-the-Old-Testament Abraham, whose blind faith made him willing to kill his son Isaac when commanded. Sources: American Way,
Marshawn Lynch (NFL) versus Abraham (Genesis) on morality Read More »
On February 20 and 21 I’ll be speaking at the Orono campus on two issues in political philosophy: “Postmodernism and the Rise of the New Left” “Nietzsche — Did the National Socialists Use or Abuse His Philosophy?” The poster for the event is here. Thanks very much to Professor Michael Palmer for the invitation.
Upcoming talks at the University of Maine Read More »
Plato argued that there’s a perennial quarrel between poetry and philosophy.* Now science argues that the poets may have an edge in the dating market. If I understand this phenomenon correctly: * The poet says: Your beauty, so like a red, red rose, thrills my core with longing. * The philosopher says: Your functional properties
Do poets or philosophers romance better? Read More »
Some items from the 2017 Index of Economic Freedom that stood out to me: * USA falls from 11th to 17th. * United Arab Emirates rises from 25th to 8th. * Chile falls from 7th to 10th. * Argentina rises from 169th to 156th. * Poland falls slightly from 42nd to 45th. * Guatemala rises
The 2017 Index of Economic Freedom is out Read More »
Romance is in the air, so here is a repost of my round-up of philosophers talking to their sweethearts – collected from conversations overheard at smoky cafés, college libraries, mountain caves, and seminar rooms the world over. The Aristotelian: “I wish to marry you, for I know that my happiness, both of body and soul,
“Should I marry you?” How philosophers answer Read More »
[Kant died on February 12 in 1804.] Duty, not inclination: “Now an action done from duty must wholly exclude the influence of inclination and with it every object of the will, so that nothing remains which can determine the will except objectively the law, and subjectively pure respect for this practical law, and consequently the
Kant on what makes one morally worthy Read More »
[I can’t remember where I saw a variation of this posted online.] You’re driving through a remote desert on your motorcycle and come across three stranded people. Your motorcycle can carry only one additional person. The three stranded people? An old woman who needs a hospital, your best friend who saved your life, and the
Life and death desert scenario — dark humor Read More »