The New York event was fast and fun, with a sold-out-wait-list-only crowd. Gene Epstein hosted and moderated. Comedian Dave Smith opened with some wry observations about current culture and politics. Thaddeus Russell was energetic and engaging in arguing that postmodernism is necessary for a politics of individual liberty. I argued the negative. Here are the
SoHo Forum debate results and impressions Read More »
A new episode of my podcast series, produced by Possibly Correct out of Toronto. Audio: iTunes Stitcher YouTube Google Play Spotify Topics: The challenge of extreme cases // Hitler’s Mein Kampf in particular // Joke: A German asks how many Poles it takes to change a lightbulb // Hard questions related to the Nazi history // Can
Censor the Hitlers [Open College series] Read More »
My discussion with Glenn Beck ranged over capitalism and socialism, the ethics needed for a free society, Greek virtues, intolerance and indoctrination in education, Ayn Rand’s egoism and her view of charity, whether a meaningful life requires transcending failure, the differences between Antifa and Nazi Brownshirts, whether the National Socialist really were socialist, postmodernism, whether
Conversation with Glenn Beck [transcript] Read More »
A new episode of my podcast series, produced by Possibly Correct out of Toronto. Audio: iTunes Stitcher YouTube Google Play Spotify Topics: Some sex-doll humor // The new materials, robotics, and A.I. // Focus on the ethics, not the politics // Two continua: psychological realism and physical realism // What do we really want from
Sex Dolls: Why Not? [Open College series] Read More »
Both of these signs are repulsive. (Click to enlarge.) Similarities between the two movements: (a) People are to be kept separate based on color, and (b) admonishing signs are needed to remind and keep people in their place. Differences between the two movements: (c) In one case, the fear is that one color will be
Old- and new-fashioned “Colored Only, No Whites Allowed” Read More »
I’ve joined thinkspot and will be using it as my main platform. Also on board as early adopters are Dave Rubin, Michael Shermer, Jordan Peterson, and a few others. thinkspot is being launched as an option to those sites quick to de-platform. “We’re in desperate need for a platform that doesn’t arbitrarily decide to throw
Announcement: I’m joining thinkspot Read More »
Two recent articles on Stoicism, one by philosopher Aaron Smith and a self-described “grumble” response by philosopher Roderick Long. Both focus on Stoicism but with some attention given to its differences and similarities with Objectivism. To that pair of discussions I add this short collection of quotations I use as a guide when I lecture
Stoicism: Smith, Long, and some quotations Read More »
Friedrich Engels arguing that communism is the logical consequence of German philosophy, starting with Kant’s revolution and progressing through Fichte, Schelling, and Hegel: “The Germans are a philosophical nation, and will not, cannot abandon Communism, as soon as it is founded upon sound philosophical principles: chiefly if it is derived as an unavoidable conclusion from
Engels on communism’s connection to German philosophy Read More »