When Nazi Germany and fascist Italy were defeated, the great historical question was: Will liberalism or socialism prevail in the world? The ensuing mix of cold and hot wars and ideological battles reached their climax in our generation — with the fallout from the Soviet Union’s collapse, the enduring sadness of Cuba, the ongoing mess […]
Our generation’s question: Liberalism or Fascism or Socialism? Read More »
Matt Zwolinski and I have a friendly debate about several technical, foundational issues in Rand’s theory of rights: Can rights be based on egoism? What’s the connection between property rights and value creation? What counts as an improper initiation of force? Several other sub-issues about content and method arise along the way. In about 750 words each,
Zwolinski and Hicks on Rand and rights theory Read More »
Without comment, I offer this excerpt from the Gospel of Thomas (114): Simon Peter said to Jesus, “Make Mary leave us, for females don’t deserve life.” Jesus said, “Look, I will guide her to make her male, so that she too may become a living spirit resembling you males. For every female who makes herself
Jesus and transgenderism Read More »
He had me from the opening sentence: Here’s a link to the mentioned Explaining Postmodernism: Skepticism and Socialism from Rousseau to Foucault.
Jordan Peterson on the evils of postmodernism Read More »
This week in my Ethics course we are looking at two classic arguments about the penalty of death, both from U.S. Supreme Court cases: Justice Brennan, excerpt from Furman v. Georgia 408 U. S. 238 (1972), and Justice Stewart, excerpt from Gregg v. Georgia (1976). Here’s my chart outlining the criteria and arguments used by
Capital Punishment: Brennan versus Stewart Read More »
I am the centre of my universe, the centre of the universe, and in my supreme anguish I cry with Michelet, “Mon moi, ils m’arrachent mon moi!” What is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul? (Matt. xvi. 26). Egoism, you say? There is nothing more universal
De Unamuno’s egoism Read More »
I wrote this piece 15 years ago — my explanation of how two lines of development of modern art culminated in postmodernism. (Translations via here into German, Spanish, Korean, and Portuguese). Now I feel the need to write a follow-up: Why Art is Still Ugly. Related: * Taking Modern Artists at Their Word. September 2014.
Why Is Art *Still* Ugly? Read More »
In a session organized by Peter Calcagno (College of Charleston) on the theme of Philosophy of Freedom (APEE Session 2.F.7, Monday, April 10, 2017, 2:30-3:45 pm), I’ll be speaking on the theme of “What Does It Mean to Educate for Freedom?” In part, my talk will draw on my “What Entrepreneurship Can Teach Us All About Life” article
“What Does It Mean to Educate for Freedom?” — APEE conference talk Read More »