Immanuel Kant famously said this: “Out of the crooked timber of humanity, no straight thing was ever made.”[1] And this: “The history of *nature*, therefore, begins with good, for it is God’s work; the history of *freedom* begins with *badness*, for it is *man’s* work.”[2] And he regularly makes other slights against human nature. So […]
Kant versus human perfectibility — strange interpretations Read More »
For use in my courses, additions to my Texts in Philosophy page. All files are PDFs. William Bennett and Milton Friedman, Open Letters on the War on Drugs, from The Wall Street Journal (1989). Nathaniel Branden, “Self-Esteem in the Information Age” (1997). Max Forrester Eastman (1883-1969), excerpt from Reflections on the Failure of Socialism (1955).
Texts in Philosophy — very early 2017 additions Read More »
Penguin has published a new translation by R. Kevin Hill and Michael Scarpitti of Friedrich Nietzsche’s The Will to Power. In the mid-1880s Nietzsche was extraordinarily productive making and reworking notes for an intended magnum opus. But he did not complete it and turned to publishing the final few short books of his career before
*The Will to Power* — new translation by Hill and Scarpitti Read More »
In a recent post, philosopher-turned-businessman Robert Garmong made this observation: I’m now convinced that 99% of business success comes down to skill at defining and applying concepts. Those who are mere cogs in the machine, generally speaking, are those who don’t really understand the concepts. They may grasp the rules, but not the reasons. They
Who succeeds in business — Garmong on *conceptual* thinking Read More »
One-minute video clip: “If my sister rejected Islam, I would reject her. She MUST believe in God.” The #ExMuslim reality, with a sparkling smile. pic.twitter.com/HpxeFzMfva — ExMuslim TV (@ExMuslim_TV) January 29, 2017 As hinted in the clip, honor killings are not far from this. But on the family values issues, Ms. Azariya reminds me of
Muslims, Christians, and family — not so different? 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 »
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 »