Ten of my favorites from the always perceptive Eric Hoffer: “Faith in a holy cause is to a considerable extent a substitute for lost faith in ourselves.” “The game of history is usually played by the best and the worst over the heads of the majority in the middle.” “When people are free to do […]
Eric Hoffer on true believers and false fronts Read More »
Do you see a pattern? I don’t. Nine countries selected semi-randomly: Then organized by homicide rate: Then organized by gun ownership rate: Let’s think sadly about those who were injured and lost their lives. Let’s think angrily about the evil man who killed them. And then let’s also think sophisticatedly about the multiple influences and
Guns and homicide statistics Read More »
One explanation for National Socialism appeals to psychological explanations. Hitler, for example, was an art-school reject and, the argument runs, that trauma led to resentment, which is a major part of why he became a Nazi. I’m skeptical of that explanation (as I argued here) — mostly because there are thousands of art-school rejects who
Two art school rejects — Hitler and Rodin Read More »
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 »
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 »
The Japanese are leading the way. Fascinating implications for the deep human need for companionship — interaction, visibility, and personal connection, even if simulated. Also: My related article on the ethics of sex with robots.
Want a Hologram Girlfriend and Assistant? Read More »
The opening of my latest column at EveryJoe: “schiz•o•phren•ic, adjective: Of, relating to, or characterized by the coexistence of disparate or antagonistic elements. “Let’s talk about one reason why politics makes us all a little crazy — its incoherent mix of laws and regulations. (Warning: overcharged metaphor ahead.) Not only does the left hand of
Our Schizophrenic Politics: Sex, Health, Religion, Money, and Other Important Stuff Read More »
I’m a big fan of Arnold Kling and Nick Schulz’s From Poverty to Prosperity: Intangible Assets, Hidden Liabilities and the Lasting Triumph over Scarcity. I wrote about it here. It’s about Economics 2.0, as they call it, one key feature of which is putting the entrepreneur front and center — in contrast to much of
Entrepreneur and Un-entrepreneur characteristics Read More »