Frederick Douglass’s connection to the British Enlightenment. Via David Henderson and David Beito, here is an excerpt from a letter Douglass wrote on November 17, 1864: “The old doctrine that the slavery of the black, is essential to the freedom of the white race, can maintain itself only in the presence of slavery, where interest
Frederick Douglass and Adam Smith Read More »
Clichés are often over-generalizations for rhetorical purposes. “History is written by the victors” is punchy, but it is too often a cynical dismissal of objectivity in history. So here is the beginnings of a list of influential history books that do not fit the cliché: * Thucydides’ History of the Peloponnesian War (431 BCE) was
“History is written by the victors” — true? Read More »
My article on the meaning of work—contrasting those who love their work with those who hate it—and asking why that contrast has persisted across millennia. “Why Work? Our Ages-Old, Always-New Question” Published as part of a symposium on Mike Rowe of “Dirty Jobs.” At the Reason Papers site. Related: “What Business Ethics Can Learn from
Why do so many successful people continue to work? Read More »
Lecture 1. Business Revolution In our introductory lecture, Dr. Hicks examines the revolutionary transformation of business over the past 200–300 years, highlighting dramatic gains in life expectancy, wealth, and technology. We explore how entrepreneurship, science, religion, and culture drove economic growth, while discussing personal values and responsibility in a diverse global marketplace. About the Course
Our Revolutionary Business Culture — Lecture 1 of BUSINESS ETHICS LEADERSHIP Read More »
In my Modern Philosophy course we focus on the younger Marx and discuss Marx and Engels’s The Communist Manifesto. One question we raised is why Marx and Engels reject achieving socialism by democratic and reformist methods. Why the insistence upon violent revolution? Here’s Marx in an 1848 newspaper article: “there is only one way in
Marx’s philosophy and the *necessity* of violent politics Read More »
I posted a link to the shocking Biblical story of Lot’s offering his virgin daughters to a mob for sex and later having incestuous sex with them. (Link and thread: FB, X.) Many religiously-minded folks immediately offered an array of interpretations. A digest: 1. It is not a morality story at all, merely a DESCRIPTION
Lot’s Mob and Drunk Incestous Sex—and How to Interpret Scripture Read More »
I first knew of John Papola as producer of the hilarious video Fear the Boom and Bust: Keynes vs. Hayek – The Original Economics Rap Battle! He is also the CEO of the Emergent Order Foundation and host of the Dad Saves America podcast: “I sat down with philosopher and author Dr. Stephen Hicks to
Dad Saves America: John Papola’s long-form conversation with Stephen Hicks Read More »
A course by Stephen R.C. Hicks, Ph.D., Professor of Philosophy. Eight lectures on our innovative business culture and the perennial challenges of entrepreneurship and leadership. What values does business pursue? What virtues of character enable successful value pursuit? How do contradictory moral theories provide conflicting advice—or demands—that require judgment about when to negotiate, when to
BUSINESS LEADERSHIP ETHICS — eight-lecture course syllabus Read More »