On the private affairs of public figures: Nietzsche’s uncle on Goethe

Leave a Comment / Ethics, History /

Wisdom from the grave: “Friedrich Nietzsche’s grandmother had some private letters in her possession from the circle surrounding Goethe. These letters came into the possession of Nietzsche’s aunt and uncle—who destroyed them. The uncle’s reason was this: ‘The brutal revelation of private relations upset him deeply. He did not grant the public any right to […]

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Philosophy for Real Life | Stephen Hicks Answers 22 Questions about Integrity, Character, Art, and Politics

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Filmed in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The 22 Questions: Should One be Cynical or Benevolent? | How Can I Find My Own Voice? | Who is Your Favorite Artist? | Why did Art become Ugly? | What is Postmodernism? | What is Art? | Is Ambition Good? | Is Capitalism the Most Moral System? | What

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On affairs with older women (classic advice from Benjamin Franklin)

1 Comment / Humor, Worth Reading /

[Frank advice about a “violent natural inclination” from sage Benjamin Franklin, supposing that celibacy is not a desirable option.] “But if you will not take this Counsel, and persist in thinking that Commerce with the Sex is inevitable, then I repeat my former Advice that in your Amours you should prefer old Women to young

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George Bernard Shaw, socialist: justify your existence to the government—or die

1 Comment / Philosophy /

One-minute clip from a leading 20th-century socialist: “I object to all punishment whatsoever. I don’t want to punish anybody. But there are an extraordinary number of people whom I want to kill. Not in any unkind or personal spirit. But it must be evident to all of you, you must all know half a dozen

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“Why are philosophers stupid about politics?”

9 Comments / Philosophy, Politics /

Essayist Joseph Epstein asks a question about philosophers: “What is it about the study of philosophy that tends to make brilliant minds stupid when it comes down to what are known as actual cases? Consider Martin Heidegger, Bertrand Russell, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Ludwig Wittgenstein, the four great names in twentieth-century philosophy: the first was a

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Estonian translation of *Explaining Postmodernism* coming soon

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I’m happy to announce an Estonian translation of Explaining Postmodernism: Skepticism and Socialism from Rousseau to Foucault is to be published by Postimees Kirjastus out of Tallinn, Estonia. Here’s the cover: I’ll post the publication info when it’s out. For other editions and translations, please see the Explaining Postmodernism page.

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What Moves History: Intro. to the Philosophy of History, by Stephen RC Hicks [In Case You Missed It]

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What Moves History? An Introduction to the Philosophy of History By Stephen R. C. Hicks Topic Outline: Introduction: Why Rome’s Collapse, Renaissance, Modern Revolutions? History and Philosophy of History Philosophy of history’s three types of questions: 1. Metaphysical Questions about History Divine Causation? Materialist Causation? Volitional Causation? Individual or Collective Causation? Does History Have a

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