Eric Hobsbawm is dead
A quotation about this academic, who lived a long, comfortable life in England justifying the theory and practice of communism.
Eric Hobsbawm is dead Read More »
Is the law of diminishing marginal utility true?
In my view, there are no a priori truths anywhere in the universe. But here I want to ask: Is the Law of Diminishing Utility even true? Returns diminish in many cases — but not all — and if diminishing returns is not universal, it can’t be a “law.”
Is the law of diminishing marginal utility true? Read More »
Obedience in education in 1700s Germany
In Britain and America in the 1700s, the most influential philosopher of education was John Locke, with his Some Thoughts Concerning Education. In France, it was Jean-Jacques Rousseau with his Emile. But in the German states, it was Johann Georg Sulzer, with his 1748 An Essay on the Education and Instruction of Children. Sulzer’s fundamental
Obedience in education in 1700s Germany Read More »
Food stamps and big screen televisions
At the Hoover Institution’s site, an anecdote about contemporary mores: “Hanson was in the parking lot of a Wal-Mart one day when he saw a young woman struggling to move a big screen television into her Honda. When he went over to help her, he noticed that she was holding an EBT card, a government-issued
Food stamps and big screen televisions Read More »
Did you build that?
From a book within a book:
“He said that architecture was truly the greatest of the arts, because it was anonymous, as all greatness. …
Did you build that? Read More »
Power does not corrupt
Here are Acton’s famous words: “I cannot accept your canon that we are to judge Pope and King unlike other men with a favourable presumption that they did no wrong. If there is any presumption, it is the other way, against the holders of power, increasing as the power increases. Historic responsibility has to make
Power does not corrupt Read More »
Do cry for me, Argentina
Troubles mounting in Argentina due to a government plagued by corruption scandals and heavy-handed, dysfunctional economic intervention and controls.
Do cry for me, Argentina Read More »
Football and continental philosophy
A perfect send up from the Onion: “Pre-Game Coin Toss Makes Jaguars Realize Randomness Of Life. After comprehending the capricious nature of fate, the Jacksonville Jaguars could not go through with the charade of playing a meaningless football game.” (Thanks to E.F. for the link.)
Football and continental philosophy Read More »