I was interviewed by David Hutzelman on a variety of topics: entrepreneurial ethics, why business ethics should focus on the positive more than the negative, our cultural progress in developing institutions of trust and becoming comfortable with non-traditional social relationships. Here’s Part I of the interview: Update: The full interview is now available. In the […]
Television interview by David Hutzelman in Houston Read More »
My colleagues Matt Flamm and Shawn Klein will lead a discussion of the 1993 film, Groundhog Day. If you had to relive one day of your life repeatedly, what would you do? The discussion will take place on Monday, February 4th, from 4 to 5 p.m. in the CEE office at Rockford College. Light refreshments
Philosophy and Film Series: Groundhog Day Read More »
I was interviewed for Cosmoetica by Dan Schneider, mostly on themes from my Nietzsche and the Nazis documentary and book, but also on the nature of values, art, religion, corporations, and the meaning of life. Other interviews in the series include those with Daniel Dennett, Larry Sanger, and Steven Pinker.
Interviewed by Dan Schneider for Cosmoetica Read More »
On January 17 I’ll be giving a talk to the Bastiat Society in Panama. Thanks to Surse Pierpoint for the invitation (and the chance to be some place warm for a few days!). Title: The Morality of Capitalism Abstract: What makes free-market capitalism good? Advocates give many reasons. Friedman emphasizes its wealth-generating prowess. Rand cites
Upcoming talk in Panama Read More »
I came across this short piece on some connections between Adam Smith, David Hume, and the American founders. Hume writing to Benjamin Franklin in 1762: “I am sure America has sent us many good things; gold, silver, sugar, tobacco, indigo, etc., but you are the first philosopher, and indeed the first great man of letters
Scottish Enlightenment and Franklin and Jefferson Read More »
What makes liberal capitalism good? Here is a flowchart I’ve developed for use in some upcoming talks. The chart diagrams the positive claims about liberal capitalism by its defenders — John Locke, Adam Smith, John Stuart Mill, Ludwig von Mises, Ayn Rand, Friedrich Hayek, Milton Friedman, and others. Click on the image for full size
Justifying liberal capitalism Read More »
After a terrible yesterday, like many people I am still trying to understand how someone could do those horrible things. I run through the list of factors and wonder which ones contributed causally. His being male? His mental abilities/disabilities? How his parents raised him? His living in a society with access to firearms or with
Firearm death rates and more Read More »
Philosophers are noted for their stylish prose as well as their profound insights. Or, to put that point in another, perhaps more felicitous, formulation, they are justly celebrated for their abilities in the words-putting-togetherness department. Earlier I presented some 100-plus word monster sentences from philosophers — Mill, Kant, Aristotle, Locke. But now, via Stuart Hayashi,
Philosophy’s longest sentences — Bentham edition Read More »