In an earlier post I asked, Who is the most loathsome philosopher in history? I suggested that Rousseau and Heidegger be considered top candidates. Some more data relevant to Rousseau: He made his common-law wife leave all five of their infants at foundling hospitals, on the grounds that they’d be better off there and that […]
Rousseau’s five children Read More »
In my Ethics course, we cover the arguments for and against banning pornography. One of our readings is from Wendy McElroy’s Sexual Correctness: The Gender-Feminist Attack on Women. McElroy takes up the gender-feminist arguments against porn and contrasts them with liberal individualist forms of feminism. The following updated* chart of contrasts is a work in
Liberal versus gender feminism: McElroy’s *Sexual Correctness* Read More »
Did the death of one man in Mongolia affect the entire course of European history since the 1200s? Here’s the context: In 1227, Genghis Khan’s son Ogedai became head of the Mongolian empire, which at that time included much of northern China, southeastern Russia, and Persia. Ogedai sent one of his generals, Tsubodai (or Subotai),
The Mongols and modern European history Read More »
When the audio-book edition hit 1 million views at YouTube, I was astounded. “That many people will listen to a philosophy book??” When it hit 2 million, amazed. Then 3 million …. So I’m happy and continuingly surprised as Nietzsche and the Nazis has passed 4.99 million views and is closing on 5 million. Description:
4.99 million views, and counting Read More »
Last month in Washington I gave this talk — on how the Woke activist movement developed (in large part) out of two related theory movements, Critical Theory and Postmodernism — at TAS “Galt’s Gulch” event. It was a full-house international event with professionals as well as students from a surprising range of countries: USA, Morocco,
The Rise of Woke | Talk in Washington, DC Read More »
The opening of Bacon’s essay “Of Marriage and Single Life”: “He that hath wife and children hath given hostages to fortune; for they are impediments to great enterprises, either of virtue or mischief. Certainly, the best works, and of the greatest merit for the public, have proceeded from the unmarried or childless men.” Bacon was
Francis Bacon on marriage versus the single life Read More »
Live Audience Application, Miami, Florida, August 2024. Professor Hicks, renowned philosopher, will be teaching a two-part course on political philosophy, outlining the key thinkers and ideas that have shaped our politics: August 21-23: Philosophy of Politics: From the French Revolution to WW II August 26-28: Philosophy of Politics: From the Cold War to After 9-11
Studio audience invitation for *Philosophy of Politics* [new Peterson Academy course] Read More »
1/3: On cities taking in migrants, many of rough and uncertain character, at high cost & safety risk to themselves. Hypothesis: Think of the priest in the powerful early scene of Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables and the Broadway play and Hollywood movie. … 2/3: The priest takes in a debased and unknown-to-him Jean Valjean, recently escaped
The Migrant Crisis and Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables Read More »