In Western nations, there is a clear connection between philosophy and totalitarian politics in the 20th century. Hegel’s philosophy, for example, took a “left” turn in Marx’s thinking — which Lenin, Trotsky, and Stalin drew upon — and it took a “right” turn in Treitschke’s and Nietzsche’s thinking — which Goebbels, Hitler, and the National […]
German philosophy in pre-World-War-II Japan Read More »
Che Guevara was killed on October 9, 1967, so here is a quiz to test your knowledge of his guiding principles. (Click to enlarge.) For why our Che problem is more philosophical and less political, here is my article — “Our Che Guevara Problem” — in English and in Portuguese.
A fun quiz for Che Guevara Day Read More »
In my Philosophy of Religion course, this week we are reading excerpts from the Koran and Seyyid Qutb’s influential Milestones. The Koran has many bloodthirsty passages as well as many suggesting qualified live-and-let-live policies. So we take up the question of whether Islam is essentially a religion of violence or peace. Qutb offered an influential
Seyyid Qutb and Islamism this week Read More »
I gave a talk in June at a conference sponsored by Fundación para la Responsabilidad Intelectual, Junior Achievement Argentina, and the John Templeton Foundation. I spoke (in English) on “Cómo las Revoluciones se Ganan o se Pierden,” or “How Revolutions are Won and Lost.” Here is a video of the talk:
Video of my talk in Buenos Aires Read More »
The fascist Benito Mussolini had high praise for the economic theories of John Maynard Keynes: “Fascism entirely agrees with Mr. Maynard Keynes, despite the latter’s prominent position as a Liberal. In fact, Mr. Keynes’ excellent little book, The End of Laissez-Faire (l926) might, so far as it goes, serve as a useful introduction to fascist
Mussolini on Keynes’s economics Read More »
This image (click to enlarge) was taken during a state visit between socialist president Evo Morales of Bolivia and leftish pope Francis of the Vatican. The gift is a crucifix affixed to a sickle and hammer. I’m reminded of these words from my Nietzsche and the Nazis (2010), about the philosopher on Christianity and socialism:
Evo Morales, Pope Francis, and Friedrich Nietzsche Read More »
[This text is also available via my Texts in Philosophy page.] Benito Mussolini and Giovanni Gentile The Doctrine of Fascism (1932) Like all sound political conceptions, Fascism is action and it is thought; action in which doctrine is immanent, and doctrine arising from a given system of historical forces in which it is inserted, and
Mussolini and Gentile’s *The Doctrine of Fascism* Read More »
Coisas ruins acontecem no livre mercado. Algumas pessoas mentem, utilizam atalhos, cometem fraudes e passam cheques sem fundo. Outros não cumprem contratos, oferecem ou aceitam suborno, pagam propina, roubam e assim por diante. Frequentemente isso se traduz em argumentos em prol da regulamentação governamental. O livre mercado maximiza a liberdade, diz o argumento, dando mais oportunidades
Corrupção — a regulamentação governamental ajuda? Read More »