Hardin is one of the most widely-read twentieth-century intellectuals, most known for his two pieces “The Tragedy of the Commons” and “Lifeboat Ethics: The Case Against Helping the Poor.” The two are intimately related, as one diagnoses a fundamental problem with resources and the other draws policy conclusions. A key quotation, in which Hardin states […]
Garrett Hardin bemoaning India’s 600 million population in 1974 Read More »
At a meeting of the college faculty, an angel suddenly appears and tells the head of the philosophy department, “I will grant you whichever of three blessings you choose: Wisdom, Beauty — or ten million dollars.” Immediately, the professor chooses Wisdom. There is a flash of lightning, and the professor appears transformed — but he
Philosophy humor — The nature of wisdom Read More »
I posted a comment about British culture, saying that it’s 80% based on Greco-Roman values – in response to a line from Nigel Farage saying “everything in our country and culture is based on Judeo-Christian values.” I got pushback. Even from Britons. So let’s plunge into a spot of cultural anthropology and history: One knows
Let me now teach the British what their culture is Read More »
In this invited lecture, Dr. Hicks surveys key educational ideas from pre-modern times, the modern era, and our post-modern times. Ancient education often stressed discipline, obedience and rule following, while modern thinkers such as Galileo, Locke, and Montaigne stressed independent judgment and the power of reason. He then examines a series postmodern (and fellow-traveler) thinkers
John Gray’s anti-Enlightenment [Stephen Hicks’s Pope Lecture] Read More »
Following up on “The constant decline of civilization?” — a series of quotations from across the centuries of intellectuals from Plato to Wordsworth to T.S. Eliot bemoaning the sorry state of their generation’s intellectual and moral life. Here, from a review of Mark Lilla’s The Reckless Mind: Intellectuals in Politics and Richard Wolin’s Heidegger’s Children:
Are we declining from our decline? Read More »
Update: Here’s a recording of the program: https://twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1YqKDggpBewxV?t=22cr0LD1hY9KAKBqVae_ag&s=08 Tomorrow: My webinar evaluating Javier Milei’s presidency at six months.
Evaluating Javier Milei’s presidency at six months Read More »
In his essay “To Perpetual Peace: A Philosophical Sketch,” Kant wrote that “the spirit of commerce, which is incompatible with war, sooner or later gains the upper hand in every state.” Yet Kant was not a friend of the spirit of commerce, which he associated with the Jews, whom he despised as “immoral and vile”
Is commerce rendering war obsolete? Read More »
Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson are on a camping trip. In the middle of the night Holmes wakes up and gives Watson a nudge. “Watson,” he says, “look up in the sky and tell me what you see.” “I see millions of stars, Holmes,” says Watson. “And what do you conclude from that, Watson?” Watson
Philosophy humor — Logical inference Read More »