Like many other people, I am troubled by this phrase when I hear it. The usual scenario: A successful person makes a donation to a worthy cause but downplays any praise by saying “I’m only giving back.” The usual gentle rejoinder is to point out that the phrase assumes that the giver has taken something […]
Reprising this Dmitri Shostakovich story of Alexander Glazunov‘s astounding musical memory. Glazunov was one of Shostakovich’s teachers in St. Petersburg, and by all accounts his ability to retain and recapitulate music was perfect. Here’s the practical joke played upon a visiting composer, Sergei Taneyev: “Taneyev had come to Petersburg from Moscow to show his new
A prodigious practical joke in music Read More »
According to Shostakovich: “Rimsky-Korsakov used to say that he refused to acknowledge any complaints from composers about their hard lot in life. He explained his position thus: Talk to a bookkeeper and he’ll start complaining about life and his work. Work has ruined him, it’s so dull and boring. You see, the bookkeeper had planned
Rimsky-Korsakov on the “hardship” of the composer’s life Read More »
My Liberalism: Pro and Con has been translated into Spanish by Fermin Elizalde. We will be serially publishing here each part prior to the publication of the book as a whole. Find the English version here: Amazon. From the blurb for the English edition: In this primer, we take up the best arguments for and
Liberalism: Pro & Con en Español Read More »
A short publication of mine entitled “The Ethics of Outside Funding”. Some years ago there was controversy in the academic world about the BB&T Charitable Foundation’s sponsoring programs on the moral foundations of capitalism. I participated in a conference panel that debated the issue pro and con. After an interesting set of papers and the
The ethics of outside funding Read More »
Quince argumentos para el Capitalismo Liberal: Este post va a formar parte de una serie de argumentos del libro “Liberalism: Pro & Con” de Stephen Hicks en español. Pueden encontrar todos los argumentos que serán publicados en orden en el siguiente link: Liberalism: Pro & Con en español. EN CONTRA Argumento 10: La igualdad está
La igualdad está amenazada por la libertad. [Liberalism: Pro & Con en Español] Read More »
From May 8-13, I will be in lovely Stockholm for a series of interviews and closed events. All will be published afterwards, so please stay tuned for updates. Related: Descartes died in Stockholm — perhaps he should have doubted (ha ha) that the far north was good for a philosopher’s health. Though that was winter
Professor Hicks in Stockholm, Sweden (May 2023) Read More »
[Humor alert: When I last taught Contemporary European Philosophy, I offered this alternative final exam.] Contemptible European Philosophy Dr. ShicksAlternative (Reality) Exam 1. Identify the correct choice. Jean-Paul Sartre was a(n):a) Existentialist.b) Essentialist.c) Excellent way to put yourself to sleep.d) Guy who knew how to have his way with the ladies. 2. “Why does the
Contemptible European Philosophy — exam questions Read More »
Quince argumentos para el Capitalismo Liberal: Este post va a formar parte de una serie de argumentos del libro “Liberalism: Pro & Con” de Stephen Hicks en español. Pueden encontrar todos los argumentos que serán publicados en orden en el siguiente link: Liberalism: Pro & Con en español. EN CONTRA Argumento 9: El Liberalismo es
El Liberalismo es injusto.[Liberalism: Pro & Con en Español] Read More »
Judge for oneself. Here is the mature Karl Marx writing, eight years after publishing The Communist Manifesto, for the New-York Daily Tribune: Thus we find every tyrant backed by a Jew, as is every pope by a Jesuit. In truth, the cravings of oppressors would be hopeless, and the practicability of war out of the
Was Marx really that anti-Semitic? Read More »