Foucault’s response to an interview question: “Heidegger has always been for me the essential philosopher. I started by reading Hegel, then Marx, and I began to read Heidegger in 1951 or 1952; then in 1952 or 1953, I no longer remember, I read Nietzsche. I still have the notes I took while reading Heidegger – […]
Is Foucault a Neo-Marxist? Heidegger as the “essential” philosopher Read More »
Reprising this charming anecdote about his commitment to music, as reported by cellist Yulian Poplavsky, who knew Tchaikovsky at the time: The event was a performance of Rimsky-Korsakov’s Spanish Capriccio, which was to be conducted by the composer himself in a concert for the Russian Musical Society. The great Tchaikovsky was in attendance for the
Tchaikovsky’s musical magnanimity Read More »
A good example in The Wall Street Journal, reporting on a study published in Lancet: Climate Change Saves More Lives Than You’d ThinkEight times as many people die from cold as heat, and the fix for both is access to cheap fuel.
Cost-benefit thinking and climate change Read More »
Experienced consultant John Davis on how to have productive discussions. A snippet: * Stick to the subject.* Don’t interrupt.* One person talking at a time.* No ad hominem.* No name calling.* Eliminate gutter talk* Avoid logical fallacies.* Know the underlying premises of your positions.* Identify the underlying premises of the others’ positions.* Argue from basic
How to have a successful discussion [from John’s Views for a Better World] Read More »
On the priority of character: “Wealth does not bring goodness, but goodness brings wealth and every other blessing, both to the individual and to the State” (Apology, 30b). On the dangers of democracy: “No man on earth who conscientiously opposes you or any other organized democracy, and flatly prevents a great many wrongs and illegalities
In class: Socrates in Plato’s *Apology* 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 coming soon Read More »
Related: My contrasting episodes on Karl Marx and Ayn Rand. In the *Philosophers, Explained* series. Marx on abolishing private property: Rand on individual rights:
Is socialism closer to monarchy than capitalism is? Read More »
My “Educating for Entrepreneurship” has been published in Polish in the education journal Przegląd Pedagogiczny. The Polish title is “Edukacja dla przedsiębiorczości.” Here is the original working paper in English at my site and/or in PDF format. And here’s a PDF of the Polish translation. Related: My Philosophy of Education video course lectures online:
Polish translation of “Educating for Entrepreneurship” (and English original) Read More »