Can War Ever Be Justified?

Putin’s invasion of Ukraine brings up a vexing philosophical question: when is war morally defensible? A small but ancient part of political philosophy is known as “just war theory.” There are two aspects to just war theory. One explores the question of when it is just for a nation or […]

Read more

Karl Marx and 1848

The path to understanding Marx begins by understanding this excerpt from The Communist Manifesto: A spectre is haunting Europe — the spectre of Communism. All the Powers of old Europe have entered into a holy alliance to exorcise this spectre… Karl Marx, with Friedrich Engels, wrote The Communist Manifesto in 1848. In […]

Read more

Why Philosophy Is Best Taught Chronologically

How to best teaching philosophy so students can understand and appreciate its importance. One of the biggest challenges for philosophy professors is reaching students who have little to no background or interest in philosophy. In the US, philosophy is seldom taught in high school and many students see a college […]

Read more
A History of the World In Two Sentences

A History of the World in Two Sentences

A History of the World In Two Sentences 1. Rich and powerful people have bribed and coerced other people into helping them get richer and more powerful. 2. On rare occasions, those other people instead fought back. … Too simplistic? Yes, but disturbingly accurate, correct? There are many histories, but […]

Read more

Guy Fawkes: A Terrorist, Not A Hero

Guy Fawkes: Terrorist  This is the face of a terrorist. Old New I chuckle when I see clowns with their comic book masks because they don’t understand who Guy Fawkes was or why he did what he did. Anyone knowing the facts about the 1605 terrorist group Guy Fawkes was a […]

Read more
Márquez on War

Gabriel García Márquez on War

Gabriel García Márquez on War “It is easier to start a war than to end it.” – Gabriel García Márquez . Born in Columbia in 1927, Gabriel José de la Concordia García Márquez grew up aware of the tradition of war in his home country and continent. Conquered by the […]

Read more