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A group of bloggers discussing philosophical ideas as well as the profession of philosophy
Browsing All Posts filed under »Politcs«
Form-Over-Content Morality: Denying Service
June 26, 2018 by James DiGiovanna
Charges of hypocrisy are popular in the current political landscape, and hypocrisy is certainly a vice, if a minor one. But much of what’s going on in these charges is an emphasis on form over content. To say any action is immoral requires an understanding of what it is in reaction to. Spitting in my […]
A History Lesson Every American Should Know
August 28, 2017 by Justin Caouette
***The following post was authored by a professor of philosophy in North America that wishes to remain anonymous. They say that those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Well, I have studied history books, and here’s a history lesson. Several decades ago, a boorish man with no morals came to hold […]
On the So Called “Grey Areas” of Sexual Consent
May 20, 2017 by Ray Aldred
Sexual consent has been the foundation of sexual ethics for many modern thinkers of sexuality. The notion itself stretches back to at least Immanuel Kant, who presented some arguments for why we should generally respect an individual’s autonomy. Respect for autonomy is the idea that we should respect a person’s capacity to make self-governing decisions […]
Cognitive Dissonance and Philosophy
April 5, 2017 by Mike Steiner
I want to first give credit to the authors of “Mistakes Were Made (but not by me)” – Carol Tavris and Elliot Aronson. Their talk of cognitive dissonance and the metaphor of the ‘pyramid of choice’ has inspired my comments below. Although the ideas in this book have obvious ramifications for psychology, psychotherapy, political science, […]
The Politics of Crybabyism
November 29, 2016 by James DiGiovanna
Perhaps Donald Trump’s most salient psychological characteristic is his tendency to complain loudly and publicly if he does not get his way: that is, his tendency to be a crybaby. So why, then, is he so popular with his supporters? Weren’t they the ones who hated the culture of offense, the sensitiveness that was forcing […]
Direct Democracy
November 21, 2016 by Aaron Thomas-Bolduc
I was visiting friends in northern California during the US election, and although I have thoughts and opinions about Trump, US politics and the electoral college, I’m going to put those issues aside. Instead I would like to share my experience with the ballot propositions in California (I’m from NY, so I have little experience […]
America: on Existentialism and Obligation
November 9, 2016 by Joshua Stein
This is not meant as a rhetorical exercise; it is a genuine issue I’m wrestling with re: my own academic future. As such, please keep comments respectful and relevant. Content notice for discussion of the repugnant positions of the United States’s President and Vice President elect. In October of 1992, on a stage in Georgia, […]
Political Possibilities.
August 22, 2016 by Aaron Thomas-Bolduc
With the political turmoil in the US and UK this year, there has been a lot of discussion of the relative merits of democratic forms of government and alternatives (e.g. here and here). Many of the proposed changes seem to me to be unworkable, but others, like a move away from first past the post […]
On Breed Specific Legislation, Public Safety, and Why The Research Matters
July 16, 2016 by Alison K McConwell
There is recent nation-wide attention to animal control issues concerning dogs in Canada. The target is “pit bulls” or dogs with traits that resemble particular characteristics of breeds included in this generic term. One common response to serious dog bites and maulings is to lobby for a ban of particular breeds by enacting Breed Specific […]
Have Gun, Will Settle Dispute: The Dangerous, Alluring Temptation
June 14, 2016 by Justin Caouette
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Originally posted on Samir Chopra:
I’ve seen fights, disputes, grow, fester, erupt into bouts of violence: disagreements become irrevocable, boundaries are crossed, and then, tempers flare. Punches and slaps are thrown, sometimes half-heartedly, sometimes in a desperate flurry, sometimes shirt collars are grabbed as the ‘fight’ turns into an ungainly grappling session with headholds and…
Assisted Suicide and Personal Autonomy: Freedom of Choice …But Only for the Sick
September 22, 2015 by Gordon Hawkes
On Friday of last week, the state legislature of California passed a bill to allow assisted suicide. If Governor Jerry Brown signs the bill into law, California will become the fifth state in the Union to make assisted suicide legal. How do advocates of assisted suicide justify allowing doctors to assist people in killing themselves? […]
Why is Baltimore Burning?
April 28, 2015 by Justin Caouette
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Originally posted on Pleas and Excuses:
Riots have broken out in Baltimore in response to the death of Freddie Gray, who died due to injuries he received while being transported in a police van. Gray was not buckled in, but was in handcuffs and leg irons, and may have been given a “rough ride,” meaning…
Philosophers from Poverty
December 19, 2014 by Aaron Thomas-Bolduc
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I strongly encourage anyone with an interest in academic philosophy, and/or inequality issues to have a look at this discussion over at the Daily Nous.
Grinworthy Quotes (4)
December 9, 2014 by Aaron Thomas-Bolduc
I apologize for taking so long to post another one of these. Here is Nicholas of Cusa (a.k.a. Cusano, a.k.a. Nikolaus von Kues) (1401–1464) on the primacy of intelligent people from De Concordantia Catholica. (This was quoted in Paul Sigmund’s Nicholas of Cusa and Medieval Political Thought, Harvard University Press, 1963, p. 132). Almighty […]
Calgary Woman Gets 18 More Months In Prison (36 Total!) For Killing 2 Children?
January 30, 2014 by Justin Caouette
My initial reaction when reading the headline today was, WHAT!?! (see article here) Meredith Borowiec just killed two babies by putting them in the dumpster (leaving them for dead) and she can walk the streets in 18 months? I think my reaction is telling. To me, this woman ought to get punished with more severity. Why? Because […]
Martha Nussbaum, “What is Anger, and Why Should We Care?”
January 16, 2014 by Justin Caouette
Martha Nussbaum has given a very nice talk on why anger is “of dubious value in both life and the law“, the talk can be found here. Although it seems obvious that anger can be bad for our well-being and is often associated with acts of malice and bad intent (and rightfully so), I do […]
Quebec Charter of Values: Separating Our State from Your Religion
November 19, 2013 by David Boutland
The Quebec provincial government has recently proposed legislation, referred to as the Quebec Charter of Values, with the primary aim of affirming a commitment to the values of State secularism and religious neutrality. Initially, I thought the proposal, which includes a number of measures meant to limit the influence religious beliefs and practices have on […]
Edward Snowden: A Modern Day Patriot?
August 10, 2013 by Justin Caouette
On Friday (August 9th), President Obama declared that NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden is not a ‘Patriot’, that his actions were not patriotic. According to Obama, Snowden is not a Patriot because of the way in which he brought the governments questionable (and anti-american) actions to light. The president said, “My preference, and I think the American peoples’ preferences […]
What’s Wrong With Rolling Stone’s August 3rd Cover? Nothing!
July 18, 2013 by Justin Caouette
The August 3rd Rolling Stone cover which features the face of Boston bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev has been the subject of public outrage. Considering I was born and raised in Massachusetts my Facebook news feed is likely filled with more criticism of the cover than those not from the area, regardless, I think such outrage […]
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A Philosopher's Take 
July 18, 2018 by Joshua Stein
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