Category: Social and Political Philosophy
-
Money, Power, and Equality
J. R. Lucas, "Against Equality," in Justice and Equality, ed. Hugo Bedau (Prentice-Hall, 1971), pp. 148-149: Since men value power and prestige as much as the possession of wealth—indeed, these three `goods' cannot be completely separated—it is foolish to seek to establish an equality of wealth on egalitarian grounds. It is foolish first because it…
-
Kierkegaard on the Impotence of Earthly Power
The following passage from Concluding Unscientific Postscript embodies a penetrating insight: . . . the legal authority shows its impotence precisely when it shows its power: its power by giving permission, its impotence by not being able to make it permissible. (p. 460, tr. Swenson & Lowrie) My permitting you to do X does…
-
On Smiting One’s Political Enemies
Tony Hanson e-mails from the once-great state of California whose governor-elect is once again Governor Moonbeam: I see you had Berlin's essay in your library and reread it. I just wanted to say I don't think that we are in quite the bind you describe since there still seems to be a lot of room…
-
Can I Stand Unflinchingly for Convictions that I Accept as Only Relatively Valid?
Isaiah Berlin's great essay "Two Concepts of Liberty" concludes as follows: 'To realise the relative validity of one's convictions', said an admirable writer of our time, ' and yet stand for them unflinchingly, is what distinguishes a civilised man from a barbarian.' To demand more than this is perhaps a deep and incurable metaphysical need;…
-
The Conservative Disadvantage (2010 Version)
We conservatives are at a certain disadvantage as compared to our leftist brethren. We don’t seek the meaning of our lives in the political sphere but in the private arena: in hobbies, sports, our jobs and professions, in ourselves, our families, friends, neighborhoods, communities, clubs and churches; in foot races and chess tournaments; in the…
-
Political Aporetics: A Problem with Enforced Equality
This is a sequel to yesterday's post on liberty and (material) equality and their conflict. It should be read first. This post extends the analysis by pointing out a problem for socialists (redistributivists). So consider the following aporetic triad, the first two limbs of which are similar to the first two limbs of yesterday's aporetic tetrad:…
-
Political Aporetics: Liberty Versus Equality
Political disagreement is ultimately rooted in philosophical disagreement. So if the latter is objectively irresolvable, then so is the former. I claim that both are irresolvable due to value differences that cannot be resolved either by appeal to empirical facts or by reasoning. In illustration of my thesis, consider the the values of individual liberty…
-
Immanuel Kant Versus Israel?
Old Kant man that I am, I have added a question mark to the title of an extremely interesting piece by Daniel Pipes. In it, Pipes summarizes and comments upon an article by Yoram Hazony, "Israel Through European Eyes." Worth careful study.
-
Can Federalism Save Us?
I fear that we are coming apart as a nation. We are disagreeing about things we ought not be disagreeing about, such as the need to secure the borders. The rifts are deep and nasty. Polarization and demonization of the opponent are the order of the day. Do you want more of this? Then give government…
-
The Losertarian Party
Politics is a practical business: it is about the gaining and maintaining of power for the purpose of implementing programs and policies that one believes to be beneficial, and for opposing those whose policies one believes to be deleterious. As the Converse Clausewitz Principle has it, it is war conducted by other means. For this…
-
Patriotism and Jingoism
It is not uncommon to hear people confuse patriotism with jingoism. So let's spend a few moments this Fourth of July reflecting on the difference. Jingoism is well described by Robert Hendrickson as "bellicose chauvinism." But given the general level of culture, I am afraid I can't leave it at that, but must go on…
-
A Case for Open Immigration?
Spencer Case sent me a link to a short op-ed piece by Michael Huemer who teaches philosophy at the University of Colorado. Huemer's thesis is that . . . U.S. immigration policy is fundamentally unjust. It disregards the rights and interests of other human beings, merely because those persons were born in another country. It…
-
Illegal Immigration, The Catholic Bishops, and the Misuse of Scripture
(Written 26 April 2006, revised 23 May 2010) At the website of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, we read: Why is the Catholic Church involved in the immigration issue? There are several reasons the Catholic Church is involved in the immigration debate. The Old and New Testaments, as well as the encyclicals of the Popes,…
-
Conservatives Versus Libertarians on Immigration
Victor Reppert thinks that a conservative case can be made against immigration restriction but cites a libertarian article in support of his contention. But as I see it, it is important to distinguish carefully between conservative and libertarian positions on this and other issues, despite several important points of agreement. Pace Reppert, no conservative who…
-
You Want Anti-Government? I’ll Give You Anti-Government
Contrary to the willful misrepresentations of contemporary liberals, conservatives are not anti-government. To oppose big government is not to oppose government. This passage from Pierre-Joseph Proudhon's General Idea of the Revolution in the Nineteenth Century (1851), conveys a genuine anti-government point of view: To be governed is to be kept in sight, inspected, spied upon, directed,…