Allen Wood is a world-famous authority on nineteenth-century German idealism, and his books on Kant, Fichte, and Hegel are well worth careful study. He combines the skills of an analytic philosopher in assessing arguments with deep sympathy for philosophers outside the mainstream of the analytic tradition, and he is often able to show that what these philosophers said makes sense and is insightful.

Imagination is an important aspect of human faculties, thinking, and action. Imagination can be used for good or bad. Imagination is key to abstract thinking, that is, the ability to think about concepts that are not physical or concrete. Imagination can allow us to think about how things could be different than they are.

The issue of California secession isn’t going away.

Last week, the California secretary of state approved a new ballot measure on secession for the signature gathering phase of the initiative process. If activists are able to collect enough signatures by late July, voters in 2028 will be able to vote yes or no to the question “Should California leave the United States and become a free and independent country?”