Philosophy

Tom Paine is one of the forgotten names of the American Revolution, but it can be argued that no other man was as important in galvanizing the thoughts of American colonials toward independence.

In today‘s Friday Philosophy, Dr. David Gordon looks back upon the ethical views of the late Alasdair MacIntyre. While praising MacIntyre‘s work, Dr. Gordon points out that he never abandoned his Marxist views of economics, making much of his philosophical thinking crucially deficient.

Academic scholars tend to use Marxian terms when pointing out what they see as conditions of “oppression,” believing that race and class determine outcomes. However, the real world is not so abstract and things often are not what Marxists believe to be true.

Karl Marx still is revered by modern academics as a prophet. However, given Marx‘s penchant for making false predictions, at best he would be a false prophet, someone whose word cannot be trusted.

The antebellum abolitionist movement ranged from peaceful abolitionist societies in the South to groups in New England advocating violence and bloodshed. Unfortunately, the nation‘s political leaders chose to end slavery through violent means.

In this week‘s Friday Philosophy, Dr. David Gordon takes us through the high points of Robert Nozick by Ralf M. Bader, who writes favorably about Anarchy, State, and Utopia. In fact, Dr. Gordon believes Bader has made important contributions to libertarian thought.

Political Scientist Joseph Solis-Mullen joins Ryan McMaken to review Ralph Raico's newly published lectures on politics in the West. We recommend this book for all who want a pro-freedom history of political thought.

The late P.T. Bauer provided much insight into the issue of the so-called First World sending aid to Third World nations in the name of “development.” Bauer demonstrated conclusively that such donations actually impede economic growth in poor nations.

Murray Rothbard believed that the right to engage in voluntary exchange has long been understood as a natural right, not just a good, practical idea. Tariffs and other trade barriers violate that right.

In this edition of Friday Philosophy, Dr. David Gordon reviews Arnold Schelsky‘s The Hype Cycle and finds some worthy insights into things that modern culture has hyped, such as climate change.