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Come Let Us Reason Together

From First Thoughts

The outrage in Arizona has sparked another cycle of mutual recriminations between liberals and conservatives that points up what seems to be a growing chasm running through our political culture.   Each side sees itself as faithful to good old American principles, and sees the other side . . . . Continue Reading »

Overheard at Yale: Pomocon Ontology II

From First Thoughts

[Conclusion of the astute synopsis by Mr. Entel, followed by his even more astute questions:] Plato, Hancock contends, enacts this yoke between being and knowing by seemingly affirming the simple superiority of theory to practice, thus suppressing the question of the relation between the good of . . . . Continue Reading »

Overheard at Yale: Pomocon Ontology (I)

From First Thoughts

I had the opportunity to share some themes from my forthcoming The Reponsibility of Reason at Yale in September.  A very able graduate student (Lucas Entel) responded to my work, providing a deft summary as well as some valuable questions. Now this is fundamental political philosophy, in . . . . Continue Reading »

How Do Ideas Have Consequences?

From First Thoughts

As President of the John Adams Center for the Study of Faith, Philosophy and Public Affairs, I’ve been working on a statement of our purposes, and thus on an explanation of the critical importance for society of careful philosophical engagement with the deepest underlying issues.  I . . . . Continue Reading »