Marriage and the State
February 2, 2004
With what right does the state say who can and cannot marry? The state has,…
Why Be Reasonable?
August 30, 2026
“You’re being unreasonable.” “Reasonable doubt.” The “reasonable person” standard. Talk of reasonableness is everywhere we turn, but what does it actually come to? What makes something reasonable as opposed to unreasonable—and why does it matter? Could we hope for a society full of reasonable people,…
What Is Race?
January 27, 2004
Is race a discredited pseudo-scientific category? Or a real dimension of difference among humans? Or…
Would You Want to Live Forever?
January 20, 2004
Pick your favorite age. You are healthy, career thriving, family intact (at least pretend!). Would…
The Bush Doctrine of Preemptive Self-Defense
January 13, 2004
What is the difference between mere aggression and preemptive self defense? Can you really permissibly…
Live Pilot: Is Lying Always Bad?
August 20, 2003
Many philosophers have been tempted to condemn lying as an absolute evil. The problem is…
Demo #2: What Is Terrorism?
January 1, 2003
What is terrorism? Is terrorism morally worse than other forms of warfare. Was Truman’s decision…
Demo #1: Can Machines Think?
January 1, 2002
Will Computers someday be able to have humanlike consciousnes and intelligence? Will they someday outstrip…
Daniel Kahneman and the Fallible Mind
Together with Amos Tversky, Daniel Kahneman discovered many fascinating quirks of the human mind, such…
Franz Kafka and the World Without a Path
Franz Kafka is famous for his stunning, unparalleled, and often searing writings, from novels like…
Baruch Spinoza and the God in Nature
Baruch Spinoza was an 18th-century Dutch philosopher who famously claimed that nature and God are…
Rosa Luxembourg and Social Democracy
Rosa Luxemburg was an activist and intellectual whose theories of freedom motivated her insightful critiques…
Viktor Frankl and the Meaning of Life
Viktor Frankl is one of the most fascinating psychologists of the twentieth century. Having survived…
Martin Buber and the Philosophy of Dialogue
Martin Buber was a prolific writer, translator, and philosopher whose essay I and Thou remains…
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