First Blog

From Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (1770-1834) we note both the left (e.g. Marx) and right have used his philosophy in their own interests. Here are two paraphrased quotes and applicable today. ---Freedom under law is a constructive force.   Freedom from law is impossible in nature and destructive in society.  ---Morality must be a common bond, not an individual preference. An amusing anecdote about Hegel, famous for his opacity, is this. When asked what a particularly difficult paragraph in one of his books actually meant, Hegel responded, "When I wrote it, only God and I understood its meaning.   Now only God does." ------------ Another quote but not from Hegel: The embers of enlightenment may glow for centuries before catching fire. ------------- Speaking of philosophy, I could give a course on Immanuel Kant***, a philosopher difficult to understand.   I could, in my lectures, give 50 of his philosophical issues with appropriate responses. I could

Racism is big these days.  When in doubt, call your opponent a racist.  It seems to work every time.  The classic forms have a color value, black, brown, red, and yellow.  In fact, racism has grown in scope.  Now we see systemic racism (police), implicit racism (employment), media racism (communications), symbolic racism (narrative) and implied racism (political).  Don’t forget compound forms such as implicit xxx racism, where xxx is a color.  Occasionally, when the term racism wilts from overuse, the word bias is temporarily substituted.  I really cannot see any end of it, no matter what policies are enacted, and no matter who is elected.  As long as there are votes to be gained under the branding by racism, it lives. Any group feeling itself suffering from racism becomes a voting block, among the most cherished commodities in election politics.  Have no fear whatever, academics and politicians will create new forms of racism as needed.  I can see intuitiv