Concluding on "The Needs of the Soul" from The Need for Roots (1943). This time we cover punishment, security, risk, private property, collective property, freedom of opinion, and truth. Start with part one or get the full, ad-free Citizen Edition. Supporting PEL will also get you access to our PEL Nightcaps. Don't miss out! End song: "Even Though the Darkest Clouds" by Continue Reading …
Episode 183: Mill on Liberty (Part Two)
Continuing on John Stuart Mill's On Liberty (1859). For Wes Alwan's summary of this book, go here). We discuss "partial truths" and how free speech may allow us to complete them, whether truth will always eventually overcome persecution, whether we can judge some "experiments in living" as failures once and for all, education, "barbarians," how Mill compares to Nietzsche, and Continue Reading …
Episode 183: Mill on Liberty (Part One)
Discussing John Stuart Mill's On Liberty (1859). For Wes Alwan's summary of this book, go here). If we disapprove of certain behaviors, when is it okay to prohibit them legally? What about just shaming people for engaging in them? How much shaming is too much? Mill's famous "harm principle" says that we should permit anything unless it harms other people. But what Continue Reading …
Ep. 183: Mill on Liberty (Citizen Edition)
Discussing John Stuart Mill's On Liberty (1859). For Wes Alwan's summary of this book, go here). If we disapprove of certain behaviors, when is it okay to prohibit them legally? What about just shaming people for engaging in them? How much shaming is too much? Mill's famous "harm principle" says that we should permit anything unless it harms other people. But what Continue Reading …
Episode 166: Spinoza on Politics and Religion (Part Two)
Concluding on the Tractatus Theologico-Politicus (1670) and Tractatus Politicus (1677). What's the relationship between ethics, reason, and revelation? What could "faith" possibly mean to a hard-core rationalist like Spinoza? Is it possible to buy into the non-denominational "true religion" without believing any of the dogmas of traditional religion at all? And what kinds of Continue Reading …
Episode 166: Spinoza on Politics and Religion (Part One)
On Benedict de Spinoza’s Tractatus Theologico-Politicus (1670), ch. 12–20 and the Tractatus Politicus (1677). What's the relationship between ethics and political power? Given that religious factions tend to create strife, what's the optimal role of the government in mitigating that damage? Is theocracy in any way a good idea? In ep. 165 we outlined Spinoza's project in Continue Reading …
Ep. 166: Spinoza on Politics and Religion (Citizen Edition)
On Benedict de Spinoza’s Tractatus Theologico-Politicus (1670), ch. 12–20 and the Tractatus Politicus (1677). What's the relationship between ethics and political power? Given that religious factions tend to create strife, what's the optimal role of the government in mitigating that damage? Is theocracy in any way a good idea? In ep. 165 we outlined Spinoza's project in Continue Reading …