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Virtual Reality: Do We Need an Ethical Code?

June 21, 2016 by Ana Sandoiu 2 Comments

A friend of mine just got back from a conference on animal cruelty. Among scientific data and philosophical arguments against it, the audience was also offered a short "visit" to a factory farm, in virtual reality. From their comfortable seats in a Berlin University, using a phone-based VR headset, participants were transported into an exceptionally cruel environment, with the  Continue Reading …

Episode 104: Robert Nozick’s Libertarianism (Citizen Edition)

October 27, 2014 by Mark Linsenmayer Leave a Comment

On Anarchy, State & Utopia (1974), ch. 1-3 and 7. What moral limits should we put on government power? Nozick thinks that the only legitimate functions of government are protection and enforcement of contracts. Contra Rawls, Nozick's "entitlement" version of justice doesn't look at income inequality or any other pattern of holdings, but only at whether holdings were  Continue Reading …

Episode 104: Robert Nozick’s Libertarianism

October 27, 2014 by Mark Linsenmayer 37 Comments

On Anarchy, State & Utopia (1974), ch. 1-3 and 7. What moral limits should we put on government power? Nozick thinks that the only legitimate functions of government are protection and enforcement of contracts. Contra Rawls, Nozick's "entitlement" version of justice doesn't look at income inequality or any other pattern of holdings, but only at whether holdings were  Continue Reading …

Precognition of Ep. 104: Robert Nozick

October 26, 2014 by Mark Linsenmayer 1 Comment

Seth Paskin introduces Anarchy, State, and Utopia about libertarianism and the limits of legitimate government power. Watch for the full discussion to be released in a couple of weeks. Read more about the topic and get the book.  Continue Reading …

Precognition of Ep. 104: Robert Nozick

October 26, 2014 by Mark Linsenmayer Leave a Comment

Seth Paskin introduces Anarchy, State, and Utopia about libertarianism and the limits of legitimate government power. Listen to the full discussion. Read more about the topic and get the book.  Continue Reading …

Topics for #103 & #104: Thoreau and Nozick

October 7, 2014 by Mark Linsenmayer 8 Comments

 Continue Reading …

“You Didn’t Build That.” Political Ethics Summary in the Wash Post

July 31, 2012 by Mark Linsenmayer 13 Comments

In this Washington Post editorial on Ezra Klein's Wonkblog by Dylan Matthews, we get an attempt to connect philosophy to current political discourse, with the conclusion "...which is perhaps why, in general, politicians don’t spend a lot of time listening to philosophers." The issue is desert, as in "do rich people deserve to keep their money?" Matthews characterizes the  Continue Reading …

Ignoring Metcalf’s Central Point

June 22, 2011 by Wes Alwan 11 Comments

Julian Sanchez has some criticisms here (hat tip to commenter HPG) of Metcalf on Nozick and libertarianism. They seem fair, although I don't have time to evaluate them in detail (it's been a long time since I read Anarchy, State and Utopia): Nozick is here setting up a dilemma: Under these idealized circumstances, from what is stipulated to be a perfectly just starting  Continue Reading …

Stephen Metcalf on Nozick and “The Liberty Scam”

June 21, 2011 by Wes Alwan 68 Comments

The snark-factor is high in this entertaining, well-written indictment of libertarianism by Slate critic Stephen Metcalf: "Libertarianism" places one—so believes the libertarian—not on the political spectrum but slightly above it, and this accounts for its appeal to both the tricorne fringe and owners of premium real estate. Yowza.  Continue Reading …

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