To many people, “just war” sounds like an oxymoron. How can the lethal violence unleashed in war ever be just? Yet realpolitik underscores that not all international conflict lends itself to peaceful remedies. The twenty-first century, like many centuries before, has been one of great conflict. The U.S.-Iran war and the Russia-Ukraine war are just two examples among many Continue Reading …
Ep. 295: Kant on Preventing War (Part Two)
Subscribe to get Parts 1 and 2 ad-free, plus a supporter exclusive Part 3, which you can preview. Continuing from part one on Immanuel Kant's essay "Perpetual Peace," we go further into how Kant's politics relate to his ethics and consider his actual policy proposals: each state must be a republic, i.e. somehow representative with separation of powers, and countries should Continue Reading …
Ep. 295: Kant on Preventing War (Part One)
Subscribe to get parts 1 and 2 of this now, ad-free, plus the supporter-only part 3. On Immanuel Kant's essay "Perpetual Peace: A Philosophical Sketch" (1795). Do nations have the "right" to go to war? What principles ground just international relations, and are there structures and agreements that we can embrace to prevent prevent future wars? Naturally, we consider the Continue Reading …
Ep. 295: Kant on Preventing War (Part Two for Supporters)
Continuing from part one on Immanuel Kant's essay "Perpetual Peace," we go further into how Kant's politics relate to his ethics and consider his actual policy proposals: each state must be a republic, i.e. somehow representative with separation of powers, and countries should join in a confederation. Kant also spells out the new idea of "cosmopolitan right," which only entails Continue Reading …
Ep. 295: Kant on Preventing War (Part One for Supporters)
On Immanuel Kant's essay "Perpetual Peace: A Philosophical Sketch" (1795). Do nations have the "right" to go to war? What principles ground just international relations, and are there structures and agreements that we can embrace to prevent prevent future wars? Naturally, we consider the current conflict in Ukraine as well as other recent wars. Kant's essay reads like a Continue Reading …
Combat & Classics #22: Interview with Matt Young
Brian interviews Matt Young, Marine Corps veteran, English professor, and author of Eat the Apple, a memoir that has been described as “The Iliad of the Iraq war.” They begin by discussing maintaining your humanity (or not) while serving in and returning from war. They go on to talk about the relationship between civilian and military citizens and how literature and writing can Continue Reading …
Applying the Epicurean Theory of Justice to Cannabis Legalization
Cannabis legalization is an idea whose time has come. Bill Maher recently gave us an eye-opening monologue on it, and in his newest book Waking Up, Sam Harris argued that experimenting with altered states of consciousness is certainly a civil right, and that everyone should have certain mind-altering experiences at least once in a lifetime. From an Epicurean perspective, we Continue Reading …
Carl von Clausewitz’s Non-Existent “War in the Abstract” vs. Donald Black’s “Pure Terrorism”
As is usual, I think, when we do a topic-oriented podcast as opposed to one that really focuses on a text (see also the ones on humor and fame), our episode on terrorism didn't really do justice to all the readings we as a group all read. In particular, I feel like I need to elaborate on Jonathan's comment about "pure terrorism" from Black and how this related, as a Continue Reading …