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Justice and ‘Social Justice’: Two Very Different Things 0
- Philosophy
- February 24, 2017
Recently, Harvard political theorist Danielle Allen wrote in the Washington Post of “The most important phrase in the Pledge of Allegiance” — “with liberty and justice for all.” Allen recognized that justice required “equality before the law” and that freedom exists “only when it is for everyone.” But she confused democracy — defined as progressives “build[ing] a distributed
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Lincoln’s Suicide Note 0
- History
- February 24, 2017
The depths of Abraham Lincoln’s misery following the death of fiancée Ann Rutledge is well known. (Lincoln’s close friend Josh Speed provided a detailed and captivating recollection of the Lincoln-Rutledge courtship, an unlikely romance that was nothing short of Shakespearean in both beauty and tragedy.) Lincoln was remarkably frank and open about his persistent “melancholy”, which
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Former Stanford Provost: ‘The Threat from Within’0
- Culture
- February 24, 2017
Stanford News recently featured an excerpt from former Trustee John Etchemendy about the challenges higher education is facing. He begins by arguing, Universities are a fundamental force of good in the world. At their best, they mine knowledge and understanding, wisdom and insight, and then freely distribute these treasures to society at large. Theirs is
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Fewer Doctors Are Telling Patients They’re Overweight 0
- Culture
- February 24, 2017
Not long ago, I heard a story of how a woman was incensed over the fact that a doctor told her to lose weight. It was gently pointed out to this person that it’s generally a doctor’s job to recognize health issues and bring them to a patient’s attention, even when those issues aren’t what
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Can the Last Really be First?0
- History
- February 23, 2017
Some writers rejoice in paradox. One thinks perhaps of Oscar Wilde or G. K. Chesterton. And one thinks especially perhaps of Shakespeare. King Lear is almost defined by the paradox of foolish wisdom, and it is Hamlet who says that he must be cruel to be kind. Another person who rejoices in paradox is Jesus.
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How Long Does it Take to Form Good Habits?0
- Culture
- February 23, 2017
There is a worldview emerging that suggests human destiny is preordained. Free will is dead, declared The Atlantic last summer, since “…all human behavior can be explained through the clockwork laws of cause and effect.” Humans are mere amoebae. In this Neo-Predestination philosophy, we’re bound not by Providence or Fate, but our brain chemistry and macro
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