Blog Template

Why Superficial Conversation is Soooo Exhausting 0
- Culture
- March 11, 2016
Most of us have people in our lives—whether family, friends, or acquaintances—who cannot seem to talk about anything of substance. And it gets old real fast. Don’t mistake me: I’m not saying that every conversation has to result in an extended philosophical dialogue; the occasional chit-chat is fine. But there are those close to us
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Does the State Interfere Too Much in Parenting?0
- Culture
- March 11, 2016
In recent years, the free-range parent movement has swept the nation, encouraging parents to teach their children responsibility by allowing them to do things on their own like walking to the local park. But sometimes parents who give their children responsibility at young ages get into trouble with our over-cautious society. Such is the case
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Should the U.S. Become More ‘Isolationist’?0
- Politics
- March 11, 2016
Both Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders support what is being referred to as a more “isolationist” foreign policy for America—and that’s undoubtedly part of their appeal. Americans have grown weary of the U.S. acting as the police for the world, of constantly intervening in the affairs of other countries. Many have asked, “Why does it
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When ‘Science Guys’ Try to Philosophize, It Gets Messy 0
- March 11, 2016
Many of you have probably heard of “Bill Nye the Science Guy.” He had a TV show by that name back in the mid-90s. He can boast of real accomplishments as an inventor, entertainer, and explainer of science to the lay person. He knows a lot. So why does he get philosophy so wrong? For
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Are Schools Rediscovering the Need for Philosophy Curriculum?0
- Education
- March 11, 2016
Last week we took a look at the curriculum recommendations which Ben Franklin laid out for America’s early grammar schools. These schools consisted of six classes (a.k.a. “grades”) geared toward boys between the ages of 8 and 16 which taught everything from English grammar to classic literature. One of Franklin’s more surprising recommendations was the
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Test How ‘Culturally Literate’ You Are 1
- Culture
- March 11, 2016
E.D. Hirsch, professor emeritus of education and humanities at the University of Virginia, has become famous for his advocacy of “cultural literacy.” According to Hirsch, “To be culturally literate is to possess the basic information needed to thrive in the modern world.” He emphasized that a “shared, canonical knowledge is inherently necessary to a literate
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