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Blog 3 Columns

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Blog 3 Columns

A Philosophical Examination of Porn 0
- Philosophy
- February 23, 2016
Some months ago, Intellectual Takeout blogged thus: “From a philosophical standpoint, the following seems to be the case: For those who believe pornography is intrinsically evil, the onus is on them to explain how its use does not accord with the proper telos, or goal, of human sexual activity. For those who believe pornography is a
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4 Reasons Why This Teacher Now Supports Homeschooling 0
- Education
- February 23, 2016
Acceptance and recognition of homeschooling has grown by leaps and bounds in recent years. Yet in spite of overwhelming support, this education practice is not without its skeptics. And oftentimes, traditional schoolteachers are the biggest skeptics. This is understandable, particularly as teachers have received large amounts of training in order to gain their position. The
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Why Political Debate Today is Incoherent 0
- Politics
- February 22, 2016
Among political philosophers, the most common critique of “liberalism” (not to be confused with modern “liberalism”) is not its concern for liberty, fairness, tolerance, and related values, but its public promotion of such values without recourse to any underlying, philosophical view of reality. We’re supposed to simply see the kind of open, secular, republican polity
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The Cult of Niceness 0
- Uncategorized
- February 22, 2016
More than twenty-five years ago, in The Closing of the American Mind, Allan Bloom pointed out that college students in the United States had become very “nice.” Students in general did not want to offend anyone and there was a constant concern to protect one another’s feelings. Bloom meant this as a half-hearted, even backhanded
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New Study Suggests Manners Might Reduce Obesity 0
- Culture
- February 22, 2016
Across the political spectrum an overwhelming majority of adults believe that it’s important to teach children to be well-mannered. Yet in spite of this widespread agreement, the growing popularity of etiquette classes signal that few people actually know what good manners really entail. As it turns out, good manners may solve more than America’s rudeness
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Modesty, Faith, and Burqa Bans 0
- Culture
- February 22, 2016
In America, talk about dress codes usually revolves around miniskirts, half shirts, and what sayings and gestures cross the line of appropriate for printed t-shirts in public spaces. Yet this issue could soon evolve into discussions of when dress in the name of modesty and religious observance also goes too far. This thought came to
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Many New Toys Leave No Room for Imagination 0
- Culture
- February 22, 2016
The other day my sister and I were reminiscing about the toys we used most as children. It quickly became clear that the common denominator in our play was a love for miniatures. We regularly used families of paper dolls, bears, and Fisher Price people (the old ones, not the gargantuan, unswallowable, and dumb-faced new
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George Washington’s Secret to Successful Government 0
- Culture
- February 22, 2016
Searching for the perfect president is quickly becoming the main goal of 2016. But as we continue on the elusive quest for an ideal 45th president, perhaps we would benefit from examining the first: George Washington. While Washington had a number of ideas on what made a nation and its government great, one idea in
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‘Peter Rabbit’ vs. ‘Polar Bear’s Underwear’: The Revenge of the Classics 0
- Culture
- February 22, 2016
More than 70 years after her death, Beatrix Potter has a new book coming out in September to coincide with the 150th anniversary of her birth. The long-lost manuscript of The Tale of Kitty-In-Boots, which will be illustrated by Quentin Blake (the wonderful illustrator of Roald Dahl’s book), is already a bestseller. Potter, most famous
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