The majority of our relationships are in shambles. The U.S. divorce rate hovers at 40 percent, but that’s not the whole story. Many intact relationships are on life support. According to a survey by the National Opinion Research Center, 60 percent of people in a relationship say they’re not very satisfied. There are some familiar
READ MOREThe ideas of the great modern philosophers have shaped the way men and women today view the world. Therefore, for the sake of cultural literacy, one should have some familiarity with these ideas. Take this brief quiz below to see if you’re up to speed with some of the basics of modern philosophy.
READ MOREA prominent intellectual at a recent private meeting was asked the difference between nationalism and patriotism. His response was similar to the explanation Justice Potter Stewart once offered on the difference between “obscene speech” (i.e. porn) and “protected speech”: “I know it when I see it.” George Orwell, in his essay Notes on Nationalism, offered
READ MORENo Christmas season would be complete without plentiful opportunities to watch stage or television productions of Charles Dickens’ unfortunately immortal A Christmas Carol. The classic Reginald Owen and Alastair Sim movies will no doubt play several times on multiple cable channels. We have a live production showing at the Alleyway Theatre here in Buffalo, N.Y.
READ MOREDecember 15th marks the anniversary of the American Bill of Rights. At the time the Bill of Rights was inaugurated, Thomas Jefferson noted that every government is obligated to provide such rights for its citizens. Unfortunately, many Americans today seem oblivious to this entitlement. Take, for example, the man-on-the-street interview Jay Leno conducted several years
READ MOREWhat do Anheuser-Busch InBev, Grubhub, New Balance, Kellogg’s, and the HGTV show Fixer Upper have in common? On the surface, not a whole lot—except that, over the past several weeks, each one has been the subject of a political controversy. On October 28th, Adweek reported that Anheuser-Busch InBev was ending its parodic “Bud Light Party” commercials “a little earlier than
READ MOREIn her recent article at Intellectual Takeout, Annie Holmquist gives three reasons why college freshman can’t write, a problem that is the topic of constant complaint of college professors. Her reasons are good: They are not receiving good instruction in reasoning and in writing; they don’t receive constructive criticism in school; and they are the
READ MOREAsk any teacher, parent, or politician what’s wrong with today’s education system and they’ll all have a different answer. Some will say it’s the absurd amount of testing. Others will lay the blame at the feet of the teachers. Another group will argue that poor curriculum is the driver. Veteran teacher Martin Robinson may well
READ MOREThis last year has seen a number of university professors speak out and tell their students that it’s time to grow up. Likely spurred on by increasing student demands for sensitivity and security, these professors have stepped up and pointed out that real life is a lot harder and more uncomfortable than college. Students who
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