History

Can America stop being the world’s policeman?0
- History
- November 29, 2017
On September 19, 1796, our first president said goodbye to his country and offered his advice to any who would listen in a document known as “Washington’s Farewell Address.” In it, President Washington covered a wide variety of topics, including political parties, the importance of national unity, the need to uphold the Constitution and preserve
READ MORE
Why We Shouldn’t Confuse Philanthropy and Welfare 0
- History
- November 28, 2017
In chapter 14 of The Road to Serfdom, “Material Conditions and Ideal Ends,” Hayek focuses on the path forward now that the Second World War was coming to an end. Specifically, he explains that calling on the state to coercively act in the name of the “greater good” is not a moral act worthy of
READ MORE
Did Early Christians Believe that Mary was a Teen Mother? It’s Complicated 0
- History
- November 17, 2017
On Nov. 13, a fifth Alabama woman came forward to accuse Roy Moore, former judge and current GOP Senate candidate, of sexual assault when she was 16. Condemnation of Moore has been widespread, but Moore himself vehemently denies these allegations. He has backing from many in Alabama. One of his most controversial statements of support
READ MORE

A Historian Explains Why America Will Probably Fail 0
- History
- October 19, 2017
The English author Paul Johnson opens his book A History of the American People (1997) by calling the United States “the greatest of all human adventures.” While clearly a fan of America’s grand experiment, Johnson nonetheless expressed some doubt about whether the nation could succeed beyond the 20th century because of its dark past, which included
READ MORE
Trial By Ordeal Was Actually an Effective Test of Guilt 0
- History
- October 18, 2017
The quest for criminal justice is fraught with uncertainty. Did the defendant commit the crime, or is he a victim of incriminating circumstances? Is he guilty as charged, or has he been charged guilty by an overzealous prosecutor? Unsure about the truth, we often end up guessing ‘He did it’ when he might not have,
READ MORE
What Homer Can Teach Us About Leadership and Tyranny 0
- History
- October 17, 2017
What makes a good leader? This question confronts us at every election and with every domestic and international policy decision. As a professor of classical languages and literature for more than 30 years, I marvel at our insistence on addressing this question as if it were brand new. Centuries ago, myths helped the Greeks learn
READ MORE