Philosophy

Who Was Jean-Jacques Rousseau?2
- Philosophy, Education
- May 30, 2024
“Masochist, exhibitionist, neurasthenic, hypochondriac, incapable of normal or parental affection, incipient paranoiac, narcissistic introvert … pathologically timid, a kleptomaniac, infantilist, irritable, and miserly.” This is how one scholar has diagnosed Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Harsh though this may sound, the details of Rousseau’s life (1712–1778) bear out this description. Rousseau’s ideas are at the foundation of the
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Our Culture of Narcissism Fosters Misery. Here’s Why.2
- Culture, Philosophy
- May 28, 2024
“You be you.” “Follow your heart.” “Pursue your dreams.” “Be yourself.” Such are the individualistic mantras of the 21st century, which continually call us to look inward for our “true selves” and lasting happiness. Historian and social critic Christopher Lasch called this a culture of narcissism. But does happiness truly come from within? Thaddeus Williams
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Tradition: Good or Bad? How Francis Bacon Approached Communal Customs 1
- Philosophy, Western Civilization
- May 14, 2024
Almost single-handedly, Sir Francis Bacon popularized the scientific method. He’s credited, too, with inspiring “the modern world as we currently know it.” In his remarkable works (such as his famous Essays), Bacon drew heavily on ancient literature and proverbs: He looked to the past as well as toward the future. In our fast-changing times, we
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New Is Not Always Better: Why There’s Wisdom in Tradition 0
- Culture, Philosophy, Western Civilization
- May 7, 2024
Imagine a scientist who decided to reject every scientific experiment or study that had come before him and would trust only scientific principles that he demonstrated with his own experiments. Naturally, he would completely handicap himself. In his arrogance, he’d accomplish very little with his science, since he’d be hard at work re-demonstrating every scientific
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What Romanticism and Taylor Swift Have in Common 3
- Entertainment, Culture, Featured, Literature, MomThink, Philosophy
- May 1, 2024
Wherever you turn today, you’ll hear about Taylor Swift—her albums, tours, and dating life. For better or for worse, she has a sizeable impact on our culture. It’s no surprise, then, that her most recent album, The Tortured Poets Department, has hit a record number of sales, with 2.61 million debut units as the “best
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Reality Rejected: New NPR CEO Says ‘There Are Many Truths’6
- Culture, Featured, Philosophy
- April 29, 2024
Do encyclopedias like Wikipedia or news organizations like NPR exist to tell us the truth, to inform us about reality? Perhaps it’s not so simple anymore. The recent example of the former CEO of Wikimedia and new CEO of NPR, Katherine Maher, is a case in point. A pair of Maher’s speeches have been making
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