The Trembling Upper World: On Siegfried Kracauer The Trembling Upper World: On Siegfried Kracauer
The European émigré who became a philosopher of American cinema.
Dec 19, 2012 / Books & the Arts / J. Hoberman
Do You Only Have a Brain? On Thomas Nagel Do You Only Have a Brain? On Thomas Nagel
A philosopher’s broadside against Darwinism and materialism is mostly an instrument of mischief.
Oct 3, 2012 / Books & the Arts / Brian Leiter and Michael Weisberg
The Good European: On Jürgen Habermas The Good European: On Jürgen Habermas
German “ordoliberalism” and Eurocrats have the EU on the brink, but Germany’s most famous philosopher remains optimistic about European democracy.
Jul 10, 2012 / Books & the Arts / Anson Rabinbach
The Higher Bealism: The Moral Limits of Markets The Higher Bealism: The Moral Limits of Markets
Why are moral and political thinkers failing to engage with the true, dispiriting scale of market sovereignty?
Jun 5, 2012 / Books & the Arts / Chris Lehmann
Hemispheric Disturbances: On Michael Gazzaniga Hemispheric Disturbances: On Michael Gazzaniga
If our brains act according to the causal laws governing all matter, in what sense can we be said to be free?
Nov 16, 2011 / Books & the Arts / Cathy Gere
American Idol: On Nietzsche in America American Idol: On Nietzsche in America
Why early twentieth-century Americans—from anarchists to Baptist ministers—fell for the philosophy of Nietzsche.
Nov 1, 2011 / Books & the Arts / Ross Posnock
Shelf Life: On Socrates Shelf Life: On Socrates
Bettany Hughes's biography of Socrates is a book that Socrates himself, on a mean day, would have torn to shreds.
Sep 6, 2011 / Books & the Arts / Emily Wilson
Teaching Peace Teaching Peace
If peacemaking is teachable, why are school so reluctant to offer classes in peace studies?
Aug 30, 2011 / Books & the Arts / Colman McCarthy
Sentimentality or Honesty? On Charles Taylor Sentimentality or Honesty? On Charles Taylor
Charles Taylor is a sadly endangered type: the philosopher-statesman.
Aug 10, 2011 / Books & the Arts / Mark Oppenheimer
The Dumbest Story Ever Told: On David Brooks The Dumbest Story Ever Told: On David Brooks
The Social Animal is a deep and public embarrassment, a lumpy hybrid of fable, neuroscience and social engineering.
May 18, 2011 / Books & the Arts / Gary Greenberg