Philosophy

Epistemology of the Closet Epistemology of the Closet

A biography of Utilitarian philosopher Henry Sidgwick sheds new light on life in the Victorian era.

May 19, 2005 / Books & the Arts / Martha C. Nussbaum

Men in Dark Times Men in Dark Times

"I am very happy to see so many flowers here and that is why I want to remind you that flowers, by themselves, have no power whatsoever, other than the power of men and women who...

Jan 20, 2005 / Books & the Arts / Russell Jacoby

Assigning Responsibility Assigning Responsibility

Defending Rumsfeld, Bush says Rummy's great, That as a planner he has been first rate-- Respected in the White House and the ranks.

Jan 6, 2005 / Books & the Arts / Calvin Trillin

The Hero Within The Hero Within

If many strangers die all at once, as in the tragedy of the tsunami or the Rwanda massacre or a war like the one in Iraq, it is a moral problem, to be dealt with through politics...

Jan 6, 2005 / Books & the Arts / Earl Shorris

The War That Never Was The War That Never Was

As war threatened Europe in the 1930s, a physicist turned to a psychiatrist to help understand the impending violence.

Dec 2, 2004 / Books & the Arts / Russell Jacoby

Hostile Obituary for Derrida Hostile Obituary for Derrida

On October 10, the New York Times published a front-page obituary for French philosopher Jacques Derrida.

Nov 24, 2004 / Books & the Arts / Ross Benjamin

The Interpreters of Maladies The Interpreters of Maladies

Derrida was often misunderstood, but rarely worse than in his New York Times obituary. Ross Benjamin explains, in a web-only feature.

Nov 24, 2004 / Books & the Arts / Adam Shatz

Office Politics Office Politics

As one of those pathetic evolutionary throwbacks who has never used e-mail or the Internet, and has hardly ever handled a mobile phone, I can approach this book with all the supr...

Oct 7, 2004 / Books & the Arts / Terry Eagleton

The Ethics of George W. Bush The Ethics of George W. Bush

In his second inaugural address as Governor of Texas, George W. Bush declared, "Some people think it's inappropriate to make moral judgments anymore.

Sep 28, 2004 / Books & the Arts / Katherine C. Reilly

Philosophical Convictions Philosophical Convictions

Philosophers get attention only when they appear to be doing something sinister--corrupting the youth, undermining the foundations of civilization, sneering at all we hold dear.

May 27, 2004 / Books & the Arts / Richard Rorty

x