The Myth of Political Ideals
“If belief in the principles of political philosophy we have inherited were to disappear altogether, it would pose a serious threat to the functioning of our institutions,” writes American philosopher…
The Three Faces of Decline
It is natural for us to sympathize with people who resemble us when we observe a conflict. When watching a family argument, men tend to sympathize with the man and…
You Are What You Watch
More than a generation ago, Mihály Csíkszentmihályi observed that what we pay attention to shapes who we are. You are what you pay attention to, one might say. Here in…
Rebelling Against Consequences
Every day, we now read that young people across Europe are rebelling because they have been robbed of their opportunities in life. But as usual, we are seeing only part…
The Liberal Will to Power
Anthropologists have written about institutions that, in order to function, must be treated as though they do not exist. Consider a situation in which one party makes regular payments to…
Strength Without Fanaticism
It has become fashionable to publish conversations with artificial intelligence. I am fortunate enough to be able to draw on conversations with natural intelligence. I correspond with several thoughtful readers,…