A Philosopher’s View of the World

 

May
18

Lessons from COVID-19 VII: Critical Unity

Anyone familiar with sports knows that if team members don’t work together, things will go badly. So good athletes set aside internal conflicts when on the field and come together

May
17

Lessons from COVID-19 VI: Sacrifices

As the COVID-19 pandemic played out, Trump wavered on social distancing. One reason was that billionaires  argued for getting back to work during the pandemic. In  neutral terms, their argument

May
16

Lessons from COVID-19 V: Xenophobia & Racism

As COVID-19 ravaged humanity, xenophobia and racism remained alive and well. For example, an Iranian leader  played on fears of America and Israel. He advanced, without evidence, the claim that

May
15

Lessons from COVID-19 IV: (Mis)Information

In the face of a crisis politicians often have an incentive to conceal, lie and spread disinformation. There seems to be a natural impulse to do these things to avoid

May
14

Lessons from COVID-19 III: Politicization

When everyone is in danger from a disease, it seems irrational for a political party to politicize the threat. But this happened during COVID-19.  One reason is that while Americans

May
13

Lessons from COVID-19 II: Health Care as Private vs. Public Good

In the United States, health care is often seen as a private good. The benefit of a private good belongs primarily (or even exclusively) to the individual. But a private

May
12

Lessons from COVID-19 I: Mercenaries

When the COVID-19 virus invaded the United States, it found an ill-prepared and complacent foe. As such, the impact proved devastating. One clear lesson is that the aggressively for-profit health

May
11

The Survival Argument for Off-World Colonies

The survival argument for establishing off world colonies has considerable appeal. It begins with a consideration of the threat of extinction. There have been numerous extinction events in the past

 

 

 

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