Category Archives: philosophy

A secular perspective on politics?

Posted on January 14, 2009 by David Hume

I’ve been thinking of what it means to be of the “Secular Right” recently due to the comment threads where people asked us to weigh in on our specific political positions. Some people take the Secular Right to be libertarian … Continue reading →

Posted in Definition, philosophy, politics | Tagged , | 4 Comments

Brother can you spare a bit of Arminianism?

Posted on January 14, 2009 by David Hume

Somewhat related to Heather’s post, God’s Problem, see this fascinating New York Times Magazine piece on neo-Calvinism, Who Would Jesus Smack Down?: Mars Hill — with its conservative social teachings embedded in guitar solos and drum riffs, its megachurch presence … Continue reading →

Posted in philosophy | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Science & society

Posted on January 12, 2009 by David Hume

I have a piece up at Taki’s Magazine, The Limits of Certitude. It might be read along with a post at ScienceBlogs, Science is rational; scientists are not. I might as well have labeled it “An argument for conservatism.”

Posted in philosophy, science, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 8 Comments

Orthodoxy vs. Conservatism

Posted on January 9, 2009 by David Hume

In light of Richard John Neuhaus’ comment about orthodoxy, I thought I would quote a bit from a piece I posted earlier from Jerry Muller on conservatism & orthodoxy: The orthodox theoretician defends existing institutions and practices because they are … Continue reading →

Posted in philosophy | Tagged , , | 18 Comments

H. L. Mencken against the gods

Posted on December 17, 2008 by David Hume

Richard Spencer, editor of Taki’s Magazine, has an excellent piece up, The Old Right and the Antichrist. A lot to chew on….

Posted in philosophy | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Darwinian & Postmodern Conservatism

Posted on December 9, 2008 by David Hume

At Culture11 Ivan Kenneally asks, Is Darwinian Conservatism Postmodern?: Larry Arnhart is surely the best proponent of Darwinian Conservatism, and not just because he has a blog with the same name. In his view, an evolutionary biological account of nature properly … Continue reading →

Posted in culture, philosophy, politics | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Mozi vs. the Confucians

Posted on December 8, 2008 by David Hume

From Wikipedia on the bête noire of the Confucians, Mozi: …Though Mozi did not believe that history necessarily progresses, as did Han Fei Zi, he shared the latter’s critique of fate (?, mìng). Mozi believed that people were capable of changing … Continue reading →

Posted in philosophy | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

The wages of reason

Posted on December 7, 2008 by David Hume

Just to be clear, I support the program of experimental philosophy.  Some of the arguments on this weblog have seen me be extremely dismissive of reason. If one is not ambitious, and keeps the chain of propositions suitably modest, there … Continue reading →

Posted in philosophy | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Metaphysics & mathematics

Posted on December 7, 2008 by David Hume

Edward Feser, An open letter to Heather MacDonald: Now I have claimed – as a great many other thinkers, both secular and religious, would claim – that philosophy, and in particular the branch of philosophy called metaphysics, is another form … Continue reading →

Posted in philosophy | Tagged , , , | 11 Comments

Truth matters

Posted on December 6, 2008 by David Hume

In Heather’s post she mentioned that at the end of the day for her it is about truth, not consequence, in relation to supernatural claims.  This is a point that needs to be made because intellectuals such as Michael Novak … Continue reading →

Posted in philosophy, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 18 Comments