Exploring the intersection of faith and reason
French political philosopher Pierre Manent has given us all a great gift in his new book Natural Law and Human Rights: Toward a Recovery of Practical Reason. First published in French in 2018, this work is recently available in an English translation by Ralph Hancock. Manent’s concern with practical reason (as opposed to mere theory) … Continue reading Debunking Natural Rights and Recovering Natural Law
The last few months have been difficult for many Americans. We have watched our nation struggle with a global pandemic, a history of unresolved racism, and violence in the streets. Economic and social turmoil have engendered feelings of helplessness and despair, as events continue to spiral out of control. Many are left doubting the foundations … Continue reading Solzhenitsyn’s Critique of the West as a Warning for Our Times
I recently read Nassim Nicholas Taleb’s four-book Incerto collection. In the first book, Fooled by Randomness, Taleb posits that we know much less about the world than we think. Published just months before 9/11, he infamously floated the scenario of terrorists flying planes into the Twin Towers. In the second book, The Black Swan, Taleb … Continue reading Viewing the COVID-19 Pandemic through the Lens of Fragility
Our whole business in this Life is to restore to health the eye of the heart whereby God may be seen. - St. Augustine SOCRATES: Imagine this: People live under the earth in a cavelike dwelling. Stretching a long way up toward the daylight is its entrance, toward which the entire cave is gathered. The … Continue reading Jesus, Socrates, and the Problem of Human Blindness
In 2012, a Gallup International poll found that 12% of global respondents identify as “convinced atheists.” In China, the figure is 47%, followed by Japan at 31% and France at 29%. In the United States, self-identified atheists have risen from 1% in 2005 to 5% in 2012. While this is still a very small figure, … Continue reading A Question for Atheists
It's been a long time since there has been this much fundamental disagreement in America over the nature of liberty. Judging by recent events, many Americans no longer value our First Amendment rights to freedom of speech and freedom of religion. Where did this disregard originate, what worldview underlies it, and how can we fight … Continue reading Giving Up Our Natural Rights for Artificial Ones
The Front Porch Philosopher 