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
Most objections to Christianity, or to religion more broadly, are hardly unique. So, encountering this fairly typical description of six “paths to atheism” seems as good an opportunity as any to address them. I’ve come to realize that our objections to God’s existence tell us more about ourselves than about Him. Most can be boiled … Continue reading What Our Objections to God Say about Us
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 