Philosophy

The Suburban Slum

Posted by M on September 10, 2009
Aesthetics, Agrarianism / 9 Comments

This is a good introduction to the problems with suburbia.  The speaker has Continue reading…

Byron, Frisbianity, Leibniz’s Law, and Propositional Attitudes

Posted by M on August 01, 2009
Current Discourse, Ethics / No Comments

Let us suppose that the following identity statement is true Continue reading…

Ken Ham on Incest

Posted by T on July 20, 2009
Biblical, Current Discourse, Ethics / 24 Comments

Ken Ham and his associates regard the Mosaic commandment against incest Continue reading…

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Jerry Bridges’ Sin

Posted by T on November 01, 2008
Ethics, Man, Salvation / 6 Comments

His book Respectable Sins starts off with a few orientation chapters, the burden of which is to show: You are already a saint Continue reading…

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The “human life amendment”

Posted by T on October 21, 2008
Ethics, Politics / 3 Comments

There is a lot of discussion in conservative circles of Continue reading…

Plan to Think Critically Now

Posted by T on August 07, 2008
Current Flux, Logic / 8 Comments

Michael Butler, heir apparent to Greg Bahnsen, will be teaching Continue reading…

16 Milestones in Thinking about Just War

Posted by T on July 26, 2008
20th century, Ethics / 2 Comments

This is the 65th anniversary of the Allied firebomb-murder of Continue reading…

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Berman on Law and Religion

Posted by T on July 12, 2008
Current Discourse, Ethics, Judaica / 2 Comments

The topic addressed in this little book is important, asking such questions as what is law? where did it come from? what are the dynamics Continue reading…

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Frege’s Sinn und Bedeutung: first third

Posted by T on June 07, 2008
Logic, Philosophy / 2 Comments

This essay by Gottlob Frege (1848-1925) was published in 1892 in the journal Continue reading…

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Attitudes on Quantifying In

Posted by M on March 14, 2008
Logic, Philosophy / 11 Comments

The following is the first installment of an article on the philosophy of Gottlob Frege. Students of philosophy may find here something of interest.

Continue reading…

Wading into the Tractatus

Posted by T on March 07, 2008
Epistemology, The Greats / 15 Comments

The attached audio (or better: use this 16 kbps compressed version) is our beginning of a close reading of the early Wittgenstein. Continue reading…

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Hegel on Black History Month

Posted by T on February 25, 2008
Current Discourse, History, The Greats / 30 Comments

The best argument for a liturgical calendar is that having a ceremonial calendar seems to be an inescapable concept. I am not there yet, but I have to admit that our secular civic-religious state, built on the ruins of a calendarless Protestantism, proffers a calendar that veritably bristles with memorials. February, for example, is designated Black History Month. So, to honor it in my own way, I propose to quote Hegel on Black History. After listening to his discussion, it will be possible to state rather unhesitatingly what Hegel’s view of Black History Month would be. Continue reading…

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Is it wrong to take PEDs?

Posted by T on December 15, 2007
Current Discourse, Ethics, sports / 4 Comments

George Mitchell has finally issued his report on the use of “performance enhancing drugs” or PEDs in Major League Baseball (MLB). Predictably, this has set the nattering talking heads into a new buzz, some defending this or that of the accused, but most just tutt-tutting. It is hard to find anyone actually discussing the question, “what’s wrong with using PEDs?” So, like the Little Red Hen, but more importantly: in keeping with First Word’s mission, I will set out to do so. Continue reading…

Movie. The Lives of Others (Das Leben des Anderen), 2006. (HIx: 2)

Posted by T on September 25, 2007
Aesthetics, By Title, Movies / No Comments

This is another post-reunification attempt to come to terms with the story of communist East Germany. Other efforts with this motive include two reviewed earlier in these pages, The Tunnel and Goodbye, Lenin.

The two parties to the conflict are several officers of the Stasi (state security force/secret police) on the one hand, and a circle of artistic types on the other. The Stasi group (led by Ulrich Mühe and Ulrich Tukur) is portrayed, not just with chilling and inhuman competence, but Continue reading…

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Why I am not a Methodist

Posted by T on August 17, 2007
Aesthetics, Church / 11 Comments

Everyone expects me to say “Predestination” or something. But that’s so far down the list that I’ll forget to even mention it.

There are three things that prevent me from becoming a Methodist. Continue reading…