In the final installment of reading Locke’s Second Treatise of Government, we turn to the paradoxes of Locke’s theory of revolution. Most people are woefully ignorant as to what Locke is actually saying since they’ve never read Locke – they’ve only ever been told lies about Locke’s view of revolution. Locke’s revolution is not about breaking … Continue reading John Locke’s “Second Treatise,” Part V: The Myth of “Perpetual Revolution”
John Locke’s “Second Treatise,” Part IV: Statism & the Myth of Limited Government
In continuing our reading of Locke’s Two Treatises, beginning with ninth chapter now, we turn to Locke’s understanding of what the end of political governance, the commonwealth, and legislature, is ultimately for. That is to say, what does political society aim at? Essentially his answer was already given in the preceding chapters – peaceable and solitary … Continue reading John Locke’s “Second Treatise,” Part IV: Statism & the Myth of Limited Government
John Locke’s “Second Treatise,” Part III: The Origins of Political Society
The sixth Chapter of the Second Treatise is one of Locke’s more self-explanatory chapters. The exoteric reading is very straightforward: the naturality of parental authority is a precursor to civil authority. As Locke writes at the end of the chapter, “it be a sufficient proof of the natural right of fathers to political authority, because … Continue reading John Locke’s “Second Treatise,” Part III: The Origins of Political Society
John Locke’s “Second Treatise,” Part II: Anthropology & Theory of Labor
The fifth chapter of the Second Treatise is arguably the most influential writing ever penned by John Locke. Chapter 5 deals with his anthropology, along with his defense of property and labor – and how “divine workmanship” led to property and how property and labor is leading us out of the state of nature and toward civil … Continue reading John Locke’s “Second Treatise,” Part II: Anthropology & Theory of Labor
John Locke’s “Second Treatise,” Part I: State of Nature & State of War
John Locke is commonly thought of as the “father of limited government” and the progenitor of the rights-based tradition of political philosophy called “liberalism.” He is often contrasted with the absolutism of Hobbes: Locke’s government is minimal where Hobbes’s government is all-powerful, Locke’s State of Nature is good and benign where Hobbes’s state of nature … Continue reading John Locke’s “Second Treatise,” Part I: State of Nature & State of War
Science Fiction Fears, Fantasies, and Symbolism
Deep in the wellspring of science fiction is the ongoing struggle between mechanical monsters and holistic heroes. From bleak and dour tales of extermination and human destruction, to optimistic but nevertheless struggling and pathological battles to save life, science fiction has been battling with our modern monsters from the id boiling up inside of us … Continue reading Science Fiction Fears, Fantasies, and Symbolism
Literary Tales Ep. 7: Gulliver’s Travels and the Art of Philosophical Satire
In this episode of Literary Tales we examine Jonathan Swift's incredible mock and satirical travel work, Gulliver's Travels. In this lecture we explore the work as principally a philosophical satire through Gulliver's journeys leading to his insanity and dehumanization. Ruminations on philosophy, theology, and John Milton are included. This lecture is based off my essay, … Continue reading Literary Tales Ep. 7: Gulliver’s Travels and the Art of Philosophical Satire
Literary Tales Ep. 6: Virgil’s Aeneid
In our next episode of Literary Tales we focus on the grand Latin epic that T.S. Eliot called "our classic." Virgil's Aeneid is a grand construction of history and memory more-so than mythos and pathos. The imagery Virgil uses to drive the story forward is the principal focus in this lecture; we discuss how Virgil … Continue reading Literary Tales Ep. 6: Virgil’s Aeneid
Literary Tales Ep. 5: Homer’s Odyssey and the Triumph of Love
In this episode of Literary Tales we explore Homer's Odyssey and pick up where the Iliad left off -- love. As such, this lecture examines the Odyssey as the triumph of love in Odysseus' return to Penelope, Telemachus, and Ithaca. This lecture is based off my essay: "Homer's Epic of the Family" (October 17, 2018)
Freedom from Harm: Andrew Jason Cohen’s “Liberalism Reconceived”
Andrew Jason Cohen has written and important book. While I will not quibble over issues of toleration and the metaphysical dilemma of universalism or monism vs. pluralism—wherein the liberal philosophical tradition while advocating “toleration” endorses metaphysical monism—Cohen’s “reappraisal” of liberalism as a philosophy promoting freedom from harm is not so much new as it is … Continue reading Freedom from Harm: Andrew Jason Cohen’s “Liberalism Reconceived”
