Logos and Liberty

Logos and Liberty explores intersections of practical philosophy, politics, and societal values through a lens that emphasizes eudaimonia, the balance between liberalism and republicanism, and critiques of contemporary social issues. It revisits classical philosophical concepts, applying them to modern contexts including technology, economy, and individual and communal flourishing.

Philosophy and Ethics Political Theory Societal Critique Economic Theory Classical Studies Gender and Society History and Interpretation Science and Dualism Legal and Civic Systems Work and Life Balance

The hottest Substack posts of Logos and Liberty

And their main takeaways

I. A. Richards on Metaphor and Rhetoric

59 implied HN points • 12 Jun 24
📚 Literature Philosophy Metaphor Rhetoric Empiricism Meaning
  1. The British empiricists of the Enlightenment period believed in the importance of language referencing clear ideas derived from sensory experiences.
  2. Richards's philosophy of rhetoric emphasizes the central role of misunderstanding and the inevitability of metaphor in language.
  3. Language, thought, and reality are interconnected but distinct, with metaphor playing a crucial role in conveying complex ideas beyond literal terms.

Aristotle on Knowledge of the Contingent

59 implied HN points • 20 Apr 24
📖 Philosophy Epistemology Metaphysics Aristotle
  1. Different philosophers like Plato, Aristotle, and the Sophists had varying views on knowledge - from belief in absolute truth to belief in only probable knowledge.
  2. Plato believed in knowledge of the fully real, while Aristotle expanded it to include knowledge of the contingent world of becoming and change.
  3. Aristotle's approach to knowledge, embracing the changing world and proposing methods for understanding it, laid the foundation for experimental science and intellectual progress.

The Cost of Couple Equity

1 HN point • 09 Jul 24
🚌 Education Gender Studies Career development Family Dynamics Work-life balance Policy Analysis
  1. The earnings gap between men and women often results from 'couple inequity' caused by demanding work environments that are incompatible with caregiving responsibilities.
  2. Couples face difficult tradeoffs between equity and financial security due to the structure of workplaces, like 'greedy work' and 'up or out' promotion policies.
  3. Solutions to reduce the gender earnings gap include increasing flexibility in jobs, lessening the cost of childcare, and changing societal norms around gender roles and caregiving responsibilities.

Contrasts between Aristotelianism and Liberalism

19 implied HN points • 13 Dec 22
📖 Philosophy Ethics Metaphysics Politics Religion Knowledge
  1. Aristotle's value theory focuses on what people should want, while Liberal value theory is based on what people do want.
  2. Aristotle emphasizes the importance of human association within a community, while Liberalism tends to focus on individualism to an extreme extent.
  3. Aristotle acknowledges spirituality and a transcendent reality, contrasting with the scientistic approach of many Liberal thinkers.

Aristotle's Practical Philosophy (part 1)

19 implied HN points • 07 Nov 22
📖 Philosophy Ethics Virtue Friendship Contemplation Human nature
  1. Aristotle's practical philosophy aims at discovering a way of life that enables individuals to use their highest faculties and communities to support this way of life.
  2. The key components of 'Eudaimonia' according to Aristotle are virtue, love, and the contemplative life.
  3. Human happiness, for Aristotle, is strongly influenced by the quality of human relationships and the social context surrounding those relationships.
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The Broken Bargain

0 implied HN points • 12 May 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Economic History Income Inequality Financial Crisis Political Analysis
  1. Robert Reich's 'Aftershock' analyzes the 2008 crash and emphasizes the need for fundamental social and economic reform.
  2. Reich highlights parallels between the lead-up to the Great Depression and the Great Recession, such as income inequality, increasing household debt, and speculative activity.
  3. Reich proposes policy solutions to restore the basic bargain, including a reverse income tax, a carbon tax, and higher marginal tax rates on the wealthy, among others.

Aristotle's Practical Philosophy (part 2)

0 implied HN points • 11 Nov 22
📖 Philosophy Politics
  1. Aristotle believes that the state aims at achieving the highest good for its citizens, who act to obtain what they perceive as good.
  2. Aristotle classifies forms of government into genuine and perverted based on whether they pursue the good for the whole community or just the rulers.
  3. Aristotle emphasizes the importance of the household as a vital community unit that plays a crucial role in the larger state's functioning.

Stein, Weil, and Arendt

0 implied HN points • 27 Mar 23
📖 Philosophy Religion Scholarship Politics
  1. Edith Stein, Hannah Arendt, and Simone Weil were remarkable women intellectuals who shared commonalities despite diverging paths in religion, scholarship, politics, and exile.
  2. All three women had backgrounds in Jewish families but turned away from the religion, with Stein and Weil later turning towards Christianity, while Arendt affirmed her Jewish identity and became a Zionist.
  3. Stein, Weil, and Arendt were prodigious scholars in philosophy, engaging with classical and medieval sources, and had relationships with influential mentors, shaping their unique contributions to the field.

Race: "A Dreadful Deceit"

0 implied HN points • 16 Mar 23
🚌 Education History Politics Ideology Race Society
  1. Racism supports oligarchic power structures by dividing the poor and working classes, weakening resistance to exploitation.
  2. Race is a 'myth' and a 'fiction' that has shifted over time based on specific contexts, with black identity often being imposed rather than chosen.
  3. American racial ideology evolved from an exercise of raw power to discriminatory practices enforced by the white working class, hindering unity and progress for all workers.

Republicanism and the Eudaimonic Economy

0 implied HN points • 22 Oct 22
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Economy Government Education Wealth Distribution Political Philosophy
  1. We live in a post-industrial society with surplus wealth that needs to be distributed thoughtfully.
  2. Consumer economy in the US is unsustainable, and we should consider a shift towards a 'eudaimonic' economy focused on education and research.
  3. Universal access to postsecondary education can be a crucial step towards achieving a more balanced and sustainable economy.

Marilynne Robinson on Joe Biden

0 implied HN points • 15 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Presidential candidates Political Commentary Election Analysis Campaign strategies
  1. Marilynne Robinson views Joe Biden as a competent and wise individual, highlighting the significance of experience and institutional memory in leadership.
  2. Age should not be a defining factor in evaluating a leader's capabilities; it varies among individuals, and mental sharpness can persist with aging.
  3. Considering potential successors and the stability of the republic is crucial in political decision-making, emphasizing the importance of assessing candidates' ability to fulfill the duties of the presidency.

The Native New World

0 implied HN points • 23 Nov 23
💾 History Indigenous Peoples Colonization
  1. The concept of the Native New World contrasts the typical European perspective of colonization, showing a distinct and vibrant indigenous world that emerged in response to Euro-American expansion.
  2. The Anishinaabeg, part of the Algonquian-speaking Native peoples of the northeastern woodlands, were central to this Native New World, facing pressures from European settlements and forming alliances with the French in the fur trade.
  3. The complex interactions and alliances between Native groups, European powers, and traders in North America shaped the region's history, presenting a rich tapestry of relationships and power struggles.

Van Inwagen vs. Van Inwagen on Freedom and Randomness

0 implied HN points • 29 Apr 24
📖 Philosophy Free will Determinism Metaphysics Morality Probability Theory
  1. Distinguishing freedom from randomness in human acts challenges the moral responsibility of individuals.
  2. Using probability theory to analyze free choices is problematic, as probabilities cannot be assigned to unique, free choices.
  3. The concept of resetting the universe to examine free choices showcases the difference between chance occurrences and true freedom.

Service and the Second Amendment (2023)

0 implied HN points • 07 Aug 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Constitution Citizenship Legislation
  1. Proposal to limit gun ownership to citizens who have served in security services to reduce gun violence and promote fairness in citizenship.
  2. Alternative approach of universal training for gun ownership, inspired by Harry S. Truman's call for universal military training.
  3. Importance of considering gun retailers and manufacturers in comprehensive solutions to gun crime, not just focusing on gun owners.

Authors, Subjects, and Roles

0 implied HN points • 19 Jul 23
📖 Philosophy Authors Roles Agency
  1. Bakhtin's view suggests the speaker has more freedom than Foucault's view does, impacting concepts of authorship and language.
  2. Foucault analyzes the subject and authorship in connection to language use, distinguishing between statements and the individual or subject.
  3. Butler builds on Foucault's ideas about subjecthood and agency, exploring the relationship between the individual, subject, and roles.

1200 Hours (working draft)

0 implied HN points • 17 Jul 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Economic Policy Labor relations Income Inequality Government programs
  1. Consider reducing work hours per year to 1200 from the standard 2000 to balance the needs of families and improve work-life balance for employees.
  2. Implementing a 1200-hour work year would lead to increased bargaining power for workers, better worker productivity, and a potential shift in how the fruits of productivity gains are shared.
  3. Employers could adapt to a 1200-hour work year by paying more, offering flexibility, hiring more workers, adjusting operations, and supporting policies to facilitate the transition.

Prof. Warren was right, mostly

0 implied HN points • 04 May 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social Issues Policy Economics Family Dynamics
  1. In the US, the shift from single incomes to dual incomes has made families less financially secure mainly due to increased housing costs, healthcare expenses, and predatory lending.
  2. Two-income families lack the safety net that one-income families used to have; this can lead to financial strain and difficult decisions in times of crisis.
  3. Elizabeth Warren's book suggests undoing banking deregulation, decoupling access to education from location, and freezing college tuition as policy responses to help middle-class families with their financial struggles.

Eudaimonism and pluralism

0 implied HN points • 15 Dec 22
📖 Philosophy Liberty Contemplation
  1. Aristotle's notion of eudaimonism may conflict with prevailing liberal views on individual freedom and government neutrality, particularly in terms of promoting a contemplative life as a way to prioritize values.
  2. Isaiah Berlin contrasts negative freedom (freedom from coercion) with positive freedom (freedom for self-realization), warning that history has shown positive freedom can lead to dangerous ideologies and oppression in the name of 'true' selves or entities.
  3. Berlin's call for pluralism as a way to navigate conflicting values highlights the importance of prudence and individual choice, outlining the government's role as safeguarding negative liberty without endorsing specific values, while Aristotle's eudaimonism offers an alternate perspective on balancing values and advocating for a contemplative life as a path to truth and meaning.

The republican tradition from Aristotle to Madison

0 implied HN points • 03 Dec 22
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political theory Classical Liberalism Scholarship
  1. Aristotle's political ideas have influenced a long line of thinkers, including Machiavelli and America's Founding Fathers.
  2. Republican thinkers like Cicero, Machiavelli, and Montesquieu emphasized the importance of civic virtue in a republic's success.
  3. The dynamics between republicanism and liberalism have played a significant role in shaping American political thought, as seen in the U.S. Constitution.

Objections to Aristotle's Practical Philosophy

0 implied HN points • 29 Nov 22
📖 Philosophy Ethics Gender Labor Contemplation
  1. Aristotle's philosophy provides a system of values that can help us resist and transcend technological determinants in our technologically advanced society.
  2. Aristotle's practical philosophy offers conceptual tools to proactively respond to technological change, and recent advancements have made his ethical and political recommendations more feasible.
  3. While Aristotle's views on slavery and the subordination of women may be objectionable, they do not detract from the core concepts of his practical philosophy, especially in the context of modern societal changes.

Eudaimonia, Plenitude, and Sustainability

0 implied HN points • 24 Oct 22
📖 Philosophy Ethics Economics Environment Technology Social Issues
  1. Aristotle's philosophy advocates for a balanced economy that invests in areas like education, research, and the arts to realize human potential and counteract negative impacts on society and the environment.
  2. Juliet Schor proposes the concept of 'Plenitude' as an alternative to mindless consumerism, emphasizing the importance of time allocation, self-provisioning, environmental materialism, and community investments.
  3. Schor's call for sustainable economic growth challenges the traditional view on affluence, suggesting a shift towards a 'human service economy' focused on non-material fields to reduce environmental impact while maintaining income growth.

Coming soon

0 implied HN points • 17 Oct 22
📖 Philosophy Philosophy Religion Politics
  1. Logos and Liberty is a newsletter about philosophy, religion, and politics, with a wider range of topics like speculative philosophy, religion/spirituality, and current affairs.
  2. The author will revisit and rework some of the better posts from the previous blog, 'Praxis and Positive Liberty', and republish them along with new material.
  3. The newsletter will focus on applying moral and political philosophy to persistent problems in American politics and will refrain from offering 'hot takes' on the news of the day.

Dualism vs. Materialism: A Response to Paul Churchland

0 implied HN points • 13 Sep 23
📖 Philosophy Dualism Materialism
  1. Descartes argued for substance dualism, claiming minds and bodies are distinct substances with different defining features.
  2. Materialism faces challenges in explaining qualia and self-awareness, which introspection reveals but materialist accounts have not satisfactorily addressed.
  3. Volitional dualism offers a potential alternative by emphasizing consciousness's importance and the origination of goals by the will.

Aristotle's Philosophy of Communication

0 implied HN points • 12 Nov 22
📖 Philosophy Communication Rhetoric Language Thought
  1. Aristotle views rhetoric as crucial in political life for collective decision-making.
  2. Rhetoric and dialectic, according to Aristotle, serve different purposes with rhetoric being applied dialectic for practical use.
  3. Aristotle believes truth exists independently, represented through thought and language, favoring the just and the true in communication.

The "pre-Easter" Jesus

0 implied HN points • 26 Jul 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Religion Theology Bible Interpretation Community
  1. Marcus Borg examines the 'pre-Easter' Jesus, focusing on his historical teachings and what they mean for understanding the Christ of faith.
  2. Borg uses the Jesus Seminar's methodology to interpret the Gospels and argues that Jesus emphasized a theocentric and non-eschatological message.
  3. Borg outlines Jesus as a spirit person, teacher of wisdom, social prophet, and movement founder, emphasizing compassion over holiness and immanence over transcendence.