Digressions&Impressions

On Civilization (Coetzee style)

Is that what civilization is: an unwhispered agreement that no one, no matter how insignificant, should be allowed lose face?--J.M. Coetzee, Youth, p. 157. There are three important characteristics of civilization mentioned here: (a...

Racialized Democracy and Fairness

In their important piece "Is the United States a ‘Racial Democracy’?" (New York Times, Opinionator), JASON STANLEY and VESLA WEAVER note that "Starting in the 1970s, the United States has witnessed a drastic increase in the rate of blac...

Lincoln on the Future President that Scorns the Constitution and Office

But new reapers will arise, and they, too, will seek a field. It is to deny, what the history of the world tells us is true, to suppose that men of ambition and talents will not continue to spring up amongst us. And, when they do, they...

On Civility and Anonymous Posts; Leiter vs the APA

Abusive speech directed at philosophers is not limited to responses by the public to published op-eds. A look at some of the anonymous philosophy blogs also reveals a host of examples of abusive speech by philosophers directed against ...

Recognition as Terrorism Prevention

[I]f you recognize another person with regard to a certain feature, as an autonomous agent, for example, you do not only admit that she has this feature but you embrace a positive attitude towards her for having this feature. Such reco...

On Teaching Slow Reading of Books and People [Paul de Man, Hobbes and Spinoza]

This [Paul de Man--ES] learned in part from Reuben Brower, as teaching assistant in Hum 6, a course in what Brower called “reading in slow motion.”...Brower, an independent “new critic,” himself a student of I.A. Richards, believed tha...

On Civility in education

Words have effects (therefore they exist). As anybody that has taught discovers, one's words also have many unexpected effects. (One can fail to notice this if students are only allowed to speak in multiple choice exams.) Words take on ...

Our Manichean Madness into Civil War

A few days ago, in the context of a (relatively minor, albeit symbolically intense) controversy, I described the debates over Zionism and the BDS movement as exhibiting the character of "Manichean battle" that should not be encou...

Is Christian Faith in the Afterlife required for Mutual Toleration?

[Roger Williams] developed his conception of “meer” civility—a minimal adherence to culturally contingent rules of respectful behavior compatible with, and occasionally expressive of, contempt for others and their beliefs—in the course...