classics digests, reflections and reviews
More’s erudition, great sense of humour, witty and lucid style make Utopia an enjoyable read. He draws upon ancient Greek philosophy and Utopian literature, most notably Plato’s Republic and Plutarch’s Life of Lycurgus, and weaves a fascinating, though controversial, account of an ideal state. Among other things, there is a governing principle which has appealed to me since my youth and I think is necessary for a just and vibrant society. Another […]
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As an armchair Platonist, I find Locke’s idea of toleration lacking in justice for the following reasons: The Goods of Man According to Locke, states and churches are founded on the voluntary and rational consent of people who share common interests. The common interests of the people of any state is to protect their lives and properties, and the common interests of the churchgoers is to obtain the salvation of […]
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The Politician is a Slave The politician must needs be a man of many sides and many forms. He must be a different man in peace from what he is in war. He resists the few with vigorous action, but uses persuasion in his dealings with the many. When the would-be popular orator mounts the platform, like a slave in the market, he becomes a bond-servant instead of a free […]
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The Federal Constitution The Constitution, so far from implying an abolition of the State governments, makes them constituent parts of the national sovereignty, by allowing them a direct representation in the Senate, and leaves in their possession certain exclusive and very important portions of sovereign power. This fully corresponds, in every rational import of the terms, with the idea of a federal government. The two great points of difference between […]
Read moreThis is my first time reading Marx and Engels. I’m amazed by their prescient predictions of world capitalist development, penetrating descriptions of the Bourgeoisie and criticisms of capitalism. However, I find their economic theory of property, capital and wage-labor perplexing and far less persuasive. It is a diagnosis without cure. Portrait of a Bourgeoisie The bourgeoisie has put an end to all feudal, patriarchal, idyllic relations. It has left no […]
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The important thing in Democracy is not to win, but to take part; the important thing in Life is not to have conquered but to have fought well. –The Olympian Socrates v. Scalia About four years ago, I had an interesting group discussion about the trial and death of Socrates. Someone said that the Athenians were good at sophistry, not sound reasoning, whereas the judicial system in the US was […]
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Locke criticizes, Sir Robert Filmer, a proponent of divine right of kings, for not defining terms clearly and building an edifice of political theory on a dubious foundation. I find it ironic that he makes the same mistake. Consequently, “there was never so much glib nonsense put together in well-sounding English”. In this review, I’ll first summarize Locke’s ideas in his own words, and then present my objections. Right to […]
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