The story about this individual amazed me. I have often wondered why there are so few people who really live not for self-aggrandizement, but for the common good. Even when individuals in our society do act for the common good, it is assumed that narrower economic and social-status interests are always also at play. This seems weird to me – not only because it goes contrary to the claim that we are...
By Tim Page.
The writer discovered later in life that he had Aspergers syndrome, and writes about his experiences here.
Click here for entire article.
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This article struck a chord with me. Each time I’ve visited Texas, I’ve noted that while I dislike the radical individualism that drives the state’s political and business culture, I like the energy and and friendliness of the people. Excerpt from the article below.
“What might be copied, Ms. Grieder indicates, is the so-called Texas model — that is, a weak state government...
Nice summary of France and Germany in a New Yorker article about “happiness” in French culture. He suggests that unhappiness is more likely when one compares the actual state of things to the ideal. The French are very heady, as is Germany even more so. Note how the writer says Germany – the source of the most influential philosophy in the last 150 years – has responded to its own...
This poem was shared with me this last week. Several of the paragraphs were striking in their emotional effect on me.
Poem by Oriah
“The Invitation”
It doesn’t interest me
what you do for a living.
I want to know
what you ache for
and if you dare to dream
of meeting your heart’s longing.
It doesn’t interest me
how old you are.
I want to know
if you will risk
looking like a fool
for...
While many associate status to the Jesuits , a few are aware that Jesuits for the most part know that this image of status is simply an illusion, cultivated somewhat as a concession to human nature. For it is in the heart of the Jesuit to be aware of the tight relationship between inner motivation of heart, and what it means to be a “good person”, here in a religious context. The proof of this...
Terence Hoyt earned an MA in Economics from Fordham University in 1984, and a PhD in Philosophy fromTulane University in 2000. Between 1993 and 2012, I lived in New Orleans. Earlier on, I lived in Paris and Berlin for one year each. In 2012, after teaching philosophy for 15 years I returned to school to earn an MSW and then returned to upstate New York where I grew up.
My hope is for this site to increase understanding of the American political-economic system. I believe that the brighest among us do not adequately understand or appreciate American civilization. Too many among us take "the system" for granted, focus on a particular "cause" and then ignore what would keep our political-economy running well. I take the position that this problem needs to be viewed as a crisis of philosophy. It was good political philosophy that was responsible for our system and it is dysfunctional political philosophy that influences many activists to take stances undermine our economic as well as moral-spiritual well being. We can say without exagerration that we are in a period of intellectual, moral and spiritual crisis. This crisis is both cause and effect of a misunderstanding of the basic purpose of America's political system and a manipulation of this confusion by the usual suspects. With Plato, we are concerned that unless sober philosopher-types get involved in the daily affairs of public life, there will be no end to troubles. It is time to go back to the cave!
Contributions welcome
Given that I have not obtained a tenure track position in philosophy, I am transitioning to a career in mental health. In the meantime, I have been working on a book project for three years, and recently launched the Society for the Renewal of American Politics and web site "www.backtothecave.org". The purpose of SRAP and its journal is to bring together writers and acaemics in order to clarify the American system to the public. If I were independently wealthy, I would devote all my time to working on my writing and SRAP. If I am able to obtain financial support for this work, I will be able to focus on it exclusively. You can donate with the Pay Pal button below. If you would like to talk with me personally, please email me at "terence@practicalphilosophy.net". I have posted the first sections of the book on the "Book Project" tab at the top of the home page.
