On the Relative Longevity of Chinese and Roman Civilization

Ask yourself this question: which survived longer, China, or Rome? The conventional answer is China, of course. By why is that the conventional answer? Is that not just a story we tell ourselves? Why do we say that China is 2000 years old, but that the Roman Empire fell 1500 years ago? China was conquered … Continue reading On the Relative Longevity of Chinese and Roman Civilization →

Electoral College Reform

Nevada is probably about to pass the National Popular Vote Compact, meaning that it will give its electoral votes to the winner of the nationwide popular vote for president. This reform is a necessary one for the benefit of democracy. A snide retort that I saw to this news is "Tyranny of the Majority...". This … Continue reading Electoral College Reform →

Michael Sandel on East-West Philosophical Encounters

In the 2018 compendium "Encountering China", renowned philosopher Michael Sandel makes the following observation about learning from Chinese philosophy: Engaging with responses to my work by scholars of Chinese philosophy is for me a learning opportunity on several levels. It requires me to consider challenges to my views from unfamiliar directions, it brings to light … Continue reading Michael Sandel on East-West Philosophical Encounters →

The Heterozygote Advantage and the Crisis of Western Authority

I. There is a concept in biology known as Heterozygote Advantage. If you're already familiar with this concept, feel free to skip to section II. As one may know, sexually reproducing organisms inherit two copies of each gene: one from the mother, one from the father. Sometimes having two identical copies doesn't mean much. Sometimes … Continue reading The Heterozygote Advantage and the Crisis of Western Authority →

Vespertine Dreams

The Bible begins in the Garden of Eden, and from the story of the Fall issues the most influential sociophilosphical work in human history. Plato famously invented the continent of Atlantis to demonstrate his ideas. Thomas Moore had his Utopia. Philosophers throughout the ages have invented States of Nature, various Paradises, their fictional worlds in … Continue reading Vespertine Dreams →

"The people in the world that considers culture the fourth branch of government weren’t confused. Bush forgot to nation-build an entire branch of government." - https://slatestarcodex.com/2018/12/19/refactoring-culture-as-branch-of-government/

My Thesis: Technocracy, Democracy, and Legitimacy in EU GMO Regulation

A majority of EU citizens support restrictions on GMOs, despite assurances of the scientific community of the safety of these products. The European Commission under the leadership of Jean-Claude Juncker has been attempting to respond to these public desires; however, Juncker’s policy proposals contravene the European Court of Justice and the World Trade Organization and … Continue reading My Thesis: Technocracy, Democracy, and Legitimacy in EU GMO Regulation →

Amusing and Interesting Links

Ancient Romans loved their dogs as much as we moderns do: https://www.thedodo.com/9-touching-epitaphs-ancient-gr-589550486.html The most effective weapon on the modern battlefield is...concrete? https://mwi.usma.edu/effective-weapon-modern-battlefield-concrete/

Privilege is Contextual

I was recently listening to The Ezra Klein Show episode featuring Jonathan Haidt: https://app.stitcher.com/splayer/f/82658/57404323 Throughout the conversation is the idea that modern outrage culture is heavily centered on liberal and elite college campuses, and often discusses questions of privilege and sociocultural aggressions. This provoked a thought from me: no one at elite liberal universities is … Continue reading Privilege is Contextual →

On Privilege

For the good of the progressive movement, for the good or racial harmony in this country, I implore a change of tone regarding the nature of Privilege. Privilege is the term for any innate advantages that one person might have over another. Privilege can manifest itself in terms of sex, race, parental income, place of … Continue reading On Privilege →