From Darwin to Hitler
In "From Darwin to Hitler," Richard Weikart delves into the intersection of Darwinian biology and ethics, exploring the impact of Darwinism on thinking about the value of human life. The book sheds light on the…
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Dark December Summary (7/10)
Dark December is a novel written by Alfred Coppel that takes place during World War II. The story revolves around American pilots fighting in the skies over Europe, primarily following the perspective of Captain…
Chapter 9: The Great Decoupling (Homo Deus)
Liberals promote free markets and democratic elections because they believe that individuals are unique and valuable, who’s free choices are the source of authority. In this century, we will see three practical…
Mimetic Theory: The Origin of Conflict
Mimetic Theory Where do man’s desires come from? Apart from the basic desire to survive (food, shelter, rest), what motivates people? Where did the desire for status, fame, honor, legacy, pride, vanity come from? One…
Chapter 10: US Military Intervention (Introduction to Middle East Politics)
The build up of tension between the US and Iraq lead to the US invasion of Iraq in 2003. The US developed a moral argument for the invasion on the grounds that Iraq was a threat to global security. The UN passed a…
Chapter 11: The Syrian Conflict (Introduction to Middle East Politics)
The Syrian uprisings started in 2011 and led to civil war that continues until today in 2019, and has been the cause of one of the worst humanitarian disasters of the century. Syria turned into a warzone for Islamic…
Chapter 6: The Modern Covenant (Homo Deus)
The deal of modernity is simple: it is the exchange of meaning for power. Throughout history, we have believed that we were part of a cosmic plan. This plan gave people’s lives meaning but placed strict limits on…
Aspects of the Theory of Syntax Summary (7/10)
In “Aspects of the Theory of Syntax,” published in 1965, Chomsky presents his famous distinction between deep structure and surface structure. Deep structure consists of the underlying meaning of a sentence, while…
Reflections on Language Summary (8/10)
“Reflections on Language” was published in 1975 and contains some of Chomsky’s most important work on the nature of language. In it, he argues that language is an innate human ability and that we are born with a…
The Ecstasy of Communication Summary (8/10)
In “The Ecstasy of Communication”, Baudrillard offers a critical analysis of the effects of technology on society and culture. He argues that the proliferation of technological advancements has led to a loss of…
Social Media as Serial Socialization
Think about what Twitter, Facebook, Reddit, Twitter, and Instagram really are. They aren’t antisocial applications. They are forms of serial socialization. Imagine living on earth around 3000 years ago, you would…
Chapter 6: Oil, Economy, and Development (Introduction to Middle East Politics)
The economics of the Middle East is a mixed picture. Some oil producing countries have seen rapid economic growth, while others like Israel, Turkey, and Tunisia have relied on strong service sectors. But inflation,…