Democracy in Chains – Public Choice Theory
Nancy MacLean’s Democracy in Chains argues that Public Choice Theory, as developed by James Buchanan and utilized by figures like the Koch brothers, has been strategically employed to mislead the public about its true goals. This “tricking” involves presenting libertarian policies as rational and necessary for freedom while obscuring their long-term aim to restrict democratic […]
Nero
Emperor Nero (37–68 AD) is remembered for his notorious rule over the Roman Empire, with a reputation colored by tyranny, cruelty, and self-indulgence. Historians debate the accuracy of certain aspects of his legacy, but several widely attributed traits of Nero represent characteristics that can have destructive effects on leadership, relationships, and society as a whole. […]
The key idea of the French Revolution is the transformation of the political and social structures of France, fundamentally driven by principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity. These principles aimed to dismantle the absolute monarchy and the feudal system, replacing them with a more democratic and egalitarian society. Here are the core elements of this transformation:
1. Liberty 2. Equality 3. Fraternity 4. Secularism 5. Democracy These ideas were inspired by Enlightenment thinkers such as John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and Montesquieu, who advocated for the principles of individual rights, the social contract, and the separation of powers. The French Revolution profoundly influenced the course of modern history, inspiring subsequent movements for […]
Notes on Homo Deus
Homo Deus by Yuval Harari was a book that largely shifted my mindset. It has led me to see the possibilities for the future in a different light. Harari uses his knowledge of history to predict the future. He highlights possibilities for genetic modification, https://docs.google.com/document/d/1JV5YisKWiaWxM3–w4nX6bWHNfItwIqhfZDAYFGyHec/edit?usp=sharing The link has footnotes indicating which idea is on which […]
Notes on Education for Democracy
The book Education for Democracy was written by two of my professors, one of whom (Ryan Knowles) is my dissertation adviser. Here are my notes for the book. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1JV5YisKWiaWxM3–w4nX6bWHNfItwIqhfZDAYFGyHec/edit?usp=sharing Too often civic education encourages simplistic deliberation over pros and cons from a stance of objectivity – if the issues of our time are this simply […]