Stephen R.C. Hicks's Blog, page 42

Creative geniuses as selfish — Maria Callas version

The great Callas, according to biographer Richard Levine: Maria’s impressive willpower and focus enabled her to develop into the artist we think of when we think of Callas, but at the time her fellow students were hardly charmed by her chilly single-mindedness. One of them later said that ‘her earnestness was oppressive.’ Maria knew, however, […]

Nobel Prizes by Country, 1939, 1979, 2019

Also: As of 2019, twenty Canadians had won Nobel Prizes.

Open Objectivism or Closed? Video and transcript of Belgrade debate

Last year, Ayn Rand Center Europe invited me and and Craig Biddle to Serbia to debate whether Objectivism is an open or closed philosophy. I argued for open and Mr. Biddle argued for closed. A recording of the debate follows. Also following the video frame (or in this PDF) is a transcription of my remarks […]

Voltaire’s essential *Letters on England* brought the Enlightenment to France

This series letters written while in exile — on the sometimes-shocking English way of doing religion, politics, science, morals, and philosophy — were hugely influential upon a French audience still in the grip of l’ancien regime. Related: The full Philosophers, Explained series, including classics from Kant, Nietzsche, Rand, Camus, Aristotle, Plato, and other important thinkers.

Kant’s 300th birthday, April 22, and some are celebrating while some are not

The man has an ambivalent legacy—those who claim him for the Enlightenment and for the Counter-Enlightenment. I’m in the latter group. On the Counter-Enlightenment turn: Kant’s epistemology (Ch. 2), his connections to modernist and postmodernist art, his views on education for duty and obedience, his mix of liberal and illiberal politics. By contrast: here is […]

Daniel Dennett and Robert Hessen

Last week two thinkers who matter to me died. Robert Hessen was an economic historian at Stanford and Hoover. I’ve used his works on capitalism and on corporate contractual rights in my Business Ethics course. Here is economist David Henderson’s fine summary and tribute: I also had the chance to meet Bob at his home […]

Week-long seminar on Ayn Rand & Objectivism, at University of Illinois, Springfield

A five-day seminar this summer; June 24-28 at the University of Illinois, Springfield, on the philosophy originated by Ayn Rand. Join professors William Kline (Business), Carrie-Ann Biondi (Philosophy), Richard Salsman (Politics and Economics), and me (Philosophy). We will give three talks each and participate in additional panels, debates, Socratic sessions, informal discussion, and social events […]

Catharine MacKinnon on censoring porn [Philosophers, Explained series]

In making her influential case for limiting the First Amendment and censoring porn, Catharine MacKinnon uses a combination of egalitarian and postmodern arguments. Here is my guided tour of her Only Words (Harvard U.P.) One can also follow Professor Hicks on X (@SRCHicks). Related: The full series of Philosophers, Explained episodes:

Studio audience invitation for new Peterson Academy course: *Modern Ethics*

I will be at the Academy’s impressive studio in Miami to record a new eight-lecture course on the philosophy of ethics. Here is the invitation to join the live studio audience. We will cover thinkers who made ethics modern (and highly diverse) — and those who resisted the modernizing trends — including John Locke, Jean-Jacques […]

On The School of Innovation’s Advisory Board

A new university will open in Britain in 2025. I’m happy to announce that I have joined its Board of Advisors. “The School of Innovation is aspiring to become the first independent university in Northern England since 1964. Based in Manchester, which was voted the 3rd best city in the world, has one of the […]