Education

I was reading the introduction to the book Climate Liberalism about classical liberal approaches to environmental problems. A sentence in the opening paragraph said, "The last half century has seen substantial environmental progress as human lifespans have increased, poverty has declined, and Malthusian fears of resource depletion have been dispelled" with a footnote "For a compendium of human progress along these (and other) lines, see Marian L. Tupy and Gale L. Polley, Superabundance: The Story of Population Growth, Innovation, and Human Flourishing on an Infinitely Bountiful Planet (Washington, DC: Cato Institute, 2022)." I hadn't read Superabundance and have several other books before it in the list, but decided to start by watching and listening to talks on it by its authors. Their stuff overlapped with…

Another evening in Manhattan, meaning more cars going by without mufflers, or with mufflers modified to make a lot of noise. I remember the trend beginning during the pandemic: I guess people modified their mufflers to make random BANG! BANG! noises. I think the trend started or expanded during the pandemic because police stopped enforcing so many laws then. Why unmuffle cars? I doubt they change the car's performance. I think they people doing it would say they do it to make their cars and motorcycles sound like race cars. Just a guess, but I think they do it to show status---that is, to exert dominance by showing they can act with impunity. But why something that bothers people? Why not do something that contributes…

I post student reviews of my courses. I post all, no cherry picking. This year, I only received three qualitative reviews for teaching the Senior Seminar in Leadership: Thanks for such an amazing semester - you and your class truly inspired me and gave me a new perspective on leadership and how to lead. --- Just wanted to thank you for this semester and for teaching this class. I believe it is a crucial aspect that lacks in today’s society. I felt inspired throughout the semester and above all with your story. I’m sure you already noticed I am pretty enthusiast of entrepreneurship and I respect those who risk it all for it. When you explained your story I couldn’t believe it. There were no…

I went to my thirty-year college reunion over the weekend. I was surprised to find it didn't affect me as much as reunions used to. After the big dinner, I walked south on Broadway to 96th Street. I felt like walking (the food was greasy and I had a few drinks so wanted to burn the empty calories). I used to walk those blocks every day. I felt sad at how they've become covered with litter. A few simple questions, I pose rhetorically, but am curious how people would answer: Why doesn't everyone pick up at least a few pieces a day? How can everyone not cry or at least reach the verge of tears every day to see it? How can people pass it…

Look at the start of this sign I saw at Penn's Landing after my fundraising bike ride: "African people, first enslaved by the Dutch and Swedes, . . . ". Is there some way to read that sentence that reflects history? Slavery has existed in many cultures since before Holland and Sweden existed, including Africa. Quoting Wikipedia's Slavery in Africa page, slavery in Africa predates the existence of Holland and Sweden by millennia. Slavery in northern Africa dates back to ancient Egypt. The New Kingdom (1558–1080 BC) brought in large numbers of slaves as prisoners of war up the Nile valley and used them for domestic and supervised labour.[53][54] Ptolemaic Egypt (305 BC–30 BC) used both land and sea routes to bring slaves in.[55][56]Chattel slavery…

The point of democracy is not to win, but to recognize we all disagree on some things, so to figure out how to live together despite the differences. Is this view obvious to everyone and too obvious to say? I don't think it's deep, but I don't remember hearing it said, not that I'd look for it. I can also imagine not many people not having thought this thought. I think many people would agree with it in principle but act differently.