-
Meta
-
Recent Posts
- Book on synergy of Popper and the other Austrians
- Jeffrey C Alexander and the logic of sociological research
- Standard misrepresentations and invalid criticisms of Popperism
- Giddens on Popper and positivism
- Major Popper biography in progress
- Peter Boettke on 1985 as a defining year for Austrian economics
- Rethinking climate change
- Evidence
- Objective and Objectivist Dogmas
- New CR site to watch!
Recent Comments
- Alex Naraniecki on articles of interest
- Musiitwa Jean Baptiste on Karl Popper’s nine theses concerning epistemology
- Rafe on Book on synergy of Popper and the other Austrians
- Lee Kelly on Book on synergy of Popper and the other Austrians
- Rafe on Philip Mirowski on Popper and the Mont Pelerin Society
- George Balanchine on Philip Mirowski on Popper and the Mont Pelerin Society
- George Balanchine on Philip Mirowski on Popper and the Mont Pelerin Society
- Matt on Some notes on rationality
- Dee on Some notes on rationality
- Rafe on Evidence
Archives
-
books
Category Archives: open society
Scientism vs Liberalism
In his book, “The Counter-Revolution of Science”, Hayek argued against scientism – attempts by the social sciences to ape the methods of the natural sciences by ignoring the subjectivity of economic value. I will apply these ideas to criticise of some current ideas that the government should use force to make people happier. Continue reading
Posted in epistemology, ethics, open society
10 Comments
Utopianism, Libertarianism and Other Political Theories
In Chapter 9 of Volume 1 of The Open Society and Its Enemies, Popper argues against utopianism. I have heard many people say that libertarianism is utopian. For example, in this series of videos the speaker often states or implies … Continue reading
Posted in open society
2 Comments
Popper on Schools and Universities
It has been said, only too truly, that Plato was the inventor of both our secondary schools and our universities. I do not know a better argument for the optimistic view of mankind than the fact that this devastating system of education has not utterly ruined them. Continue reading
Posted in epistemology, ethics, open society, quote
9 Comments
Who Should Decide?
Popper points out that it is difficult to find a government on whose goodness and wisdom we can rely and so that we should set up our institutions to allow us to prevent bad government from doing too much damage. Many people seem unaware of this argument and its implications for political and moral philosophy. Continue reading
Posted in ethics, open society
4 Comments
Optimism vs Faith
In the debate between those who think the human species is doomed due to this or that environmental problem and those who are more optimistic, one often gets the impression from pessimistic environmentalists that optimism is motivated solely by faith. In … Continue reading
Posted in historicism, open society
30 Comments
Essentialism vs freedom
Michael Sandel gives an interesting TED Talk on democracy, saying that we should talk more about the deep moral convictions people have to raise the level of debate in democracy. This may be a good idea, but unfortunately his argument … Continue reading
Posted in essentialism, ethics, open society
1 Comment
Proportional Representation and the Open Society
In The Open Society and Its Enemies, Karl Popper criticised the idea that political philosophy should be about the question of who should rule. Any person or group is fallible, so the question “Who should rule?” begs for a false … Continue reading
Posted in open society
3 Comments
Force and Charity
Rafe champion writes: Welfare is a sticking point for many people of good will who support freedom but believe that they cannot be libertarians because of all the poor people who need assistance. Actually support for deserving poor people could … Continue reading
Posted in open society
4 Comments
What Is Liberalism About?
Rafe Champion writes: [Mirowski] offers a list of eleven tenets of neoliberalism. Some of them are very strange. 1. “The starting point of neoliberalism is the admission, contrary to classical liberal doctrine, that their version of the good society will … Continue reading