Author Archives: Steven Yates

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About Steven Yates

I have a Ph.D. in Philosophy, taught the subject at a number of universities around the American Southeast, then became disillusioned in the profession, moved to Chile in 2012. I am the author of Civil Wrongs: What Went Wrong With Affirmative Action (1994), Four Cardinal Errors: Reasons for the Decline of the American Republic (2011), What Should Philosophy Do? A Theory (2021), and most recently, So You Want to Get a PhD in Philosophy? (2025). I've also published around two dozen articles & reviews in academic journals, and hundreds online on numerous topics ranging from pure philosophy to political economy. My Substack publication is Navigating the New Normal. I currently live near Concepcion, Chile, with my wife Gisela and our two spoiled cats.

Nihilism

Posted on January 29, 2026 by Steven Yates

Nihilism (from the Latin: nothing) is a term most often associated with Friedrich Nietzsche, arguably the most pivotal philosopher of the European post-Kantian era, and with his infamous allegation in Also Sprach Zarathustra that:   “God is dead! And we … Continue reading →

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Modernity

Posted on January 13, 2026 by Steven Yates

Many philosophers and other authors use the term modernity for the state of civilization to which the later Enlightenment and the industrial revolution gave rise. The Enlightenment was fundamentally about the rise and presumed applicability of reason and empirical methods … Continue reading →

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Presuppositionalism

Posted on January 7, 2026 by Steven Yates

[Note: this blog has been moribund for some time. It had strayed too far from philosophy and waded into politics (just one of its faults). These days I have other outlets for that material and can reserve this for my … Continue reading →

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Tucker Carlson’s War on Official Narratives. Fired from Fox News. What’s Next?

Posted on April 30, 2023 by Steven Yates

Theories abound for why Tucker Carlson was fired from Fox News. The bottom line: he’s a truth-teller on the issues that count, and was operating in a media environment that is resolutely hostile to truth (yes, this includes the Fox media empire). Continue reading →

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What Intellectuals Get Wrong. (Contrasting Nietzsche, Hoffer, Marx; and the Mindsets of the Masses, Intellectuals, Elites.)

Posted on December 29, 2022 by Steven Yates

Nietzsche disdained the masses. Eric Hoffer loved them. How should we navigate the vast differences in mindset between intellectuals such as Nietzsche, the masses as Hoffer saw them, and elites who oversee society. What should intellectuals do if they are serious about helping to build a better world? Continue reading →

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The Controlled Demolition of Trumpism

Posted on December 23, 2022 by Steven Yates

“…What we have just seen is, of course, unprecedented. Not once in U.S. history has a former president been accused of federal crimes committed while in office. This sort of thing happens in second world banana republics. Although in backhanded fairness, the U.S. is looking more and more like a second world banana republic with each passing day….” Continue reading →

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The Year 2022: Looking Back, Looking Ahead

Posted on December 22, 2022 by Steven Yates

Beginning with a hefty list of the converging crises of the 2020s, we look back on 2022 and then look ahead at what we can expect in 2023 and beyond. Continue reading →

Posted in Coronavirus, Culture, Election 2016 and Aftermath, Media, Philosophy, Political Economy, Where is Civilization Going? | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Nietzsche, Materialism, and Eugenics: A Brief History of the Connection

Posted on December 3, 2022 by Steven Yates

Was Friedrich Nietzsche the first visible eugenicist? We explore that question, and the connections to today’s situation with the World Economic Forum globalists. Continue reading →

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The Philosophy of Responsible Freedom – Announcing An Online Course / Tutorial with Jack Carney and Steven Yates

Posted on October 17, 2022 by Steven Yates

An online Philosophy course / tutorial, an adventure in ideas presented by Jack Carney and Steven Yates, starting next weekend (Fri Oct 21 – Sun Oct 23 depending on your time zone) Continue reading →

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Saul Kripke, R.I.P

Posted on October 1, 2022 by Steven Yates

Leading analytic philosopher Saul Kripke passed away last month at the age of 81. Continue reading →

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