Category Archives: Language

From Affirmative Action to Cancel Culture: Americans, You Were Warned

Posted on August 18, 2020 by Steven Yates

Slightly over 30 years ago, some of us warned anyone who would listen that the political correctness then emerging was dangerous and would spread to every institution in the country if it was not opposed. We were ignored, or called racists. Now, everything we predicted has happened, and we find not just historical monuments but history itself being canceled little by little Continue reading →

Posted in Academia, Culture, Higher Education Generally, Language, Media, Political Philosophy, Where is Civilization Going? | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Materialism (Vers. 2.0, Part 7)

Posted on May 30, 2019 by Steven Yates

“Believe in me Once seemed a good line Now belief in Jesus Is faith more sublime…. Don’t be afraid Just treasure his word Singing his praises I know that I’ll be heard He’s gonna take you by the hand He’s gonna … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Worldview, Language, philosophy of mind, Philosophy of Science | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Why Is Philosophy Important? An Expanded Comment

Posted on August 28, 2018 by Steven Yates

Daily Nous, the philosophy blog, posted a recent query raising this question in response to an undergraduate who had fallen in love with the subject. Presumably she’d gotten some flak from friends or maybe family. The blog’s editor, Justin Weinberg … Continue reading →

Posted in Academia, Language, Philosophy, Where is Civilization Going?, Where Is Philosophy Going? | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Dichotomous Thinking in Western Philosophy and Political Economy (An Occasional Philosophical Note #2)

Posted on January 31, 2018 by Steven Yates

If there is any trait more characteristic of the mainstream of Western philosophical thought than the prevalence of dichotomies — either-ors, one might say — it would be difficult to identify what it might be. Another useful term for the … Continue reading →

Posted in analytic philosophy, Language, Libertarianism, Philosophy, Political Economy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Analytic Philosophy: An Informal Defense (and a Modest Criticism)

Posted on July 24, 2017 by Steven Yates

This is a post dealing with a few basic issues in contemporary philosophy, issues easily lost sight of even by some trained professionals depending on their inclination. History discloses four major traditions, or more precisely, methods, of doing philosophy. There … Continue reading →

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Official Narratives

Posted on June 24, 2017 by Steven Yates

Note:  the post below is a brief excerpt from the central section of a much longer work in progress, tentatively entitled Confessions of an (Ex) Academic Dissident, which may or may not see the light of print someday. The topic, though, seems … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Election 2016 and Aftermath, Language, Political Economy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Wittgenstein’s Two Greatest Insights About Language

Posted on June 14, 2017 by Steven Yates

We’re back, after another unfortunate hiatus caused by a lingering illness and furthered by a computer meltdown. Might as well accept it: I will never be a technology person. But anywize…. This post is one I’ve been planning for some … Continue reading →

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