Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.
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Secretary of State Blinken’s Trip to China: A Concerning Prioritization of Engagement over America’s Interests
Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently traveled to Beijing to meet with Chinese officials, including Xi Jinping. Despite the picture released from their final discussion showing Blinken seated just to the side of Xi, the trip was important for high-level diplomatic contact, even with an adversary like the Chinese Communist Party. However, the State Department’s…
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Juneteenth and the Importance of Protecting Black Families
Juneteenth is a celebration of the end of slavery in America, but it is also a celebration of the beginning of black families living freely and safely. The right of black Americans to build families is a fundamental part of the racial justice we celebrate on June 19th. However, some argue that racial justice and…
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The Unforeseen Consequences of a Shrinking Population
As someone born near the Baby Boom’s peak, I remember when many people worried that the world’s population was growing too fast. Today, however, the opposite is true. Birth rates have collapsed worldwide, and we now face the prospect of a shrinking population. Over two-thirds of the world’s population lives in countries with birth rates…
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The Risks of Mission Creep for Local Governments and Public Institutions
Local governments have traditionally been responsible for specific functions, such as public safety and education. However, with the rise of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) frameworks and the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) trend, there is increasing pressure for governments to address extraneous priorities. This mission creep can have adverse effects on the primary services…
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Michigan State University Professor Accused of Forcing Students to Donate to Left-Wing Political Groups
A professor at Michigan State University has been accused of requiring students to pay a $99 subscription fee to join an online “community” controlled by the professor and secretly used to donate funds to left-wing political groups, including Planned Parenthood. The professor, Amy Wisner, compelled nearly 600 students in the spring semester to pay the…
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The New Right Turn of Conservative Conferences: A Problem for College Conservatives
College conservatives often view political conferences as a valuable opportunity to learn from some of the brightest conservative minds of their generation. However, what happens when these conferences take a New Right turn that some refuse to follow? Conservative gatherings like CPAC and Turning Point USA have become rife with invective and conspiratorial thinking, replacing…
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Why Donald Trump’s Continued Involvement in American Politics is a Waste of Conservative Energy
Donald Trump’s continued involvement in American politics is a waste of the conservative movement’s political energy, the Republican Party, and the American Right. This energy could be better spent on causes that matter to ordinary Americans and advancing conservative institutions. It’s important to note that political energy is finite, and there are only so many…
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Reappraising Picasso: Brooklyn Museum’s “Pablo-matic” Exhibition
The new exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum, titled “Pablo-matic: Picasso According to Hannah Gadsby,” has sparked controversy and mixed reviews. Despite the debate, the exhibition offers a valuable reappraisal of Pablo Picasso’s work 50 years after his death and is worth seeing. The exhibition consists of three components: a selection of around 50 Picasso paintings,…
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The Paradox of Anti-Racism Activism: Perpetuating Racism Instead of Ending It
As a former university professor and diversity officer, I once asked a black-student union if their goal was to become obsolete. While most students didn’t understand the question, one student, the group’s leader, replied that the group would continue to exist even if racism were eradicated. Today, I’m more concerned about the creation of seemingly…
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President Biden’s Deal with Iran: Concerns Raised over its Impact on Israel’s Security
President Biden, who, at age 80, is among the last Democrats of a generation that supported Israel, has recently made a deal with Iran that has raised concerns. Biden, along with other Democrats such as Bill Clinton, Nancy Pelosi, and Steny Hoyer, grew up during the wars of the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, and witnessed…
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