Thomas D. Howes

Some fun news: @McGillPatterson and I have signed a contract with @ActonInstitute to write a book in which we argue that the project of postliberalism is a revival of past failed projects, and a dead end for Catholics/Christians. The tentative title: Why Postliberalism Failed.

@PaulRDeHart I came to the same conclusion, basically, at least the basic idea and found confirmation in A. John Simmons's interpretation of Locke's view of private property. What I had heard in grad school always seemed like a straw man.

In my 2007 book Uncovering the Constitution’s Moral Design I made the argument that Locke’s statements in Chapters II & V, concerning God’s ownership of us and our putative ownership of ourselves (if this is the right way to read him) did not constitute a contradiction not only because 2 or more people can own the same thing (like a house) but also because it’s possible that Locke holds we own ourselves relative to others but as stewards but not absolutely and that God has proprietary ownership in us. We own ourselves relative to others but not relative to God. Thus, Locke’s theory is not really founded on self-ownership. I see others subsequently made the argument but without reference to my work. I would now add that Locke never says we own ourselves. He says we have a property in ourselves. But he only ascribes having property as an owner to God. Our property in the goods of the world he describes, in the First Treatise, as a liberty to use and restrict as he sees fit. To this notion that property in Locke is a liberty to use that can be expanded or restricted by God, see James Tully. Either way of reading Locke eliminates the contradiction (though other problems with his theory remains). But let me add that Locke’s entire theory of limited government is founded on his denial that we own or have absolute and arbitrary power over ourselves. Pull that thread and limited government is the price.

The Russian army has sustained over 6,000 casualties in the last four days as it attempted a renewed offensive that was beaten back by the Ukrainian military. politico.eu/article/russia…

@AngryMeow42 I haven't seen Cinderella's remake, but I love the original.

@ThomasDHowes A) Cinderella and The Jungle Book were straight-up better than the animated originals. B) WHY does this movie exist??? The sequel to the original JUST made like a billion dollars like two years ago!!!

I don't plan on ever taking my kids to a live-action remake.

Project Hail Mary shows how easy it is to make movies people want to see. Just have a great story, perfect casting, and perfect directing, and people will love it. Simple.

Check out Nathan's article on Vichy France today at the Dispatch.

@Zheschool That's totally fair. In part, I wanted to cover any accusations you weren't fair. You were very fair to them, and you're right there were plenty of heroes who stood out. Maritain, Simon, de Lubac, Congar, among them.

@ThomasDHowes Thanks! I am not sure who was earliest, of the Bishops. Definitely some of them covered themselves in shame, but part of what I hoped to show is that, even if you've started to go down a bad route, you can always jump off the train!

Great article, but if anything it goes easy on the French bishops. Unless I'm missing something, it took almost two years for any of them to speak out publicly against Vichy.

MAGA’s man in Hungary is losing his mojo. As April 12 elections near, Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party contends with glum voters and economic woes, writes @JillianKayM on.wsj.com/4s9xXOV

i'm tired boss x.com/DiscussingFilm…

The Philosophers and Churchmen Who Fell for Fascism: Moral lessons from Vichy France | @Zheschool in The Monday Essay thedispatch.com/article/vichy-…

In the years before WWII, France was highly polarized along partisan lines. This caused many people to lose moral clarity. Their defensive, combative mindset led them to betrayal of their country, their neighbors, and themselves. I tell a bit of the story here:

People’s metaphysical commitments are generally a poor guide to whether they’ll have reasonable normative and broadly practical commitments. In other words, having one’s metaphysical house in order is not much of a safeguard against being a moral idiot. Many such cases.

.@whypostlibfail

It's not implausible that Vance is considering sitting out.

BREAKING: Ukraine's military intelligence has "irrefutable" evidence that ​Russia continues to provide intelligence ‌to Iran-Zelenskyy.

So bad it’s numerous. Let’s fix it 1. Thomas Aquinas 2. Thomas A’Kempis 3. Thomas Reid 4. Thomas Hobbes (I say that as a Hobbes scholar. 5. Thomas Nagel (who is better on mind and teleology than Hobbes) 6. Or lower: Tommy Kuhn, whose work on the history of science is far excelled by Ed Grant. How do people not know Ed Grant is the real historian of science… 7. The lowest rung goes to the Gospel of Thomas but put the disciple Thomas at the top of the list.

@PaulRDeHart I thought Kuhn had some helpful observations, but a lot of what he said that was good was already in Michael Polanyi. Not to completely take away from his contribution. He's important, still.

smh