
Political Innocence
If each of us were sure we were right, we would never quarrel with anyone – much less break with friends – over politics. The politically-triggered quarrels, friendship breakages, civil-society breakd...
19 Okt 202315min

The Blame Game
We don’t start life with a clean slate. Childhood is the time we spend figuring out what kind of a hand of cards we’ve been dealt and how to start playing it. What happens to us – inside ourselves – w...
12 Okt 202316min

Getting to Objectivity
Lately I’ve been reading a book titled What is Fiction For? The British philosopher Bernard Harrison wrote it to defend novels – defend writing them and reading them – from the accusation that they do...
5 Okt 202312min

Obsequies for Dennis Delcau
“Because you were here,” I said, “now when people speak of God, they speak as if He’s real. And, when they speak of Israel, they speak as if it’s important.” Abigail L. Rosenthal is Professor Emeri...
28 Sep 20239min

Are the Stories We Live True?
Good people try to live the sorts of stories that will solve the problems of their lives as reasonably and realistically as they can. Meanwhile, evil people aim to mess up good people’s stories. When ...
21 Sep 202314min

Should the Dead Know Their Place?
What are the dead up to? Are they just nonexistent? Many philosophers believe that and most would rather be annihilated than wrong. Abigail L. Rosenthal is Professor Emerita of Philosophy, Brooklyn...
14 Sep 202311min

Paying Nostalgia Forward
When I met Jerry and we fell in love, I recognized the real thing and knew I had to reshape my life to give it breathing and growing room. We found a place to live as a couple – not his Washington DC ...
7 Sep 202311min

Freud and Fradulence
What’s it to me? Well, I have entered the lists to combat the Freud claims and their cultural influence in a number of books and articles. So this is something of which I’ve long been convinced. Abi...
31 Aug 202314min



















