<t>In reviewing books about our society’s vices, Christine Sismondo poses the question: Do we chatter on about vice because we lack a concept of virtue (in our secular world)? She points out that one of the earliest philosophies of virtue was sketched out by Aristotle with the basic question of how ...

<t>Coberst,<br/>
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Every time I read one of your posts, I get the feeling you are just passing along some information from your study. I never find out what you think or if you agree with the offered material or not. As many posts are from the same source, they feel like a book report -- but ...

<t>I was a little young, but I do remember the day WWII ended. Thanks for the compliment to my youth.<br/>
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Really, I think, every generation has faced critical moments throughout history. Each time, so far, humans have managed to move on. Perhaps, someday we won't.<br/>
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<t>Interesting essay. I see one problem: "Civilization has become an uncritical style of life..." Why the 'has become?' From your essay, it seems humans have always been uncritical with only a few people pointing out the follies of the rest of us. They obviously had too little influence to change us ...

<t>You left something out: "It begins with our mother; it is continued by our teachers, and our college professors. Our intellectual food is prepared, cut into bit size portions, and spooned into our mouth. All we have had to do is to masticate and to swallow." We also have to regurgitate!<br/>
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<t>If higher education is not going to change (soon, any way), then philosophy can tell education nothing. As a teacher, I'm sure K - 12 is not going to lead in this endeavor you dream of. Socrates tried to change his society along the lines you are thinking; it did not take. Living 'by clear and ...

<t>Coberst,<br/>
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You wrote "Comprehension is a hierarchy ..." as if that is a fact, but you give no source for that or the book on which your essay is based, though you do mention Rousseau twice. If I am to look at the book, I need to know which one. If we are to have a good discussion, we ...

<t>Coberst, you say we need some philosophical speculation to guide us! Then you give us only hints without conclusions or your own clear thoughts.<br/>
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I think Rousseau was incorrect about humans wanting "meaning and maximum conviction." Human kind, as a whole, may have some built in desires ...