Jamesian Philosophy Refreshed

You, dear reader, may have noticed that obits of an idiosyncratic sort are an infrequent but regular feature of this blog. In the fourth quarter of 2018 thus far there have been three: Adolf Grunbaum, Whitey Bulger, Mary Midgley. Three obits in a little less than three months. That frequency is characteristic. Two philosophers and a gangster. That's a decent sampling, too. During that same period, lots of other important people have passed away about whom I've had nothing to say, including most prominently George H.W. Bush, Bernardo Bertolucci, Paul Allen and William Coors! A politician, a director, and two captains of industry. Is there a principle of selection? None known to me. I'm not averse to writing about the holders of public office, or artists of any medium, or business titans. I've written about all of those and I believe (without checking this moment) I've done obits here of tokens of each of those types. If any of my readers has noticed a patte...

Thank to a friend, I am in receipt of Thanks to a friend, I am in receipt of Bruce Ackerman's book, THE DECLINE AND FALL OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLIC (2010). As the first decade of the new millennium was ending Ackerman predicted seven imminent developments based on his life's work, his understanding of the evolution of the US constitutional structure: 1) That we would see "an increasing number of charismatic outsider types who gain office by mobilizing activist support for extremist programs...." 2) Presidents, whether elected on such a platform or not, will become ever more reliant on media consultants, which will in turn generate a "politics of unreason." 3) They will govern around or in conflict with the executive departmental structure, cabinet officers and their subordinates, relying instead on "their White House staff of superloyalists." 4) They will increasingly politicize the military; 5) ... increasingly invoke emerg...