In case you missed it, The New York Times published a lengthy article — The Politics of God — last weekend which essentially traces how the thought of Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and other major political philosophers gave us secular politics, and particularly the separation of Church and State. They’re innovations with many upsides, but also the downside that they put us at an intellectual distance from entire regions where faith still governs political affairs. This includes large swathes of the Middle East and other areas within the “Muslim orbit.” It’s a good piece to read if you’ve ever wondered how philosophy tangibly shapes our modern world. Written by Mark Lilla, a Columbia University professor, the highly-readable article is adapted from his new book, The Stillborn God: Religion, Politics, and the Modern West. Get the article here, and don’t forget to subscribe to our feed.
Related Content for Philosophy Buffs:
- Philosophy Bites (Philosophers Interviews on Podcast)
- Enlightenment on iTunes: The Philosophy of Immanuel Kant
- Philosophy Talk and Intelligent Design
- Plato To Go (The Republic Now on iTunes)
Hmm… I can’t say that I agree, however…
For your list of related sites, don’t forget “Philosophers’ Zone” http://www.abc.net.au/rn/philosopherszone/
from ABC Radio in Australia. (And the ABC also have a lot of other discussion-type programs for download – all excellent)