He sent me a letter from India, where I think he got a fellowship to spend a year or so. He sent me a letter that read, I've just met a wonderful guru who can read minds. 'I want you to' - Allen had a way of saying 'I want you to do this, I want you to do that' - 'I want you to get him a position in the Philosophy Department.' I wrote back, 'Dear Allen, the members of the Philosophy Department want nothing so little as to have their minds read.'

Everybody keeps calling for Excellence - excellence not just in schooling, throughout society. But as soon as somebody or something stands out as Excellent, th…

Bernard Shaw remains the only model we have of what the citizen of a democracy should be: an informed participant in all things we deem important to the societ…

The need for a body of common knowledge and common reference does not disappear when a society is pluralistic. On the contrary, it grows more necessary, so tha…

Camus said there is only really one serious philosophical question, which is whether or not to commit suicide. I think there are four or five serious philosoph…

Everyone agreed that this is a song all Americans should be able to sing. It was a hands-down favorite among teachers. And I've talked with kids in elementary …

Fish are always eating other fish. If fish could scream, the ocean would be loud as shit. You would not want to submerge your head, nothing but fish going 'Ahh…