The Probability of Things Unfolding as They Did

Measured from the early big bang, the probability that you would buy just those items you picked up on your last trip to the store could only be either 1 or a number distinguishable from 0 only by a quantity smaller than humankind has ever used or even contemplated.

For much more on this, including an argument for very nearly 0, seeConjectures & Arguments, Philosophy & Law: Things Unfolding as They Did II

Mandates, Democratic Theory, and President Trump

It is common for a national leader who wins election by a large margin to claim a mandate from the voters and a right and duty to make sweeping policy changes. It is also not uncommon for a candidate who barely squeaks by in an election to be cautious, proposing a less bold program, and seeking common ground with other parties. The current US president exhibits the opposite conduct.

Libertarian Island II: Individual Rights

In this second installment of the adventures of shipwrecked Libertarian Bob and Left Libertarian Ann somewhere in the south seas.

"trump" and Google

I searched for "trump," and on not a single page was there any mention of bridge, or any reference to the games of hearts or spades either. Why haven’t we been told that the distinction between upper and lower case is deceased?  "trump hearts," "trump diamonds," "trump clubs," and "trump suits," were all Donald, and after the first couple of pages even “trump bridge” was mostly Presidential. Only "trump spades" returned many results about a card game.

Choosing Libertarian Island

Shipwreck survivors on unknown islands are beloved by the writers of fiction, by cartoonists, and also by philosophers. Crawling up the beach on day on the island I have in mind were a "libertarian" Bob, and Ann,  who might, for want of a better label, be called a “left libertarian,” as will emerge. The pair were spotted by a stranger who helped them into the shade of the nearest palm.

Impeachment for Acts Prior to Taking Office?

It may be only an academic question, but one that has been edging  a little closer to the real world: Can the President of the United States can be impeached and convicted for acts committed before Inauguration Day?

The Fundamental Theorem of Ontology: Not Everything Exists.

There may be some in the world population who, even if they understand the importance of other branches of metaphysics, hold no brief for ontology – the study of what exists and what it is to exist. Some are quite satisfied with, “Everything exists.” It is, of course, true in one obvious way that everything exists. To be included among the things of everything is to be. So understood “Everything exists” is tautological.  There is, however, a way of asserting “Everything exists” so that it carries real content, indeed makes an important metaphysical claim. Once many years ago, I made just this claim, and was as wrong as wrong can be.