Keith Burgess-Jackson, J.D., Ph.D.

And I thought my Autie was big!

To the Editor:

Re “Hillary Stumbles,” by Charles M. Blow (column, Jan. 25):

I am one of those people whose feelings are reflected in the CNN Values vs. Electability poll accompanying Mr. Blow’s column. I fervently agree with Senator Bernie Sanders on almost everything, and I love him for saying it. But I believe that Hillary Clinton is more likely to be elected. Does that soften my support for Mrs. Clinton? No.

If there were any chance that anything that Mr. Sanders advocates could make it through the mire in Washington, I might waver. But I am also certain that, if that chance existed, Mrs. Clinton would advocate it as well. She is as devoted to the cause of the common person as any Democrat. She advocates what is both good for the nation and doable. In the final analysis, that is why I will vote for her.

And, unless there is a tectonic shift in Washington between now and the election, there isn’t a chance that my position is going to change.

SHARON MORRISON

Whitefish, Mont.

Note from KBJ: I hate to break it to you, Sharon, but your vote doesn't matter. First, it's not going to affect the outcome in your state; and second, your state is going Republican, as it has in all but two presidential elections since 1948.

The Cars (1978). One of the best debut albums ever made.

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Philosophy differs from many intellectual disciplines in that it is fundamentally a normative discipline. Unlike those disciplines whose primary aim is to describe various phenomena, philosophy aims to evaluate our views, attitudes, and behavior. At the societal level, philosophy seeks to identify and critically evaluate the cultural assumptions and dogmas of the day, exposing indefensible assumptions as mere prejudice. At the personal level, philosophy challenges us as individuals to assess whether our own beliefs, attitudes, and practices are justifiable, with an eye toward abandoning or revising those beliefs and practices found to be unjustifiable.

As a result, philosophical inquiry often proves profoundly valuable both for society and for the individual. Principal among philosophy's contributions to society is its power to reform: Most of the great social reform movements of the modern era have grown out of philosophical challenges to the status quo. At the personal level, philosophical self-examination helps us to live authentic, meaningful lives. By subjecting our beliefs, attitudes, and practices to critical scrutiny, we learn what our most deeply held values are—an essential first step toward acting in accordance with those values. When philosophy helps us to live our lives in conformity with our most deeply held values, it becomes a transformative experience.

(Mylan Engel Jr and Kathie Jenni, The Philosophy of Animal Rights: A Brief Introduction for Students and Teachers [New York: Lantern Books, 2010], 7 [italics in original])

Note from KBJ: I reject this conception of philosophy. To quote Peter Winch, "philosophy can no more show a man what he should attach importance to than geometry can show a man where he should stand." The purpose of philosophy is to clarify concepts. This includes showing people the implications of what they already believe.

To the Editor:

David Greenberg says the term spin “is relatively new,” but political spin itself actually dates back to the earliest days of our Republic, when newspapers were attached to political parties and editors shaped both the news and editorial content to fit their partisan needs. Our contemporary class of political strategists who calibrate spin is merely an extension of the many operatives who masqueraded as journalists years ago.

What makes spin seem so troubling today is its prevalence in a media culture that saturates our lives. Mr. Greenberg is right that spin provides all shades of political interpretation that we should, as he says, examine critically. But more problematic than spin is our own tendency to seek out media and voices that confirm our biases—and then to think that we got the news for the day.

LEONARD STEINHORN

Washington

The writer is a professor of communication at American University and a political analyst for CBS News.

Note from KBJ: The New York Times has elevated spinning to a fine art. The newspaper's manipulative rhetoric, even in straight "news" stories, is relentless, and always favorable to progressivism.

This is a view of the marina on Mackinac Island, taken on our second day on the island. What a gorgeous day it was! Click to enlarge.

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