Over at PJ Media, John Hawkins has compiled a list of
30 aphorisms from Thomas Sowell, the brilliant economist. It's a great list and a reminder of why Sowell is one of the best public intellectuals we have had in this nation's history. No. 12 is an excellent question for our woke friends:
"Since this is an era when many people are concerned about 'fairness' and 'social justice,' what is your 'fair share' of what someone else has worked for?"
No. 13 is also exceptionally germane these days:
“Considering how often throughout history even intelligent people have been proved to be wrong, it is amazing that there are still people who are convinced that the only reason anyone could possibly say something different from what they believe is stupidity or dishonesty.”
Which relates directly to No. 8:
"It is amazing how many people think that they can answer an argument by attributing bad motives to those who disagree with them. Using this kind of reasoning, you can believe or not believe anything about anything, without having to bother to deal with facts or logic."
I don't suspect Sowell is actually amazed by any of it, of course. Which leads us to No. 27:
"Virtually no idea is too ridiculous to be accepted, even by very intelligent and highly educated people, if it provides a way for them to feel special and important. Some confuse that feeling with idealism."
Go read the rest. Sowell is now 88 years old, so he's not going to be around all that much longer. The shoddy thinking he decries is eternal.
1 comment:
sowell, along with buckley, were two people most instrumental in the formation of my political beliefs.
the two men cam from very opposite backgrounds, and arrive at their destinations from very different means and experiences.
sowell has the edge though. he spoke the common man's language, simple, not too wordy. any man on the street could understand him.
i still have my personally autographed copy of his memoirs. if you havent read it, you really need to.
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