Steven B. Smith, Author at Public Seminar

Politics

Patriotism’s Dilemma

Lessons from The Godfather

February 1, 2021 • by Steven B. Smith

The idea of patriotism – love of country – is an ancient one. It goes back to the Greek word patris (place of one’s ancestors) and the Latin patria (fatherland). Like every form of love, patriotism is partly determined by the object of its affection. Is love of country unconditional – ...

Teaching Patriotism

Abraham Lincoln’s idea of America

October 8, 2020 • by Steven B. Smith

In the midst of a global pandemic and an economic crisis, President Donald Trump recently found time to convene a Committee on Patriotic Education. In principle this was not a bad idea. The great question of course is how will patriotism be taught, and who will be its teachers? Or, as Karl ...

What Did Aristotle Think About Slavery?

Why we need to read great books closely

August 27, 2020 • by Steven B. Smith

I admire Professor Collard’s attempt to defend Aristotle despite his views on slavery. My question is whether he actually held the views she attributes to him. We must avoid two common responses that seem to me misguided. The first is to reject Aristotle out of hand because his views do not ...