Worst Cases
by John WilsonPlanning ahead with an eye toward potential catastrophe is a much-needed antidote to both despair and the presentism bedeviling much of our public discourse. Continue Reading »
Letters
by VariousCatesby Leigh notes in his essay “Monumental Contrast” (October) that the removal of the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial in New York City is a sign that the “monumental aesthetic” in public art is an “endangered species.” Those of us in the art world know only too well that in civic art the . . . . Continue Reading »
Prudential Voting in Bad Times
by George WeigelWhat is the thoughtful Catholic voter, who understands that the Church’s social doctrine cannot be confined in any partisan box, to do in this election cycle? Continue Reading »
Prudence in the Pandemic
by Robert C. KoonsWe do not exercise moral judgment in the same manner in every instance. Broadly, there are three basic situations in the moral life, which require three different ways of thinking. The recent pandemic, and the ensuing reflections on our moral responsibilities as civic leaders and citizens, . . . . Continue Reading »
The Virtue of Prudence
by R. R. RenoIn The Four Cardinal Virtues, Josef Pieper writes, “That is prudent which is in keeping with reality.” Moral principles and good intentions amount to little if pursued blindly. Action on behalf of the good requires accurate perception of concrete situations and circumstances. Drawing upon . . . . Continue Reading »
Left, Right, Prudence, Principle, and Catholic Social Doctrine
by J. BudziszewskiA long-running battle between the so-called Catholic left and the so-called Catholic right concerns which political issues the Church should speak about and which ones she shouldn’t. One crucial distinction is that teaching the basic principles of Catholic social doctrine go to the heart of her charism, but she has no special expertise in prudential judgments about how to apply them. Continue Reading »
Techno-Politics, Tragedy, and the Rejection of Prudence
by Ivan KenneallyHere is an excerpt from an article on Chantal Delsol I have forthcoming in Perspectives on Political Science : In the place of “true judgment” or prudence, the defenders of international justice satisfy their hunger for rational certitude and analytical specificity with mere . . . . Continue Reading »
The “Proper Place of Science” and Politics
by Ivan KenneallyOne of the most telling but least commented upon lines in President Obama’s inaugural speech was his promise to “restore science to its proper place”. Since he doesn’t expand upon this restoration in the remainder of the speech it’s not immediately obvious what this . . . . Continue Reading »
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