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476Book review of: P. Booth, ...and the Pursuit of Happiness: Wellbeing and the Role of GovernmentReason Papers 37 (1). 2015.This essay is my review of Philip Booth’s ...and the Pursuit of Happiness: Wellbeing and the Role of Government. The book is an anthology of original articles by eminent researchers in modern happiness economics, such as: Booth himself; Paul Omerod; David Sacks, Betsey Stephenson, and Justin Wolfers; Christopher Snowden; J. R. Shackleton; Christian Bjornskov; Peter Boettke and Christopher Coyne; and Pedro Schwartz. I conclude by offering several criticisms of the work.
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2Disturbing Thoughts: Unorthodox Writing on Timely IssuesCreateSpace. 2015.Philosophy lecturer and essayist Gary Jason tackles timely issues from education reform to the Arab Spring in his new anthology Disturbing Thoughts: Unorthodox Writings on Timely Issues. Disturbing Thoughts collects more than 160 political and social commentary essays published between 2010 and 2012. Among the many topics addressed are environmentalism, public employee pensions, education, and political reform. Today's headlines are filled with discussion on the growing dysfunction of unfunded p…Read more
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1893Portraits of Egoism in Classic Cinema I: Sympathetic PortrayalsReason Papers 36 (1). 2014.In this essay, I look at more or less sympathetic portrayals of egoists in film. I start by explaining some basic concepts: psychological egoism; ethical egoism; default egoism; rational egoism; egotism; cynicism; narcissism; and psychopathy. I then review in-depth two excellent WWII films, Stalag 17 and The Bridge on the River Kwai. I note that the key protagonist in both pictures is the same type of character—both played by the same fine actor, William Holden. The main protagonist in both is a…Read more
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1113The History of Cinema and America’s Role in It: Review Essay of D. Gomery and C. Pafort-Overduin’s Movie History: A Survey (review)Reason Papers 35 (1): 170-186. 2013.Cinema
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192Book review of: A. Brooks, Who Really Cares: The Surprising Truth of Compassionate Conservatism (review)Liberty (March): 43-46. 2009.
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432Movie review of: The Man Who Knew InfinityLiberty 6. 2016.This is a review of the biopic of the great mathematician Ramanujan, 'The Man Who Knew Infinity'(2016).
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205Is there a case for ad hominem arguments?Australasian Journal of Philosophy 62 (2). 1984.This Article does not have an abstract
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224Conflicts of Loyalty in War MoviesLiberty (September): 1-8. 2011.In this essay, I use four war movies to explore conflicts of loyalty and how they are resolved, all to illustrate W.D. Ross’ multiple rule deontologism. The films are all fine WWII movies: The Enemy Below; Decision Before Dawn; John Rabe; and The Bridge on the River Kwai. In my analysis of each, I show how the protagonists face conflicts of their loyalty to themselves, their countrymen, their friends, and humanity in general, and resolve them in the face of changing factual backgrounds.
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194The Rest of the Best: Ten Great Actors Snubbed by OscarLiberty (August): 41-46. 2010.In this essay, I look at some extraordinary actors who never got their due—actors who had distinguished careers, but never won an Academy Award for acting. I review the work of: Joseph Cotten; Orson Welles; Edward G. Robinson; Cary Grant; James Mason; Richard Burton; Claude Rains; Alan Ladd: Robert Mitchum; and Fred MacMurray. In each case, I explore the actor’s best work, what made his acting outstanding, and offer possible explanations why he was not so honored.
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320Book Review of: G. Brock and M. Blake, Debating Brain Drain: May Governments Restrict Emigration? (review)Dialogue (June 2016): 1-2. 2016.