Philosophia Publications

On May 27, 2020, I gave a Zoom lecture titled The Architect of Freedom of Conscience and Church-State Separation: Roger Williams’s Life, Political Action, Writings, and Influence. A video recording of this lecture has been posted at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuSHk8v0G7M&t=1s. The recording (which includes the lecture but not the follow-up Q&A) lasts 52:28 minutes. I misspoke on a couple of occasions that should be noted: 1. At 47:36, I used the word established wh...en I should have said adopted, i.e. adopted at the 1787 Constitutional Convention. 2. At 48:13, I said Williams when I meant Madison.

In this February 13, 2020 column, economist and Nobel Laureate Paul Krugman uses the historic definition of socialismgovernment ownership of major industries (what used to be called government ownership of the means of production) and replacing markets with central planningto show that Bernie Sanders is not a socialist but rather a social democrat on the Scandinavian model. Yet, Sanders’s decades-long self-identification as a socialist plays right into the hands of those conservatives who have long conflated social democracy (or any kind of progressivism) with Soviet-style authoritarianism/totalitarianism.

I have reviewed Henry P. Stapp's recent book, "Quantum Theory and Free Will: How Mental Intentions Translate into Bodily Actions" at https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2677707740. Alan E. Johnson, President Philosophia Publications

This is an excellent explanation of the constitutional and legal history regarding the phrase "high crimes and misdemeanors" in the impeachment clause of the US Constitution. Specifically, "misdemeanor" did not define a criminal offense at the time when the Constitution was adopted and ratified. Rather, it meant "misbehavior." The history of this phrase shows that it is essentially equivalent to the concept of abuse of power. Alan E. Johnson, President Philosophia Publications