“Those who hate gardening need a theory,” wrote Polish philosopher and academic Leszek Kolakowski. “Not to garden without a theory is a shallow, unworthy way of life.”
When I consider today’s intellectual climate, I cannot help but think of the fable of blind men and an elephant. Each man forms judgments based on the feel of a particular portion of the elephant, resulting in varying theories about whether the object is a snake, massive tree, or a spear.
Compromise is really hard. Trust me, my entire summer has been spent studying how to better facilitate it, even when it is a moralized issue. When a position becomes connected to one’s fundamental sense of right and wrong, a moralized issue is created.
From an early age, I “knew” what everyone seems to know about capitalism: It is great for the rich but not for the poor. In Nicaragua, where I grew up, a negative view of capitalism was the norm.
The distribution of aid to developing countries in Africa is a contentious issue among economists and international policymakers. While giving aid to poverty-stricken countries may be seen as a generous act, it has been argued that doing so is not sustainable and does not benefit people in developing countries in the long run.
The city of Nogales is one of the few settlements that actually straddles the U.S.-Mexico border. In Nogales, Arizona, the average household income is $30,000.
The American Enterprise Institute invited dozens of college students from all corners of the map—I met friends from Venezuela, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and France—to their headquarters in Washington, DC to join ranks in the fierce competition of ideas.