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Philosophical Dictionary

  • Panoramic view of the Scottish Highlands, rolling moss-green and brown hills with a dark strip of pine forest in the valley, under a wide blue sky with scattered fair-weather clouds.

    What Is Absolute Freedom? A Field Guide to Every Meaning, Including the One Sartre Actually Argued

    By Markus Uehleke

    The Sartre quote all over Pinterest, "we are our choices," has no confirmed source in his writing. What he actually argued is heavier: we're "condemned to be free," stuck owning every choice with no rules or luck to blame. Sartre later admitted he'd pushed that idea too far, and this piece explains where it broke.
  • A photo of Friedrich Engels on the left, Karl Marx on the right, and three of Marx's daughters in the middle, in black and white.

    Friedrich Engels: A Bromance for the Ages

    By Caroline Black

    In this article, we discuss the life and work of Karl Marx's closest collaborator and friend, Friedrich Engels, and the way his practical approach to economics informed Marx's views.
  • Karl Marx with a Santa-style bag in a red greatcoat, standing in front of a snowy factory town decked out for Christmas, with several young men Victorian-style workers wandering around in the background.

    We Are the Meme: Seize the Holidays and Means of Production!

    By Caroline Black

    We are once again the meme as we discuss the Marxist term, "means of production," which features in one of our bestselling holiday shirts. Grab a seat by the fire and listen to some economic critique.
  • Three people dressed for autumn activities near a park bench. In the background , day to day objects such as coffee cups, magic eight balls, and books float, along with a question mark.

    From the Academy to the Street: Where Can We Find Philosophy?

    By Caroline Black

    In this article, we will discuss the definition of philosophy, its professional practice, and whether we can find philosophy outside of our favorite big names and modern academia.
  • Karl Marx: The Ultimate Hegel Bro

    Karl Marx: The Ultimate Hegel Bro

    By Caroline Black

    A discussion of the influences of Hegel's dialectics on the work of Karl Marx, and his influence on the greater world.

  • Image of an elementary classroom with one kid raising their hand, Karl Marx's face imposed over the body. Reads: Bloomberg Opinion: Why don't workers get the full benefit of rising productivity? No one has good answers.

    Think Capitalism Is Your Bestie? Ask Karl!

    By Caroline Black

    In which we discuss Karl Marx's anti-capitalist roots, delving into the history of the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century and relating these critiques to our current situation as society in late stage capitalism.