The Corporation as a Person
Jun 20, 2010The Supreme Court recently decided that corporations had the right of free speech under the U.S.
The Urbanist Delusion
Serena Wong
02 February 2018
Since Amazon announced the search for its new urban headquarters, cities across the US have jumped at the opportunity, offering everything from tax breaks to municipal planning powers. In a bid to display their uniqueness, cities across the country have all touted the same set of assets—rich culture, beautiful parks, elite institutions of higher education, restaurants, and other identical hallmarks of urbanity.
In this polemical critque, author Nikil Saval argues that Amazon has now bankrupted "the ideology of urbanism." So what was this ideology? What really draws people to live in a city? And how has Amazon's search for new urban headquarters revealed "the urbanist delusion"?
Nikil Saval addresses these questions in his article on n+1: https://nplusonemag.com/online-only/online-only/desperately-seeking-cities/.
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Related Shows
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Jun 20, 2010The Supreme Court recently decided that corporations had the right of free speech under the U.S.
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Making a better world would be a great thing—but do we need philosophers to help us do that? Famously (or infamously), not all philosophers have been such great people. So are they the folks we... Read more
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Comments (3)
Harold G. Neuman
Monday, February 5, 2018 -- 10:20 AM
I did not realize living inI did not realize living in one environment, such as an urban one; or living in another, say, rural locale, had anything to do with something as foundational as ideology (foundational may not be the best descriptor, but I could not conjure a better word). People who choose one over the other generally have PREFERENCES, based on utility; economics; 'comfort zone'; and/or other more-or-less practical considerations. 'Par exemple', (French: for example): I like rurality and so does my wife, but it is impractical from the standpoint of access to professional healthcare. We are older and things tend to breakdown---us included. Speaking for ourselves only, country living vs. city living is not an ideology in any way, shape or form. For those for whom it is so, I say bully and bravo for them! To anyone who feels bankrupted by Amazon: my sympathies.
Laura Maguire
Monday, February 5, 2018 -- 10:39 AM
Harold, are you familiar withHarold, are you familiar with Jonathan Haidt's book The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion? He talks about the rural-urban ideological divide there. You might find it interesting. He was also a guest on the show a few years ago: https://www.philosophytalk.org/shows/psychology-partisan-politics
Harold G. Neuman
Monday, February 5, 2018 -- 10:53 AM
Thanks, Laura! I'll check itThanks, Laura! I'll check it out. HGN.