Public Discourse publishes daily essays to foster constructive discussions about the five pillars of a decent and dynamic society: respect for the dignity of the human person, the family, the rule of law, the university, and business. In addition, we host a number of featured conversations, each dedicated to providing sustained and rigorous commentary on the most important political and cultural questions. This page allows you to follow our ongoing or recent featured conversations.
America After Dobbs: Addressing Misconceptions and Creating a Pro-Woman, Pro-Family Future
In light of the Supreme Court’s decision on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which overturned Roe v. Wade, we created a special resource, “America After Dobbs,” which presents our best essays on common myths about the Dobbs decision in particular and abortion ethics in general. In addition, the resource includes essays that reflect on the future of the pro-life movement. It is updated regularly, so check back often!
Who’s Who
Our ongoing “Who’s Who” series introduces and critically engages with important thinkers who are often referenced in political and cultural debates, but whose ideas might not be widely known or understood.
- James Stoner, “Hannah Arendt’s Vision of Freedom”
- Bradley Lewis, “The Sapiential Witness of Charles De Koninck”
- Geoffrey Vaughan, “Harry V. Jaffa and Allan Bloom: The Contested Legacy of Leo Strauss”
- Elizabeth Corey, “Michael Oakeshott’s Conservative Disposition”
- Daniel Philpott, “Where Have You Gone, Jacques Maritain?”
- Mark Dooley, “Antonio Gramsci’s Long Struggle”
Reimagining Wealth
This series examined modern notions about wealth, the cross-generational practices surrounding wealth and property, and the interplay between wealth and family formation.
- Mark T. Mitchell, “Intergenerational Wealth: A Vision of Property and Stewardship”
- Jeff Polet, “The Cash Economy’s Liquidation of Social Stability”
- Clara Piano, “The Burden of Being a Family”
- Patrick T. Brown, “Are Marriage and Parenthood Only for the Wealthy?”
- Elayne Allen, “Toward a New Vision of Wealth”
Commemorating Peter Augustine Lawler Five Years Later
Peter Augustine Lawler, who died on May 23, 2017, was one of America’s most insightful critics of politics, religion, and culture. To commemorate the fifth anniversary of Lawler’s death, we republished his introduction to John Courtney Murray’s We Hold These Truths, as well as a series of essays from three leading political scholars, each reflecting on different aspects of Lawler’s legacy and its enduring relevance.
- Peter Augustine Lawler, “Critical Introduction to John Courtney Murray’s We Hold These Truths: Catholic Reflections on the American Proposition”
- Daniel J. Mahoney, “Neither a Flatterer nor a Lockean Be: Peter Augustine Lawler as a Catholic Political Philosopher”
- James Patterson, “Wondering and Wandering: Peter Augustine Lawler’s Higher Ed Heresies”
- Richard Reinsch, “Recovering the American Proposition with Peter Augustine Lawler”
