At Public Discourse we seek to articulate, reflect, and share timeless truths, like the reality of human nature, the power of authentic charity over mere sentiment, the soul-piercing power of beauty, the embodiedness of human life, the centrality of local community to a flourishing society. This month, our essays showcase some of our most closely-held values, what we see as the most timeless truths, even as political and social change swirl around us.
Xavier Symons reflects on what lasting healthcare reform would entail in the wake of the tragic and controversial shooting of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson. “Care for the poor and vulnerable,” he writes, “including equitable access to healthcare, must be integrated into a comprehensive vision of human flourishing that is predicated on a commitment to the sacredness of every human life.” He ultimately concludes that what will bring about lasting healthcare reform, for example, is not “violent political protest but a revolution at the heart of healthcare whereby we rediscover its connection to the common good.”
Then, Nathan Berkeley shares his insights on United States v. Skirmetti, the pending Supreme Court case that will determine whether Tennesee’s ban on “transgender medical treatments” for minors violates the constitutional promise of equal protection under the law. Berkeley frames the case as an opportunity for all to recognize and accept “the underlying premise that human nature exists and demands respect,” that sex is immutable and the law demands protection of the most vulnerable in our midst (like children, particularly those struggling deeply with questions of identity, meaning, and worth).
Duncan Stroik reflects on the culturally significant restoration of Notre Dame as a call to champion what he calls building in stone, raising walls high, and reviving “the art of murals, statues, and stained glass.” His words remind us of the importance of longevity, substance, and connection to the past and call us to eschew what is cheap, flimsy, and ultimately lacking the ability to move, stir, and inspire.
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Other Noteworthy Pieces This Month
As technology continues to drive sweeping cultural change, our authors connect these developments to broader themes: how does tech intersect with religious freedom? Human relationships? Communal flourishing? A few essays this month explore these issues:
- “Emerging Tech and Religious Freedom,” Ian Speir
- “On Angels, Demons, and Artificial Intelligence,” Dhananjay Jagannathan
- “Should We Decouple Technology from Everyday Life?” Phillip Dolitsky
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An Ethics Advice Column!
Ask our natural law expert, Chris Tollefsen, your ethical questions about sexuality, bioethics, marriage, relationships, and politics. Dr. Tollefsen will select one or two of your questions to address in a column. For past ethics advice columns, see here and here.
What We’re Reading Online
Our editors suggest checking out the following:
- John Byron Kuhner, “Jane Austen against the Smartphone,” First Things
- Mana Afsari, “Last Boys at the Beginning of History,” The Point
- Daniel J. Mahoney, “Scrutonian Conservatism Reconsidered,” Law & Liberty