Our Rulers

"The truth is, philosophy rules your world." – Marcelo Gleiser, Dartmouth professor

Intellectuals rule the world. From the time of ancient Sumeria up to today, practically everyone believes instead that government leaders rule. But as John Maynard Keynes notes: the world’s intellectuals “both when they are right and when they are wrong are more powerful than is commonly understood. Indeed, the world is ruled by little else. Practical men, who believe themselves to be quite exempt from any intellectual influences, are usually [their] slaves.”

Today’s world is ruled by the philosophical and political professors of Harvard, Stanford, and Oxford. And by the similar writers and speakers of The Brookings Institute, The American Enterprise Institute, and The Heritage Foundation. And by the thinkers of Foreign Policy and Commentary magazine.

This is unfortunate. Their irrationality and illiberalism is considerable. But these largely fatuous and depraved intellectuals command us all.

And the alternative philosophers and rebels at The Ayn Rand Institute, The Atlas Society, The Objective Standard, The Cato Institute, and Reason magazine aren’t much better. Their irrationality and illiberalism is still significant.

So what can mankind do? Think better. Discover the truth and quietly write it down. Use these true words to stage a rational, liberal revolution. Because as Nietzsche observes: “It is the stillest words which bring the storm. Thoughts that come on doves’ feet guide the world.”