On Nov. 16, 1938, philosopher Robert Nozick was born. Nozick is best known for his book Anarchy, State, and Utopia, which won the National Book Award in 1975. In that book he argued that a minimal state was just, that the case for a bigger, more intrusive government (like that of the present day) is untenable, and that the minimal state, while seemingly puny by its limitations, is nevertheless morally praiseworthy and conducive to a good society. Nozick taught at Harvard, and wrote several other major works on other philosophical topics before his death in 2002.
Category: Today
On Nov. 15, 1777, the Continental Congress, meeting in York, Pennsylvania, approved the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union. It wasn’t until March 1, 1781, that the last of the 13 new states, Maryland, ratified the agreement.
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Walesa Released
On Nov. 14, 1982, Lech Walesa, leader of Poland’s outlawed Solidarity movement, was released by authorities after being imprisoned for 11 months. Returning to his home in Gdansk, a large crowd of jubilant supporters lifted Walesa onto their shoulders.
On Nov. 13, 1775, the U.S. Continental Army under Brigadier General Richard Montgomery captured Montreal, Canada, from the British.
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William Calley and the My Lai Massacre
On Nov. 12, 1969, investigative journalist Seymour Hersh broke news of the My Lai Massacre with a report that “The Army says [Lt. William Calley] deliberately murdered at least 109 Vietnamese civilians.”