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I began studying sociology in my mid 20s. That's what threw me off the left most than anything else. I remember I discovered Sowell about that time, and it was
by iagovar 6y ago
I began studying sociology in my mid 20s. That's what threw me off the left most than anything else.
I remember I discovered Sowell about that time, and it was challenging and refreshing.
I'm still a strange flavor of a utilitarian social democrat, but he's the reason why I picked up this routine of reading libertarians and conservatives. I dismissed some controversial right-wing figures in my country and reading their books (sometimes) challenge my ideas, and often improves my empathy.
- chrispai 6y agoDespite considering myself very politically aware, I first learned of him just in the last few years. I'm perpetually amazed that more people are not familiar with Sowell's work over many decades. It makes me wonder whether he was ignored because he was a black man challenging many of the left's dogmas.
- iagovar 6y agoMore than being black, which I'm sure it contributes, I think he was a bit of an outsider in academia. Typically you would make friends and connections so your work gets more spread out. It seems that sowell was a bit on his own. There's a lot of nepotism in academia, only the filter of time seems counterbalance it.