Nonviolence is not quick or easy. State violence can be brutal. And political leadership is often stupid and sometimes wicked. But the hope is that in the long run human beings are better than this. open.substack.com/pub/andrewfi...

Despite the darkness, it is possible to embrace the world with tenacity and joy. It is essential in these troubled times to find the courage to be. andrewfiala.substack.com/p/moral-cour...

In tragic circumstances your virtue will be tested. Will you live as a citizen of a better world, or will you give in to cynicism and despair? In confronting this choice, you discover what you value and who you really are. Read more at: www.fresnobee.com/opinion/read...

Here is a new column about Venezuela and Donald Trump's penchant for naming things after himself. open.substack.com/pub/andrewfi...

Toward a Wiser New Year Resolve to do better. Review what went right and what went wrong. Release resentment. Let go of regret. Renew a commitment to virtue and wisdom. When things look dark, anticipate the dawn. open.substack.com/pub/andrewfi...

The turn of the new year is an opportunity to take stock of what we value, to let go of bad habits, and to begin again. Reviewing, releasing and renewing are essential for living well. May you find wisdom in 2026, along with clarity, inspiration and joy. www.fresnobee.com/opinion/read...

In the dark of winter, when things look bleak and the forces of the world conspire against us, it may still be possible to hear the angels sing. But the angels will not save us unless we take up the song ourselves. open.substack.com/pub/andrewfi...

Recent controversies in the world of sports direct our attention to the ethics of sports and games. The best human activities are done for their own sake. Human happiness involves finding a game to love and playing it well — for its own sake. Read more at: www.sacbee.com/opinion/arti...

Cheating is as old as human history, as is bad sportsmanship and athletic corruption... Everyone can be tempted, at times, to behave badly. You cannot experience the joy of sport unless you play for the love of the game. Read more at: www.fresnobee.com/opinion/read...

Gratefulness is related to other virtues, such as compassion, humility and truthfulness, as well as mercy and forgiveness.

Whether we think that good things come from God, Providence or from the world itself, it is wise to acknowledge all the goodness we enjoy. In giving thanks, we should cultivate a humble, forgiving, cheerful and open mind. Read more at: www.fresnobee.com/opinion/read...

It’s a long way from Silicon Valley to the Vatican, but the journey may be enlightening.... It will be exciting to see what the wizards of Silicon Valley will come up with next. But wizardry without wisdom is dangerous. Read more at: www.sacbee.com/opinion/arti...

At the dawn of the age of artificial intelligence, we need a corresponding new dawn of critical moral judgment. Now is the time for us to think deeply about the philosophy of technology and the values expressed or embodied in our tools. Read more at: www.fresnobee.com/opinion/read...

Perhaps a religious revival could help our nation. But which faith would lead it? And what about a revival of science and rationality? If there is to be a revival, it should be the work of free citizens. Its not the business of the government. Read more at: www.fresnobee.com/opinion/read...

It is antithetical to the idea of liberty to prevent people from gathering in public. But the right to assembly has often been at risk. Recent crackdowns against protest and dissent risk violating that right, as well as freedom of speech. Read more at: www.sacbee.com/opinion/arti...

Now is a crucial time to think about our basic rights. Among our rights are the rights to peacefully assemble, and to petition the government. The right to petition and assemble allows us to gather in protests, marches and demonstrations. Read more at: www.fresnobee.com/opinion/read...

Progress can and does happen. Bad laws can be repealed, bad leaders can be voted out, and wisdom can replace stupidity. But this can only happen if we are free to express ourselves. Read more at: www.fresnobee.com/opinion/read...

My new book is "Christian Nationalism and the Paradox of Secularism." It explains the Christian Nationalist challenge, while useing American sources, Christian theology, and modern political philosophy to argue against Christian nationalism. brill.com/display/titl...

The Declaration of Independence is a secular, humanistic document. Our rights may come from God, the creator, or the laws of nature. But government is a human creation. It is “we, the people” who create governments, and alter or abolish them. www.fresnobee.com/opinion/read...

As soldiers deploy on American streets and bombs rain down on foreign cities, we need to think more carefully about the justification of war. We also need to listen carefully to the critics of war, whose voices are often drowned out by the warmonger’s ranting. andrewfiala.com/against-warm...

Very few wars live up to the moral ideal. Good people die. Bad guys sometimes win. Atrocities are committed. And noble soldiers suffer post-traumatic stress disorder and moral injury. Warmongering ignores this. Read more at: www.fresnobee.com/opinion/read...

In a free country, we must be allowed to pursue familial joy on our own terms. andrewfiala.com/motherhood-a...

Nihilism is a philosophical dead-end. If we understand our unique capacity to wonder about the meaning of life, we may also realize how wonderful it is to exist as beings who think, question and create. www.fresnobee.com/opinion/read...

Identitarian movements can become dogmatic, fanatical, and violent. When we understand that most identities are ephemeral social constructions, we may begin to imagine a path toward peace. Imagining a Pragmatic Post-Identitarian Peace - শুদ্ধস্বর shuddhashar.com/imagining-a-...

Human beings should stop fighting about the abstractions of religion, politics, and identity. Too many tears have been shed in defense of empty words. And too much blood has been spilt over lines drawn in the sand. shuddhashar.com/imagining-a-...

Easter is anti-tyrannical. If it seems that we are more Roman than Christian these days, it can help to recall that the hero of Easter is Jesus and not Pontius Pilate. Read more at: www.fresnobee.com/opinion/read...

To be human is not to be efficient. Rather, it is love, suffer and die. And that’s what no machine can ever do. www.fresnobee.com/opinion/read...

Here's a short overview of my new article "Toward an Ontology of Pacifism" from the Journal of Pacifism and Nonviolence: pacifismandnonviolence.wordpress.com/2025/04/02/o...

My new article, "Toward an Ontology of Pacifism" explores shared ideas among pacifists: (1) that peace is a positive reality, (2) that interdependence and interrelationship are fundamental; and (3) that the entities of social and political life are socially constructed. brill.com/view/journal...

American politics has become deeply erotic... Erotic politics is more interested in glory than in goodness. It encourages inspiring fantasy rather than dull deliberation. Read more at: www.fresnobee.com/opinion/read...

If Trump can rename the Gulf of Mexico, why can’t a trans person adopt a new name and pronoun? Who gets to decide true name of a thing? And who has the authority to name things. Read more at: www.fresnobee.com/opinion/read...

"The last king of America was a tyrant and a madman. That’s what the American rebels said about George III. Since the American colonies gained their independence, no other tyrant has been able to consolidate power in this country...." Is this still true? www.amazon.com/Tyranny-Plat...

The antidote to chaos is wisdom that transcends the moment. When the zone is flooded with shit, we rise above by remembering that true and good things endure. andrewfiala.com/seeking-wisd...

I'll be speaking at UC Merced on March 5, on the challenge of doing public philosophy.

The world is more complicated than Trumpian alchemy admits. Human lead cannot be turned into gold. The philosophers tell us that the crooked timber of humanity cannot be made straight. Applying gilded paint to crooked wood cannot conjure up a golden age. Read more at: www.sacbee.com/opinion/arti...

On Christmas Eve, Jesus would listen to our 2009 episode with @andrewfiala.bsky.social from @fresnostatecah.bsky.social, author of "What Would Jesus Really Do?: The Power & Limits of Jesus' Moral Teachings." More at www.philosophytalk.org/shows/how-re....

Trump said, “The golden age of America begins right now.” Really? History is haphazard. Human beings are flawed. Powers rise and fall. Every action provokes a reaction. There never was — and there never will be — a golden age. Read more at: www.fresnobee.com/opinion/read...

In this combustible world, we also need ethical and spiritual preparation. Nothing lasts forever. But virtue is more durable than any finite, flammable good. Read more at: www.fresnobee.com/opinion/read...

The new year offers a fresh start. This is an opportunity to erase some bad habits and write a new chapter. As we make our resolutions and look back on the past year, we should aim to keep what’s good, welcome the better, and let go of what we no longer need. www.fresnobee.com/opinion/read...

Brooks misses the point here. Morality is not about ‘institutions’. It transcends them. What’s missing in MAGA and in ‘institutionalism’ are the basic shared values of moral common sense: honesty, kindness, sincerity, humility, wisdom, and love. www.nytimes.com/2024/11/28/o...

We don’t have to hate each other. We are not bound to return tit-for-tat. Human beings are free and creative. We can choose to forgive, to forget and to turn a new leaf. ://andrewfiala.com/gratitude-grace-and-the-biden-trump-handshake/

This is excellent food for thought. All we are saying is “Give Tofurkey a chance.” www.nytimes.com/2024/11/22/o...

Is Rawls-Nozick debate is still relevant after 50 years? www.nytimes.com/2024/11/24/o...

This post-election Thanksgiving, we all have the power to soften our hardened hearts. It may be too much to hope that enemies can become friends, but we can become less hateful and more civil if we choose to do so. Read more at: www.fresnobee.com/opinion/read...

This life is a burst of light In empty space. We dance on this summit For a moment, Grateful to glow While we can, Adding color to the cosmos Until the rainbow ends.

Tragic wisdom offers consolation. A good life is not guaranteed. But in understanding the fragility of goodness, we discover wisdom. And if we work at it, we can find the strength to remain upright in the storm. Read more at: www.fresnobee.com/opinion/read...