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Philosophy As The Art Of Thinking
- Philosophy is the art of thinking and tackles childlike questions with lawyer-like methods to understand the world better.
- Scott Hershovitz cites Gareth Matthews and frames philosophy as everyday questioning, not only academic formalism.
The Case Where Spitting Became Costly
- Hershovitz recounts Alcorn v Mitchell where a wealthy plaintiff spit whisky-and-tobacco-laced saliva in the defendant's face and lost, then was successfully sued for battery.
- The 1872 Illinois court awarded liberal damages to prevent violent retaliation and to restore the victim's social standing.
Resentment Versus Revenge
- Resentment preserves self-respect by protesting mistreatment, while revenge risks escalation and danger.
- Legal institutions aim to vindicate victims' status to remove impulses toward private vengeance.