TOS Weekly - Frankenstein's Redemption
Plus contrasting the objective with the intrinsic and subjective in metaethics; why Brits should reject monarchy and embrace rights; getting Abraham Lincoln right; and more.
Movie adaptations of great novels are almost always inferior to the original work. But that may not be the case for Guillermo del Toro’s new version of Frankstein, which hits cinemas and Netflix tomorrow. In his new review of the movie, Tim White argues that del Toro’s adaptation is both faithful and creative in how it adapts this philosophically rich story. After reading Tim’s review, I can’t wait to see what the creator of such cinematic art as Pan’s Labyrinth and The Shape of Water has done with Mary Shelley’s classic tale.
Also new this week, Craig Biddle has dived deep into the weeds of metaethics on his Substack, Thinking in Principles. Although the article is a little on the technical side for TOS, those of you who delight in the philosophic nitty-gritty are sure to enjoy it. Meanwhile, from the archive, I explain why I think my fellow Brits should reject monarchy and embrace rights, and Alexander V. Marriott sets the record straight on Abraham Lincoln’s legacy. Lastly, we look back on the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall and acknowledge the service of those who risk everything in the defense of freedom as we approach Veterans’ Day.
I hope you enjoy this week’s articles!
Thomas Walker-Werth
What’s New?
The Objective vs. the Intrinsic and Subjective in Metaethics
I recently wrote a short essay titled “Moral Realism and Anti-Realism vs. the Metaethics of Life,” which is a tad more technical than what we typically publish in The Objective Standard. So I published it on my personal Substack, Thinking in Principles. But I want to bring it to your attention in case you might be interested.
Frankenstein, Directed by Guillermo del Toro (Review)
Few (if any) novels have been adapted and retold more than Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. By 2025, almost no take on the story is both new and broadly faithful to the original, which left writer and director Guillermo del Toro with essentially one option: Tell the same story again but better. At this, he succeeds wonderfully; his adaptation is one of the best to date.
From the Archive
Brits Should Reject Monarchy and Embrace Rights
A system that awards some individuals the “right” to rule over others, to support themselves through taxes seized from others, and to establish themselves as the head of a national religion repudiates the principle of individual rights and violates every British citizen’s right to life, liberty, and property.
Getting Lincoln Right
On November 8, 1864, Abraham Lincoln was reelected for a second term. Was he, as most Americans believe, a defender of individual rights, a foe of slavery, and a savior of the American republic? Or was he a tyrant who turned his back on essential founding principles of America, cynically instigated the bloody Civil War to expand federal power, and paved the way for the modern regulatory-entitlement state?
Birthdays and Anniversaries
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