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A response to Alan Ryan's, James Miller's (2003), Charles L. Griswold, Jr.'s, & Eduardo A. Velasquez's critiques (all, 2003) of the author's (2001) study of the emergence of "philotyrannical" thought among modern European philosophers. Ryan's discussion of the author's delineation of Alexander Kojeve as a supporter of philotyranny is addressed. Griswold's objections to the portrayal of Jacques Derrida as intellectually reckless & assertion that none of the studied modern European philosophers correspond with Plato's engagement with tyrannical eros are then discussed. Miller's contention that Plato exhibits similarities with Michel Foucault's thought, which is portrayed as an ongoing philosophical experiment, is questioned. Velasquez's critique is welcomed for raising issues concerning whether philosophers are obligated to contemplate moral & political questions & are required to adhere to the rules of moral decency; brief responses to both concerns are presented. J. W. Parker

'Reagan, In His Own Hand,' edited by Kiron K. Skinner, Annelise Anderson, and Martin Anderson, is reviewed.

In Author's Response, Mark S. Massa responds to Andrew M. Greeley's (2000) review of the former's Catholics and American Culture: Fulton Sheen, Dorothy Day, and the Notre Dame Football Team (1999). Greeley's notation that Massa claims that the mainstream Catholic community functions like an ethnic group, with an ultimate goal of cultural assimilation, is confirmed. It is held, however, that the Catholic fulfillment of this goal has been uncomfortable, because for many religions, including Catholicism, a sense of not belonging to the common fold is almost necessary. The structure of Massa's book is described, & it is held to function as nine separate stories, strung together by a single narrative voice. Greeley & Massa disagree about how much US Catholics have changed since 1950, but agree about Catholicism functioning as an "ethnic group of ethnic groups." In Reviewer's Response, Greeley states that he & Massa do not agree on irony, claiming that Massa's model cannot be proved because it cannot be disproved, while his does not have that problem. D. Weibel