Nathanael Blake

Postdoctoral Fellow

Nathanael Blake, Ph.D. is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center. His primary research interests are American political theory, Christian political thought, and the intersection of natural law and philosophical hermeneutics. His published scholarship has included work on Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Hans-Georg Gadamer, Alasdair MacIntyre, Russell Kirk and J.R.R. Tolkien. He is currently working on a study of Kierkegaard and labor. As a cultural observer and commentator, he is also fascinated at how our secularizing culture develops substitutes for the loss of religious symbols, meaning and order.

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Nathanael Blake, Ph.D. is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center. His primary research interests are American political theory, Christian political thought, and the intersection of natural law and philosophical hermeneutics. His published scholarship has included work on Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Hans-Georg Gadamer, Alasdair MacIntyre, Russell Kirk and J.R.R. Tolkien. He is currently working on a study of Kierkegaard and labor. As a cultural observer and commentator, he is also fascinated at how our secularizing culture develops substitutes for the loss of religious symbols, meaning and order.

Dr. Blake grew up in the Pacific Northwest, and received an undergraduate degree in microbiology with a chemistry minor from Oregon State University. After working as a writer and editor in the pro-life movement, he enrolled in graduate studies at the Catholic University of America, earning a doctorate in political theory. His dissertation was titled: “Natural Law and History: The Use and Abuse of Practical Reason.” Blake was a Richard M. Weaver Fellow of the Intercollegiate Studies Institute and served as an adjunct professor of American Government at Wheeling Jesuit University.

Dr. Blake is a Senior Contributor to The Federalist, where he has published over 150 pieces since 2017. His work has been published in a variety of publications, including Public DiscourseThe Catholic World Report, and National Review.

An evangelical Christian, Blake helps lead worship at his church—he particularly enjoys playing old hymns on double bass.

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Strangling For Sexual Sport Is Exactly The Kind Of Thing We Should ‘Kink-Shame’

Nathanael Blake

If sexual liberation can’t even provide good sex, then what possible reason is there to keep pursuing it?

Articles

The Federalist / April 18, 2024

A model of courage in Scotland

Nathanael Blake

J.K. Rowling challenges an unjust gender law, and we must challenge its roots in the sexual revolution.

Articles

WORLD Opinions / April 10, 2024

Pro-life persuasion and leadership

Nathanael Blake

Less than two years after the generational victory of the Dobbs decision overturning Roe vs. Wade, the pro-life movement is facing generational catastrophe.

Articles

The Catholic World Report / April 10, 2024

Side Effects Of Transgender ‘Medicine’ Show It Isn’t Just Junk Science, It’s Malpractice

Nathanael Blake

Instead of the superstition of gender ideology, and the injuries it inflicts through its revolt against reality, we need a return to medicine that does no harm.

Articles

The Federalist / April 3, 2024

Democrats Lie About Late-Term Abortion To Make Themselves Feel Better

Nathanael Blake

Democrats cannot fully hide the horrible reality of abortion, even from themselves.

Articles

The Federalist / March 27, 2024

Made, not begotten: Why we said “No!” to in vitro fertilization

Nathanael Blake

We should not expect much courage from politicians, but Christians are called to bear witness to the truth, regardless of what opinion polls show. And the truth is that IVF is wrong.

Articles

Catholic World Report / March 22, 2024

Trans Ideologues Would Rather Revolt Against Reality Than Admit They Were Wrong

Nathanael Blake

Declaring war against reality might just be crazy enough to work.

Articles

The Federalist / March 14, 2024

Science Keeps Obliterating The Left’s Favorite Transgender Narratives

Nathanael Blake

The continued lack of evidence for ‘gender-affirming care’ is pushing gender ideologues to increasingly brazen lies as their position collapses.

Articles

The Federalist / March 6, 2024

Why Protestants Convert To Catholicism

Nathanael Blake

Conversions rarely begin from theological contemplation, but from a sense that Protestantism lacks something Catholicism has.

Articles

The Federalist / February 19, 2024

Leftists Say They Don’t Like Late-Term Abortions But Then Lament They Can’t Kill More Babies…

Nathanael Blake

Support for abortion has atrophied consciences so badly that its backers cheer elective abortions of healthy babies in the third trimester.

Articles

The Federalist / February 16, 2024

Love and dignity for Joe Biden

Nathanael Blake

Decent people do not encourage friends and family who are suffering from severe mental decline to attempt difficult jobs that are far beyond their capacity.

Articles

WORLD Opinions / February 12, 2024

Tolkien’s lessons for Hollywood’s failures

Nathanael Blake

Today’s writers, directors, and showrunners usually have a shallow understanding of human nature and know nothing more compelling than a few buzzwords and a desire to get paid.

Articles

The Catholic World Report / February 10, 2024