Alexander Wall

Alex is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Political Animal Magazine. Educated at St. John’s College and Harvard University, his academic background is in liberal arts and government, with a focus on political theory and the history of political philosophy. His favorite political theorists are: Plato, whose theory of justice he examined in his doctoral work, Machiavelli and Nietzsche, who are delightful to read, even when you disagree with them, and Hobbes and Kant, who are not so delightful to read, but are both brilliantly clear thinkers on the problem of justice.

Alex also takes a more immediate interest in politics. He is actively involved in various campaigns, advocacy organizations, and other such “things of the city”. He is a partisan of partisanship, and loves debating policy with people of all viewpoints.

Finding a balance between his inner theorist and politician is not always easy, but Alex flatters himself that he is able to keep a foot in both worlds. He tries to live up to the Socratic maxim that the unexamined life is not worth living, and generally believes that it is harder and more important to clarify one’s own views rather than persuade others of them. But he also really likes winning arguments.

He lives in Toronto with his wife (who is a lawyer, which explains the amount of legal-themed content on the site) and kids. He closely follows both US and Canadian politics as he is a citizen of both nations.

Lewis Slawsky

Lewis is the Co-Founder and Acquisitions Editor of Political Animal Magazine.

Lewis’ educational background, which has generally focused on philosophy, politics, and literature, includes both undergraduate and graduate studies at six universities in four countries on three continents. He is himself a writer, and frequently contributes to Political Animal in that capacity.

Lewis has untimely political leanings, although he has learned from both experience and observation that not all things are everywhere and at all times possible. He believes that the unifying feature in all distinctly human concerns is actually a tension between faith and reason. Most of his work and study explores this theme.

Lewis’ favorite works of philosophy are the dialogues of Plato, and his favorite work of religion is the Talmud. Originally from Western Canada, he lives near Chicago with his son, Jacob.