A vigorous culture carries on its debates at many levels and via many media, all the way down to the bumper sticker. I enjoy the cleverness that goes into many stickers, as well as the ongoing one-upmanship. These “Coexist” stickers have been around for awhile now: Islam, peace, men/women, Judaism, paganism, Taoism/Confucianism, Christianity — can’t […]
Coexist or Uncoexist? Read More »
The standard claim is that philosophy begins with Thales. When I teach this to my students, it’s a hard sell, for here are the founding texts in philosophy — ascribed to Thales by Aristotle: “The first principle and basic nature of all things is water.” and “All things are full of gods.” You can imagine
Philosophy begins: Why Thales? Read More »
From a favorite novel, set in Paris in the world of mid-nineteenth century theatre, a time and place of revolutionary art and politics. The protagonist, Jeanne Sorel, a young woman of wonderful intensity and resilience, remembers a key lesson from her mentor, Nandou, an actor. “She walked to the place du Calvaire and stood for
The center of the universe Read More »
“Every building is like a person. Single and unrepeatable.”
In class: “Every building is like a person. Single and unrepeatable.” Read More »
I am a philosopher, and when I’m on the job I have been known to read literary works as “premises with feet.” Despite that occupational hazard I am also fascinated with how some great fiction writers can seamlessly integrate abstract philosophical themes with concrete literary portrayals. When I teach Ayn Rand’s The Fountainhead, my focus
Roark and Keating: first meetings Read More »
The essayist Joseph Epstein tells a story about going to his high school reunion. As the participants took their seats at the dinner tables, they each found a note left there anonymously. The note contained a poem: “It’s not the world. And what I have to say to those who don’t fit in is, don’t
My theme will be the relationship between art and liberal cultures, focusing on economically free cultures especially.
Is capitalism bad for art? Read More »
How structures concretize a political system’s core social dynamic: . Feudalism: Build walls to keep the enemy out. Examples: the medieval castle, the Great Wall of China. . . . . . . Socialism: Build walls to keep your people in. Examples: the Berlin Wall, the Koreas’ DMZ. . . . . . . .
Architecture and politics Read More »