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 »
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
I am organizing a session for on “The Ethics of the Financial Crisis” for the Association for Private Enterprise Education conference to be held April 11-13, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The Ethics of the Financial Crisis Read More »
Let me tell you a little about my brother. He’s six feet tall and a solid 200 pounds. Has a wife and two kids. Works hard and plays hard, often outside in the winter. Am I his keeper? Should I think of myself that way? My brother is responsible, competent, and independent, and I know
I’m not my brother’s keeper Read More »
Since its 2006 publication, my 2:45-hour documentary on Nietzsche and the Nazis has been available from Amazon, Netflix, and other venues. Beginning this summer, Netflix has made the documentary available via video-stream, which has led to a healthy uptick in feedback — including gratifying praise, interesting new angles, thoughtful disagreement — and a smattering of
“Nietzsche and the Nazis” update Read More »
I initially wrote “Would Immortality Be Worth It?” for my Introduction to Philosophy class. It’s a thought-experiment essay for a unit on The Meaning of Life towards the end of the semester. The essay was then published in Objectivity (1:4, 1992, 81-96) and is now online in pdf format. The issue I take up is
Would Immortality Be Worth It? Read More »
One of the books I use in my Introduction to Philosophy course is Lewis’s Mere Christianity. It’s very clear and accessible and covers a wide range of traditional religious philosophical themes. I’m reviewing it now in preparation for the new semester which begins (yikes) in two weeks. I find Lewis’s chummy, let’s-pop-round-to-the pub-for-a-quick-one writing style
Why C. S. Lewis gives me the creeps Read More »