POLITICAL PARTIES AND POLARIZATION
The title of a short monograph by Simone Weil makes it pretty clear what she has in mind: On the Abolition of All Political Parties.
Read moreSOPHISMS PAST AND PRESENT
Hannah Arendt:
The most striking difference between ancient and modern sophists is that the ancients were satisfied with a passing victory of the argument at the expense of truth, whereas the moderns want a more lasting victory at the expense of reality.
NOTE TO SELF: TOPICS AND THEMES TO THINK ABOUT
When I started “thinking out loud” almost eighteen months ago I added the tag line writing to see what I think.
Read moreREADING ARENDT AND SOLNIT
Earlier this spring I was fortunate to spend several weeks in Germany. I visited with old friends and also traveled around, finding every opportunity I could to practice German.
Read moreTHE POWER OF CONVERSATION (AND HOPE)
I was struck by the power of Rebecca Solnit’s comment on the importance of hope in and of itself.
Read moreTHE POWER OF HOPE
Rebecca Solnit:
Hope is an embrace of the unknown and the unknowable, an alternative to the certainty of both optimists and pessimists.