In The Roots of Romanticism, Isaiah Berlin argues that Romanticism is, among thought movements in recent history, the one that most strongly shaped the history of the Western world. And not only in the arts,…
Tag: History
Neal Gabler on The Troublesome Origins and History of Newspapers
Staying away from daily newspapers is a matter of mental hygiene. One side of the problem is the news itself. Rob Wijnberg does an excellent job explaining what exactly is the problem with news in his article The…
Psychological Downsides of Democracy and Equality
Democracy has done a lot for humankind. It made people feel equal and equally important. It made them feel free. As I have just finished reading a great book by Alain de Botton – Status Anxiety,…
Nietzsche’s Attack on Socrates’ Daemon (The Birth Of Tragedy Summary)
One might say that Socrates was the first guy who fucked us up. Badly. And here is the reason. According to Socrates’ equation, “reason = virtue = happiness.” This is probably the single most powerful idea that even today shapes the ideals of a modern man, from our education to the rest of our lives.
Four Lessons Found in Quotes from Voltaire’s Candide
Who was Voltaire? François-Marie Arouet, better known as Voltaire, is the principal representative of the Age of Enlightenment. He fought passionately against dogmatism of any kind, advocated free speech, was censored, imprisoned and exiled multiple…
Did The Move From Hunter-Gatherer Life Make Us Better Off?
A series of trivial decisions aimed mostly at filling a few stomachs and gaining a little security had the cumulative effect of forcing ancient foragers to spend their days carrying water buckets under a scorching sun.
Paul Graham on Wealth Inequality and The Difference Between Wealth And Money
In his 2004. essay How to make wealth, Paul Graham touches upon the subtle difference between wealth and money: If you want to create wealth, it will help to understand what it is. Wealth is…