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16 03, 2017

Modern tragedy: the fears of physical annihilation and the role of the writer

2017-03-16T06:29:26-04:00March 16th, 2017|2017, Arts, Europe, March, March, Philosophy, Politics, Quotes, U.S. / Canada, Writing|0 Comments

Modern tragedy: the fears of physical annihilation and the role of the writer Our tragedy today is a general and universal physical fear so long sustained by now that we can even bear it. There are no longer problems of the spirit. There is only one question: When will I be blown up? Because of [...]

7 03, 2017

On silence

2017-03-12T12:08:38-04:00March 7th, 2017|2017, Academia, Arts, Debate / dialogue, Everything Else, Literature, March, Observations, poetry, Politics, Technology|0 Comments

On silence. Why poets, and others, look for quietude – with lovers, friends, or by themselves – in lieu of words Doodle: Good morning, Noodle. You appear deep in thought. Noodle: Thanks for the interruption. I’m puzzled by a poem. As a professor of the humanities, I’ve read a lot of poetry, and should be [...]

5 03, 2017

Are the humanities “useless”? If so, do they still provide a use?

2017-03-08T22:33:27-05:00March 5th, 2017|2017, Asia, Debate / dialogue, Language, March, Philosophy, psychology, Quotes, Writing|0 Comments

Are the humanities "useless"? If so, do they still provide a use? Said Hui Shih to Chuang-tzu: “These sayings of yours are useless.” “It is only with people who know about the useless that there is any point in talking about uses. In all the immensity of heaven and earth, a man uses no more than [...]

28 02, 2017

Science and (the absence of) happiness

2017-03-03T14:09:16-05:00February 28th, 2017|2017, Debate / dialogue, Europe, Everything Else, February, History, psychology, Quotes, science, Technology|0 Comments

Science and (the absence of) happiness: to what degree do science and technology condition our sense of happiness? During the last few generations humankind has made an extraordinary advance in the natural sciences and in their technological application and has established humanity's control over nature in a way never before imagined.... People are proud of these achievements, [...]

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