Regular observations and conversations on ways the humanities serve, or fail to serve, the greater good.
On Politics and Poetry: a dialogue between a poet and a politician
On Politics and Poetry: a dialogue between a poet and a politician Politician: What’s going on, poet? Are you able to scrabble together a living? Poet: Rich enough, I suppose, though it’s hard to earn my [...]
Is education useless?
Education is useless (or rather: is education useless?): a neighborly discussion about what’s worth learning, and where one should learn what's needed -- or useful -- for life. Crimpet: Hello, neighbor. Crumpet: Why are you so [...]
Day Labors
Day Labors: a conversation between Night and Day on the circuits of human affairs Day enters, and sits down next to Night. He turns and sighs. Night: Is that you, Day? Aren’t you back early? Day: [...]
A letter about writing
A letter about writing: a correspondent argues against the mania for writing Editor’s note: The following letter, printed below in its entirety, was written in response to an earlier post, Against Reading. The editorial [...]
Against Reading
Against Reading: why life is better spent doing other things. Ferreus. Hi, Procopius. What are you up to? Procopius. Hello, Ferreus. I’m just catching up on my reading. Ferreus. What magazine is that? Procopius. The [...]
Lunar travels, earthly travails
Lunar travels, earthly travails: from our fictional science correspondent. What different choices will our technology offer us? I recently traveled to the moon to get a better view of things. Not with Space-X or Virgin [...]
Triumph of the Advocates
Triumph of the Advocates: a vision for this world, or the next. Lapidus. Hey you, Lepus! What are you doing there, sitting around? Are you stargazing? Lepus. Lapidus, what’s wrong? You look distressed. Lapidus. I’m [...]
A quarrel for the ages
A quarrel for the ages: Past Present, and Future are at odds with each other. Past: Can you hear me? Future: I am waiting for your voice, and your counsel. Speak up! Present: What's the [...]
How the calendar runs our lives. The time of science in the season of love
Do we need a calendar for the season of love?
A Dream of Cicero
A Dream of Cicero Marbles: What’s wrong, Swan? You look like you’ve seen a ghost. Swan: I have! I had a crazy dream last night I met Cicero. Marbles: You’re kidding. You’ve been reading [...]