thoughts in and out of season
I’ve mentioned that IMHO, modernity, as a matter of principle, does not value human life.
“Human life,” within modernity, is just another fact, and as such is treated like any other fact: with neutrality and devoid of any intrinsic value.
Then, I ran across this quote from Trotsky, a principled modernist if there ever was … More ...
The more organized knowledge becomes the less people know. Formal studies are good for some things. Even football coaches have chalk talks, which are a kind of formal instruction. There are limits though. You don’t become a good cook from food science or a good teacher by studying teaching.
When knowledge is over-organized what counts … More ...
William MacClain maintains an Eric Voegelin study page, and I found the following at his site, which summarizes Voegelin’s comparisons of classical understanding of human nature and modern/liberal understandings. I quote from his page:
“A reflection on the purposes and prospects of classical studies.
The original definition as “the study of man’s nature as it … More ...
The following is the third part of a three-part interview run at 2Blowhards.com on January 20-22, 2004. The 2Blowhards version includes extensive comments from readers with responses by me.
2Blowhards: I think that, while many people are sympathetic to the critique conservatives make of liberalism, many of them are also suspicious of what conservatives would … More ...
The following is the second part of a three-part interview run at 2Blowhards.com on January 20-22, 2004. The 2Blowhards version includes extensive comments from readers with responses by me.
2Blowhards: What was it like going through Yale Law when you did in the ’70s, having the convictions you do?
Kalb: My convictions were a lot … More ...
The following is the first part of a three-part interview run at 2Blowhards.com on January 20-22, 2004. The 2Blowhards version includes extensive comments from readers with responses by me.
2Blowhards: Can you explain what you mean when you write about (and criticize) “liberalism”? The way you use the word will be unfamiliar to many people.… More ...
Dear Mr. Kalb and Fellow Readers,
I intend to research whether El Presidente, Bush, is guilty of treason or sedition. The result might be reflective of Bush’s embracement of official Mexican policy to retake the Southwest and abrogate the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.
Paul Henri
I’m wondering if anyone has read or is reading Michael Burleigh’s new book on the French Revolution and the modern political religions, entitled _Earthly Powers_. I’ve started reading it and it so far is pretty good, detailing the atrocities committed in the name of “reason” by the revolutionists. Burleigh builds upon the theories of Erik … More ...
The following essay appeared in the Spring, 2005 issue of The New Pantagruel.
Liberalism has enormous power as a social reality. When liberals call themselves “progressive” they make it stick. Their views dominate all reputable intellectual and cultural institutions. Judges feel free to read liberalism into fundamental law, even without historical or textual support, … More ...