Before the word “symposium” assumed its current meaning—essentially a formal academic conference—it meant “drinking party.” Throughout ancient Greek and Roman times it was a practice in which a group of people would gather together in […]
Category: Blog
Professionalism
Crush #21 We can probably agree that professionalism is an important value, but what is it? It’s a virtue of the workplace, and isn’t limited to doctors, lawyers, accountants, and so on, but can apply […]
Artists: Stop Trying To Shock Us
Crush #20 Much of the art of the last century or so did more than surprise their audiences. It shocked them, usually by design. You can think of any number of examples: Pablo Picasso, Salvador […]
The Politics of Potholes
Crush #19 Our politics has seen better days. Culture wars, gridlock, and hyper-partisanship are all the order of the day. When not only politicians and activists but journalists, celebrities, and athletes stand on every soapbox […]
Podcast Conversations Coming Soon
Historically, philosophy was spoken before it was written. Socrates himself, the great patron saint of philosophy in the West, wasn’t a writer but someone who went into the Athenian marketplace and engaged in conversation with […]
What is “it”?
Crush #18 It’s a common expression: “She’s got it.” What does she have? Spotting “it,” or those who have “it,” is easy. Putting your finger on what the “it” factor is, or whether “it” even […]
Post-Common Sense
Crush #17 By now, you’ve all heard of “post-truth.” I’ve written about that here already. The term is very 2017 and early-mid 2018, i.e., it’s yesterday’s news. I’m going to give you something new: post-common […]
Philosophy, East and West
Crush #16 Philosophy, like art, always reflects what’s happening in a culture at a given time. One way to define philosophy is as a sustained meditation on the present historical moment and the questions that […]
Moments Of Decision
Crush #14 There are times when we’re called on to make a decision. I’m not talking about everyday decisions but the momentous ones, those choices that reveal who you are. We all face these moments […]
Ayn Rand Was Right About One Thing: Envy.
Crush #13 You won’t find a more polarizing writer than Ayn Rand. Typically, people who read her books either revere or despise her, and there’s little in between. There are reasons for this. She was […]
