For the past year, I have been slowly moving through my resolution to finally complete Owen Barfield's Poetic Diction. (Barfield, Owen. Poetic Diction: a Study in Meaning. Wesleyan Univ. Pr., 1973). It is a relatively short but dense account of the philosophy of poetry that deserves a lot of time and annotations. Without the impetus … Continue reading We Are Bound to Our Times
politics
Deep Unraveling: Waiting for a Crisis
I suppose this train of thought begins with "Heroes of the Fourth Turning," which is a play I've actually never seen (but want to, obviously). It was the name of that play that made me eagerly pick up a book I saw on a student's bookshelf: The Fourth Turning: An American Prophecy by William Strauss … Continue reading Deep Unraveling: Waiting for a Crisis
A Subtle Regime: Tocqueville on the Tyranny of the Majority.
“Thought is an invisible and almost intangible power that makes sport of all tyrannies” [1]. Thus, Tocqueville, in Democracy in America, describes the Achilles heel of the traditional tyrant. No matter the physical constraints or social constructions that a tyrant might try to impose on his citizens, he cannot fully suppress thoughts hostile to the … Continue reading A Subtle Regime: Tocqueville on the Tyranny of the Majority.
C. S. Lewis on Conscience, Reason, and Pacifism
In the midst of the chaos that has erupted in many cities across the U.S., in the midst of the burning of homes, and destruction of businesses, and ruination of lives, and needless violence, many of us are asking, “What do we do now?” Do we pursue the famed Benedict Option and retreat from society, … Continue reading C. S. Lewis on Conscience, Reason, and Pacifism
Are you secretly libertarian… AND Catholic?! (Part 2)
Welcome back to your introduction to libertarianism. We’re exploring: What libertarianism is and is notMisconceptions about libertarianismWhy you might be a libertarian and not know itWhy Catholicism and libertarianism are at least compatible Last time, we established that libertarianism is not communism; libertarianism despises coercion, and communism is built upon it. Now, we will learn … Continue reading Are you secretly libertarian… AND Catholic?! (Part 2)
Are you secretly libertarian… AND Catholic?! (Part 1)
Libertarians are selfish materialists! They trample upon the common good! They don’t have any moral compasses because they think people should get to do whatever they want! No… no… no, and sort of. Popular First Things editor Rusty Reno published a piece in November of 2018, “Common Good Conservatism,” in which he claims, among other … Continue reading Are you secretly libertarian… AND Catholic?! (Part 1)
Lander's Forge 