November 16, 2010 at 10:32 am
Denn obwohl der moderne Mensch im ganzen selbst beim besten Willen nicht imstande zu sein pflegt, sich die Bedeutung, welche religiöse Bewußtseinsinhalte auf die Lebensführung, die Kultur und die Volkscharaktere gehabt haben, so groß vorzustellen, wie sie tatsächlich gewesen ist For sure, even with the best will, the modern person seems generally unable to imagine […]
November 15, 2010 at 6:04 pm
I have no great faith in political arithmetick — Adam Smith, An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations, Book 4, Chapter 5. Today’s Analect was suggested by Tom Farndon (Core ’10, CAS ’12). Tom writes: For those looking for a deeper explanation as to the processes behind quantitative reasoning in […]
November 12, 2010 at 4:39 pm
There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy. — Hamlet, Act 1, Scene 5, Line 166-167 Tom Farndon (Core ’10, CAS ’12) suggested today’s Analect. He writes: “Even though the great works of philosophy spur us on to ask questions about our lives and the lives around […]
November 11, 2010 at 2:02 pm
χάρις χάριν γάρ ἐστιν ἡ τίκτουσ᾽ ἀεί For kindness it is, that ever calls forth kindness. – Spoken by Tecmessa, in verse 522 of Sophocle’s tragic play Ajax (translation by Hölderlin). Students in CC101 this fall are reading a version of the play edited by Prof. Stephen Esposito. Today’s Analect provided by Tom Farndon (Core […]
November 10, 2010 at 1:40 pm
La pluma es lengua del alma. The pen is the tongue of the mind. Miguel de Cervantes’ Don Quixote teaches us that the mind’s true essence comes not only from the words that are spoken, but also from the words that are written. However, just as some people speak too fast, the pen of the […]
October 13, 2010 at 10:00 am
CC201 students will soon be discussing one of the foundations of Western discussions of knowledge, relying on the fact that the mind necessarily exists if it can question its own existence: Cogito ergo sum. “I think, therefore I am.” – René Descartes, Discourse on Methods and Meditations Read up some more context for Descartes and […]
October 8, 2010 at 3:56 pm
In coordination with Professor Scully’s introduction of the culture of ancient Greece — a domain where the students of CC101 will discover the foundations of Western thought — the Core blog today is featuring an analect that reminds us not to blame those in power for the struggles we encounter as we progress on our […]
October 4, 2010 at 4:07 pm
As autumn descends upon us, we consider an analect for today which reflects our longing for the diminishing sun—and how we should consider our lives in the grand scheme, not necessarily just on our proximity to warmth: I know no one. But nevertheless I pity the poor wretch even though he is my enemy, because […]
September 30, 2010 at 2:35 pm
It is better to be feared than loved, if you cannot be both. – Niccolo Machiavelli, in Chapter XVII of The Prince. NB: A pundit writing at Politics Daily criticized President Obama by pointing out his failure to adhere to Machiavelli’s advice in being feared and loved. Conclusion: what Machiavelli wrote 500 years ago still […]
September 29, 2010 at 2:18 pm
In view of a recent change in our department lounge refreshments policy — namely, we know set out a bowl of fresh fruit for students and visitors, rather than one filled with toothsome but unhealthy candy — today’s Analect of the Core has to do with food. From David Ferry’s version of the epic Gilgamesh, […]
