“What makes humanities students different isn’t their power of expression, their capacity to frame an argument or their ability to do independent work. Yes, these are valuable qualities, and we humanities teachers try to cultivate them. But true humanities students are exceptional because they have been, and are, engaged in the activity that Plato commends …
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The interview recently given by the Pope is most interesting. Here is the first Jesuit Pope for centuries, a subtle and clever man, who has kept his real feelings hidden well enough to be elected. The Jesuits were known as a the “storm troopers of the Counter-Reformation”, and here they are again, trying to combat …
“I believe in Spinoza’s god, who reveals himself in the lawful harmony of all that exists, not in a god who concerns himself in the fate and doings of mankind”. Albert Einstein Einstein wondered at the intricate rationality of the universe. It persuaded him that “something” must have laid down the basic structure, physics and …
“Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination spans the world”. Albert Einstein Children are not born with imagination. They have to be taught it and encouraged in it by teachers, by fairy tales and tales of bravery, daring and so on. They have to be read to, told true stories, encouraged to …
At the core of ethics: a command that one try to imagine what it might be like to be someone else. (Alain de Botton). This is the very basis of collective human life. Without empathy and the ability to put yourself in other people’s shoes, all you have is a large collection of selfish and …
Groups of Epicureans are popping up all over the place. The latest is the Ocean County Society of Friends of Epicurus, run by Mark Cubbedge. This is how he announces the Society; it is very well explained: We are Epicurean. We are a free and cheerful society of friends. We do not fear gods and …
Apparently, 49% of British workers would be prepared to accept a pay cut if only they could work for a better manager. Is good management learned in school or college? (probably not). Is it learned in business school? (almost definitely not!). Or is it simply the ability, or inability, of so many people to put …
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Avoid upsetting and offending people, and take no part in the activities of the polis (body politic). Comment: Epicurus and his friends stayed in their famous Garden (which survived in Athens for nearly six hundred years) and refused to become involved in politics. Today we may not agree with this. In fact, to many it …
I, ___ , freely and out of my own authenticity declare myself a disciple of Epicurus and I resolve to follow his teachings and to adopt his doctrine as my own, to further it, update it, and make it relevant in my context. I take refuge in his teachings and I resolve to share them …
“We need a state that rewards us for cooperating and punishes us for cheating and stealing. At the same time we must ensure that the state is punished when it acts against the common good. Human welfare …is guaranteed only by mutual scrutiny and regulation…..Unless taxpayers’ money and public services are available to repair the …
