I've heard it said (though I can't know remember from whom) that there are two kinds of philosophers; those who try to explain why a thing is so and those who try to explain that it is so. Aristotle, for instance, took it as a rule that the common understanding of mankind is itself a fact that … Continue reading Two Philosophers, Two Critics
Thoughts
Some thoughts from ‘The Infidelity of the Future’
Today at lunch I refreshed my mind by reading St. John Henry Newman's sermon The Infidelity of the Future. Some of his main points, with brief thoughts: *The great evil of our time is the Spirit of Infidelity itself. Has it never struck you as odd that we consider terms like 'unorthodox' or 'unconventional' to … Continue reading Some thoughts from ‘The Infidelity of the Future’
The Ordinary King
In a far-off land, there lived young prince. He was very forward thinking in his views, having read much and mixed much among the common people, whom he loved dearly. He swore that, when he became king, he would make their welfare and their happiness his first priority. In the meantime, he thought less and … Continue reading The Ordinary King
Sunday Thoughts
In addition to being one of the great philosophical minds of human history, St. Thomas Aquinas was also a mystic who experienced visions and ecstasies while in prayer. Near the end of his life, while still working on his magnum opus, the Summa Theologica, he was granted a vision of Christ. When he came out of it, he … Continue reading Sunday Thoughts
On Enjoying the Classics
There's a particular sensation to enjoying the classics (I'm not specifically talking about the classics in the sense of ancient literature, but in the sense of great works with a strong reputation). It isn't just the enjoyment of a good piece of work; though that is obviously part of it, it is a separate, component … Continue reading On Enjoying the Classics
Call of the CGI Wild
Before seeing Sonic, the only trailer playing was for Call of the Wild, one of the first times I'd even heard that such a film existed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1LG9So2ZBk Honestly, despite the presence of Harrison Ford, I think this looks pretty bad. The biggest problem is not just that this looks like it only bears the slightest resemblance to the … Continue reading Call of the CGI Wild
Thought of the Day: On the Word ‘Reactionary’
I do not like the term 'reactionary.' It seems to me to both imply an unthinking rejection of anything one doesn't understand (which I'm sure was its original intent) and to frame the ideas and values contained therein in the context of what is being rejected, thus framing liberalism or progressivism or whathave you as … Continue reading Thought of the Day: On the Word ‘Reactionary’
Sunday Thoughts
I sometimes wonder, as I'm learning the ins and outs of coding, how the individual programs and methods and the like would conceive of their existence. I can picture skeptical, hard-headed programs saying "all that's really happening is that we take one set of 0s and 1s, compare it against another set of 0s and … Continue reading Sunday Thoughts
Thoughts on ‘Sonic the Hedgehog’
The story behind the Sonic the Hedgehog movie is, in its way, more interesting than the story of the film itself. About a year ago the first trailer dropped, revealing the film's design for the title character. It should be noted that Sonic is one of the top-draw characters of video-game history. His games are not … Continue reading Thoughts on ‘Sonic the Hedgehog’
Unformed Thought: The Shadows of Virtue
Something that needs to be gotten clear if we're going to think rationally about morality is that people are fundamentally consistent. That is to say, with the possible exception of mental illness, a person's intentional actions are all expressions of the same character, and work upon that same singular character. It's like heating a stone … Continue reading Unformed Thought: The Shadows of Virtue
Serpent's Den 