A politics of affection
Affection, in the sense that I mean it, is a broad kind of love: a gentler, more abiding, more generous way of feeling-toward, and of… Read More »A politics of affection
Art and Culture
Edmund Burke on virtue, experience and political leadership
Words from the past for the present. … no name, no power, no function, no artificial institution whatsoever, can make the men, of whom any… Read More »Edmund Burke on virtue, experience and political leadership
Driverless Crocodile Knot Course (1): Foundations – The One Knot; or, The Overhand Variations
Disclaimer: I am not much of a climber, nor am I a rope-access technician, nor have I sailed much beyond dingies. Don’t trust your life… Read More »Driverless Crocodile Knot Course (1): Foundations – The One Knot; or, The Overhand Variations
Michael Oakeshott on apprenticeship and practical knowledge: “It takes two generations to learn a profession”
… so impractical is a purely rationalist politics, that the new man, lately risen to power, will often be found throwing away his book [-learned… Read More »Michael Oakeshott on apprenticeship and practical knowledge: “It takes two generations to learn a profession”
Edmund Burke on Circumstances and Political Principles; or, Context is King
I flatter myself that I love a manly, moral, regulated liberty as well as any gentleman of that society [the English Revolutionary Society, which wrote… Read More »Edmund Burke on Circumstances and Political Principles; or, Context is King
Worldview: Sarah Paine on Japanese culture and strategy in World War 2
Sarah Paine is a professor of History and Grand Strategy at the U.S. Naval War College. This excellent lecture sheds a lot of light on… Read More »Worldview: Sarah Paine on Japanese culture and strategy in World War 2
Hannah Arendt on science, language, politics and our future machine overlords
Arendt wrote the prologue to The Human Condition not long after the successful launch of Sputnik raised the first realistic prospect of humanity taking its… Read More »Hannah Arendt on science, language, politics and our future machine overlords
Fact check: Comparing Leaf Blower Carbon Emissions with Pollution from Cars
It would be no surprise to me if it came as no surprise to you that running a leaf blower for thirty minutes produces far… Read More »Fact check: Comparing Leaf Blower Carbon Emissions with Pollution from Cars
Lesslie Newbigin and Michael Polanyi on objectivity, personal knowledge, nihilism and tradition
Newbigin was a sharp but affectionate observer of Western culture, a highly educated insider with an extra layer of perspective that came from almost 40… Read More »Lesslie Newbigin and Michael Polanyi on objectivity, personal knowledge, nihilism and tradition
Jane Psmith on Cargo Cults, local politics and mutual misunderstanding
The latest book review from The Psmiths (Jane, this time) is itself an excellent read. As she says, “forget everything you think you know about… Read More »Jane Psmith on Cargo Cults, local politics and mutual misunderstanding