Here’s what the cat brought in this week. I’ve got two movies to talk about this week, and both of them are worth seeing. This doesn’t happen very often, so I’m grateful.
Fear Or Love? The Views Of Cicero And Machiavelli (Podcast)
Is it better to be feared or loved? This famous question is more nuanced than people think, and was addressed specifically by Cicero in “On Duties” as well as by Machiavelli in his “Prince” and “Discourses.” Yet there has been much oversimplification and misunderstanding on this subject.
We also discuss whether Stoicism lends itself to passivity and fatalism.
The Pearl Of Peroz
Peroz I (or Pirouz) was a Persian king who wore the royal diadem from about A.D. 459 to 484. The Greek historian Procopius (I.4.18) relates a great fable about him and his pearl, which we will reproduce here. As is often the case with these enchanting old tales, the reader will be asked to suspend his credulity as to the fable’s literal truth, while being mindful of its deeper purpose as a moral exemplar.
The Genesis Of Greek Fire
The compound known as “Greek fire” was the Byzantine navy’s secret weapon. It was a flammable liquid hydrocarbon that could be blown through tubes, thrown in sealed pots, or poured on the heads of soldiers attacking fortifications. Its precise composition was a state secret; and this was kept so well that even now we are not certain of its ingredients.
Travel Advice For A Young Man. Looking For Sympathy (Podcast)
In this podcast episode we focus on two different questions. In the first question, we look at some of the most valuable tips for a young guy in his 20s who has never traveled before.
Sunday Film Roundup (10/2/2016)
The past week was not especially great, but not a complete disaster. Here’s the damage, spelled out.
The Flight Of Charles Nungesser
Everyone has heard of Charles Lindbergh, but only the most dedicated student of early aviation history would recognize the name Charles Nungesser. But he came close to beating Lindbergh across the Atlantic; and if we may believe the optimistic speculations of some, it is possible he may even have been the first to “cross” the Atlantic by air.
The Seven Sleepers
We all desire to retain a sense of connection to the past. It is part of human nature. Too sudden a break with tradition can produce something very much like insanity; in individuals we call this a broken mind, and in nations we call it revolution. And both of these reactions are destructive. And at the same time, we need to feel we can project ourselves into the future, somehow. We want to escape the limitations of this frail physical life, with its miserly duration and inconstant rewards.
Sunday Film Roundup (9/25/2016)
I’ve decided to bring back the film review posts due to popular demand. So here are a few movies I’ve seen recently, with my opinions of them. I’ve said it before, and will say it again: movies can open up windows of creativity for you. If you see the right ones, they can help you in ways you might not anticipate.
Quintus Curtius 
You must be logged in to post a comment.