The Unauthorized Version: Truth and Fiction in the Bible; By Robin Lane Fox By Christopher Lehmann-Haupt “The Bible is a book of faith, and a book of doctrine, and a book of morals, and a book of religion, of especial revelation from God,” Daniel Webster declared more than a century ago. But is the Bible true?… Read More Books of The Times; Viewing the Bible as Truth and Tale (1992)
Averroes (Ibn Rushd; 1126–1198) was one of the greatest polymaths of the ancient Islamic world, whose practice expanded into philosophy, theology, astronomy, physics, linguistics and more Averroism’, ‘radical Aristotelianism’ and ‘heterodox Aristotelianism’ are nineteenth- and twentieth-century labels for a late thirteenth-century movement among Parisian philosophers whose views were not easily reconcilable with Christian doctrine. The… Read More Who Was Averroes?
The French political philosopher was both mouthpiece and model for the best defense of liberalism. Paul T. Wilford, Ethan Cutler March 01, 2024 NB: The final paragraph of this review contains these lines: ‘As Mark Lilla notes in his preface to Aron’s lecture, the recent Russian invasion of Ukraine may be a wake-up call: “Sometimes it… Read More Raymond Aron’s Liberal Virtues
Lord Acton writes to Bishop Creighton in a series of letters (1887) concerning the moral problem of writing history about the Inquisition. Acton believes that the same moral standards should be applied to all men, political and religious leaders included, especially since, in his famous phrase, “power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely”: I… Read More Historic responsibility has to make up for the want of legal responsibility: Lord Acton
Despite the prevailing climate of hostility and intolerance, a significant segment of Kashmir’s majority population remains committed to standing in solidarity with Kashmiri Pandits. Driven by compassion, justice, and humanity, these individuals acknowledge the injustices and suffering faced by their minority counterparts and seek to be allies in their pursuit of justice, dignity, and peace.… Read More Sanjay Tickoo on the threat to Kashmiri Pandits: An analysis from ground zero
The West has set itself on a path of collective suicide — both moral and economic. NB: The ideological dissolution of Western imperialism began with the League of Nations illegal mandate system at the end of the Great War of 1914-1918. This system enabled the colonial occupation of Palestine and other territories of the defeated… Read More Michael Brenner: The West’s Reckoning?
Marshall Berman (1940-2013) A new beginning for Marxism might just be on the horizon of a landscape despoiled by Soviet communism and a now wobbling world capitalism. The attention attracted by the 150th anniversary of The Communist Manifesto included laudatory references to Marx in venues as unexpected as The New York Times and The New… Read More Marshall Berman: Adventures in Marxism
The world which is rising into existence is still half encumbered by the remains of the world which is waning into decay; and amidst the vast perplexity of human affairs, none can say how much of ancient institutions and former manners will remain, or how much will completely disappear… Although the revolution which is taking… Read More America in 2024: Blind, blundering Colossus on a downward slide
By Gregory Freidin Great musicians, it is said, do not choose their calling—music chooses them. Reading and rereading Joseph Frank’s writings after his passing, it seems that the spirit of modernity itself chose him to be its voice among literary critics—in the age when brute force remaking the world was matched and animated by a… Read More A Critic, His Life, His Age: A Tribute to Joseph Frank (1918-2013)
Adam Tooze Born and raised in Tokyo, Hiroshi Hamaya is one of the most eminent Japanese documentary photographers of the 20th century. Working as an aeronautical photographer and a freelance contributor to magazines during the 1930s, Hamaya began his career documenting his hometown from the sky and the streets. An assignment in 1939 gave Hamaya the… Read More Hamaya Hiroshi (1915-1999); visual chronicler of 20th century Japan
