I once heard a teacher tell his students, "If you want to be able to break the rules, you have to know them first." Basically, the point is something similar to Chesterton's fence. Rather than breaking the rules when you don't understand them, you should only remove barriers with a good cause. In Meditations on First Philosophy, Rene Descartes flips the rules of philosophy on their head in this experiment.
Virtue requires action. Thinking about what is right and wrong is good, but it doesn't lead to virtue until we take action. So, wee must be sure that we don't stay in the world of debate. Instead, we should ensure that our ideas take shape in the form of actions, habits, and virtues.
I recent finished Orthodoxy by G.K. Chesterton, and it was a truly delightful book. Although it might have helped reading it with a scotch and cigar. All joking aside, it was an interesting look at new arguments for Christianity that really spoke to me. As someone who fell away from the faith and returned due... Continue Reading →
A few weeks ago, I spoke to Frank Cunha III about the architecture of the Pantheon and St. Peter's Basilica. In our interview about traditional architecture, Frank and I talked about the history of the Pantheon. We also talked about how the Pantheon was built. We also discussed some of the changes made to the Pantheon, such as when it was converted into a church. So, check out the snippet below to get a glimpse at our discussion.
You might be wondering, "What is smiles matter?" After we began masking due to the COVID pandemic, many people noticed a dehumanizing effect. The masks hide our faces, which is a huge part of how we communicate. So, a few people on Twitter started this movement to urge others to smile. And, most importantly, they want to ensure that each person they interact with knows that they're valued. Below, Ronni Peck explains how and why the Smiles Matter movement started. If you want to learn more, you can check out our full conversation here.
Modern architecture has gotten a bad reputation in many traditional circles. However, not all that is modern is bad. This video will show the difference between modern and modernist architecture, as well as the value of having a unique character.
In order for you understand the modern political landscape, it is important to read Machiavelli's The Prince. It includes detailed and wise accounts of how rulers gain, retain and lose power. The version that I recommend in this video also includes a couple other works by Machiavelli. In these other works, he describes the forms... Continue Reading →
The Fair Tax has made waves in Washington, but there aren't many people talking about it as an alternative to the Income Tax. Instead, many people are talking about Tax Cuts, Tax Reform or the Flat Tax. This book gives you all the reasons why we should turn away from the Income Tax and toward a consumption tax, namely the Fair Tax. I go through some of the points in the book in the video below, but you have to read it for yourself! Check out my video and then let me know what you think once you read the book!
As you know, at the Conversation of Our Generation, we are trying to build a dialogue and discuss the ideas that affect our society, culture, politics and philosophy. As we discuss the ideas that will define our generation, it is important to look back at the foundations of thought. This book is great for understanding how the dialogue developed and how these ideas are still relevant today.
The debate around truth is an age-old discussion about whether it is objective or subjective. For centuries, even millennia, philosophers have argued both sides of the nature of truth. The scientific revolution and Enlightenment were game-changers in this debate as the world started building a paradigm on the assumption of Objective Truth. Objective Truth The... Continue Reading →
Machiavelli has become somewhat of a shadowy figure in history. He is an enigma in modern minds. However, Niccolo Machiavelli was a rather normal man devoid of evil intentions. But why has his name become synonymous with evil, shadowy plots? By understanding his life and his works, it becomes obvious what his intentions were. He... Continue Reading →
