Harvey C. Mansfield’s “The Rise and Fall of Rational Control” analyses modern political philosophy from Machiavelli to Nietzsche. It argues that attempts to govern human affairs through reason often overlook the complexities of human nature and society. Rather than mastering circumstances, political action is characterised by judgement and response to uncertainty.
István Hont’s posthumous collection, “Political Economy from Pufendorf to Marx,” edited by Lasse S. Andersen and others, comprises seven unpublished papers exploring Marxism through the lens of natural jurisprudence. The work examines property rights, human needs, and critiques Marx’s theories by emphasising the persistence of human dependency and political problems within developed commercial societies.
Andy Burnham, the new British Prime Minister, has reignited discussions around neoliberalism, linking its failures to the decline of industrial communities. While Sebastián Edwards and Tim Lankester’s works critique past economic models, they reveal that neoliberalism’s legacy remains due to practical adaptations rather than ideological purity, complicating any calls for alternatives.
The essay explores how organisms bring forth meaning and significance through their evolutionary history and interactions with their environments. It examines the concept of Umwelt, highlighting that inherited capacities shape an organism’s engagement with the world. Evolution results in a continuous history of relations, with organisms altering their surroundings and passing on these changes to future generations.
The purpose of this essay is to read Victor Shklovsky and William James as thinkers of the recovery of experience. Their common problem is the condition in which reality is already named, classified, and absorbed into practical use before it has been properly encountered.
The Odyssey, directed by Christopher Nolan, captures the essence of Homer’s epic through stunning IMAX cinematography and powerful performances, particularly by Matt Damon and Anne Hathaway. Nolan explores themes of memory, identity, and the dangers of civilisational collapse, while blending past and present in a compelling narrative that honours the source material’s complexity.
Rick Perlstein chronicles the evolution of the American conservative movement through four pivotal figures: Barry Goldwater, Richard Nixon, and Ronald Reagan. He explores how their defeats fostered an enduring political structure that manipulated grievances into a powerful organisation, reshaping the Republican Party and American politics amidst cultural and moral conflicts.
The essay reflects on Jim Morrison’s artistic vision, intertwining themes of existence, perception, and the dualities of life. It critiques societal structures that commodify experience while advocating for a more profound engagement with reality. Morrison’s call to “reinvent the gods” invites individuals to rethink identity and embrace transformative relationships in a complex world.
Karl Marx’s perspective on human nature presents a complex relationship between humanity and nature, positioning labour as a transformative process. However, his views create a hierarchy that privileges human consciousness over non-human life, raising concerns about alienation and the implications of communism. Ultimately, the analysis suggests a need to rethink the interconnectedness of nature and human evolution beyond Marxian frameworks.
The essay critiques the notion that beauty is solely subjective, arguing instead that true beauty arises from a disciplined perception that allows subjects to reveal their complexities. Drawing on the philosophies of Heidegger and Murdoch, it asserts that art must strive for a truthful representation of reality, embracing the intricacies and contradictions inherent within.
