From Will Durant’s Heroes of History, abbreviated from his Story of Civilization volume 3, Caesar and Christ. Read more WillDurant.com The Philosopher Kings of Rome pt. 2: Antoninus Pius to Marcus Aurelius Titus Aurelius Antoninus was named Pius by the… Continue Reading
There, on the wall directly facing the apotheosis of theology in the Disputa, is the glorification of philosophy: Plato of the Jovelike brow, deep eyes, flowing white hair and beard, with a finger pointing upward to his perfect state; Aristotle walking quietly beside him, thirty years younger, handsome and cheerful, holding out his hand with a downward palm, as if to bring his master’s soaring idealism back to earth and the possible;
Socrates counting off his arguments on his fingers, with armed Alcibiades listening to him lovingly; Pythagoras trying to imprison in harmonic tables the music of the spheres; a fair lady who might be Aspasia; Heracleitus writing Ephesian riddles; Diogenes lying carelessly disrobed on the marble steps; Continue Reading
He established in Florence (1455) a Platonic Academy for the study of Plato, and enabled Marsilio Ficino to give half a lifetime to the translation and exposition of Plato’s works. Now, after a reign of four hundred years, scholasticism lost its sovereignty over philosophy in the West, and the exhilarating spirit of Plato entered like energizing yeast into the rising body of European thought. Continue Reading
No, I’m not talking about Condit, Clinton, Kennedy, Jefferson, Cleveland or Harding. Not them, but those who inspired them. Here are some historical notes on the perversions of the leaders of Rome; truly an inspiration to our folks in Washington… Continue Reading
Notes from the beginning of one Empire (from the end of another). From Suetonius’ The Twelve Emperors: “Aware that the City was architecturally unworth of her position as capital of the Roman Empire, besides being vulnerable to fire and river… Continue Reading
Currently Reading: Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus The 12 Emperors. Julius Caesar1 (grabs the crown) Augustus (Octavian)1 (catches it) Tiberius (dirty old man) Gaius Caligula (loves horses) Claudius (a nicer fella) Nero (not so nice) Galba (short and brutish — moiduhd!) Otho… Continue Reading
A few thoughts on African loss of life (and eugenics), for those for whom history began before 1979. We’re told that Africa has an AIDS problem. I used to think this was so. But after copious reading research and discussion,… Continue Reading
– The woman in question “The older I get, the greater a burden I feel that I worked for this man and actually liked him…he was criminal and I just didn’t recognize it,” confesses Traudl Junge in “Blind Spot –… Continue Reading