The Dialectical Method The contentious way of philosophical discourse is to make your statement and challenge others to examine and refute it; The dialectical way is not merely to answer what is true, but also to make use of those points which the questioned person acknowledges he knows. All Learning is But Recollection Meno argues that “A man cannot enquire either about that which he knows, or about that which […]
Read moreLatest Post
“Protagoras” by Plato
The Hazard of Sophists There are many sophists, the ancient counterparts of modern-day self-help gurus, who claimed that they could teach others virtue and make them better, but when Socrates examined them closely, they were exposed as frauds. How could they teach others virtue when they didn’t know it themselves? One of the most famous sophists, Protagoras, claimed that he was wiser above all men and would make others wiser […]
Read more“Ion” by Plato
On Inspiration “The gift which you possess of speaking excellently about Homer is not an art, but, as I was just saying, an inspiration; there is a divinity moving you, like that contained in the stone which Euripides calls a magnet, …This stone not only attracts iron rings, but also imparts to them a similar power of attracting other rings; and sometimes you may see a number of pieces of […]
Read more“Symposium” by Plato
A group of men gathered together for a feast and started a discourse on the nature of Love. Everybody presented their own notion of love one after another. The dialogues were half playful and half serious, but always entertaining and fascinating. Every speaker seemed to best the one preceding him, and Socrates gave the climatic, noble speech. Just when one thought that he couldn’t be topped, a drunk came in […]
Read more“Walking” by Henry David Thoreau
In this inspiring and thought-provoking essay, Thoreau beautifully articulates how Man derives his sustenance, his physical and spiritual well-being, his imagination and inspirations, from Nature, the Wild. Thoreau’s essays are always delightful, refreshing and stimulating, but above all, he urges readers to action, to adventure into the wild and seek the springs of life. On Walking If you would get exercise, go in search of the springs of life. Think […]
Read more“Traitor to His Class” by H.W.Brands
A detailed account of FDR’s life and times. It covers FDR’s personal life (his relationships with his mother, wife and mistress), his apprenticeship in politics under Woodrow Wilson, whose internationalist idealism inspired FDR to lay down the foundation for the United Nations, his fight against polio, his economic policies emphasizing government regulation and intervention (the New Deal) during the Depression, and his international leadership in forming an alliance with Churchill […]
Read more“Losing My Virginity” by Richard Branson
The subtitle of the original version reads, “How I’ve Survived, Had Fun, and Made a Fortune Doing Business My Way”. Branson certainly delivered the goods. I can’t imagine anybody else having more fun doing business than he has. He described his strategies and adventures in such a straightforward and engaging manner, that I’m convinced this is how all business should be done. Life is a series of challenges for Branson, […]
Read more