The century was coming to an end. The rapidly approaching 1600s marked the end of the long reign of Queen Elizabeth I, and consequently the twilight of the Tudors. William Shakespeare, an unknown man without a formal education from the rural town of Stratford, had exploded onto the London theatrical scene, quickly becoming the star … Continue reading Introduction to Hamlet
Category: Great Books Project
Considering Theodicy in St. Augustine “On the Free Choice of the Will”
"Please tell me whether God is not the author of evil" -Evodius St. Augustine's De libero arbitrio (libri tres) ["On the Free Choice of the Will"] is an exploration into the tension between human freedom and divine determinism. It is presented in the form of a Platonic dialogue between Augustine and one of his student's … Continue reading Considering Theodicy in St. Augustine “On the Free Choice of the Will”
On Stephen Greenblatt’s “Will in the World”
Stephen Greenblatt's delightful 'new historicist' literary biography of William Shakespeare is an imaginative glimpse into the elusive life of the bard. Originally published in 2004, Will in the World is a comprehensive exploration into the mind of William Shakespeare from birth to death. Thanks to the diligent system of Tudor bureaucracy we know at least … Continue reading On Stephen Greenblatt’s “Will in the World”
Reflections on The Color Purple
"You better not never tell nobody but God. It'd kill your mammy" (opening lines). I often look to great literature to enlighten, educate, uplift, and inspire the soul, however The Color Purple is a weighty and at times shocking novel that struggles to find redemption. If you look for it, however, you can find praise … Continue reading Reflections on The Color Purple
Reflections On Aristotle’s Prime Unmoved Mover
The summit of Aristotle's examination of "first philosophy" occurs in Book XII of his Metaphysics. Chapters 1-5 of Book XII reiterate Aristotle's examination into the nature of thinghood (an inquiry which had previously appeared in Aristotle's Physics). Thinghood is a kind of whole (not a part of a whole) representing the sources as well as … Continue reading Reflections On Aristotle’s Prime Unmoved Mover
The Tudors: Henry VIII & The English Reformation (1509-1547)
Was he "Bluff King Hal," the famous Renaissance Prince, or was he a bloated, arrogant tyrant who put his own interests above those of the kingdom? Do we remember him fondly as an intellectual purveyor of freedom, or rather as a self-seeking opportunist who opened the door to radical change? Who is the true Henry … Continue reading The Tudors: Henry VIII & The English Reformation (1509-1547)
