One Body, Two Heads: the Image Education Needs

Last updated on: February 16, 2020 at 8:08 pm By John Mark N. Reynolds

The Oracle of Delphi commanded “know thyself,” but this meant merely to consider our smallness next to the great god Apollo and our ignorance compared to the wisdom of the Oracle. Socrates transformed this aphorism, not to the self-help of the intellectually shallow guru of self-esteem, but to a command to dialectic. The dialectic is the process of questioning everything and moving tentatively from one provisional answer to another until seeing the Known Unknown. Education must contain the dialectic or... Read more

Too Brittle for the World (In Memoriam)

Last updated on: February 16, 2020 at 8:19 pm By John Mark N. Reynolds

Our pain, my pain, your pain, some we caused, some I caused, pain is real. What is to be done? Shattered by life, we must find a way to be strong. We do not need a pat on the head, condescension, but strength to grow and carry on. A fragile faith cannot survive: the irreligious gurus of the academy or the evangelists on TV are selling a system. Challenge it. Ask: “Yes, but in heaven’s name why would anyone believe any of... Read more

Love is Hidden (Jane Eyre)

Last updated on: February 13, 2020 at 12:38 am By John Mark N. Reynolds

Love is the goal, getting to absolute romance is hard. If I could pick anybody to write romantic advice for the English speaking world, Charlotte Bronte would get the call. Nobody is letting me pick, Bronte has gone to another world. She has been granted strength to see for all eternity the spark of Heaven’s guiding light. No kind person would disturb her peaceful rest, but she left us the brilliance of Jane Eyre. The novel is both good fun and... Read more

AOC and I were wrong (and why it should or should not matter)

Last updated on: March 15, 2020 at 6:27 pm By John Mark N. Reynolds

The other day Congresswoman Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez conflated the names of two economists “John Maynard Keynes” and “Milton Friedman” into “Milton Keynes.” Milton Bradley was unavailable for comment. This was particularly embarrassing since she had touted her economics degree in the process of her off the cuff talk. My social media was full of LOL abut the mistake: fair enough. This is funny and if you are no fan of this rising star’s politics (as I am not), then the temptation... Read more

You Cannot Use Caps to Do Away With God: Metaphysics by Capitalization Part II (A Reply to Jeff Williams)

Last updated on: February 16, 2020 at 11:34 am By John Mark N. Reynolds

Background on the Discussion (Skippable): What is going on? If we wish to follow the Logos where He leads, we need to listen to critics, especially those with interesting things to say. Jeff Williams is a critic of metaphysics. A University of Chicago grad, he agreed to present his argument and I have posted it here unedited (except for some formatting and the title). As result of his rejection of metaphysics, he rejects objective moral law as an illusion. Mr. Williams... Read more

You Cannot Use Caps to Do Away With God: Metaphysics by Capitalization Part I (A Reply to Jeff Williams)

Last updated on: February 11, 2020 at 12:38 am By John Mark N. Reynolds

A Dialog with a Critic (In Which Guest Voice Jeff Williams Let’s Me Have It!)

Last updated on: February 8, 2020 at 11:43 pm By John Mark N. Reynolds

Background on the Discussion: What is going on? If we wish to follow the Logos where He leads, we need to listen to critics, especially those with interesting things to say. Jeff Williams is a critic of metaphysics. A University of Chicago grad, he agreed to present his argument and I have posted it here unedited (except for some formatting and the title). As result of his rejection of metaphysics, he rejects objective moral law as an illusion. Mr. Williams... Read more

The Flu

Last updated on: February 8, 2020 at 4:19 am By John Mark N. Reynolds

I could see the end of the hall. I had to get there. My next seventh grade class was down there, but each step forward made it look further away. This is only possible with the flu. I figured out the trick to get there: lean on the wall where the tiles were smooth, walk by sliding along, smile a wan smile, and go to class. Heavenly days! Why did I stay? My parents would certainly have encouraged my going home.... Read more

Physicalism of the Gaps! A Reply to Jeff Williams

Last updated on: February 6, 2020 at 11:19 pm By John Mark N. Reynolds

What is going on? If we wish to follow the Logos where He leads, we need to listen to critics, especially those with interesting things to say. Jeff Williams is a critic of metaphysics. A University of Chicago grad, he agreed to present his argument and I have posted it here unedited (except for some formatting and the title). As result of his rejection of metaphysics, he rejects objective moral law as an illusion. Mr. Williams previously argued that Athens has... Read more

Dialog with a Critic: Further Remarks on Morality (Guest Voice: Jeff Williams)

Last updated on: February 5, 2020 at 10:20 pm By John Mark N. Reynolds