Category Archives: Literature

The Primacy Of Samuel Beckett In The Modernist Oeuvre

Posted on December 13, 2011 by William Holland

The term ‘modernism’ is one of those words that conjures up various meanings to be almost impossible to describe given its depth and swath of credence among disciplines.  It is only distinctly understood from within the house of orthodox theology … Continue reading →

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Civilization

Posted on May 16, 2011 by William Holland

John Armstrong is a resident philosopher at Melbourne Business School in Australia, he has written an ambitious book (‘In Search Of Civilization’) that sets out to restore the confidence once reposed in the term ‘Civilization’.  If ever Matthew Arnold had a … Continue reading →

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Edward Said: The Bitter Orientalist

Posted on August 2, 2010 by William Holland

Before his death in 1995 the great political historian and anthropologist Ernest Gellner began a very long celebrated demolition of the literary critic Edward Said (d. 2003 pronounced Sigh-eeed), especially Said’s book titled ‘Orientalism’ (1978).  The original source is Ernest … Continue reading →

Posted in Islam, Literature, Middle East Peace, Near East, Sociology, Terrorism, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Toni Morrison Commencement Address: On Adulthood & The Limitations Of Desire

Posted on June 16, 2010 by William Holland

“I am sure you have been told that this is the best time of your life.  It may be.  But if it’s true that this is the best time of your life, then you have my condolences.  Because you’ll want … Continue reading →

Posted in Ethics, Feminization Of Men, Literature, Perils Of Specialization, Poets, Sociology, The Demise Of The Black Family | Tagged | Leave a comment

Nobility of Spirit

Posted on May 29, 2010 by William Holland

In 1945 the German novelist Thomas Mann gave the title ‘Nobility of Spirit’ to a book encompassing a series of essays in which he reflected on the crisis of humanity and the qualities required for spiritual renewal.  Both Julien Benda’s … Continue reading →

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Modern vs. Post Modern: Helpful Hints

Posted on May 27, 2010 by William Holland

The extravagant display of hubris by literary studies throughout the West since the mid 1970’s is waning.  Michel Foucault, Jacque Derrida and the host of other manic modernists have left a canon of criticism whose edge is blunted by the … Continue reading →

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David Hume: Liberty

Posted on May 27, 2010 by William Holland

“It is seldom that liberty of any kind is lost all at once.  Slavery has so frightful an aspect to men accustomed to freedom that it must steal in upon them by degrees and must disguise itself in a thousand … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Tocqueville, Conservatism, Constitution, Ethics, International Relations, Islam, Journalism, Literature, Morality, Perils Of Specialization, Theology, Uncategorized | Comments Off on David Hume: Liberty

Orwell & John Stewart Mill: Limitations Of Pacifism

Posted on May 27, 2010 by William Holland

“War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things.  The decayed and degraded state of moral and spiritual feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse.  The person who has nothing for which he is … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Tocqueville, Arnold Toynbee, Conservatism, Constitution, Ethics, International Relations, Islam, Journalism, Literature, Morality, Perils Of Specialization, Politics, Theology, Uncategorized | Tagged | 1 Comment

Shakespeare: Political Statecraft for a Christian World

Posted on May 26, 2010 by William Holland

Political science is becoming ever more reliant on abstract models divorced from human judgement, hope and Christian idealism.  In a word: humanism.  Shakespeare offers the political scientist an antidote to this methodological alienation, this self imposed exile from the political … Continue reading →

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The Opium of Intellectuals

Posted on May 20, 2010 by William Holland

Their are sources of required reading for those guilty of having given themselves over to murderous passionate ideologies only later to live with poisoned conscience.  Julien Benda’s “The Treason of Clerics” and Raymond Aron’s 1955 masterpiece “The Opium of Intellectuals” … Continue reading →

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