Category Archives: Philosophy

The Moral Foundations of Liberty

Posted on May 18, 2013 by William Holland

Its a bit exhausting watching ANY debate in light of a persistent refusal to ground policy initiatives outside an articulated synoptic governing philosophy. Are we so enamored to pursue the undifferentiated concerns of the public that candidates are missing the … Continue reading →

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The Swerve: Modernity & The Creation Of Contemporary Life

Posted on March 27, 2012 by William Holland

Just as contemporary historians and philosophers are finally beginning to ride astride the findings of Catholic theologians on distinguishing variable modes of the Enlightenment (Hans Urs von Balthasar, John Courtney Murray, Henri De Lubac and Gertrud Himmelfarb) all come to … Continue reading →

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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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Spinoza, Kant, Solomon Maimon & Jewish Secularization In 18th Century Europe

Posted on September 24, 2011 by William Holland

‘The Road to Modernity’ by Gertrud Himmelfarb, the wife of Irving Kristol and mother of Fox News contributor and founder/editor of Washington’s ‘The Weekly Standard’ William Kristol is the most significant public contribution to any understanding of the European Enlightenment … Continue reading →

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A Jesuit In The Forbidden City

Posted on August 12, 2011 by William Holland

Ronnie Po-chia Hsia is a professor at Pennsylvania State University, he has written a very engaging biography of the first Jesuit (Matteo Ricci)  to enter and be received into “The Forbidden City” (Beijing) in 1596. Everyone knows that the Papacy … Continue reading →

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Rowan Williams Is No Thomas Beckett

Posted on May 20, 2011 by William Holland

I must admit that I do not always admire Dr. Rowan Williams even if sometimes he demonstrates the absolute candor required in leaders.  Nevertheless, this wile theologian continues to reveal a steadfastness, especially as he reveals the distinction that is … Continue reading →

Posted in Ethics, Hans Urs von Balthasar, Islam, Philosophy, Pope Benedict XVI, Theology | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Rowan Williams Is No Thomas Beckett

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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Neal Stephenson: Natural Law & The Consequences Of Modernity

Posted on April 4, 2011 by William Holland

Neal Stephenson wrote “In the Beginning Was the Command Line” in 1999.  Its best to view his writings as a mixture of James Michener, Huxley and H.G. Wells.  Although committed to the craft of science fiction, he is not unfamiliar … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Tocqueville, Antiquity, Conservatism, Constitution, Morality, Philosophy, Politics | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Defeating Edward Said & The Politics Of Partisan Passion

Posted on November 17, 2010 by William Holland

In the intervening years before the Bush administration committed political and national capital in promoting Democracy in Iraq through invasion, President Bush spent many personal hours with two distinct men, discussing Islam, Medieval Islam and the intrinsic cultural receptivity Islam … Continue reading →

Posted in Central Asia, Conservatism, International Relations, Islam, Middle East Peace, Morality, Philosophy, Politics, Terrorism | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The True Spirit Of A Counterrevolutionary: Whittaker Chambers A Tormented Man

Posted on November 16, 2010 by William Holland

Most readers of this very blog are not old enough to remember the vapid ideological atmosphere that gripped the 1930’s as examined throughout the writings of Norman Podhoretz or Irving Kristol.  Both men ruthlessly examined the shape and commitment of … Continue reading →

Posted in Eric Voegelin, Ethics, Identity Development, International Relations, Islam, John Paul II, Morality, Philosophy, Politics, Raymond Aron, Satan/Evil, Terrorism, Theology | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment