Tag Archives: Berquist

Wisely and Slow: Salutary Advice For Students In The New Year

Posted on January 1, 2014 by marklangley

ROMEO O, let us hence; I stand on sudden haste. FRIAR LAURENCE Wisely and slow; they stumble that run fast. Students in general grow impatient with the advice of Friar Laurence. I don’t blame them. I, too, sometimes find myself wanting answers … Continue reading →

Posted in classical education, Liberal Arts, Mathematics | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

The Brain: Organ of Thought? A Dialogue Part 3

Posted on October 26, 2013 by marklangley

Langley: Greetings Socrates! I see that you are looking amused this morning. Socrates: Good morning Langley. Yes I was just thinking of something humorous related to our previous discussion which ended rather abruptly. But I am happy to see you … Continue reading →

Posted in Modernists, Socrates | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Who Is The Wisest Person In The World?

Posted on July 14, 2013 by marklangley

I think I know who the wisest living person is in the world and as luck would have it, I happen to know him personally. (hint: besides Our Lord) But I hesitate to tell you this and am even hesitant … Continue reading →

Posted in ad libitum, Wisdom | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Dickens on Custom

Posted on March 28, 2013 by marklangley

A wise philosopher asked “what has more power in directing the course of our lives, reason or custom?” Reading A Tale of Two Cities cannot but convince one that custom is by far the predominant influence. Take this passage for … Continue reading →

Posted in Custom, slavery | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Anaxagoras on Liberal Education

Posted on March 10, 2013 by marklangley

“Other things have a part of everything, but mind is unlimited and self-ruling and is mixed with nothing, but is itself alone by itself….” Anaxagoras, the great pre-Socratic philosopher who, Aristotle says, was like a sober man among drunkards was the … Continue reading →

Posted in classical education, education, Liberal Arts, liberal education works, truth for its own sake | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The first Characteristic of Wisdom

Posted on December 28, 2012 by marklangley

Speaking of wisdom, perhaps it would be good to review four characteristics that will help us to distinguish the kind of knowledge that it is. I do but merely transcribe from the fading memory of a certain lecture these humble … Continue reading →

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How Must Wisdom be Loved?

Posted on December 26, 2012 by marklangley

On this second day of Christmas, what better thing than to meditate upon Wisdom whose birthday we have just celebrated and draw attention to the fact that He must be loved in the same four ways that the philosopher loves … Continue reading →

Posted in ad libitum, classical education, Science | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Liberal Education Works

Posted on December 24, 2012 by marklangley

The late philosopher Marcus Berquist once made a remark about how working with ones hands has a significant value for the one pursuing philosophy. I wish I could remember his words exactly- but the point was that hard work never … Continue reading →

Posted in ad libitum, liberal education works, slavery | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

One World in Common

Posted on March 12, 2012 by marklangley

The waking have one world in common, whereas each sleeper turns away to a private world of his own. I think I need to write a song with that title. Sounds like a perfect song for some sort of world … Continue reading →

Posted in classical education, education, Liberal Arts | Tagged , , , , | 11 Comments

Slavery to Fashion

Posted on March 3, 2012 by marklangley

I don’t have any strong objection to men dressing according to the fashions of the 12th or 13th century if they happen to live in the 12th or 13th century. I assume the gentleman in the picture thought that he … Continue reading →

Posted in ad libitum, classical education, education, Liberal Arts, slavery | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments