Rome was the cultural epicenter of the ancient world. It was renowned for its law and order, piety, engineering, and fine art. But it was still a terribly brutal civilization by modern standards. In the mid-5th century BC, Rome established its first legal code, the Twelve Tables. Oddly, the code was silent on the subject
READ MOREEven in today’s more secular society—or perhaps because we live in a secular society—the Catholic rite of exorcism still manages to attract a good amount of intrigue and curiosity. Witness, for instance, the success of the movie The Exorcist (1973), which was one of the most profitable horror movies of all time. Catholic priest Fr.
READ MOREPhilip Zimbardo, a former president of the American Psychological Association, observed that the American soldiers who committed atrocities at the Abu Ghraib prison were not inherently evil: “The line between good and evil is permeable. Any of us can move across it… I argue that we all have the capacity for love and evil —
READ MOREUnderstanding Progressivism and the Progressive Era is one of the most important tasks for intellectual defenders of ordered liberty. In just under two generations, Progressivism captured the minds of the American intellectual class, which then transformed traditional governance institutions into the modern bureaucratic-administrative state. As Thomas C. Leonard shows in his new book, Illiberal Reformers: Race, Eugenics,
READ MORESing, Muse, of Achilles’ anger and its devastation … and of the will of Zeus which was done. – Homer The opening lines of Homer’s epic, The Iliad, say it all. In these first few words, the poet betrays his purpose and unpacks the deepest meaning of his work. He begins with a prayer to
READ MOREIn 1911, American high schoolers used these questions to review and prepare for tests such as the New York Regents exam. Do you believe today’s high school students would be able to pass this test, or are schools failing to teach students about America’s literary history? Save this article to favorites
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