“We have lived by the assumption that what was good for us would be good for the world,” Wendell Berry wrote in his beautiful paean to the world and all creation. Then he added: “We have been wrong. We must change our lives, so that it will be possible to live by the contrary assumption … Read more

. When asked about their day, average Americans say, “I devote eight hours to sleep, eight hours to work, and I have eight hours … left over for free time.” So writes Mortimer J. Adler in his book “How to Think About the Great Ideas.” Then he adds, “And the average American today would [also] … Read more

On conformity: The more aware we are of our vulnerabilities to social pressure, the better we can defend against the impulse to conform. While it is often easy to remain skeptical toward groups we do not belong to or those we have already left, the urge to conform is strongest within the groups we identify … Read more

“By doing just things we become just; moderate things, moderate; and courageous things, courageous,” Aristotle wrote in his meditation on virtues as habits. Revisiting this timeless advice reminded me of an interview Mortimer J. Adler (December 28, 1902–June 28, 2001) gave to Bill Moyers about his groundbreaking book “Aristotle for Everybody.” As the two sat … Read more