Contributor

Andrew Selby

Andrew Selby

Pushkin, Fate, and Modern Man

Alexander Pushkin is often referred to as Russia’s national poet. Basically, as Virgil was to Romans so is Pushkin to Russians. A major theme in his legendary “novel in verse”, Eugene Onegin, is that of fate. The main character, Eugene, […]

Andrew SelbyPhilosophyEpistemology

Being skeptical or suitably critical and E.T.

Circular asked me what defines skeptical in response to a comment I made to his post on E.T. Your question is a very deep and important one. The line

Andrew SelbyReviews (Theatre)

Review of "As You Like It"

William Shakespeare’s adorable comedy As You Like It will be brought to life at the Ahmanson Theatre from the present through March 26th. Sir Peter Hall, winner of multiple Tony-Awards, directs the Theatre Royal Bath with the lead of Rosalind […]

Andrew SelbyMeaning and HermeneuticsLiteratureEpistemology

Literary Criticism and Epistemology

For some time I have been bothered by the phenomenon of 20th C. literary criticism of all varieties: Marxist, feminist, post-colonial and the other smatterings. It just rubs me

Andrew SelbyPolitics

Iraq Voting

You know that the voting in Iraq on Sunday was a success because even NPR was lauding it. Yesterday afternoon on the left-leaning news show “All Things Considered” two interviewees both were excited that the voting was positive. One was […]

Andrew Selby

Plato's Euthyphro versus Aristophanes' The Clouds

It’s nice to be blogging again! Greek and Roman philosophy are on my mind… Plato’s Euthyphro recounts the conversation Socrates had with Euthyphro, a religious leader, just before his trial. It comes out that this man is also awaiting a […]

Andrew SelbyPolitics

Plato's "Republic" in Aristotle's "Politics"

In the third book of Aristotle’s Politics, he sets forth his ideal government. In order to find the best one, he informs the reader that he will exposit and reject several theories by other prominent philosophers. He begins, naturally, with […]

Andrew SelbyEducation

Required Education: It Lasts Too Long

In 1575 Michel de Montaigne said, “The boy we would breed has a great deal less time to spare; he owes but the first fifteen or sixteen years of his life to education; the remainder is due to action”. We […]