In Charles Dickens’ famous novel, Bleak House, there is an unforgettable character called Mrs. Jellyby. And if she was not such an archetype for certain real types of persons, she would be almost comical. Mrs. Jellyby is obsessed with what Dickens coined “telescopic philanthropy,” that is an alleged love for humanity but always at long… Read More Love for Humanity. Dickens’ Mrs. Jellyby, Social Justice Warrior
Full disclosure; because its been what seems like ages to me, and I only remembered the general outlines of Dickens’ novel, Hard Times, I resorted to A.I. for the following verbatim description of the beloved characters. Any use of it A.I. all here will always be fully disclosed. SH. ~~ Ah, yes. Mr. Thomas Gradgrind… Read More Dickens’ Hard Times. Of Facts — Utilitarianism and Heart.
“Dickens must have known it would have worked on the consciences of the Parliamentarians too, as it did!” At least for a time. “By advocating that population should be controlled voluntarily through birth control, abstinence, or delayed marriage – or involuntarily, and through the scourges “of war, famine, and disease,” [Thomas] Malthus was derided by his peers… Read More Scrooge and Thomas Malthus
“Chesterton’s defense of Father Christmas reveals a deeper truth: Christ’s birth conquers every winter of the world.” Joseph Pearce, National Catholic Register. December 18, 2024. … Having defended myself, and Chesterton, from any pharisaical guardians of the feast, I’m going to risk the ire of lovers of Christmas by confessing that I prefer good old Father… Read More ‘Father Christmas’ Will Never Die Because Christ Has Risen From the Dead
How do we experience life? What is it to be human? How do we see? What is the relationship between reading and history, reading and science, metaphysics…empathy, philosophy, religion and art? …More. — How to Mark a Book by Mortimer Adler — The social disaster: Children who frequently check social media face significant brain changes
Catholic Critique 