Tag Archives: Descartes

Archimedes Breaks Things

Posted on January 28, 2014 by Dr. J

I failed to mention last week that we have passed the 17,000-page mark in our Great Books Project. With all the works we’ve completed or are about to complete this month, it got lost in the shuffle. Let’s celebrate with … Continue reading →

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Darwin Is Done

Posted on January 20, 2014 by Dr. J

This past week we wrapped up the last of our readings from Charles Darwin in the Great Books Project, completing Volume 49 of the Great Books of the Western World. This week we’ll see the last of Descartes. Here are … Continue reading →

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Sheep Are No Match for Don Quixote

Posted on January 13, 2014 by Dr. J

The Great Books Project marches on in 2014! Expect a summary of our 2013 and overall progress later in the week. Here are the readings for the coming week: Tom Jones by Henry Fielding, Book XV (GBWW Vol. 37, pp. … Continue reading →

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“That he our deadly forfeit should release . . .”

Posted on December 30, 2013 by Dr. J

This week in the Great Books Project we come within a whisker of our 5,000th page of Imaginative Literature and 3,500th page of Science and Mathematics. That seems like a pretty good way to ring in the new year! Here … Continue reading →

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Tilting at Windmills

Posted on December 23, 2013 by Dr. J

To observe Christmas this week in the Great Books Project, I’m sandwiching in something seasonally appropriate between the irreverence of Fielding and Cervantes. I think you’ll like it (unless, of course, you’re a philistine!). Here are the readings for the … Continue reading →

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Oedipus Goes to Die

Posted on December 9, 2013 by Dr. J

When was the last time I went exactly seven days between Great Books posts? I have no idea, to be honest. Nevertheless, we completed 16,500 pages last week and continue our journey through the Great Conversation. Here are the readings … Continue reading →

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Thomas Malthus Isn’t All Bad

Posted on September 24, 2012 by Dr. J

It looks like I’m squeaking in under the wire for another Great Books Monday post, thanks to Galen and Descartes (mostly Descartes). We are closing in on the 10,000-page and will be there in a couple of weeks. Here are … Continue reading →

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War in Heaven . . . Outcome Never in Doubt

Posted on September 17, 2012 by Dr. J

It’s Great Books Monday (on Monday!) again, and this week we are going to pass 2,400 pages in the philosophy/religion category. Can you think of a better way to do that than by working excruciatingly difficult math problems? Of course … Continue reading →

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Queequeg’s Coffin and the Great Man Theory of History

Posted on January 16, 2012 by Dr. J

It’s Great Books Monday once again, and I’m feeling really motivated this week. I spent some time yesterday looking over what we’re likely to attack in the next few weeks, and it is really great stuff, starting with our selections … Continue reading →

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Breaking Captain Ahab’s Head on an Anvil

Posted on January 10, 2012 by Dr. J

We’ve put it off for too long; it’s time to read some ancient Greek drama. Here are the readings for the upcoming week: Moby Dick by Herman Melville, Ch. 133-Epilogue  (GBWW Vol. 48, pp. 246-260) “Great Men and Their Environment” … Continue reading →

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