Raw History (Page 2)

Thomas Jefferson, 1823

Thomas Jefferson, 1823

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 1749-1832

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 1749-1832

Reading and Thinking: Thoughts by Arthur Schopenhauer, 19th Century

Reading and Thinking: Thoughts by Arthur Schopenhauer, 19th Century

This post offers some interesting ideas from the German philosopher, Arthur Schopenhauer, about the nexus between reading and thinking. The piece speaks for itself. Enjoy. August Glen-James, editor . . . the surest way of never having any thoughts of your own is to pick up a book every time you have a

The Demands of the Socialist Parties: Analysis by Igor Shafarevich.

General Interest

The Demands of the Socialist Parties: Analysis by Igor Shafarevich.

For many people, political parties, are an embarrassing malady of society akin to hemorrhoids for a person. But why do political parties even exist? James Madison observed that "As long as the reason of man continues fallible, and he is at liberty to exercise it, different opinions will be formed.

George Orwell on the Press

George Orwell on the Press

Henry David Thoreau, 1849

Henry David Thoreau, 1849

The Common Threads of Socialism: Thoughts by Igor Shafarevich.

Political Philosophy

The Common Threads of Socialism: Thoughts by Igor Shafarevich.

Igor Shafarevich (1923-2017) was a gifted Russian mathematician and Soviet dissident. He associated with some notable "trouble makers" in the USSR, like novelist Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. One of Shafarevich's students, Ilya Piatetski-Shapiro, revealed that the math savant disliked the October Revoloution and had "negative feelings for Communism." Though he felt political

The Average Man vis-á-vis the Government: Thoughts by H. L. Mencken, 1925.

General Interest

The Average Man vis-á-vis the Government: Thoughts by H. L. Mencken, 1925.

Is government a blessing, a curse, or something in between? It seems that too much or too little government are both fraught with dangers. The subject has engaged some of the great minds of history. For instance, Thomas Paine had the following thoughts: SOME writers have so confounded society with

Theories of Government: Thoughts by H. L. Mencken, 1922.

General Interest

Theories of Government: Thoughts by H. L. Mencken, 1922.

A consummate critic, H. L. Mencken unpacks what he thinks of monarchy, democracy, and communism in this short but vivid observation. August Glen-James, editor And communism, as the example of Russia already shows, is not a fountain that gushes peace, justice and plenty, but a sewer in which they are

The Politician: Thoughts by H. L. Mencken, 1940.

General Interest

The Politician: Thoughts by H. L. Mencken, 1940.

Mencken's analysis of the politician seems, in the main, to be timeless wisdom, as applicable today as it was when he wrote it. But, the reader can make that judgement. August Glen-James, editor “In politics,” he said, “man must learn to rise above principle.” Then he drove it in with

Government: Its Inner Nature. Thoughts by H. L. Mencken, 1919

Political Philosophy

Government: Its Inner Nature. Thoughts by H. L. Mencken, 1919

H. L. Mencken had a sharp wit . . . and a sharp pencil. His observations about government will ring a consonant note with most readers, regardless of personal politics. Enjoy! August Glen-James, editor The ideal government of all reflective men, from Aristotle onward, is one which lets the individual alone—one which

Freedom of Speech: Thoughts by C. Chauncey Burr, 1865

C Chauncey Burr

Freedom of Speech: Thoughts by C. Chauncey Burr, 1865

Freedom of speech has been in the news a lot lately as the nation, like a ship on the high seas, lists left and right in the heavy political storms of our day. Our nation has weathered heavy storms in the past with the nadir, arguably, being during the Civil

Truth: Thoughts By H. L. Mencken, 1922

General Interest

Truth: Thoughts By H. L. Mencken, 1922

In a work entitled, The Critical Process, H.L. Mencken addressed the concept of "truth." It may be a cynical take on the concept, but it gives one something to think about. August Glen-James, editor All that one may safely say of them is that no one, as yet, has

The Crowd: Thoughts By H. L. Mencken, 1918

General Interest

The Crowd: Thoughts By H. L. Mencken, 1918

Crowd dynamics have interested generations of thinkers. Various Ph.D. types have written articles on the subject; chapters in sociology and psychology books philosophize "deeply" about the topic, but H.L. Mencken stated the facts, as he saw them, in a way that only he could. Enjoy! August Glen-James, editor

The Average Civilized Man of Today: Thoughts By H.L. Mencken, 1924

The Average Civilized Man of Today: Thoughts By H.L. Mencken, 1924

That the average civilized man of today is inferior to the average civilized man of two or three generations ago is too plain to need arguing. He has less enterprise and courage; he is less resourceful and various; he is more like a rabbit and less like a lion. Harsh

Novanglus No. II: The Revolutionary Doctrines of John Adams, 1774

Novanglus No. II: The Revolutionary Doctrines of John Adams, 1774

Writing as "Massachusettensis" in the Massachusetts Gazette, Daniel Leonard argued that Parliament had a constitutional right to exercise authority over the American colonies. The denial of this "right" was the central theme of America's revolutionaries; consequently, writing as "Novanglus," John Adams countered "Massachusettensis's" arguments in a series of essays that

Capitalism: Thoughts by H. L. Mencken, 1935

General Interest

Capitalism: Thoughts by H. L. Mencken, 1935

H. L. Mencken (Sept. 12, 1880--Jan. 29, 1956) was an American journalist from Maryland. His work is characterized by sharp criticism and satirical observations about government, cultural institutions, and powerful people. He was witty, iconoclastic at times, and a master of the English language. His works are always an interesting

Was Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes a "Liberal"?: Thoughts by H. L. Mencken, 1930.

Political Philosophy

Was Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes a "Liberal"?: Thoughts by H. L. Mencken, 1930.

H. L. Mencken (Sept. 12, 1880--Jan. 29, 1956) was an American journalist from Maryland. His work is characterized by sharp criticism and satirical observations about government, cultural institutions, and powerful people. He was witty, iconoclastic at times, and a master of the English language. His works are always an interesting

The Weak or Wicked Men Among Ourselves: Anonymous, 1776

The Weak or Wicked Men Among Ourselves: Anonymous, 1776

Out of Philadelphia, 1776, came four anonymous letters. The utility of the letters is to enable one to better understand the position of the "patriots" of the American Revolution concerning the colonies vis-a-vis their relationship with the "Mother Country," so-called. In this letter, Anonymous unpacks the effect of what he

The British Court Coming to an Open Rupture with the Continent: Anonymous, 1776.

The British Court Coming to an Open Rupture with the Continent: Anonymous, 1776.

Out of Philadelphia, 1776, came four anonymous letters. The utility of the letters is to enable one to better understand the position of the "patriots" of the American Revolution concerning the colonies vis-a-vis their relationship with the "Mother Country," so-called. In this letter, Anonymous unpacks his "suspicion" concerning the conduct

Untaught Bravery v. Skill and Training: Thoughts by Vegetius, c. Late 4th Century C.E.

Classic Civilizations

Untaught Bravery v. Skill and Training: Thoughts by Vegetius, c. Late 4th Century C.E.

According to Hippolytus, Heraclitus once quipped that "War is the father of all and king of all, and some he shows as gods, others as men; some he makes slaves, others free." That's a lot to think about; however, Roman theorist, Vegetius had some suggestions in his work, The Epitome

The Socialism of Deschamps: Analysis by Igor Shafarevich

Political Philosophy

The Socialism of Deschamps: Analysis by Igor Shafarevich

Igor Shafarevich (1923-2017) was a gifted Russian mathematician and Soviet dissident. He associated with some notable "trouble makers" in the USSR, like novelist Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. One of Shafarevich's students, Ilya Piatetski-Shapiro, revealed that the math savant "disliked the October" and had "negative feelings for Communism. Though he felt political heat,

On the Liberty of Thought and Discussion: John Stuart Mill

General Interest

On the Liberty of Thought and Discussion: John Stuart Mill

The title and body of this post speak for themselves. Enjoy! August Glen-James, editor But the peculiar evil of silencing the expression of an opinion is, that it is robbing the human race; posterity as well as the existing generation; those who dissent from the opinion, still more than those

"The Greatest Dangers of the American Republics Proceed from the Unlimited Power of the Majority" -- Thoughts by Alexis de Tocqueville

Political Philosophy

"The Greatest Dangers of the American Republics Proceed from the Unlimited Power of the Majority" -- Thoughts by Alexis de Tocqueville

In this selection, Tocqueville expresses his belief that democratic-republics are liable to perish from a misuse of power rather than by impotence. He also ventured the thought that the American republics are more centralized and more energetic than the monarchies of Europe. Of interest, too, he quotes a couple of

Novanglus No. I: The Revolutionary Doctrines of John Adams, 1774

Novanglus No. I: The Revolutionary Doctrines of John Adams, 1774

Writing as "Massachusettensis" in the Massachusetts Gazette, Daniel Leonard argued that Parliament had a constitutional right to exercise authority over the American colonies. The denial of this "right" was the central theme of America's revolutionaries; consequently, writing as "Novanglus," John Adams countered "Massachusettensis's" arguments in a series of essays that