In this blog post, I will examine perspectives on scientific truth and falsificationism, focusing on Karl Popper’s ‘Conjectures and Refutations’, and share my personal thoughts on the subject. Throughout the long history of the philosophy of science, questions regarding what truth is, how it can be explored or acquired, and whether eternal truths exist have been major research...
In this blog post, I’d like to examine the perspective on humanity and society presented in Jonathan Swift’s ‘Gulliver’s Travels’. Have you ever asked yourself, “What is a human being?” Have you ever wondered what it means to live in this world as a human being? We are born as human beings and live a single, irreversible life. Therefore, it is only natural to ask such questions...
In this blog post, I will explore why Pasternak’s “Safe-Conduct Pass” served as a certificate justifying the meaning of his art and existence, by examining the background of its creation and the historical context. The Place and Significance of Two Autobiographical Works Boris Pasternak (1890–1960), winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature, left behind two autobiographical works during his...
In this blog post, we’ll summarize the plot and main characters of ‘No Longer Human’, examine the causes of his downfall, and carefully explore the questions the work raises. Overview ‘No Longer Human’ was serialized in a magazine from March to May 1948 and is regarded as the definitive work of Osamu Dazai’s literary career. It is so widely read that it is included...
In this blog post, we’ll explore how Robbe-Grillet’s experimental writing and the Nouveau Roman movement shook up traditional realism and humanism, leading him to a symbolic position despite his conflict with the literary establishment. Robe-Grillet, Spokesperson for the Nouveau Roman From the moment he first set foot in the French literary world, Alain Robe-Grillet provoked intense and at...
In this blog post, we’ll examine how passion and homosexuality intertwine between Roland and his teacher in Zweig’s short story “Confusion of Feelings,” creating emotional turmoil. Work Analysis “Confusion of Feelings (Verwirrung der Gefühle),” published in 1926 by the Austrian author Stefan Zweig (1881–1942), is one of the most widely recognized works in Austria. This short story is...
In this blog post, set against the backdrop of 19th-century London, we examine Charlotte Dacker’s life and works—particularly ‘Joploya’ and ‘Desire’—and explore the questions they raised about female desire and social constraints. Charlotte Dacker went by several names. Before marriage, she was known as Charlotte King, taking her father’s surname, and when...
In this blog post, we’ll examine the autobiographical elements in Balzac’s ‘The Lily of the Valley’, his depictions of the Touraine landscape, and the significance of his character portrayals within ‘The Human Comedy’. “The Lily of the Valley” and “The Human Comedy” “The Lily of the Valley” was serialized in ‘Le Revue de Paris’ in 1835, when Balzac was...
In this blog post, we analyze Radishchev’s criticism of serfdom and autocracy as revealed in his “Journey from St. Petersburg to Moscow,” and examine how he came to be reevaluated as a revolutionary symbol by figures ranging from Herzen to Lunacharsky. Radishchev and His Revolutionary Legacy “We Are Sympathizers” (Мы сочувственники). On July 30, 1918, the Soviet People’s Commissariat...
In this blog post, I’ll briefly summarize the key plot points to show how each part of ‘Gulliver’s Travels’ (Lilliput, Brobdingnag, Laputa, and Houyhnhnm) connects through different themes and events. Preface The work’s preface contains two forewords. One is a letter from Gulliver to his cousin Simpson, and the other is a letter from the publisher to the readers. Part 1:...