In this blog post, we’ll examine how Virgil, through the ‘Aeneid’, drew upon Homer’s ‘Iliad’ and ‘Odyssey’ to transform the fall of Troy into the founding narrative of Rome. In Search of the ‘Aeneid’ After reading the ‘Iliad’ and the ‘Odyssey’ and then encountering the ‘Aeneid’, it’s easy to assume that the...
Laughter in the Renaissance and Liberation: Reading Rabelais’s ‘Gargantua’
In this blog post, we’ll examine François Rabelais’s masterpiece ‘Gargantua’, focusing on the preparation required of the reader, the meaning of the laughter contained within the work, and how the historical context shapes that meaning. Rabelais’s ‘Gargantua’ and the Demand for Laughter If you’re getting ready to open ‘Gargantua’, you’d better be...
How Did Gabriele D’Annunzio’s “Imitable Life” Unfold Like a Work of Art?
In this blog post, we will examine how Gabriele D’Annunzio’s “Imitable Life” took shape and sparked controversy by connecting his life, major works, and activities in theater, politics, and the military through a chronological overview and analysis of his works. Life Gabriele D’Annunzio was a figure who spent his entire life practicing his own unique aesthetic and way of life...
Beccaria’s Theory of Punishment: How Can Human Freedom Be Safeguarded?
This blog post explores the purpose and social role of punishment through Beccaria’s theory of punishment, offering insights into how human freedom can be safeguarded. Published in 1764, Cesare Beccaria’s ‘On Crimes and Punishments’ caused a great stir. European intellectual society was captivated by its logical and novel arguments concerning punishment. Faithfully responding...
Are humans inherently good or evil from birth?
This blog post examines various philosophical perspectives on human nature and explores the essence of good and evil through the theories of Machiavelli, Niebuhr, and Vegueta. It offers profound reflection on human nature. Is human nature good or evil? It’s difficult to answer easily. While some people perform good deeds like helping those in need through donations or volunteering...