In this blog post, we’ll examine the realities and contradictions surrounding women’s property rights as reflected in civil law—including dowries, majorat, and notarial negotiations—through Balzac’s ‘The Marriage Contract’. Balzac, Money, and the Law Honoré de Balzac, often called the “father of the modern novel,” left behind an incomparably vast body of work. His “Human...
Getting Started with Balzac: Should You Really Start with ‘Father Goriot’?
In this blog post, we’ll take a vivid look at how Balzac’s masterpiece ‘Father Goriot’ serves as the gateway to his vast series, ‘The Human Comedy’—focusing on the historical background, key characters, and central themes to explain why. Why Should You Read “Father Goriot” First? For readers new to Balzac, opinions may vary on which work to start with, but “Father...
Is empathy the source of pure altruism?
In this blog post, we will examine the existence of pure altruism in the natural world—with a focus on Richard Dawkins’ ‘The Selfish Gene’—and explore whether empathy is its root cause. Richard Dawkins’ book ‘The Selfish Gene’ opened up new horizons in evolutionary biology. He explained that the subject of life is no longer the “individual” but the “gene,” and that...
How Far Do the Advancement of Science and the Responsibilities of Scientists Extend?
In this blog post, we will examine the advancement of science, the responsibilities of scientists, and the ethical implications of science and technology through Heisenberg’s ‘The Part and the Whole’. Modern atomic physics is not only a cutting-edge field of science but also raises various issues that transcend the realm of science, such as philosophy, religion, and politics...
How Do We Explore Truth in Science? Popper’s Falsificationism
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...
What is the perspective on humanity and society presented in Jonathan Swift’s ‘Gulliver’s Travels’?
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...
Why was Pasternak’s “Safe-Conduct Pass” a certificate that justified his art and existence?
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...
How did Alain Robbe-Grillet go from being the “inappropriate rebel” of the Nouveau Roman to becoming an icon of French literature?
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...
How Does Stefan Zweig’s “Confusion of Feelings” Depict Passion and Homosexuality?
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...
What challenges did Charlotte Dacker’s ‘Desire’ reveal about women in 19th-century London?
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...