The thing that drives me nuts about this tendency of western civilization is it elides so much learning opportunity. That we don’t share the values of ancestor civilizations is an opportunity to learn what our values really mean. If we pre-sanitize that, we hide the evidence for the why behind our discomfort with how things used to be. We let ourselves forget it when we just go with that. To me that seems not just foolish—but dangerously so.
Not to mention it gives one small group of people with the author’s pen the power to decide what our civilization should think for us in lieu of putting the question to us. I’d rather make my own moral observations than have them pre-selected for me. But that’s just me. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
My latest piece has a lot of rhyming ideas in it—if you want to shop for adjacent 5-finger discounts.
Be forewarned if you do venture there—I do my best not to water down the meaning of ‘Swiftian’ satire and I think the piece actually earns the flag it flies under.
Such a good point. What a learning opportunity it would be for audiences to compare ancient Greek values to ours. We swim in western post-modern values daily and think 'that's just how people are.' Not so.
And Joseph, a great essay. One of those essays that makes another writer jealous in a good way wishing that he had written hit himself thank you very much. You pretty much said all that I wanted to say.
The thing that drives me nuts about this tendency of western civilization is it elides so much learning opportunity. That we don’t share the values of ancestor civilizations is an opportunity to learn what our values really mean. If we pre-sanitize that, we hide the evidence for the why behind our discomfort with how things used to be. We let ourselves forget it when we just go with that. To me that seems not just foolish—but dangerously so.
Not to mention it gives one small group of people with the author’s pen the power to decide what our civilization should think for us in lieu of putting the question to us. I’d rather make my own moral observations than have them pre-selected for me. But that’s just me. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I'm going to steal this greg for a future essay or note : ). I'll credit you.
I look forward to reading the whole it becomes a part of. 🥂🙏
My latest piece has a lot of rhyming ideas in it—if you want to shop for adjacent 5-finger discounts.
Be forewarned if you do venture there—I do my best not to water down the meaning of ‘Swiftian’ satire and I think the piece actually earns the flag it flies under.
https://designheretic.substack.com/p/a-modest-proposal
Such a good point. What a learning opportunity it would be for audiences to compare ancient Greek values to ours. We swim in western post-modern values daily and think 'that's just how people are.' Not so.
Well said Greg. I’d fail if I tried to add anything to your comment. Thanks.
And Joseph, a great essay. One of those essays that makes another writer jealous in a good way wishing that he had written hit himself thank you very much. You pretty much said all that I wanted to say.
Thanks, I appreciate that. I was trying to say something that I hadn't seen others say yet.
You did it with dignity and aplomp! I don’t know how to compliment you higher!
Thank you v much.
You are most deservingly welcome.
The Greeks didn’t need Odysseus to apologize for being Odysseus. That may be the biggest difference between their story and ours.