“Human beings are neither souls alone, nor bodies alone, but embodied souls. Since the laws of our bodies are constitutive elements of our being, we don’t diminish ourselves by honoring them – we would alienate ourselves by not honoring them. They aren’t shackles, but real aspects of our embodied personhood – inheritances, not encumbrances; enrichments, not impoverishments; not things to be struggled against, but things to be cherished as gifts.”

J. Budziszewski “The Underground Thomist” April 17, 2023 [https://undergroundthomist.org/antipasto]

In the Western Standard my latest book review for the Aristotle Foundation praises John Ibbitson’s The Duel while taking issue with the author’s belief that his subjects, John Diefenbaker and Lester Pearson, were giants.

“I have just returned from Boston. It is the only thing to do if you find yourself up there.”

Fred Allen, quoted in Gilbert! magazine Vol. 4 No. 2 (Oct.-Nov. 2000)

“Why Japan Is Building Its Own Version of ChatGPT /Some Japanese researchers feel that AI systems trained on foreign languages cannot grasp the intricacies of Japanese language and culture”

Headline and deck on article in Scientific American September 15, 2023

In my latest Epoch Times column I ask, à propos of the federal Liberals suddenly proclaimed intention to “turbocharge” housing construction after nine years of muffing the file, what leads our politicians or anyone else to have so much faith in their capacity, and the state’s capacity, to fix any and every problem life presents.

“some [Austro-Hungarian policy-makers] added that Russia would not intervene [in their attack on Serbia in 1914] because war would once more pose the threat of revolution.”

Samuel R. Williamson, Jr., in Holger H. Herwig, The Outbreak of World War I, 5th edition

In my latest National Post column, I say Western leaders’ calls for Israel not to retaliate for Iran’s blatant act of war amounts to “Free hits on Jews” and is disgusting, cowardly and a recipe for disaster.

“In the synod, there is no place for ideology.”

Pope Francis, quoted in National Post September 5, 2023 [which I quote not because I approve but because it’s a common and important error: he’s against “ideology”, but how would he define it as opposed to actual thought except perhaps as the kind of thought he disagrees with?]