In this symposium, we look into how Brunelleschi, Cusa and Kepler played primary roles in shaping the Italian Renaissance. In the first class, given by Cynthia Chung, we investigate why the dome of the Santa Maria del Fiore is so special. How did a dome spark a Renaissance? Why did the Florentines work on such…
Category: Classes
Study of the Heavens: a History of Chinese Astronomy
Transcript of a lecture given by Cynthia Chung at ‘The Universe, Creativity and You‘ Symposium. We live in a strange time. Many have forgotten the power of imagination and are instead bogged down with the reality of ‘practicality’. The reality of ‘the budget’, and the reality of ‘what is deemed useful and what is deemed…
Alexander Hamilton and the Anti-Slavery Roots of the American Revolution
It was once better understood that the precondition for any nation’s durable survival resides in each passing generation’s capacity to recreate within their hearts and minds, the passion and ideas which birthed the institutions upon which said nation was brought into being. To the degree that the sacrifices, passion and ideals for a better world…
Khazaria and the Forgotten Christian-Jewish-Muslim-Confucian Alliance
As part of the RTF Lecture Series “The Renaissance Principle Across the Ages“, Matthew Ehret discusses the Christian-Jewish-Muslim-Confucian Alliance of Khazaria. Today’s age of geopolitics has made it difficult for many people to appreciate the cooperative traditions in history that gave rise to the great discoveries and progress of humanity’s collective experience. From the ancient…
The Magic of the Atom
If human activity moves into planetary bodies, the distances are daunting and challenges manifold. What type of energy sources will be needed to support a species capable of making journies to Mars or beyond? What sort of energy sources would open up new avenues of creativity on earth at the same time? Chemical fuel and…
A Harmony of Interests: Inquiries into the True Nature of the American System
What ideas will shape the next centuries of human civilization as our species begins to confront the reality of our collective self-interest living on the earth? The use of the atomic for either peaceful or warlike purposes has given our species for the first time in history the dual potential to destroy all life as…
What Determines A Limit to Growth?
By Cynthia Chung This is an article version of a class Cynthia Chung gave for the symposium “The Earth Next 100 Years” which can be viewed here. What Determines a “Limit to Growth”? This might seem like a rather ignorant or simplistic question to some. Many will think the answer rather obvious, that the Limit…
C.S. Lewis’ Perelandra: Towards a Beatific or Miserific Vision?
C.S. Lewis is famously known for his work ‘The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe’ as well as his impassioned defense of Christianity in an age of accelerating materialism, but he is less known for his work in science fiction. Although not often appreciated as these works deserve, Lewis’ sci-fi trilogy (Out of the Silent…
C.S. Lewis vs H.G. Wells: A Journey out of the Deep Black Void
C.S. Lewis is famously known for his work ‘The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe’ as well as his impassioned defense of Christianity in an age of accelerating materialism, but he is less known for his work in science fiction. Although not often appreciated as these works deserve, Lewis’ sci-fi trilogy (Out of the Silent…
Frederick Douglass, Lincoln and the Fight to Save the Soul of America
To quote Martin Luther King: “Is anything more obvious than the presence of evil in the universe? Its nagging, prehensile tentacles projects into every level of human existence. We may debate the origin of evil, but only a victim of superficial optimism would debate its reality. Evil is stark, grim, and colossally real. … Within…