Bryan W. Van Norden

Q: My condolences on the loss of your friend Charlie Kirk. How are you holding up?

TRUMP: I think very good. And by the way, right there you see all the trucks. They just started construction of the new ballroom for the White House, which is something they've been trying to get for about 150 years.

Donald Trump: “smart people don’t like me”

Thank you for your kind words!

Bryan, I enjoyed today’s substack video post “The Rest Understand the West Better...
...than the West Understands the Rest.” I wish I had taken more Philosophy at Vassar than the one class I had with Jesse Kalin.

Bryan Van Norden, "The Rest Understands the West Better than the West Understands the Rest," United Nations Pre Summit of the Future, 22 September 2024

vassar.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Page...

YouTube video by Robert Reich Why Does Trump Hate Sesame Street?

Trump is attacking the Smithsonian museum, saying there’s too much focus on "how bad slavery was."

Authoritarians know that if they can convince us our country has never been wrong, they can make us believe our ruler is always right.

This is part of a larger plan. Watch: youtu.be/rEH7sF6pA4s?...

Crow: "Look at what happened. US military personnel in uniform literally were on hands & knees rolling out a red carpet for the most murderous dictator of the 21st century...we keep on acting like Putin deserves to be brought out in open like any of head of state. This is a historic embarrassment."

In for $327, out for $557 AND won $250 high hand jackpot for a nine-high straight flush. 😎

Good point!

Is it a bad thing that students read more contemporary authors who directly address issues like race, gender, and ideology that are particularly relevant to them? (BTW just found out I am blocked by Pinker, despite never having interacted with him.)

The first time Charlie Chaplin used his voice in a film, he wielded it to forcefully condemn the rising forces of fascism around the globe. Will we listen to his words today?

The cover of Imperial Institutions in Ancient Rome and Early China: A Comparative Analysis, by Michael Loewe. The cover depicts a Chinese tapestry from the 3rd/2nd c. BCE with an image of a centaur.

Just in: the final publication of the late (and legendary) Michael Loewe!

This short book is notable as a single-authored comparative synthesis written by a specialist in early China—a useful complement to current work (mostly multi-authored or written from a Mediterranean perspective).

Exciting!

Thank you so much for your kind words!

One of the best experiences I had in graduate school was joining a reading group on @bryanvannorden.bsky.social's Introduction to Classical Chinese Philosophy (and the accompanying books of readings). There is still so much missing from mainstream philosophy.

Having just spent a few months reading accounts of CBS’ grotesque cowardice during the 1950s McCarthy-era blacklist, it’s nice to see that The Tiffany Network respects its traditions

Rebought for another $300. Felted a guy with set over set. Correctly folded trips to a turn check-raise (she kindly showed trips with a better kicker — Baluga Whale Theorem). Ended up $221 over my buy in and rebuy for the night. 2/2 😎

At the poker room at Resorts World Catskills tonight. Was down $300 when the board blanked out after calling all-in with the hand shown for Player 2 below. (But I'll take 65% equity every day and twice on Sundays!) 1/2

Some things I learned from The Murder of Professor Schlick by @davidedmonds100.bsky.social

Lenin wrote a critique of Mach's positivism, which he considered reactionary.

Otto Neurath signed his letters with elephant cartoons reflecting his mood.

As @bryanvannorden.bsky.social reminded me a few hours ago while I was attending to light carpentry, logical positivists saw themselves as fighting fascist rhetoric.

He also recalled tidbits about Moritz Schlick's assassination, but no spoilers.

www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2025...

The fragility of goodness and struggling with illness Health update, plus a ramble on health, flourishing, efficacy of prayer etc.

Another great philosophical reflection from @helendecruz.net

open.substack.com/pub/helendec...

Title card for podcast episode with Bryan Van Norden.

Mindscape 319 | Bryan Van Norden @bryanvannorden.bsky.social on Philosophy From the Rest of the World. There are many interesting footnotes, not all of them to Plato!

www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2025...

Thank you for your kind words!

VAN NORDEN TAKING BACK PHILOSOPHY A Multicultural Manifesto COLUMBIA TAKING BACK PHILOSOPHY A Multicultural Manifesto BRYAN W. VAN NORDEN Foreword by Jay L. Garfield

Had to take a look at this again - what a great book! Interesting to read about the interactions between contemporary Aristotelians and Confucians. @bryanvannorden.bsky.social

Me at the bar before dinner in The Living Room on my cruise.
#MyVikingStory

Me in front of the Colosseum in Rome.
#MyVikingStory

They sound cool! Is there a book?

whenever i encounter people who say they can't understand shakespeare verses I always send them this clip from the 2019 Shakespeare in the Park production of Much Ado About Nothing

In the Torshavn Lounge.
#MyVikingStory