Browsing: Culture

“Our task at midlife is to be strong enough to let go of the ego-driven desires of the first half and open ourselves to a greater wonder.”

“At middle age, our job is to be strong enough to let go of the ego-driven concerns of the first half of life and be open to a greater sense of wonder.”

This is the great paradox: that human life, lived between the time of starlings and the time of stars, is made meaningful entirely inside the self, but the self is a mirage of the mind, a figment of cohesion that makes the chaos and transience bearable. A few times a lifetime, if you are lucky, something — an encounter with nature, a work of art, a great love — sparks what Iris Murdoch so wonderfully termed “an occasion for unselfing,” dismantling the cathedral of illusion and rendering you one with everything that ever was and ever will be. Because time… read article

This is the great paradox: that human life, lived between the time of starlings and the time of stars, gains significance solely within oneself, yet the self is a creation of the mind, a concept that helps make the disorder and shortness of life bearable. Occasionally, if you are fortunate, something — an experience with nature, a piece of art, a profound love — ignites what Iris Murdoch so beautifully called “an occasion for unselfing,” breaking down the castle of deception and uniting you with everything that ever existed or will exist. Because time… read article

It’s become common to think about cultural change the same way we think about biological evolution—so common that it may obscure whether the comparison really works. Though there remain many questions yet to answer about biological evolution, it’s a process that’s well-understood. We know, in great detail, how variations emerge, how they’re passed on hereditarily, […]

Welcome to Nautilus’ blog, “Facts So Romantic”! The name, if you didn’t see the note on the blog’s homepage, refers to a quote from Jules Verne: “Reality provides us with facts so romantic that imagination itself could add nothing to them.” (Verne also helped name the magazine itself; the amazingly hi-tech submarine from 20,000 Leagues […]

A naughty illustrated tale of mad mid-century matinees.

Supercutting the visual legacy of the greatest graphic designer of all time.

What a broken bathroom hook has to do with Norwegian ethnography and the cable guy.

Exploring gender identity and cultural disposition through rare archival images from 1800-1980.