In a society where honor rules, the craftsman has a special place. He is not a person who makes things mechanically without skills or thought. Rather he is an expert who develops sophisticated skills that communicate an artistic element to that which is produced. What makes a craftsman? Richard Sennett writes that the standard measure … Read more
There is often the misconception that the medieval peasant had hardly any land upon which to make a living. Such a perception runs counter to the truth. The actual size of his holdings was rather large especially for the time. Author P. Boissonade notes that these holdings varied according to the fertility of the land. He … Read more
TFP Student Action volunteers began the morning of Monday September 16 with the usual preparations for departure, assuring all materials were in place for a day of promoting Return to Order by John Horvat II at George Washington University in the nation’s capital. However, several factors assured it would be no ordinary day of campaigning … Read more
By Ben Broussard. On Monday, September 9, 2013, members of TFP Student Action visited Penn State University in State College, PA to campaign for the new book Return to Order: From A Frenzied Economy to An Organic Christian Society – Where We’ve Been, How We Got Here, and Where We Need to Go. The campaign … Read more
According to Nicolas Carr who wrote a book on the subject, too many external distractions inhibit concentration and contemplation. Thought becomes disjointed and shallow. He reports, “A series of psychological studies over the past twenty years has revealed that after spending time in a quiet rural setting, close to nature, people exhibit greater attentiveness, stronger … Read more
Some of the most beautiful things in life are not planned. Good conversations, close relationships or works of art are all examples of things that usually just happen. No strict planning is needed or even desired. Marvelous things naturally develop to the extent that the intellect is in order and the instincts and tendencies are … Read more
Josef Pieper explains how our modern world has suppressed the sense of wonder and marvelousness that should be part of our spiritual, cultural and intellectual life. He writes: “Wonder does not occur in the workaday world…and in a totalitarian world of work every form of and manner of transcendence is bound to wither, (would perish, … Read more
Imagine reading the following article: Jefferson Center — Joan MacIntryre and Jane Andrews have dreamed of a wedding with all the trappings. Joan has pulled out all the stops to bring it all together. Jane is taking care of the flowers. Relatives are coming in from all over. The event is planned for late October, … Read more
Imagine a never-ending cruise. The bands are playing, the theaters are full, and the restaurants are crowded. Along with every modern comfort there’s fun, laughter, games and gadgets. The party always has one more joke, or one more dance to keep it going. Passengers think of the cruise as an entitlement, not a vacation. What … Read more
Token money is an unbacked currency that exceeds the value of the material of which it is made. Such money is often minted to facilitate small transactions and is usually found in coinage. A surprising description of token coinage can be found in the writings of Ludwig von Mises, who comments on the issuing of … Read more
