This was a great dive into what makes The Point so enjoyable and stalwart.
Funny enough, the conversation makes me realize that I would align more with the conceptual, exploratory world of little magazines than with the decentralized, persona-first online spheres where I've mostly been able to write. That said, y'all definitely demonstrate that the two things are not exactly opposed nor fully complementary, and that how they give and take will always depend on the project.
Another great conversation. I particularly liked the distinction made between cultural conservatism and political conservatism, which I think has a lot to do with the “Not Left” you’ve been talking about—people who are politically on the left but are interested in seriously engaging with the past on its own terms rather than anachronistically. Also liked the short diversion into theory/anti-theory and the mention of the passages from IJ, which I’ll have to go read. It sounds like they match up nicely with the debate Secret Squirrel and I have been having over at The Republic of Letters (yes, a shameless plug).
It took me a while to get to this but I really enjoyed it! I didn't realize that The Point had its origins in Social Thought--like you, Dan, also my alternate life path. (In a very direct sense: I was choosing between that program and an English PhD. Extremely tough call.) I've always liked what I've read from The Point but now I feel like I have to pay much more attention to it.
It was (and is) painful! I was an undergrad there and took quite a few social thought and social thought junior classes (@secret squirrel and I were in the same classics of social and political thought class) and I really wanted to stay. But I felt I had to make my way to generalism via specialism (specifically historicism) if I was ever to have anything to say. I still don't know if that was true or not; I am definitely still searching for another equally ideal environment.
Loved this. Thanks for doing it. Perfect ending. As Hegel put it, “No one is a hero to the valet.” 😇
This was a great dive into what makes The Point so enjoyable and stalwart.
Funny enough, the conversation makes me realize that I would align more with the conceptual, exploratory world of little magazines than with the decentralized, persona-first online spheres where I've mostly been able to write. That said, y'all definitely demonstrate that the two things are not exactly opposed nor fully complementary, and that how they give and take will always depend on the project.
Another great conversation. I particularly liked the distinction made between cultural conservatism and political conservatism, which I think has a lot to do with the “Not Left” you’ve been talking about—people who are politically on the left but are interested in seriously engaging with the past on its own terms rather than anachronistically. Also liked the short diversion into theory/anti-theory and the mention of the passages from IJ, which I’ll have to go read. It sounds like they match up nicely with the debate Secret Squirrel and I have been having over at The Republic of Letters (yes, a shameless plug).
I saw his post, but where is your debate with him happening?
It’s split into several posts, rather than being contained in one. The previous posts are linked in this one (https://open.substack.com/pub/therepublicofletters/p/theories-for-not-having-theories?r=76737&utm_medium=ios) and there should be one more published in the next few days.
It took me a while to get to this but I really enjoyed it! I didn't realize that The Point had its origins in Social Thought--like you, Dan, also my alternate life path. (In a very direct sense: I was choosing between that program and an English PhD. Extremely tough call.) I've always liked what I've read from The Point but now I feel like I have to pay much more attention to it.
How could you turn them down?!
It was (and is) painful! I was an undergrad there and took quite a few social thought and social thought junior classes (@secret squirrel and I were in the same classics of social and political thought class) and I really wanted to stay. But I felt I had to make my way to generalism via specialism (specifically historicism) if I was ever to have anything to say. I still don't know if that was true or not; I am definitely still searching for another equally ideal environment.