historical archives
When Computers and Biology Converge, Organisms Become Algorithms 05/18/2016 Daniel A. BellPhilosopher, Tsinghua University; author “The China Model” On May 11, 2016, the Berggruen Philosophy and Culture Center invited Yuval Noah Harari, a professor of history at Hebrew University of Jerusalem and author of the international bestseller “Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind,” to deliver…
We’re Drifting Towards World War 3 The Economist argues that there are ominous parallels between the conditions which led to the first world war and today: The United States is Britain, the superpower on the wane, unable to guarantee global security. Its main trading partner, China, plays the part of Germany, a new…
So goes the advertising platform for the largest bank in Southeast Asia. These people know -exactly- what’s happening right now: wealth and power are shifting East. “If you were smart in the 18th century, you moved to France. If you were smart in the 19th century, you moved to England. If you…
It was a huge surprise that Julian Assange suddenly checked into the Embassy of República del Ecuador in London. The twitter reaction from leading Swedish media personalities, in the midst of a Football match, was predictably myopic – and as nationalistic as Football. The picture that came into their minds was that of an…
The unprecedented Academy award victory capped a perfect storm of French culture, Hollywood nostalgia and the “Napoleonic” tactics of U.S. producer Harvey Weinstein. The triumph of The Artist, the French black-and-white, almost completely silent film, is unprecedented — and almost sure to never be repeated. The success of Michel Hazanavicius’ film lies in…
Notes to Self What art writing can learn from the lessons of literature Italo Calvino at his home in Paris (1984) I have always imagined that ‘creative’ writers confront the blank page accompanied by a coterie of kindred spirits – authors, fictional characters, fantastical creatures or historical figures – with whom they identify or against…
9-11 and the United States’ Empire of Language and Ideas
10 Lost Cities Of The World These ancient wonders are well worth a visit, even in troubled times. By Morgan Brennan Petra, Jordan Photo: Ed Freeman/Getty Images Gazing at the Andean peaks soaring above the Lost City of the Incas and the lush valley below, it’s easy see why it was voted one of the…