Thank you for your kind words, interest, and time! It is a pleasure to write for people who appreciate linguistics, languages, and humanities in general.
You undoubtedly have mastery of your subject and I'm sure students of antiquity and the history of ideas could learn much from following your writing. You may find this strange but I am reminded of Robert Lenkiewicz, who apart from being an accomplished artist had an incredible collection of incunabula and was in my view a polymath.
I still have the uneasy feeling that online writing can so easily become an exercise in self indulgence, this touches on your comment about engagement and an earlier comment on the level of activity. Still I've no doubt one can be totally overwhelmed by posts on a relatively trivial matter, or hurt feelings. It is my experience, particularly in the political arena, that a serious exchange of views online, from which one might learn something is in fact quite rare, even when one has a subscribing audience of thousands. From this perspective it would be difficult to see the proposals for online democracy succeeding. We could perhaps look to Athens. How did they manage democracy, albeit with a limited franchise? As someone who concurs with those psychologists who think human intelligence is declining, I welcome all and every sign to the contrary.
Thank you. This is, quite frankly, the most profound comment I’ve ever received for my profession. It’s rare to encounter such generosity of thought, and to see that on my birthday—well, it feels like a blessing.
Another impressive essay. I sometimes feel that for many of us there is a need to retreat into the comfort and safety of these academic often esoteric discussions, to escape the real rather frightening world of today. It reminds me of theological exegesis and Jewish pilpul which can be intellectually challenging and deeply satisfying but no longer quite as meaningful as it once was. Is relevance important if we are enjoying ourselves?
Relevance does matter, but the way we define it can vary. When we engage in intellectual pursuits, like academic discussions or theological analysis, the enjoyment and satisfaction they provide can be deeply fulfilling on a really personal level. As you may know, these activities provoke the mind and offer a sense of order or meaning, which can be especially pleading in a world that often feels chaotic and problematic. In this sense, enjoyment itself can be a form of relevance—it provides a space for personal growth, critical thinking, and reflection.
However, the concern you raise is that the pursuit of knowledge for its own sake, without connection to the world’s pressing issues, can become a kind of intellectual escapism. It can be comforting, but it risks becoming disconnected from the very real problems that demand our attention. This is particularly true when once-relevant fields may feel less directly fitting in today's context, even though they remain intellectually rigid and satisfying. And I would choose that option regardless.
Relevance, then, is not just about external utility but also about personal and collective impact. If intellectual engagement improves our understanding of ourselves and the world—if it enhances our ability to think critically, communicate, and empathize—then it is relevant. But when that enjoyment becomes separated from the realities we live in, it can lose its more general significance. The key question becomes whether we are using our intellectual pursuits to engage with, or at least better understand, the world around us. If the answer is yes, then relevance and enjoyment can coexist; if not, intellectual enjoyment may risk becoming disconnected from meaning. What do you think?
Fascinating. So there may have been great philosophers before Ancient Greece, but we have no record of it until Greek was invented and used to record those thoughts for humanity. And there may have been brilliant rhetoricians before Ancient Rome, but we have no record of it until Latin was invented and used to record those speeches for humanity.
Exactly! A fascinating observation! Greek and Latin did not invent philosophy or rhetoric, yet gave them permanence. Earlier civilizations likely had profound traditions, but without written records, they faded with time. Greek captured the precision of thought, and Latin preserved the art of persuasion, converting brief oral wisdom into lasting legacies. These languages became humanity’s tools to immortalize its intellectual achievements.
Excellent. I appreciate your scholarship and insights, and I look forward to learning more in the future.
Thank you for your kind words, interest, and time! It is a pleasure to write for people who appreciate linguistics, languages, and humanities in general.
You undoubtedly have mastery of your subject and I'm sure students of antiquity and the history of ideas could learn much from following your writing. You may find this strange but I am reminded of Robert Lenkiewicz, who apart from being an accomplished artist had an incredible collection of incunabula and was in my view a polymath.
I still have the uneasy feeling that online writing can so easily become an exercise in self indulgence, this touches on your comment about engagement and an earlier comment on the level of activity. Still I've no doubt one can be totally overwhelmed by posts on a relatively trivial matter, or hurt feelings. It is my experience, particularly in the political arena, that a serious exchange of views online, from which one might learn something is in fact quite rare, even when one has a subscribing audience of thousands. From this perspective it would be difficult to see the proposals for online democracy succeeding. We could perhaps look to Athens. How did they manage democracy, albeit with a limited franchise? As someone who concurs with those psychologists who think human intelligence is declining, I welcome all and every sign to the contrary.
Excellent stuff. This reminds me why I am on Substack.
Thank you for taking your time and reading. I’m glad you liked it.
Excellent, this would make an excellent introduction to a European language text.
Thank you. This is, quite frankly, the most profound comment I’ve ever received for my profession. It’s rare to encounter such generosity of thought, and to see that on my birthday—well, it feels like a blessing.
Another impressive essay. I sometimes feel that for many of us there is a need to retreat into the comfort and safety of these academic often esoteric discussions, to escape the real rather frightening world of today. It reminds me of theological exegesis and Jewish pilpul which can be intellectually challenging and deeply satisfying but no longer quite as meaningful as it once was. Is relevance important if we are enjoying ourselves?
Thank you!
Relevance does matter, but the way we define it can vary. When we engage in intellectual pursuits, like academic discussions or theological analysis, the enjoyment and satisfaction they provide can be deeply fulfilling on a really personal level. As you may know, these activities provoke the mind and offer a sense of order or meaning, which can be especially pleading in a world that often feels chaotic and problematic. In this sense, enjoyment itself can be a form of relevance—it provides a space for personal growth, critical thinking, and reflection.
However, the concern you raise is that the pursuit of knowledge for its own sake, without connection to the world’s pressing issues, can become a kind of intellectual escapism. It can be comforting, but it risks becoming disconnected from the very real problems that demand our attention. This is particularly true when once-relevant fields may feel less directly fitting in today's context, even though they remain intellectually rigid and satisfying. And I would choose that option regardless.
Relevance, then, is not just about external utility but also about personal and collective impact. If intellectual engagement improves our understanding of ourselves and the world—if it enhances our ability to think critically, communicate, and empathize—then it is relevant. But when that enjoyment becomes separated from the realities we live in, it can lose its more general significance. The key question becomes whether we are using our intellectual pursuits to engage with, or at least better understand, the world around us. If the answer is yes, then relevance and enjoyment can coexist; if not, intellectual enjoyment may risk becoming disconnected from meaning. What do you think?
Fascinating. So there may have been great philosophers before Ancient Greece, but we have no record of it until Greek was invented and used to record those thoughts for humanity. And there may have been brilliant rhetoricians before Ancient Rome, but we have no record of it until Latin was invented and used to record those speeches for humanity.
Exactly! A fascinating observation! Greek and Latin did not invent philosophy or rhetoric, yet gave them permanence. Earlier civilizations likely had profound traditions, but without written records, they faded with time. Greek captured the precision of thought, and Latin preserved the art of persuasion, converting brief oral wisdom into lasting legacies. These languages became humanity’s tools to immortalize its intellectual achievements.