According to his biographer: Karajan seems to have spent the greater part of his like seeking the one thing he believed would make him completely happy: absolute mastery over his own destiny. Richard Osborne, Herbert von Karajan: A Life in Music, Northeastern University Press, 1998, p. 33 Related: How other great artists became great:Igor Stravinsky […]
How great artists become great: Karajan version Read More »
We’re posting serially at thinkspot the transcripts of my Open College podcasts. Here’s the eleventh: OC11: Is Envy Worse in a Free Society? “Is a free and open society more susceptible to the dangers of envy? It’s an interesting question because most often the envy charge is used against socialism, or any kind of outcome-egalitarian
Is Envy Worse in a Free Society? [Open College transcript] Read More »
Wise words from actress Alyson Hannigan: “I was in a real negative headspace for a long time. I remember the moment I became an optimist. I was walking across campus, and somebody passed me by. In my head, I insulted that person. I stopped myself and thought, ‘Why would I think something negative about a
Who controls your mind? Decision and habit Read More »
Not just one thing explains the new wave of street-populism. Five constituent types, with different levels of understanding and commitment: 1. The mass of protesters: Especially the younger: conditioned by semi- and mis-education, though sometimes with a partial understanding of a real problem. Their moral beliefs stand as unquestionable dogmas of faith in their minds.
A common pattern–on widespread display in our generation: “People who are trying to prevent members of society from speaking the truth will often punish minor criticisms … simply to send the message to the rest of society that no dissent will be tolerated and no attempt to form an opposing group — even one that
SJW suppression psychology — why the viciousness? Read More »
New study, with implications for the hypothesis that political differences are driven by emotional dispositions. Abstract: “Extant political–psychological research has identified stable, context-independent differences between conservatives and liberals in a wide range of preferences and psychological processes. One consistent finding is that conservatives show higher disgust sensitivity than liberals. This finding, however, is predominantly based
Is Disgust a “Conservative” Emotion? Read More »
Most movements consistently exhibit a destructive social psychology. The dynamic is this: a movement’s members begin with a huge amount in common — the same high talent, goals, and passions. But any difference, sometimes minor, sets them against each other ferociously and irreparably. The dynamic crops up in many movements across history — political (e.g.,
Movement splits and hatreds — a music example Read More »
A new episode of my podcast series, produced by Possibly Correct out of Toronto. Audio: iTunes Stitcher YouTube Topics: Are entrepreneurs really a breed apart? // Mindset: artist, mother, entrepreneur // Kids as entrepreneurial // Why entrepreneurs become entrepreneurs // What holds us back? // The entrepreneurial approach to your life. Transcription: Forthcoming Sources: Entrepreneurial
On Being the Entrepreneur of Your Life [Open College series] Read More »