• From the Cave to the Moon
Small Steps and Giant Leaps

by Robert Tracinski

Excerpt:
"The meaning of the moon landing is primarily what it says about man himself—about the scope of the achievement that is possible to us and the qualities that make it possible. That’s why ‘From the Earth to the Moon’ is best paired with another video (and book) that looks at this issue from what is, literally, a more primitive perspective.

“The Journey of Man (2003)—available as both a book and a film—tells the story of how primitive man first left Africa to populate the earth, starting 50,000 years ago. ‘From the Earth to the Moon’ captures the story of how modern man conquered the moon. The Journey of Man is the story of how early man conquered the earth.”

• What Went Right?
Part 5: The Summit and the Foundation

by Robert Tracinski

Excerpt:
"This history suggests a progression that is natural and should not be surprising: that new ideas arose first from achievements in the special sciences—physics, mathematics, history, medicine, biology, and politics. These achievements were paralleled by advances in literature and art, which expressed, often in implicit, non-verbal form, the new conception of human life that was suggested by advances in other disciplines. Then at the end of this process, a great philosopher was able to explain what made all of those previous achievements possible, to identify their implicit method, and to draw, in explicit terms, the widest implications for our conception of human life and potential.

“This should be no surprise, because it represents a natural inductive process. Thinkers have to arrive at preliminary conclusions about the world on a narrower, more concrete level, before systematic philosophers can then draw wider and deeper conclusions on that basis.”

• Transforming a Concept

by Tom Minchin

Excerpt:
"The process of varying a concept is at once similar to and different from forming a new one, both in method and motive.

“Consider five well-known concepts—optimism, transmission, conversation, capitalism, and selfishness. Each received the attentions of a genius. As a result, each dramatically changed its meaning. There are no prizes for guessing who gave a new meaning to capitalism and selfishness; Isaac Newton is the one who forever changed the meaning of transmission; Philip Sidney, a Renaissance poet, soldier, and diplomat did the same for conversation; and Ayn Rand had a little known hand in giving a new sense to optimism.

“How is it possible for an innovator to transform the meaning of a concept and thus of a word? What are the benefits of doing so? And what does it imply about the nature of a concept?"

Preview: June 2010

• Going Galt
The Left, the Right, and the Ayn Rand Factor
• The Birth of Reason
• What Went Right?
Part 6: The War Between the Implicit and the Explicit