Eric Scheske

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The Hemisphere Hypothesis

The Hemisphere Hypothesis

Iain McGilchrist explains how our left hemispheres have gone rogue. The left hemisphere is meant to serve the right hemisphere, but it has usurped its master's position. This usurpation is the essence of modernity. It cripples society and each one of us individually because it disconnects people from full reality: only the right hemisphere connects to the Tao and the full spectrum of reality that it leads to. "[T]he god who got things done bore the name of Moloch." GKC

Tolkien’s Elves Embody McGilchrist’s Ideal Brain

Tolkien’s Elves Embody McGilchrist’s Ideal Brain

I think Tolkien’s perfect proto-McGilchrist form is found in Rivendell and Lorien, the last kingdoms of the elves. The elves, I believe, display the proper relationship between the hemispheres, almost to perfection: the musical and poetic and playful nature of the right hemisphere served by the more mundane functions

An Overview of Each Hemisphere's Vision of Reality

An Overview of Each Hemisphere's Vision of Reality

If you want an overview of each hemisphere’s vision of reality, McGilchrist provides it at the beginning of The Matter with Things: The left hemisphere’s vision of reality: The “world is composed of static, isolated, fragmentary elements that can be manipulated easily, are decontextualized, abstracted, detached, disembodied, mechanical,

The Master and His Emissary: Summary

The Master and His Emissary: Summary

By Jonathan Gaisman at The New Criterion

The Enlightenment Obsessed with Measurement: A Sure Sign of Left-Hemispheric Elephantiasis

The Enlightenment Obsessed with Measurement: A Sure Sign of Left-Hemispheric Elephantiasis

💡"Numbers, which the left hemisphere feels familiar with and is excellent at manipulating . . .". McGilchrist, The Master and His Emissary, p. 430. "We take the measure of the world and ourselves a hundred times a day, with rulers and kitchen thermometers and bathroom scales and, everywhere, clocks. Scientists

Distributism is the Economic Sphere Revolt Against Modernity and Left-Hemispheric Hegemony

Distributism is the Economic Sphere Revolt Against Modernity and Left-Hemispheric Hegemony

Unfortunately, it doesn't work in the modern world without big government, and big government is the celebration of the left hemisphere. Still, it's worth pondering, just as I think it's worth pondering anarchism. Neither will be attained in my lifetime, but I think such

Why It's Rude to Stare

Why It's Rude to Stare

Staring is a special kind of vision, in itself predatory: left hemisphere attention gets locked onto its target. The Matter with Things

On Working without Working. Or St. Terese's Little Way. Or Zen Work.

On Working without Working. Or St. Terese's Little Way. Or Zen Work.

"There is no greater pleasure in ordinary life, so-called, than to see a bus-conductor, a teacher, anybody, really engrossed in his work, with no thought of its relative or absolute value, with no thought of its interest or profit to himself or others." R.H. Blyth, Zen in

Libertarian Biographies

Libertarian Biographies

Brad Birzer reviews a new book about major figures in the libertarian tradition. Needless to say, I now want to buy it, but I'm holding back. I had a drink with one of Birzer's friends a few weeks ago. I think he's probably less

How to Kill the Tao

How to Kill the Tao

The left hemisphere gets things done. The Tao isn’t concerned about getting things done. Let your left hemisphere dominate: you’ll never be bothered by the Tao again.

The Difference Between Rebelling Against the Establishment and Rebelling Against the establishment (small "e")

The Difference Between Rebelling Against the Establishment and Rebelling Against the establishment (small "e")

My Dad was fiercely conservative. A full-blown WASP, albeit of the first-generation sort, his parents having migrated from Russia shortly before 1917. We used to drink beer at a local dive bar and discuss sundry (and sudsy) topics. During one conversation, I told him I was reading On the Road