In 1703, the world’s most esteemed scientific journal published a surprising letter from an anonymous correspondent. (At the time, until well into the twentieth century, anonymity often meant the scientist writing was a woman, though the word “scientist” itself was more than a century away, to be coined for a woman.) The letter reported an…
“Who is good if he knows not who he is? and who knows what he is, if he forgets that things which have been made are perishable, and that it is not possible for one human being to be with another always?” “Future love does not exist,” Tolstoy wrote in contemplating the paradoxical demands of…
An earlier version of this article appeared May 8, 2024 One of my Twelve Commandments is “Lighten up,” and I have a lot of resolutions aimed at trying to be a more lighthearted parent: less nagging, more laughing. We all want a peaceful, cheerful, even joyous, atmosphere at home—but we can’t nag and yell our…
As I have written in other essays, the Dungeons & Dragons alignment system is surprisingly useful for categorizing people in the real world. This time I will look at chaotic evil. In fantasy games, players often encounter chaotic evil foes—these include classic enemies ranging from the lowly goblin to the terrifyingly powerful demon lord. Chaotic…
