Yiftach Ofek

Looking for a path out of modernity | Obsessed with 20th century | My wife approves of my politics but only some of my jokes | Teaches @ShalemCollege

[Yiftach Ofek @yo101]

My contribution to the political ideologies debate, inspired by recent posts by @TheWorthyHouse and NS Lyons.

With special attention to Philip Rieff, I claim:
1. Western political thought was always concerned with the relationship between individual and communal well-being.

[Yiftach Ofek @yo101]

Vico, “The New Science”

1. Myth and “rational thought” are not opposites but are to be found on a continuum;

2. The human sciences are vastly morally superior to the natural sciences (yes, duh, but I like his argument best);

3. “Relativism” is far more noble and complex than its detractors suggest.

[▼ Kiel James Patrick @KJP]

What book or books changed the way you think?

Not just a “great read” but I mean a book that actually rewired your assumptions, habits, decisions, or worldview for the better.

What was it and what are 3 takeaways that stuck with you?

[Yiftach Ofek @yo101]

This is good.

[Yiftach Ofek @yo101]

@SWGoldman Probably the latter. But this may be my own subjective opinion. Having spent a good part of a decade there (MA 2011; PhD 2021), I also felt that the change was much more sudden. There was no “long march,” the transformation just “happened.”

[Yiftach Ofek @yo101]

That’s sort of what Walter Benjamin says in Critique of Violence. He says that for both the Jews and the Greeks, the concept of law is inextricably tied to an act of violence. The Jewish example he uses is the Korach episode. (I don’t remember the Greek mythology story he refers to.)

[Yiftach Ofek @yo101]

@ariel_haivri @HAHazony Now that’s an interesting mix.

[Yiftach Ofek @yo101]

@PhilipDBunn

[Jonathan Fine @jonathanbfine]

@chrisokane_nyc everyone knows you actually don’t need to read anything by the frankfurt school to have opinions about the frankfurt school

[Athenian Stranger @Athens_Stranger]

Plutarch’s Lives emphasizes the failure of the Greek polis — how the Greeks *lost* their greatness and freedom

Broadly, we can say Plutarch emphasizes the two options available after the failure of the Greek polis:

1.) Alexander, or

2.) Caesar

THAT is why both are invaluable

[Yiftach Ofek @yo101]

@bradleybirzer Fun fact: the character Rubashov was named after Zalman Rubashow (Shazar), later 3rd President of Israel

[Yiftach Ofek @yo101]

@malmesburyman @MoviePrograms I reread him a few months ago to see for myself. It’s fine writing, but feels a little juvenile at this point.

[Yiftach Ofek @yo101]

@malmesburyman Philip Roth’s American Pastoral is actually a very interesting examination of American postwar life, especially of the 60s, literally and figuratively.

[Yiftach Ofek @yo101]

Looks awesome

[Ryan Haecker @RyanHaecker]

A new romantic comedy by Wes Anderson

[Yiftach Ofek @yo101]

@NPinkoski “The great men in history are those whose own particular aims contain the substantial will that is the will of the World Spirit.” - Hegel, Introduction to The Philosophy of History

[Yiftach Ofek @yo101]

@zenahitz Why the Sioux? 🤔

[Yiftach Ofek @yo101]

Rousseau is not just the “totalitarian” of the Social Contract, but also the father of numerous classical American tropes: the self-sufficient individual (from Natty Bumppo to Thoreau and Huck Finn); Nature vs. Civilization (all these heroes as well as the Cowboy); and the small pastoral community (this is one place where his influence on Tocqueville, e.g., is undeniable). A true American Conservatism will thus encounter Rousseau not only as foe (e.g. Nisbet) but also as intellectual forebear.

[Michael Millerman @millerman]

Rousseau is another thinker worth recovering "on the right" despite his reputation. I know many disagree.

[Philip Bunn @PhilipDBunn]

@dnduplessie I call them the “boring books I pretend to have read,” personally.

[Yiftach Ofek @yo101]

@DanJTPitt @BitebackPub Looking forward!

[Yiftach Ofek @yo101]

Feeling unrested may be sleep apnea but could also be related to jaw alignment and mouth breathing. As a first step, I would recommend trying mouth tape, and if you would like to pursue this direction further, perhaps seeing a good Cranial Sacral person. In addition, I have been practicing TM for years. It really helps with regulating the transitions between night and day. Hope that helps!