Especially philosophy. I tried reading a Heidegger book once. Gave up after a chapter. It seemed as if he was trying to make it hard to understand. If you’re doing that, it’s because you don’t have a good idea.
Grad students and newly-minted PhDs are the worst. I think that it's because they are still trying to come to grips with complexity. I used to tell my graduate students that, as cool as they are, nature doesn't give a hoot about differential equations. Jupiter does not do calculations to orbit the sun. Jupiter is incapable of math; it just moves in accordance with a fundamental relationship, gravity. Complexity is generally only necessary when interpolating or extrapolating beyond known data. So I might need some fancy math to predict where Jupiter is going to be in 300 years at 3 in the morning. But tonight, all I have to do is point up in the sky and say, "Right there." Cheers!
"... most learning is imitative.. That is a very important point to keep in mind as a parent, teacher, or friend. People learn through what you are as well as what you say.
Another great article, Glenn. Judge Merritt sounds like a fascinating mentor. In Navy flight training we were taught these three things religiously: "Aviate, Navigate, Communicate," in that order. When taking off is optional but landing is mandatory, flying is, as you say, excellent for life lessons. Keep up the great work here and at Instapundit (and best regards to Helen).
There's a good book titled 'Fly the Airplane,' written by a couple who are both flight instructors. The book shows how the principle applies to life in general as well as in aviation.
I'm sorry for your loss. Apart from his legal career, he had a large impact on the blogosphere and the larger world by teaching brevity and clarity, helping to create Instapundit
Attorney here, practicing law in a legal backwater from a windowless office. So take what I say for what it's worth (which would be calculated at a lower hourly rate than most of my colleagues). Regarding using quotes versus the dilution of the paraphrase: In my brief writing, I nearly always choose a quote over a paraphrase. Here I thought it was because I was too lazy to craft a paraphrase.
This is a good article to give more insight into the good side of the legal profession than we usually see; in particular the reference to practicing law, teaching the practice of law, and the difference with academic medicine. The former are based on real life, the latter, it seems, can create theories which may have little application to real life. In any case, it's a different world from medicine.
dang. i've enjoyed your work since before 9/11. not sure i've ever enjoyed a single piece this much. requiescat in pace, Gilbert.
Thanks very much!
What an excellent memorial. It makes me wish I had known him in some capacity.
It's the same with physics. If you can't explain it to a non scientist in 15 minutes, without math,, you don’t really understand it yourself.
Especially philosophy. I tried reading a Heidegger book once. Gave up after a chapter. It seemed as if he was trying to make it hard to understand. If you’re doing that, it’s because you don’t have a good idea.
Or finance and banking. If you can’t explain the financial instrument on a single page with a crayon to a nine year old, don’t buy it.
Grad students and newly-minted PhDs are the worst. I think that it's because they are still trying to come to grips with complexity. I used to tell my graduate students that, as cool as they are, nature doesn't give a hoot about differential equations. Jupiter does not do calculations to orbit the sun. Jupiter is incapable of math; it just moves in accordance with a fundamental relationship, gravity. Complexity is generally only necessary when interpolating or extrapolating beyond known data. So I might need some fancy math to predict where Jupiter is going to be in 300 years at 3 in the morning. But tonight, all I have to do is point up in the sky and say, "Right there." Cheers!
"... most learning is imitative.. That is a very important point to keep in mind as a parent, teacher, or friend. People learn through what you are as well as what you say.
Another great article, Glenn. Judge Merritt sounds like a fascinating mentor. In Navy flight training we were taught these three things religiously: "Aviate, Navigate, Communicate," in that order. When taking off is optional but landing is mandatory, flying is, as you say, excellent for life lessons. Keep up the great work here and at Instapundit (and best regards to Helen).
-- D. Bosch, EdD, CAPT USN (Ret)
There's a good book titled 'Fly the Airplane,' written by a couple who are both flight instructors. The book shows how the principle applies to life in general as well as in aviation.
https://www.amazon.com/Fly-Airplane-Meredith-Tcherniavsky-Holladay/dp/0615736491/ref=sr_1_1?crid=39F0VIDY75VG5&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.pYZQyEeJ0esO6fjBuon81Q.4cOpV1AwA57mqlKE3g9pfu-DI4nkV3fJzvp2THxeOIM&dib_tag=se&keywords=%22fly+the+airplane%22+meredith&qid=1720579807&s=books&sprefix=fly+the+airplane+meredith%2Cstripbooks%2C62&sr=1-1
I'm sorry for your loss. Apart from his legal career, he had a large impact on the blogosphere and the larger world by teaching brevity and clarity, helping to create Instapundit
Attorney here, practicing law in a legal backwater from a windowless office. So take what I say for what it's worth (which would be calculated at a lower hourly rate than most of my colleagues). Regarding using quotes versus the dilution of the paraphrase: In my brief writing, I nearly always choose a quote over a paraphrase. Here I thought it was because I was too lazy to craft a paraphrase.
All that other stuff aside he flew a King Air. Enough said.
Perfesser- Nice piece. Ihough I am suspicious of anyone who is a Rawls fan. Have you read Nozick's response?
This is a good article to give more insight into the good side of the legal profession than we usually see; in particular the reference to practicing law, teaching the practice of law, and the difference with academic medicine. The former are based on real life, the latter, it seems, can create theories which may have little application to real life. In any case, it's a different world from medicine.