Articles for author: The Initiative

The Initiative

The Last Battle: C. S. Lewis’ Paradiso

Bennett Bauer In 1956, C. S. Lewis published The Last Battle—his final entry of the Narnia series. The “Narniad,” written out of chronological order, is comprised of seven books, each with its own tone and occasionally even style. Despite their critical and popular success, the novels that make up the Narnia series remain somewhat disconnected from ...

The Initiative

Split in Two: Intelligence Like Us

David Ortiz Artificial Intelligence (AI) stands at the forefront of contemporary advancements in technology, reshaping the landscape of various industries and the lives of individuals around the globe. As AI implementation permeates our society, we are compelled to answer essential questions some refuse to ask. It is pivotal for the future of our country to ...

The Initiative

Do Fatherless Childhoods Influence Philosophy?

Seth Bauer Modern philosophy tends to view human beings as either entirely free or completely determined by natural causes. Perhaps the truth is somewhere in between. When it comes to a person’s ideas, it is likely that they are, to some extent, determined by environmental forces, most notably those surrounding their childhood. Based on the ...

The Initiative

Faith Under Fire

Malena Bendik The repeal of religious vaccination exemptions in New York State has ignited a heated and contentious debate. The longstanding religious exemption afforded  individuals the constitutional right to practice their faith without interference in vaccination requirements. This significant bill disrupted a practice upheld since 1963 and has given rise to profound concerns regarding individual freedoms, ...

The Initiative

William Shakespeare’s Critique of Modern Society

Bennett Bauer The expression “all that glitters is not gold” is so commonplace that it has become almost entirely disjointed from its source: William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice. Analyses of the play ignore or inadequately address the significant role the phrase performs, especially in relation to Shakespeare’s observations on law and politics. This paper will show ...

The Initiative

Aquinas, America, and the Order of Preachers

Anonymous The further our nation drifts from traditional standards of morality, the stronger the impulse among faithful Christians for extreme measures. For some, this might include abandoning the American constitutional order in exchange for a benevolent dictatorship with sufficient power to save us from impending doom. According to intellectuals with similar sentiments, the principles of ...

The Initiative

Winter’s Last Waltz

C J McDowell “I come this time each year, yet you’ve seemed to beat me here,” Winter playfully chided. “For May I could not wait, and since you were running late,” said Spring, “I simply decided.” “Then will you dance with me?” asked Winter to Spring, “we need not have a reason. We may meet ...