Becca Rothfeld

3 weeks ago | estadao.com.br | Becca Rothfeld

No poema Sócrates e Alcibíades, o escritor romântico alemão Friedrich Hölderlin pergunta por que o renomado filósofo ateniense se apaixonou não por um gênio como ele, mas por um jovem belo. Embora fosse famoso por sua aparência, Alcibíades era notoriamente tolo e imprudente. Será que Sócrates não deveria ter superado tais tentações? Não deveria ter preferido a sagacidade ao charme? Bem ao contrário, Hölderlin conclui: “Os sábios, no fim, muitas vezes se curvam ao que é belo”.

3 weeks ago | infobae.com | Becca Rothfeld

En el poema “Sócrates y Alcibíades”, el escritor romántico alemán Friedrich Hölderlin se pregunta por qué el célebre filósofo ateniense se enamoró no de un genio semejante, sino de un joven apuesto. Aunque era famoso por su atractivo físico, Alcibíades era notoriamente impulsivo e inmaduro. ¿No debería Sócrates, de entre todas las personas, estar por encima de tales tentaciones? ¿No debería preferir la sabiduría al encanto?

4 weeks ago | washingtonpost.com | Becca Rothfeld

This philosopher believed that beauty could save democracy (washingtonpost.com) This philosopher believed that beauty could save democracy By Becca Rothfeld 2025052913003800 In the poem "Socrates and Alcibiades," the German Romantic writer Friedrich Hölderlin asks why the famed Athenian philosopher fell in love not with a fellow genius, but with a handsome youth. Although he was renowned for his looks, Alcibiades was notoriously rash and silly.

1 month ago | washingtonpost.com | Becca Rothfeld

Rivers deserve to be protected. But are they ‘alive’? (washingtonpost.com) Rivers deserve to be protected. But are they ‘alive’? By Becca Rothfeld 2025052313150000 If a river could speak, what would it say? Would it beg for respite from climate change and pollution, or demand reparations for centuries of damming and other devastating human interventions? Would it scold us for restricting its cycles of flooding and thereby endangering the habitats it sustains?

1 month ago | washingtonpost.com | Becca Rothfeld

Many women ‘just don’t want to’ have kids. These books don’t blame them. (washingtonpost.com) Many women ‘just don’t want to’ have kids. These books don’t blame them. By Becca Rothfeld 2025051612000000 When the writer Shirley Jackson went to the hospital to give birth to her youngest son in 1951, a clerk at the front desk asked for her personal information. "Age?" the clerk chirped. "Sex? Occupation?" "Writer," Jackson replied. "Housewife," the clerk countered.