Articles of Note

The bad boy of French literature. The real Cyrano de Bergerac dueled, drank, and chased women. When he was 36, the Jesuits reputedly arranged for him to have an accident... more »


New Books

What the American West really means. A “limitless frontier,” a “safety valve” for the nation? Greg Grandin unpacks our euphemisms... more »


Essays & Opinions

Richard Rorty took a therapeutic approach to philosophy. Indeed, he wanted to transform it into therapy. We're still dealing with the political implications... more »