Wonder and the sublime
Altered states
idea
The small pleasures in life can produce moments of rapture
Rapture is a delight that turns us both towards the object of attention and towards oneself, resulting in a sense of freedom
by Christopher Hamilton
Wonder and the sublime
idea
Bronze Age people looked to the skyscape to navigate their lives
Long before stargazing helped humans navigate the Earth, the skyscape gave Bronze Age people mystery and wonder
by Kata Karáth
Wonder and the sublime
idea
To benefit from wonder, make sure you’ve got the genuine kind
Why the life-long disposition towards wonder – not the momentary experience of awe – is the way to knowledge and discovery
by Lisa Sideris
Love
idea
Why it can be sublime to love someone who doesn’t love you back
Unrequited love might be bitter and painful, but it is also the ultimate expression of your humanity. Don’t fight it
by Alexandra Gustafson
Poetry
idea
The meaning of cowardly dogs and other puzzles of Arabic poetry
In classical Arabic poetry, beauty and wonder lie in the logical unravelling of a metaphor, rather than plot or character
by Lara Harb
Wonder and the sublime
idea
Is the sublime a hopelessly old-fashioned Euro-Romantic ideal?
The sublime is not only for the Romantics, nor just about gender or overcoming nature. It’s in the thrills-and-chills of emotion
by Robert Clewis
Stories and literature
idea
Access to the arts is a human right, for prisoners as for students
Beyond pleasure or instruction, literature opens us up to catharsis and wonder. Access to art in prison is a human right
by Emma Gilby
Learning and education
idea
Why good teachers allow a child’s mind to wander and wonder
The experience of wonder is essential to the task of education – it opens up the world. That’s why teachers should foster it
by Anders Schinkel