Weekly Top Five Articles
Weekly Top Five Articles
Here’s what stood out this week. . .
(1) “A Deeper Order: Charles Taylor’s exploration of Romantic poetry,” by George Scialabba, Commonweal (October 30, 2024)
Scialabba reviews Cosmic Connections, Charles Taylor's latest book, where Taylor examines Romanticism's response to Enlightenment ideals, focusing on the era's poets and their quest for spiritual reconnection in a disenchanted world. Taylor contrasts the Enlightenment’s emphasis on reason, universality, and scientific order with the Romantic movement’s belief in imagination, particularity, and the mysterious interplay between humanity and nature. Romantic poets, Taylor argues, sought a “deeper order,” using art to express the ineffable—an intuition of cosmic truths obscured by modern secularism.
Taylor’s exploration links Romanticism to contemporary ethical and existential questions, stressing that while Romantic poetry doesn’t offer firm truths, it provides profound, if fleeting, glimpses of meaning. From Wordsworth’s celebration of nature’s spirit to Hopkins’s "inscape" of nature’s inner vitality, Taylor views Romantic poetry as a pathway to reawakening human intuitions about purpose and connection. Through poetic insights, he argues, we experience order and transcendence, if not absolute truth—a poetic “spilt religion” that, despite Enlightenment skepticism, still holds moral and existential value.
This monumental work follows Taylor's A Secular Age and Sources of the Self, advancing his challenge to reductionist views by elevating the expressive and constitutive power of language. In Cosmic Connections, Taylor’s dense but insightful prose situates Romanticism as an ongoing cultural force that offers modern readers an alternative to purely rationalist understandings, linking poetry to both a quest for individual meaning and a broader cosmic significance.
Cosmic Connections ultimately reaffirms Taylor’s commitment to a rich, layered view of Western culture, valuing the “epiphanic” experiences Romanticism offers amid our secular era.
(2) AI and the techno-utopian path not taken, by Evgeny Morozov, Le Monde diplomatique (August 2024)
Morozov explores the missed opportunity in AI’s evolution, contrasting its current trajectory with a utopian vision of human enhancement. While the AI race today emphasizes speed and profitability, a few early pioneers imagined a path focused on empowering human intelligence, rather than replacing it. Morozov highlights alternative approaches, such as Salvador Allende’s Project Cybersyn in 1970s Chile, which aimed to harness computing power for worker-led economic management, and Warren Brodey’s “ecological intelligence” model from the Environmental Ecology Lab, which emphasized context and human-environment interaction.
Brodey’s work proposed a cybernetic model where technology fosters self-awareness, eco-consciousness, and personal growth. This philosophy directly counters the dominant AI focus on productivity and efficiency, viewing AI as a tool to help humans develop new skills, rather than merely replace human labor. Morozov contrasts this with Silicon Valley's more consumer-focused technology, which commodifies human behavior to fuel consumption.
Reflecting on the Cold War’s influence on AI and how it became a tool of military and capitalist agendas, Morozov advocates a post-AI socialist technology policy. This approach would support educational and cultural enhancement, focusing on access to technologies that build human autonomy and skill. Morozov’s discussion with Brodey, now in his 100s and living in Norway, underscores the continuing potential of AI to foster human development—if we prioritize technologies that enrich life rather than replace it.
(3) “Intelligent men exhibit stronger commitment and lower hostility in romantic relationships,” by Mane Kara-Yakoubian, PsyPost, October 28, 2024.
A recent study, published in Personality and Individual Differences, finds that men with higher intelligence demonstrate greater commitment and exhibit fewer hostile behaviors in romantic relationships. Conducted by Gavin S. Vance and colleagues, the study highlights how intelligence may contribute to relationship stability through positive behaviors, such as increased relationship investment, and decreased tendencies toward negative actions, like partner-directed insults and coercion.
The researchers recruited 202 men aged 18-65 in long-term heterosexual relationships, assessing general intelligence with tasks focused on problem-solving and reasoning. They found that higher scores on these tasks, particularly letter-number series tasks that measure sequential reasoning, were linked to better impulse control and conflict resolution, which support healthier relationship dynamics.
While intelligence did not affect variables like jealousy or partner-directed violence, it was strongly associated with increased satisfaction and commitment, suggesting that intelligence may foster long-term, stable relationships. Despite some limitations, such as the lack of a controlled testing environment, these findings offer new insights into how cognitive abilities may promote positive relationship behaviors. Future research might explore whether these effects hold for women and across various relationship types, as well as which specific cognitive skills are most beneficial for relationship quality.
(4) New psychology research reveals how one’s own personality predicts long-term relationship satisfaction, by Mane Kara-Yakoubian, PsyPost, October 25, 2024
A new study published in Personality & Individual Differences sheds light on the significant role that individual personality traits play in predicting long-term relationship satisfaction. Conducted over nine years with 486 heterosexual couples in Germany, the research found that an individual's own personality traits are the primary factors influencing their romantic relationship satisfaction, with partner traits having a much smaller impact. The study’s findings support previous research suggesting that personal characteristics, especially Neuroticism and Conscientiousness, strongly influence the dynamics and longevity of romantic partnerships.
The study focused on the "Big Five" personality traits:
Neuroticism – Tendency to experience emotional instability, anxiety, and mood swings.
Extraversion – Sociability, assertiveness, and a preference for social interaction.
Openness to Experience – Inclination toward curiosity, imagination, and willingness to try new things.
Agreeableness – Tendency to be cooperative, compassionate, and empathetic toward others.
Conscientiousness – A trait characterized by organization, dependability, and goal-directed behaviors.
Key findings of the study include:
Neuroticism: Consistently correlated with lower relationship satisfaction, Neuroticism emerged as a strong negative predictor for both men and women. Those with higher levels of this trait, characterized by emotional volatility and anxiety, tended to report lower relationship satisfaction over time. Interestingly, while Neuroticism affected both genders, the effect was more pronounced for women than men.
Conscientiousness: In contrast, Conscientiousness had a positive influence on relationship satisfaction. Individuals high in Conscientiousness, noted for their reliability, organization, and sense of responsibility, were more likely to report sustained relationship satisfaction across the nine years. This effect was consistent for both men and women.
Agreeableness: Despite being commonly linked to relationship satisfaction in shorter-term studies, Agreeableness showed no significant long-term impact on satisfaction in this study. This suggests that while being cooperative and empathetic may positively influence relationship satisfaction initially, it might not be as influential in sustaining satisfaction over a longer period.
Extraversion: Extraversion was unexpectedly linked to lower relationship satisfaction for women but did not show a similar effect for men. The authors speculate that this may reflect shifts in social roles or family dynamics, which could influence relationship satisfaction for more extraverted women.
Openness to Experience: This trait did not show a significant influence on long-term relationship satisfaction for either men or women. This finding may indicate that while a love for novelty and imagination contributes to some aspects of relationship quality, it does not play a primary role in long-term satisfaction.
The study highlights that individual personality traits—especially one’s own levels of Neuroticism and Conscientiousness—have a stronger influence on relationship satisfaction than traits of the partner, underscoring the importance of self-awareness and personal growth in relationship dynamics. The longitudinal nature of this study provides valuable insights into how personality traits impact relationships over time rather than just at a single point.
This research suggests that, when it comes to long-term satisfaction, understanding and managing one's own personality traits may be just as important—if not more so—than considering those of a partner. Future studies might explore whether these findings hold true across different cultural settings and examine how interventions focused on self-regulation or self-improvement could enhance relationship satisfaction.
(5) "The ‘Paternal Body’: Reviewing the Corporeal Impact of New Fatherhood on Employed Men," by Caroline Gatrell, International Journal of Management Reviews, (August 8, 2024)
Gatrell introduces the concept of the “Paternal body” to emphasize the physical and health-related impacts of fatherhood on men, especially those balancing work with caring for infants. Unlike the well-researched area of maternal body experiences in relation to work and childcare, there is limited understanding in management studies regarding how new fatherhood physically affects employed men. The article explores interdisciplinary research in sociology, health, and management, focusing on fathers in market-oriented economies like the U.S. and U.K., where fathers often face pressures to prioritize work over family.
Key Insights from the Study
The concept of the "Paternal body" is developed to highlight the physical toll and experiences of men during their partner’s pregnancy, birth, and infant care (up to age two). Fathers often face work expectations that clash with their increased desire and societal pressure to be engaged parents. Gatrell highlights several main points about the embodied experiences of new fathers:
Health Impacts: New fatherhood can lead to physical symptoms such as sleep deprivation and stress, which are often overlooked in workplace settings. The author suggests that societal expectations push fathers to deny their health needs in favor of appearing “work-oriented,” a concept captured in the coined term “Absent warrior.” This term describes the image of fathers as “manly” breadwinners who remain focused on work despite physical and emotional strain from their parenting roles.
Hormonal and Physiological Changes: Gatrell’s review discusses emerging health research on how paternal bodies are affected hormonally. Fathers who engage closely with infant care may experience reduced testosterone levels, which correlates with increased commitment to family and caregiving. Additionally, oxytocin levels, often associated with maternal bonding, also rise in fathers during close contact with their infants.
The Myth of the ‘Absent Warrior’: The "Absent warrior" archetype pressures fathers to conform to a hegemonic masculine ideal that prioritizes work over family life, fostering the notion that real men do not need time off for parenting. Fathers may feel compelled to maintain high workplace performance, deny physical needs, and work long hours, even if it leads to physical exhaustion.
Challenges and Workplace Policy Gaps: Many workplaces still operate under outdated assumptions that men should prioritize breadwinning, with limited flexibility for paternal needs. Employers often underappreciate fathers' roles in caregiving, overlooking the physical and psychological impacts of parenting. Men requesting family-friendly policies can face stigmatization and even penalization, as their need for flexibility is often seen as a lack of commitment to work.
The ‘Dad Bod’ Phenomenon: Gatrell explores how the combined demands of new fatherhood and work can lead to weight gain and reduced fitness, commonly known as the “Dad bod.” Sleep deprivation, lack of exercise, and the physiological impacts of fatherhood can lead to long-term health risks, such as obesity and diabetes.
Recommendations and Future Research
The article argues for the need to:
Redefine workplace support for fathers: Organizations should develop policies that account for the health needs of new fathers, including flexible schedules and extended paternity leave to support their roles in childcare.
Challenge the ‘Absent Warrior’ myth: Employers and society should recognize and accommodate fathers’ active roles in caregiving, breaking away from traditional masculine ideals.
Encourage further research: Understanding how sleep deprivation and other health impacts affect fathers can help shape policies that better support fathers’ work-life balance.
The proposed "Paternal body" concept aims to fill a gap in management studies, integrating findings from health and social research to emphasize the real physical demands on men as they transition into fatherhood while balancing professional responsibilities.