Small Town, USA

Education

What Is Lost When Literature Is Not Taught in Our Schools?

Dennis M. Clausen Ph.D. on October 28, 2024

Lessons in literature can uplift cultural values in future generations.

Lessons in literature can uplift cultural values in future generations.

Consumer Behavior

Shrinkflation, Downsizing, and the Destruction of Trust

Dennis M. Clausen Ph.D. on September 4, 2024

Personal Perspective: Does the practice of diminishing the size of consumer products, but charging more, eventually erode trust in other areas of human life?

Personal Perspective: Does the practice of diminishing the size of consumer products, but charging more, eventually erode trust in other areas of human life?

Artificial Intelligence

Do We No Longer Own Our Own Possessions?

Dennis M. Clausen Ph.D. on June 29, 2024

A Personal Perspective: Writers, artists, and many others feel their work is being exploited by AI databases without authorization. Is this a form of economic servitude?

A Personal Perspective: Writers, artists, and many others feel their work is being exploited by AI databases without authorization. Is this a form of economic servitude?

Ethics and Morality

Melville, "Moby Dick," and Worldwide Authoritarianism

Dennis M. Clausen Ph.D. on May 26, 2024

Herman Melville's novel "Moby Dick" illustrates the dangers of worldwide authoritarianism. However, Melville was an exceedingly perceptive observer of the the patterns of history.

Herman Melville's novel "Moby Dick" illustrates the dangers of worldwide authoritarianism. However, Melville was an exceedingly perceptive observer of the the patterns of history.

Artificial Intelligence

Is the Arc of Dysfunctionalism Accelerating?

Dennis M. Clausen Ph.D. on March 25, 2024

Personal Perspective: Have you ever felt that changes in your workplace have accelerated to the point where it becomes almost impossible to do your job?

Personal Perspective: Have you ever felt that changes in your workplace have accelerated to the point where it becomes almost impossible to do your job?

Cognitive Dissonance

Is Dysfunctionalism the New Norm in Modern Life?

Dennis M. Clausen Ph.D. on January 10, 2024

A Personal Perspective: Have we been preoccupied with creating new technologies to solve problems that have ironically complicated our lives and made them more dysfunctional?

A Personal Perspective: Have we been preoccupied with creating new technologies to solve problems that have ironically complicated our lives and made them more dysfunctional?

Cognition

Are the Humanities in a War for Survival?

Dennis M. Clausen Ph.D. on October 22, 2023

Is tech reinventing the humanities in its own image?

Is tech reinventing the humanities in its own image?

Wisdom

Are Attacks on Literature Signs of Cultural Decline?

Dennis M. Clausen Ph.D. on August 27, 2023

Personal Perspective: The study of literature has been under attack in schools and libraries. Are these isolated incidents or signs of a deeper crisis of cultural values?

Personal Perspective: The study of literature has been under attack in schools and libraries. Are these isolated incidents or signs of a deeper crisis of cultural values?

Education

The Librarian's Role in Education Is Vital

Dennis M. Clausen Ph.D. on June 20, 2023

A Personal Perspective: Revisiting the role our librarians and libraries play in history.

A Personal Perspective: Revisiting the role our librarians and libraries play in history.

Career

Do Americans Ignore the Patterns of History?

Dennis M. Clausen Ph.D. on March 31, 2023

Should Americans pay more attention to past historical patterns and less to histrionic political rhetoric?

Should Americans pay more attention to past historical patterns and less to histrionic political rhetoric?

Cognition

The Battle of the Bots: Who Wins, Who Loses?

Dennis M. Clausen Ph.D. on February 13, 2023

Is artificial intelligence a threat to student learning?

Is artificial intelligence a threat to student learning?

Relationships

Banned Books Can Enable Us to See Life Through a New Lens

Dennis M. Clausen Ph.D. on November 29, 2022

A Personal Perspective: Are banned books the ones that teach us the most about life and our common humanity?

A Personal Perspective: Are banned books the ones that teach us the most about life and our common humanity?

Cognition

When Political Language Becomes a Lethal Weapon

Dennis M. Clausen Ph.D. on September 11, 2022

Violent political language is the ultimate weapon of mass destruction.

Violent political language is the ultimate weapon of mass destruction.

Cognition

The Puritans Are Back: Did They Ever Leave?

Dennis M. Clausen Ph.D. on June 29, 2022

Is seventeenth-century Puritan culture still shaping our behavioral patterns and beliefs?

Is seventeenth-century Puritan culture still shaping our behavioral patterns and beliefs?

Cognition

Policing Classroom Language Stifles Teaching

Dennis M. Clausen Ph.D. on April 7, 2022

A forbidden list of words limits spontaneity and undermines real learning.

A forbidden list of words limits spontaneity and undermines real learning.

Career

Can a Boy in a Wheelchair Teach Us How to Live?

Dennis M. Clausen Ph.D. on January 16, 2022

A Personal Perspective: Can a boy who was wheelchair dependent for most of his life teach the rest of us how to live more wisely?

A Personal Perspective: Can a boy who was wheelchair dependent for most of his life teach the rest of us how to live more wisely?

Career

The Folly of a Fully Computerized World

Dennis M. Clausen Ph.D. on November 10, 2021

Are workplace demands to learn and relearn new computer software programs making you more stressed out and less productive?

Are workplace demands to learn and relearn new computer software programs making you more stressed out and less productive?

Fantasies

What If an Apocalypse Is Now the New Normal?

Dennis M. Clausen Ph.D. on September 2, 2021

How can we face a future that is under attack from so many powerful natural and manmade challenges to our very existence as a species?

How can we face a future that is under attack from so many powerful natural and manmade challenges to our very existence as a species?

Narcissism

Is Hyper-individualism Undermining the Social Contract?

Dennis M. Clausen Ph.D. on June 22, 2021

Can hyper-individualism metastasize into self-serving narcissism?

Can hyper-individualism metastasize into self-serving narcissism?

Sleep

When a Homeless Man Refuses to Give Up

Dennis M. Clausen Ph.D. on April 13, 2021

Can people who are homeless teach us lessons in courage?

Can people who are homeless teach us lessons in courage?