Medieval Italian Towers: A Legacy of Factional Feuds and Urban Planning

2025-03-25

Remnants of medieval towers dot the Italian landscape, testaments to a tumultuous past. Initially built by wealthy families as mini-fortresses and status symbols, these structures sometimes led to devastating tactics like burning down rivals' homes. Florence, grappling with the ensuing chaos and fire hazards, implemented height restrictions, leaving behind distinctive stone stubs as a legacy. These truncated towers, now a unique part of the cityscape, whisper tales of medieval family feuds and urban evolution.

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Stoicism's Rise in Silicon Valley: A Double-Edged Sword

2025-03-14

This article explores the recent popularity of Stoicism among Silicon Valley's tech elite. The author highlights Stoicism's ethical focus on self-mastery and detachment as a means of coping with life's hardships. Its metaphysics posits a unified universe where individual mortality is absorbed into the cosmic whole. While sharing similarities with Buddhism in emphasizing inner values, the philosophy can also be used to justify inequality and social apathy. The author argues that Stoicism offers valuable stress management, but shouldn't replace the pursuit of social change.

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