Wade Fransson, a former Christian minister with experience across Europe, South Africa, and the U.S., observed Jewish Sabbaths from a Christian perspective, gaining insights into progressive revelation. Visiting the Baha’i World Center in 1981, he embraced the Baha’i Faith in 2007 with his wife Angela, later founding a publishing company and engaging in Baha’i community initiatives, including The Royal Falcon Foundation and the Created in the Image of God podcast.
The Unseen Architect: How Habit Forges Moral Virtue The path to a morally upright life, often perceived as a grand intellectual quest or a divine calling, is in fact paved by the quiet, persistent rhythm of our daily actions. Our moral character, whether we realize it or not, is not...
The Indispensable Foundation: Education and the Citizenry The health and longevity of any political body are inextricably linked to the quality of its individual members. This article contends that the deliberate and comprehensive education of the citizenry is not merely an admirable societal goal but an absolute necessity for the...
The Architect of Character: Unpacking the Role of Habit in Moral Education In the grand tapestry of human existence, what truly shapes our character? Is it innate disposition, divine decree, or the fleeting whims of circumstance? While all play a part, the philosophers of the Great Books of the Western...
The Role of Education in Liberty: A Foundation from the Great Books The pursuit of liberty, that perennial human yearning for self-determination and freedom from arbitrary power, is inextricably linked to the cultivation of the mind through education. True liberty is not merely the absence of chains, but the capacity...
The Enduring Role of Memory in the Pursuit of Learning Summary: Memory is not merely a passive repository of facts but an active, indispensable faculty underpinning all learning, knowledge acquisition, and intellectual development. From ancient philosophical insights into recollection and experience to modern educational practices, its dynamic role is continually...
The Role of Habit in Virtue: Cultivating Character Through Deliberate Practice Summary: In the pursuit of a flourishing life, the ancient philosophers, particularly Aristotle, underscored the profound role of habit in shaping character. Virtue, far from being an innate trait or a mere intellectual understanding, is primarily a disposition forged...
The Indispensable Foundation: Why Education is the Lifeblood of Democracy Summary: For a democracy to truly flourish and sustain itself, education is not merely beneficial; it is an absolute necessity. Without an informed, critically thinking citizenry, the principles of self-governance, individual liberty, and collective decision-making become vulnerable to manipulation, demagoguery,...
The Cultivation of the Soul: An Aristocratic Perspective on Education The aristocratic view of education, often misunderstood in our modern egalitarian age, posits that true learning is not merely the acquisition of skills or vocational training, but a profound process of cultivating the individual soul for leadership, virtue, and the...
The Indispensable Link: Why Democracy Thrives on Education Summary: The robust connection between democracy and education is not merely incidental but profoundly symbiotic. A functional democracy relies on an informed, critically thinking citizenry, and it is through comprehensive education that individuals acquire the knowledge, skills, and civic virtues necessary to...
The Enduring Connection Between Habit and Virtue: Cultivating a Life of Excellence Habit is not merely a rote action; it is the very loom upon which the fabric of our character is woven. This article explores the profound and often overlooked connection between our daily habits and the development of...
In an increasingly complex world, the bedrock of any flourishing society remains its citizens' commitment to their collective well-being. This commitment, often termed duty, is not an innate given but a cultivated virtue, meticulously instilled through the transformative power of education. This article explores how education, from the classical...
The Unseen Architecture of Tomorrow: Education as the Catalyst for Progress Summary: Education is not merely the transmission of facts, but the cultivation of intellect, character, and civic virtue, serving as the indispensable engine of true societal progress. Drawing upon the insights from the Great Books of the Western World,...
The Indispensable Role of Memory in Learning and the Quest for Knowledge Memory is not merely a passive storage unit for past events; it is the active, dynamic faculty underpinning all learning, shaping our understanding, and enabling the very pursuit of knowledge. Without memory, education as we know it would...
The Cultivation of Excellence: An Aristocratic Perspective on Education The aristocratic view of education is a profound and often misunderstood philosophy, distinct from modern democratic ideals. It posits that education is not merely the dissemination of knowledge for all, but rather the rigorous cultivation of virtue, character, and leadership qualities...
The Indispensable Path: The Necessity of Education for Knowledge Summary The pursuit of knowledge is a fundamental human endeavor, but it is not a passive process. This article argues that education is not merely beneficial or supplementary to acquiring knowledge; it is, in fact, a necessity. Through structured learning, critical...
The Cradle of Character: The Role of Family in the Education of Habit The family unit, often considered the bedrock of society, plays an indispensable role in the foundational education of habit. Before formal schooling begins, and continuing alongside it, the family serves as the primary incubator for the development...
The Indispensable Bridge: Education's Path to Wisdom Education is often mistakenly equated with wisdom, yet the two, while intimately linked, represent distinct stages in the journey of human understanding. While education primarily serves to impart knowledge—the facts, information, and skills necessary to navigate the world—it is...
The Enduring Crucible: The Role of Family in Civic Education The cultivation of the citizen is a perennial task, one that underpins the very stability and flourishing of any polis. While formal institutions of education certainly play a vital role, this pillar page argues for the foundational and often overlooked...
Our moral character, far from being predetermined, is profoundly shaped by the habits we cultivate. Drawing from the wisdom of the Great Books of the Western World, particularly Aristotle, this article explores how repeated actions transform into virtues or vices, influencing our capacity for a good life. We examine the...
The Unbreakable Thread: Education as the Engine of Human Progress The grand tapestry of human civilization is woven with countless threads, but perhaps none is as strong or as central as the unbreakable connection between Education and Progress. From the earliest philosophical inquiries to our complex modern societies, the belief...
The Journey from Knowledge to Wisdom: Education's Indispensable Role The pursuit of a meaningful life often leads us to ponder the nature of wisdom. Is it an inherent gift, a sudden revelation, or something meticulously cultivated? At planksip, we believe that Education is not merely the accumulation of...
The Unseen Architect: How Habit Shapes Moral Virtue Summary: The path to moral virtue is not paved with innate goodness alone, but meticulously constructed through the consistent practice of habit. Drawing deeply from the wisdom of the Great Books, particularly Aristotle, we understand that our moral character—whether virtuous or...
The Education of the Citizenry: Cultivating the Pillars of the State The very bedrock of any flourishing state rests not on its armies or its wealth, but on the intellectual and moral fiber of its citizenry. This supporting article argues that education is not merely an individual pursuit but a...
Cultivating Character: The Indispensable Role of Habit in Moral Education Summary: The journey of moral development is less a sudden leap of understanding and more a gradual, deliberate cultivation of character through consistent action. This pillar page explores how habit, often underestimated in its profound influence, forms the very bedrock...
The Indispensable Link: Unpacking the Role of Education in Liberty The pursuit of liberty, that enduring aspiration for self-determination and freedom from undue constraint, is inextricably linked to the cultivation of the mind. Far from being a mere accessory, education plays a fundamental role in both the acquisition and preservation...
The Indispensable Archive: Unpacking the Role of Memory in Learning Memory, far from being a mere repository of past events, stands as the cornerstone of all learning. It is the active faculty that not only stores information but fundamentally shapes our capacity for understanding, problem-solving, and constructing a coherent worldview....
The Unseen Architect: How Habit Shapes Our Virtues (and Vices) Summary: Our character, far from being a fixed trait, is a dynamic tapestry woven daily through our actions. This article explores the profound role of habit in the cultivation of virtue – and conversely, vice – drawing primarily from the timeless wisdom...
The Indispensable Foundation: Education as the Necessity for Democracy Democracy, often lauded as the most equitable form of governance, is far from a natural or inevitable state. Its existence and flourishing are contingent upon a critical, often overlooked, element: the widespread and robust education of its citizenry. This article posits...
The Cultivation of Excellence: Understanding the Aristocratic View of Education The aristocratic view of education, often misunderstood in contemporary discourse, posits that true learning is not merely the acquisition of skills or information for vocational ends, but a profound process of character formation aimed at cultivating the highest human virtues...
The Enduring Connection Between Habit and Virtue The intricate dance between our repeated actions and the very fabric of our moral character is a philosophical inquiry as old as civilization itself. This article delves into the profound connection between habit and virtue, exploring how our daily practices incrementally shape us,...
Cultivating Conscience: Education's Indispensable Role in Shaping Duty Summary: The essence of a thriving society lies in the conscious commitment of its members to their responsibilities. This article explores how education serves as the foundational crucible for instilling a profound sense of duty in individuals, transforming them into...
The Enduring Flame: Education as the Catalyst for Progress Summary: Education stands as the indispensable bedrock of human progress, not merely as the transmission of facts, but as the cultivation of critical thinking, moral virtue, and the capacity for innovation. From ancient philosophical inquiries to modern societal advancements, the trajectory...
The Enduring Tapestry: The Role of Memory in Learning and Education Memory is not merely a dusty archive of past events; it is the very loom upon which the tapestry of knowledge is woven. In the grand theatre of education, memory plays an indispensable role, acting as the foundational bedrock...
The Cultivation of Excellence: An Aristocratic Vision of Education The aristocratic view of education, deeply rooted in the philosophical traditions of the Great Books of the Western World, posits that true learning is not merely about acquiring skills or information, but about the holistic formation of character, virtue, and leadership....