Identity Theory: A Literary Magazine - Fiction, Interviews, Essays, Poetry

The Varieties of Religious Experience, by William James (Excerpt)

Classics / By Identity Theory Staff / 2 minutes of reading

Inner happiness and serviceability do not always agree. What immediately feels most "good" is not always most "true," when measured by the verdict of the rest of experience. The difference between Philip drunk and Philip sober is the classic instance in corroboration. If merely "feeling good" could decide, drunkenness would be the supremely valid human …

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On the Origin of Species (excerpt)

Classics / By Identity Theory Staff / 6 minutes of reading

by Charles Darwin In considering the Origin of Species, it is quite conceivable that a naturalist, reflecting on the mutual affinities of organic beings, on their embryological relations, their geographical distribution, geological succession, and other such facts, might come to the conclusion that each species had not been independently created, but had descended, like varieties, …

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New Wave Knitters

Essays / By Deirdre Faughey / 5 minutes of reading

Until recently, knitting only sparked my interest once before. I was six years old, stuffed on whole milk and liverwurst sandwiches, and waiting on my grandmother's couch for my mother to come pick me up. The room was shadowed with nightfall, blue with television (the evening news), and oppressively boring — the violent clicking of …

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The Dhammapada, by Buddha

Classics / By Identity Theory Staff / 1 minute of reading

A Collection of Verses Being One of the Canonical Books of the Buddhists Translated from Pali by F. Max Muller From: The Sacred Books of the East Translated by Various Oriental Scholars Edited by F. Max Muller Volume X Part I Chapter 1: The Twin Verses Chapter 2: On Earnestness Chapter 3: Thought Chapter 4: …

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Poetics, by Aristotle

Classics / By Identity Theory Staff / 1 minute of reading

by Aristotle, 350 B.C. I. 'Imitation' the common principle of the Arts of Poetry. II. The Objects of Imitation. III. The Manner of Imitation. IV. The Origin and Development of Poetry. V. Definition of the Ludicrous, and a brief sketch of the rise of Comedy. VI. Definition of Tragedy. VII. The Plot must be a …

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Marching Towards Nelson

Essays, Social Justice / By James Whyle / 18 minutes of reading

When I was running away from the army in Swaziland I came across Nelson Mandela's book, No Easy Walk to Freedom. It was a time when I had difficulty with any literature except pornography and Doris Lessing. All the devils of the military were on my tail and it was hard to concentrate. But I …

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In the Army Now: The Greg Drobny Saga

Other Truths / By Identity Theory Staff / 38 minutes of reading

One man's account of joining the Armed Forces to defend the American way of life.

Driving Home From Mother’s House: A Poem

Poetry / By Esther Altshul Helfgott / 1 minute of reading

As I drove through the bower
of old oak trees
scanning 68th and 20th avenues northeast
I was scared by the moon.

Christopher Hitchens on Letters to a Young Contrarian

Author Interviews / By Robert Birnbaum / 20 minutes of reading

"I personally believe that there is a clash of civilizations. I don't see why people are so reluctant to adopt this view. I think it's because they wish there were not… since there is one, let it be well-conducted on our side."

The Paralyzed Apocalypse: A Poem

Poetry / By Janet Buck / 1 minute of reading

Our posit on a curled hook, hanging straight like slaughtered beef in lockers of our chosen chill. Our sins and organs all contained. The cows had no choice. And I lament our still lives on their way to death. We shut down music in the mid-stream of a song. (Unwind, is all) we often say. …

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