TOS Weekly - The Inspirational Friendship of James Dean and Eartha Kitt
Plus The Subversive Art of a Classical Education, deriving more joy on Valentine's Day, the role of religion in the scientific revolution, the need for philosophy in pre-American Hawaii, and more.
Welcome to this week’s TOS Weekly!
True friendship—a trade of spiritual values between two people who admire each other’s characters—is one of the most enriching aspects of a full life. A heartwarming example of this is the short-lived but value-packed friendship between James Dean and Eartha Kitt. In her first TOS article, musician Rebecca Day explores this life-affirming relationship and what it demonstrates about the deep love true friends can share.
Another key aspect of a full life is the ability to think clearly. Language is our tool of comprehension, yet more and more people in the West today leave school with little understanding of how to use it properly, stymying their ability to think and communicate. Michael Rose’s new book The Subversive Art of a Classical Education is a line in the sand against this trend, as Tim White expounds in his new review.
I hope you enjoy this week’s articles,
Thomas Walker-Werth
Managing Editor
What’s New?
From the Archive
Deriving More Joy from One of Life’s Richest Sources
In the words of psychologist Edith Packer, “An ideal romantic relationship is a thoroughly unique type of relationship. It is an emotional, intellectual, and sexual union, a total union of two souls who recognized each other as mates and who became committed to each other in order to share their innermost values, hopes, and desires.”
The Role of Religion in the Scientific Revolution
On February 13, 1633, Galileo arrived in Rome to face charges of heresy after promoting the idea that Earth revolves around the sun. Astoundingly, some claim that religion was somehow responsible for many of history’s profound scientific advances. Let’s check this claim. . . .
The Need for Philosophy in the Islands of the Blessed
On this day in 1779, Hawaiian natives murdered Enlightenment explorer Captain James Cook. It’s likely that Cook’s death was a shattering moment in the history of the Hawaiian kapu religion.
This Week’s Birthdays
“The Objective Standard is a desperately needed voice of reason, individualism, and positivity in today’s world.”
—Michael
Copyright © 2026 The Objective Standard. All rights reserved.