Request for Suggestions
For The Year in Review 2023
Our year is not a human creation. It is, of course, the length of time that it takes for the Earth, our beautiful blue planet—to complete a circuit around the sun. We humans have correctly observed this fact, but it would be true even if we had not.
The calendar year, however, while of a length that is prescribed by astronomical reality, is a human invention. Many peoples and traditions have identified different end points for the year, a year that they may have slightly less precisely calculated. In 2024, the Chinese New Year will be on February 10, and it is always somewhere in that vicinity. In 2024, Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, will begin at sundown on October 2. And in 2024, as in all recent years, the academic year of most institutions in the northern hemisphere begins somewhere between mid-August and late September. Natural Selections itself was born on July 29, 2021, with Fact Checkers Aren’t Scientists, so that’s another year that I could celebrate here.
Globally, though, we have adopted December 31 as the end of “the year.” And so I will honor the calendar year, and highlight some of what has happened here during 2023.
Next week, on December 26, in my last post of 2023, I will once again publish a year in review, or more accurately, highlights from Natural Selections in the past year. As I asked of you last year, I would love to hear, in the comments here, what you were particularly struck by in Natural Selections in 2023—posts, or particular sections from posts, or larger themes that emerge time and again. Any and all of the above. As always, paying subscribers can comment. I encourage you to do so, and offer up your thoughts as to what I should highlight in next week’s Highlights. Thank you!
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The posts that I enjoyed the most were the ones that took me places. Especially outside in forests, jungles, by a lake, on an ocean. I felt I was outside breathing the fresh air all the while sitting on my couch reading your post. It has inspired me to plan a trip to hike in northern England in the late spring. Thank you for that. Have a wonderful holiday and happy New Year.
The posts I enjoyed the most are:
1. "Dominance, Gender Norms, and Mastery" - Jan 17th.
2. "The Appeal of the Noble Savage Fallacy" - Nov 21st. A favourite fallacy of our Canadian government by which it declares us - Canadians "de souche" - guilty of genocide.
3. "On College Presidents" - Dec 12th