Monthly Archives: January 2025

ROGER SCRUTON: THE PHILOSOPHER ON DOVER BEACH

In his famous essay, “On the Reading of Old Books,” C.S. Lewis said that instead of reading secondary sources on great thinkers, we ought to read the primary sources. Not only are the primary sources more important, but they are usually more lucid, and so easier to read! I’ve experienced the problem firsthand. One book that sought to explain a famous philosopher’s ideas was close to undecipherable. When I read the primary source, it was quite clear.

Mark Dooley’s wonderful book on Roger Scruton does not suffer from the problem Lewis wrote about. Dooley’s book is clear and thrilling to read. Dooley’s style and content is a great tribute to the stylish and insightful Roger Scruton.

Even though I will read dozens of more books this year, this one will be one of my favorite books of 2025.

Whether you are familiar with Roger Scruton or not, this is a biography worth your time. It is not long at 180 pages, but you will want to savor it as there are wonderful insights on every page. No exaggeration there as my own copy has over 160 marginal notes, some the length of the margins.

Dooley’s book is called an “intellectual biography,” as it mainly deals with Scruton’s ideas. Don’t let that deter you as Scruton was a thinker who abhorred ideas staying in the abstract dimension. You will be inspired by Scruton’s clarity and courage in taking unpopular stands. Scruton paid dearly for telling the truth, especially when many were content with their “comfortable falsehoods.”

One of the great books I read last summer (one of my books of the year for 2024) is a biography of Edmund Burke by Jesse Norman. Burke did not appreciate activists who didn’t think very well. Burke also didn’t respect those who had lofty ideas but did not translate them into addressing real-world problems.

It is no surprise then to discover that Burke was a key influence on Scruton.

Roger Scruton: The Philosopher on Dover Beach is truly a great read!

2024/MOORE FAMILY: TOUGH TO SUMMARIZE!

How does one capture a year in a few pictures? How does one capture a year in many pictures? 

How do you capture even a fraction of inner thoughts and emotions of all kinds? 

It is impossible, but to quote G.K. Chesterton, “Anything worth doing is worth doing badly.” Here then is a very potted look at our year:

As mentioned in last year’s newsletter, Doreen lost her beloved father late in 2023. This year came with the death of her mother. We are grateful that Doreen had many sweet visits with both over the last several years.

The birth of our granddaughter was certainly a joyous occasion. She is deeply loved. David and Reese are (not surprisingly) already quite adept at the parenting stuff!

Our youngest son Chris, graduated magna cum laude from Harvard Law School. Not only did he excel academically, but we think he excelled in finding a girlfriend. Yudith (or Yudi as we call her) and Chris first got to know one another during their 1L (=first year) at Harvard. This link has some pictures:

HARVARD LAW GRADUATION | Moore Engaging

While we were in Boston, we received the news (literally while sitting down to dinner in Little Italy) that our dear friend Randy Newman had died. Doreen and Randy were on Campus Crusade for Christ staff together. Randy and I became close when he and his wife moved to Austin. Here is my tribute to Randy:

RANDY NEWMAN: REMEMBERING OUR FRIEND | Moore Engaging

Chris surprised us with a trip to England. David, Reese, and Yudi all pitched in. We went to London, Cambridge (where Yudi was finishing another degree), Oxford, and the Cotswolds. All the places were amazing.

The church in the Cotswolds is where we worshipped. Though there were only about twenty-five of us in attendance, it was one of the most meaningful services we’ve ever attended. After the service, we talked to the rector, and he told us that our friend Randy Newman’s book made a significant impact on him. What an encouragement!

We also had a wonderful time staying in Philadelphia with Yudi’s parents. Though her parents have been all over the world, they had never been to Gettysburg. Both of Yudi’s parents are MDs and were born in Spain. They moved to the U.S. to practice medicine. 

We reunited for a terrific time with some old friends at a wedding.

So much is left out, but I will close with the Christmas gift we received from Yudi: tickets to Handel’s Messiah along with a wonderful picture of her and Chris in Spain.