The Past Is Our Future: What Makes for an Everlasting Idea? - The 92nd Street Y, New York

Your Cart

On Demand

92NY Humanities Audio Collection

Our Life and Times

The Past Is Our Future: What Makes for an Everlasting Idea?

Oct 16, 2000


Writer and biographer James Atlas moderates a panel discussion about the concept of an “everlasting idea.” Atlas’ biography of Saul Bellow, Bellow: A Biography, was released earlier in 2000. Panelists include Elizabeth Hardwick, an author, literary critic, and biographer of Herman Melville; Peter Gay, a historian and biographer of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart; and Sherwin Nuland, a surgeon, professor, and biographer of Leonardo Da Vinci. This event is part of the lecture series, Our Life and Times. Each panelist gives brief remarks followed by a moderated discussion. Gay comments on the duality of human nature, acknowledging that all great ideas and people don’t stand alone. Hardwick focuses on the theme of the series, “Our Life and Times,” and provides a journalistic commentary on the state of the modern world. Nuland comments on the idea of the genius and argues that an “everlasting idea does not have to be known in its time.” The discussion includes questions from the audience.

The Preservation of and Increased Access to the 92nd Street Y Humanities Audio Archives is generously funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom.


Did you know that donations cover nearly half of our costs?

As a nonprofit community and cultural center, The 92nd Street Y, New York relies on support from people like you. Your donation today helps us continue connecting you to the programs you love, no matter where in the world you are.

© 2024 The Young Men’s and Young Women’s Hebrew Association

All Rights Reserved.

All material accessed via the 92NY website (“content”) is protected by copyright under U.S. Copyright laws and is the property of The Young Men’s and Young Women’s Hebrew Association or the party credited as the provider of the content. You may not copy, reproduce, distribute, publish, display, perform, modify, create derivative works, transmit, or in any way exploit any such content, nor may you distribute any part of this content over any network, including a local area network, sell or offer it for sale, or use such content to construct any kind of database. You may not alter or remove any copyright or other notice from copies of the content accessed via 92NY’s website. Copying or storing any content except as provided above is expressly prohibited without prior written permission of 92NY or the copyright holder identified in the individual content’s copyright notice.

Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this collection do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Please note that all 92Y regularly scheduled in-person programs are suspended.