Welcome! 어서 오십시오! Bienvenue! 歡迎!
What is Pietas?
Pietas was one of ancient Roman virtues and is usually translated as “duty” or “devotion,” according to Wikipedia. This word also reminds me of Pietà by Michelangelo, the marvelous statue in Saint Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City.
I have created this blog to serve as a general-purpose journal to help my own introspective needs. As such, you can expect my entries to reflect my personal interests. They include: architecture, economics, education, epistemology, history, new york city, performing arts, politics, religion, science and technology.
Who is Matthew?
I live with Susan, my wife of 10 years, and two young children in the borough of Manhattan of New York City. I have been working as a “sell-side” equity research analyst in the Wall Street, analyzing a variety of financial services companies.
I am a naturalized citizen of the USA but was born and raised in Seoul, Korea [서울特別市, 大韓民國]. In 1983, I left home and came to Connecticut to attend a boarding school. After my undergraduate and graduate studies in economics, I moved to New York City in 1993. My parents and my sister (and her family) continue to reside in Korea.
I am grateful to many family members, friends, teachers and others for their instructions and inspirations. Of course, any shortcomings in understanding their thoughts and actions are solely mine. I have listed a few books which have had greatest impact on my thoughts and my way of thinking. I hope that this list will illuminate my underlying perspectives and biases which are prevalent but often unstated in my observations and comments.
- Thomas S. Kuhn, The Structure of Scientific Revolution
- Robert L. Heilbroner, The Worldly Philosophers: The Lives, Times and Ideas of the Great Economic Thinkers
- Gary S. Becker, The Economic Approach to Human Behavior
- Henri J. M. Nouwen, The Return of the Prodigal Son
- Bible, the English Standard Version [ESV]
Below is a photo of my family, taken in October 2007 during the Korean Day Parade in New York City. Welcome again to my blog and thanks for your interest!
