Philosophers struggle with an intellectual/academic/disciplinary version of low self-esteem. A recent victim is Peter Unger, who recently gives an interview-cum-advertisement for his latest book in philosophy, the central thesis of which is that philosophy is at best an enjoyable diversion and at worst an utter waste of time. (We're to assume, I suppose, that the … Continue reading Unger on Philosophy
Author: jb
Dubliners (and Joyce’s early career struggles)
My rereading of Dubliners was as enjoyable as always. That book reminds me of a great band's first album. Not the sort of band whose first album is their only good one, but the sort of band that, even though they go on to produce other great (even great-er) work, you always retain a soft … Continue reading Dubliners (and Joyce’s early career struggles)
Best Opening Section of a Philosophy Essay???
Here's my entry, from David Lewis' "Void and Object": The void is deadly. If you were cast into a void, it would cause you to die in just a few minutes. It would suck the air from your lungs. It would boil your blood. It would drain the warmth from your body. And it would … Continue reading Best Opening Section of a Philosophy Essay???
Joyce’s Earliest Writings
I'm making my way through Richard Ellmann's biography, along with the three volumes of Joyce's letters, and then also stopping to read everything else he wrote along the way. I've read most of these texts (except the letters and the biographies) many times, but re-reading brings new perspectives. The main reason for this re-reading is … Continue reading Joyce’s Earliest Writings
Listening to Beethoven and the Beatles with My Newborn
Obviously having a child brings a lot of change, but one thing that's stayed the same - when I get up on weekends, I still listen to a record or two and enjoy my apartment while my wife gets herself up a little later. With a big difference though: now, while my wife gets some … Continue reading Listening to Beethoven and the Beatles with My Newborn
Reading Homer on the Metra
οἳ δὲ πανημέριοι μολπῇ θεὸν ἱλάσκοντοκαλὸν ἀείδοντες παιήονα κοῦροι Ἀχαιῶν [Iliad I.472-473] "And then all day they pleased the god with dance, the sons of the Achaeans singing a beautiful paean." Last year I spent some time (about 30 minute each morning on the train) making my way through the Iliad in the original Greek. I had some notion I'd read the whole book this way - Nates … Continue reading Reading Homer on the Metra
Pin the Tail on the Racist
Michael Richards... Paula Deen... Cliven Bundy... Donald Sterling... That's obviously a much shorter list than I could have given - to be honest, I've already forgotten about some of the people who belong on it. This is media sport, made much easier to play by the proliferation of recording devices regularly surrounding us. And the structure … Continue reading Pin the Tail on the Racist
Of Ranchers and Dot-Commers
This guy's face is all over cable news right now, as is his embarrassingly incoherent story. For irrelevant reasons, Cliven Bundy has decided that he shouldn't have to pay federal grazing fees for his cattle. He's decided to supplement this essentially selfish and Quixotic cause with an odd theory of sheriff/county rights that suspend any obligations … Continue reading Of Ranchers and Dot-Commers
Liberty and Equality
“Between liberty and equality, there can be but little fraternity.” (Montesquieu, correspondence with Voltaire)* I’d like to follow up on our previous discussion of Libertarianism, as a way of getting clearer on the position I was tentatively putting forward there. Well, it’s still somewhat tentative, but I’ll go for it. Let’s start with some common … Continue reading Liberty and Equality
Vico’s “Discovery of the True Homer”
The project of Vico’s New Science is a confusing and idiosyncratic one, but it is one for which the role of Homer and his true identity Vico takes as central. To better present Vico's arguments, I'll clarify the context in which Vico’s answer to the Homeric Question arises. Understanding its context in The New Science as … Continue reading Vico’s “Discovery of the True Homer”
Original Positions 