We discussed ideas from an essay which treated the sensation that comes when one is aware of an object in Nature, experienced as overwhelming, awe inspiring. German theologian and philosopher Rudolf Otto in his influential 1917 German book The Idea of the Holy, coined the term Mysterium Tremendum. We are fascinated, attracted and paradoxically…
What to write this morning? There was a dusting of snow last night. In the predawn darkness the spruce trees are painted white. That comforts me. The season of Fall is transitioning to Winter. If the seasons should fail to transition, that indeed, would be terror. Much worse than a deluded President, believing he…
A friend recommended Yellowstone, a Kevin Costner series playing on Amazon Prime. It is about a 5th generation rancher, John Dutton. The Montana rancher is engaged in conflict involving the land and desires of developers, and environmentalists, and native Americans and his own family. The episodes of season one involve the violence which is…
The sky is gray, overcast as if a bowl of depressive disorder had been placed over us by the gods. It seems very quiet outside with little traffic along Western Avenue. Sunday morning is not typically this silent. But these are the days of pandemic, of worsening spread of the coronavirus. I cannot say…
I met with a friend yesterday afternoon. To meet with someone across a table is an extraordinary privilege in these days of the spread of covid-19. Typically exchanges of any kind that are conducted indoors take place on video screens. Extreme caution is justified as the virus often is debilitating and there is always…
There are times when “reality” is just too much. Yesterday I felt as if I had reached such a time. I must turn away from thinking about “the mad king” who tightens his grasp upon power. He wants nothing more than to negate the outcome of the election of several weeks ago. All the…
‘Mr Limbkins, I beg your pardon, sir! Oliver Twist has asked for more!’ – excerpt Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens Last night I participated in a Socrates Cafe discussion. The topic was social media and privacy. How much have we lost? Do humans deserve personal privacy? I felt depressed after an hour or so…
What we need. Those words capture in retrospect my sense of the exchange of ideas experienced a few hours ago when the philosophy discussion group held a virtual meeting to consider (M)existentialism. The launch pad for this discussion was Carlos Alberto Sanchez’ essay about Emilio Uranga’s philosophical work. The texture of the discussion was…
I In my beginning is my end. In succession Houses rise and fall, crumble, are extended, Are removed, destroyed, restored, or in their place Is an open field, or a factory, or a by-pass. Old stone to new building, old timber to new fires, Old fires to ashes, and ashes to the earth Which…
I read the email received from an old friend this morning, expressing sadness over having to cancel plans to visit family in Alaska. The pandemics spread accelerates around us, now we receive word of acquaintances who are hospitalized. The email had news of a mutual friend who was admitted to the ER last night…
