This passage in Zhuangzi reminds me of the famous “Madman” passage in The Gay Science by Nietzsche. An individual, deranged by conventional standards, presents himself in a town square. He insistently, pointedly passes judgment upon the optimism of his countrymen; that the future will, as a matter of course, be the present extended, — …
“When men get together to pit their strength in games of skill, they start off in a light and friendly mood but usually end up in a dark and angry one, and if they go on too long, they start resorting to various underhanded tricks. When men meet at some ceremony to drink, they…
The world today is no theater where actions and feelings are represented and interpreted, but a market on which intimacies are exhibited, sold, consumed. The theater is a site of representation, whereas the market is a site of exhibition. Today theatrical representation is yielding to pornographic exhibition. —The Transparency Society, The Society of Intimacy…
Showers today. Should I mind. Of course not. It is enough to remain in my circle of responsibility, of duty and concern. Weather, and the machinations of governments whether in Chicago, or in Washington are affairs upon which I have no effect. Is anyone in charge? Likely nobody. Office holders moving about as marionettes,…
Yesterday I received an email from a friend expressing an opinion that repudiated Quantum Mechanics. For the majority of us this opinion is unremarkable, seeming irrelevant. Quantum Mechanics is a field of esoteric mathematics describing the behavior of invisible forces that constitute material objects. Field effects dance with improvisation, to support the visible superstructure…
My exploration of Zhuangzi continues. I am drawn toward his story telling, his manner of doing philosophy. This 4th century BCE Taoist intellectual responds to several defined schools of thought by writing philosophical fantasy. Philosophical fantasy! Imagine someone rising to his/her feet in a lecture hall at a philosophy conference Q&A session, to describe…
Raining now. Prospect of rain for the rest of the day. Well and good for the trees and shrubs. A good drink is needed before the frost of Fall arrives. Today these words from Ludwig Wittgenstein captured my imagination. But I did not get my picture of the world by satisfying myself of its…
Read more of the Zhuangzi this morning. Stories concatenated in succession, the writer considers that his thinking, his point of view could be, might be, or was, radically different — even reversed. “This” is easily “that” in another context. In a time past I thought differently… I am entranced by this love song, every…
There was a beginning. There was a beginning before that beginning. There was a beginning previous to that beginning before there was the beginning. There was existence; there had been no existence. There was no existence before the beginning of that no existence. There was no existence previous to the no existence before there…
If the United Auto Workers strike declared against “the big three” auto companies is not on your mind, it should be. Initially the strike is shutting down three plants. It is doubtful the gap between what the Union is asking and what the companies are offering will be narrowed soon. The picketing is likely…
