I wrestle with words to characterize the condition of our society, as I perceive it. The “Ship-Of-State” is the metaphor that comes to mind. The image comes from Plato’s Republic book VI. Plato likens the governance of the city-state to the commanding of a naval vessel. I like the image, of a large ship. …
Today June 4th is the anniversary of the uprising of students in Tiananmen Square, China. The resistance to authoritarian incompetency, suppression of freedom took place April 15 – June 4th, 1989. Everyone remembers the image of the solitary individual standing, one man obstructing a column of tanks. Did the uprising matter? Did it make…
There are appeals for peaceful demonstration, the peaceful exercise of free speech. These appeals predictably come from elected officials, those placed in charge. They are in charge of a formal system, — as well as approaches, attitudes, and comments informally expressed by thousands, perhaps millions of members. Hypothetically consider an HR administrator, or maybe…
Choosing to refrain from news media consumption over the weekend, I dedicated time and emotional energy to personal projects and to others in my family. Can I afford this type of choice because I am white, male, a member of the dominant class in this society? Are some Sunday afternoon hours reading Nietzsche by…
I have two, maybe three pages left in the book written by Albert Camus, The Rebel. Camus’ generation in France and Europe survived the horror of WWII and the murderous Nazi occupation. The Rebel is a manifesto, of what was learned from that experience. Today I offer a longish excerpt of Camus words, and…
After waking, then consuming a bowl of cheerios for breakfast, I listened to The Daily. The Daily is a New York Times podcast. It is an in depth audio exploration of a something that affects all of us, and I often chose to listen with the earbuds in place. I recommend it. The Daily…
Yesterday was Memorial Day. I read of several remembrance ceremonies for our veterans, and for those who died in wars. I is hard to conceive of dying in war as hallowed, an event with transcendent meaning. War is a nightmare, a feast of death, the failure of government to deliver the welfare of communities,…
Today, Memorial Day, I woke at 3AM. Couldn’t sleep. For a diabetic, high blood sugar sometimes has that effect. I decided to make use of the circumstance by getting dressed in order to read more in Simulacra and Simulation bv Jean Baudrillard. Baudrillard’s thought is revolutionary, reminding me of the effort required to learn…
I joined a wide ranging philosophy discussion last night. The topic for the evening was the ethical implications of the covid-19 plague. One of our participants remarked that in his experience a majority of his fellow acquaintances rarely paused to consider ethical matters. Most of us live unmindfully, engaging circumstances to maximize our pleasure,…
Another day of self quarantine. The constraints are practical as well as psychological. I share with every American the growing sensation of rebellion. Overarching all — certainty that our leaders are confused, disingenuous, indolent, and most demoralizing, — bereft of good taste. Good taste. I refer to the sensibility of judgment wherein one “knows”…
