Month: May 2011
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On Epicurus’s philosophy of life
The following are some noteworthy quotes from Epicurus (341 – 270 BC), an ancient philosopher who insisted that a noble life consisted of philosophical inquiry, intimate friendship, and the affirmation of moderate pleasure. Epicurus founded a small commune just outside of Athens; it was here that he and his friends sought to become lovers of…
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On Woody Allen’s modern philosophy
The other day I read an interview with Woody Allen. The interviewer’s penultimate question struck me as especially apt. (In the excerpt below, bold = interviewer’s question and regular text = Allen’s reply.) Machado de Assis is credited with inspiring magical realist writers. Judging from the previews, the protagonist of your latest film experiences some magic…
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On the cut-and-thrust of discourse
The cut-and-thrust of discourse: your man, flesh-wounded, on the floor — boys tussling in the basement — dogs growling and gnawing — that fearful symmetry — manliness ferocious, harmful, refined — anger awoken — the ease of mastication — lopping heads clean off — the love of man expressed as war. Oh, Brother, bleed with…
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Spiritual exercise: On giving pleasures their due
Perhaps you’d care to join me as I read a few a lines from Montaigne? I who am always down-to-earth in my handling of anything loathe that inhuman wisdom which seeks to render us disdainful and hostile towards the care of our bodies. I reckon it is as injudicious to set our minds against natural…
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New public bios
Here’s my near-daily experience: I read an article I like, I search for the author to learn more about her, I read her five-sentence bio, and I’m resoundingly disappointed. Evidently, she was once a great hunter and now she sits on a throne. Are all public bios, those one to two paragraph haikus, true but…
Andrew Taggart, Ph.D. 