Category: ethics
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On the sorry state of gift giving
In modern culture, the ethos of gift giving has come to resemble the genre of the apologia. The defendant–guarded, vigilant–is made to choose between pre-emption, exculpation, and exoneration. These are her weapons. “But I wasn’t sure what to get you.” A reminder of how tenuous our acquaintance, how limited our imaginations. “I know, I know, I…
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On the meaning of sighs: A philosophical conversation followed by a lullaby
The following is a short excerpt from a philosophical conversation I had recently with one conversation partner. Afterward: an afterthought, an extra thought, a lullaby of a kind. — She wrote, I sigh. Yes I sigh. The cosmic breath, of all men, of all women Of more creation, loss and love to come. I…
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On layaways, one-click drunk shopping, and being an idiot
Philosophers are idiots. Evidence for this claim abounds. First off, we’re easily confused. Because of this, we spend much of our days asking for explanations concerning the most elementary truths. Second off, we don’t readily understand topics that everyone else immediately gets, so we’re always asking people to slow down and show us again how…
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Aesthetics, ethics, and justice ask to be brought into harmony
Beyond my bedroom window: pigeons atop a barren tree amid the autumn drizzle. * Beyond the living room window: a birch tree, leaves burnt by fire, hoary frost unworldly. Brief Reflections 1. To see an object properly, discriminatively, is to be attentive to its demands. 2. The object asks to be loved. Will you love…
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On Anne Page’s courage
The woman was beautiful and strong but sad. Doubtless she married badly. Evidence for this can be perceived in her slightly downcast left eye; in her stilted, rigid left hand; in the spine that gives the impression of needing to be held up by strength of will. To one with her aesthetic temperament, life had…
Andrew Taggart, Ph.D. 
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