Category: meditation
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
On lovers and libraries
My ideal library would consist of 5 beautiful books: beautiful to behold and to taste. In grad school, we lined wooden planks and cinder blocks with the coolest books then available and when we threw a party people came over to admire–our books. They opened the door, said hello, and made their way over to…
-
Tomorrow is Doomsday: Remember to bring your passport
When the world is not in order, when it’s too vast, too complex, too unmanageable, and when it’s all these things for far too long, then people pack their bags and go on holiday. Where to? To paradise, of course, but not before passing through customs–which is to say, Judgment Day. As it happens, tomorrow,…
Andrew Taggart, Ph.D. 