In Robert Gottlieb’s recently published memoir Avid Reader he briefly talks about the fraught relationship he had with Ken Toole. So in barely two pages devoted to Toole and in light of the critical and commercial status that Dunces has achieved worldwide, Gottlieb still dismisses Toole as sophomoric! Even with the benefit of the interim 50…
The philosopher Alicja Gescinska visits Roger Scruton at his farm and chats about this, that, and the other or as Alicja puts it “on life, beauty and what we are about”. I didn’t know of Roger’s fall but glad to see him up and about and in good spirits. (Bob Grant in conversation with me always…
The very excellent Seth Vannatta in Response: The Digital Journal of Popular Culture Scholarship. I’d suggest that readers also think about Wittgenstein’s idea in the Tractatus that ethics and aesthetics are one — on which much has been written. I’d also refer readers to the collection of essays entitled Aesthetics and Ethics: Essays at the Intersection. aestheticsAlfred North WhiteheadethicsFurtwänglerHans-Georg GadamerImmanuel KantJohn DeweyLudwig…
Born on this day — IMHO one of the greats. (b London, 22 July 1903; d off Iceland, 2 Sept. 1942). British watercolour painter, printmaker, and designer. In addition to paintings, his highly varied output included book illustrations and book-jackets, and designs for furniture, glass, textiles, and the Wedgwood pottery factory (notably a mug commemorating…
And my brother’s back at home with his Beatles and his Stones We never got it off on that revolution stuff What a drag, too many snags Now I’ve drunk a lot of wine and I’m feeling fine Got to race some cat to bed Oh is that concrete all around Or is it in…
Roger stylishly and lucidly outlines the timelessness of The Ring’s significance — especially salient to our troubled current times. aestheticsconsciousnessDer Ring des Nibelungenfreedommusicpolitics and religionpolitics of faithpolitics of skepticismReligionRichard WagnerRoger Scruton
The very excellent Mishima scholar Donald Keene briefly discusses the English publication of The Temple of the Golden Pavilion almost exactly 57 years ago. What transforms this world is — knowledge. Do you see what I mean? Nothing else can change anything in this world. Knowledge alone is capable of transforming the world, while at the same…
Long overdue! Here’s the entry written by Terry Nardin. aestheticscivil associationConservatismEpistemologyexperience and its modeshistory of political thoughtLiberal educationLiberalismMichael Oakeshotton human conductPhilosophy of historyphilosophy of social sciencePolitical philosophyrationalism in politicsReligion
A terrific documentary on the life and times of Walter Anderson. A most philosophical, mystical and literary mind. Check out the trailer. aestheticsArtarts and craftsnaturalistpaintingphilosophy of artWalter Inglis Andersonwin riley
Nice piece especially if one is a Mishima fan and like me one has yet to visit Japan, Japan being one of the very few countries on my travel bucket list: Perhaps this explains why the author Yukio Mishima took his pen name from the city, though the writer claimed that he just happened to be…
manwithoutqualities 