On 6/17/2011 9:14 PM, archytas wrote:
Thanks for that Ash. Utopia is an odd word, coined in irony in Thomas
Moore as not existing but supposed. For Hegel the big thing was
that a society capable of history had arisen - but we now know this
history was bunk. There an actual project called DARPA looking at how
we might organise ourselves for the stars. Plato planned out massive
training for his Guardians, but even he admitted corruption would get
past even this.
My contention is that we lack politics almost entirely - hard to
swallow when you look at news reporting, but I believe we are tranced
as surely as some poor cult victim. I guess the trance works by
consuming us with 'justice' when we start to question it.
If you mean the drama show that goes on I agree our version of politics
produces dismay for the average person trying to make sense of the
decisions at hand, and revel in it maybe because it is banal enough to
comprehend. If no measure of merit there is at least a strong play on
people's insecurities. Not sure I am familiar with this 'justice' or
politics. Can you clarify the last paragraph some?
On Jun 17, 6:23 am, rigsy03<[email protected]> wrote:
Retirement is a new chapter not terribly different from the others in
adjusting to although graduation is grim. :-)
You can still learn to play- most music schools have older students.
Yes- the piano- but had flings with bongo drums, guitar, dulcimer and
I guess I was serious about singing well- jazz- but not enough to
become a performer. And dancing. Can't imagine a world without music.
On Jun 15, 11:57 pm, paradox<[email protected]> wrote:
Sounds to me like you have earned your wings :) Is it all it promises
to be?
Thank you! Yes, i'm on an isle but not Greek. I think you're more
"seer" than you might think or might let on :)
Well, nothing like a little motivation to a good cause, your son might
say :). Music (playing) is another strand of learning that i was
deprived of; actually, this may have been self inflicted, since the
music master was also the designated holder of the school whip; didn't
pay rewards to get too close :) Fortunately, my daughter plays piano
and clarinet. Do you play?
On Jun 15, 7:49 pm, rigsy03<[email protected]> wrote:
I've earned "retirement", believe me! :-)
Funny, I guessed you would be on some Greek isle- so I guess that's as
close as can be expected for an amateur seer. Have a great time!
Well, theoreticals need practical applications or they are just arcane
amusements. I suppose it helped though his teacher was a seductive
sort for 9th grade boys- and he had no choice- 8th graders were simply
divided up on the basis of some test. As another example, music must
be played.
On Jun 15, 3:56 am, paradox<[email protected]> wrote:
Lucky for some! :)
Excellent point on the arts, thank you. I think the same.
Yes, i agree; solving equations was always such good fun; when you
solved them...:) Sounds like a great course your son did; is he
finding it very useful? I'd imagine so.
This vacation, i'll be in a near vegetative state on a sandy beach
with the family somewhere on the mediterranean coast of Europe,
burning up and dreaming of what it would be like to sail along the
coast for half of the year with the essentials; great wine, fine
cigars, a good book, and song :)
On Jun 15, 4:25 am, rigsy03<[email protected]> wrote:
Everyday is a vacation! :-)
I am going to have some work done on the house so I plan to see that
through- went over the general plan today but I have the feeling it
will be a leisurely sort of "attack" as I know this young man. I need
his muscles and sweat.
Sometimes our reaction to the arts has nothing to do with the artist's
intent or character- we read into them what we desire.
As for math, I too have felt dazzled seeing three or four blackboards
with numbers approaching a grand army (once walking into the wrong
classroom). I did like geometry and early algebra but that was all
that was required at my highschool- it was fun to get a "solution" to
something concrete. But I think I have used those rudimentary skills
in a practical way running a home and with various interests so all
was not lost. My youngest son took an algebra course that was designed
to improve discussion and explanations for people in the sciences as
there is a need to translate theoreticals into mere language and
exchange information.
That is a nice memory of your father. We should all hope to retain our
smiles forever.
What are you doing this vacation?
On Jun 14, 4:03 am, paradox<[email protected]> wrote:
Quality memories :)
I wasn't suggesting that you might have been making the comment
regarding his moral compass, rigsy03; i did think the author of the
quote was freely sharing though :)
Yes, i agree; doesn't time just help to put things in context. Fond
memories of my octogenarian father; his solution to our daily
existential crises was the most accomodating smile you could
imagine :)
Are you planning a summer vacation this year?
On Jun 14, 4:20 am, rigsy03<[email protected]> wrote:
The correct title of Raphael's Madonna painting is "Madonna of the
Chair" so perhaps it was included in the exhibit. And all these years
I dismissed the chair as a spindle! :-) It reminded me of my daughter
and her younger brother when they were young somehow and I liked the
old circular frame- dark teal with gold flourishes and borders. Well,
I've learned something new about it- so thank you. I believe the
painting resides in Florence.
Was I commenting on his moral compass? I didn't mean to but I liked
the quote- to be reminded of the Pagans.
Beyond discernment are some inevitable shifts. Children were a common
bond with some groups, I'm back to a few tried and true and we all
seem to savor a kind of relief from our busier pasts. I think it's
normal.
On Jun 13, 11:44 am, paradox<[email protected]> wrote:
Well, i was hoping to make the Holy See an offer it can't refuse :)
I was fortunate to see a collection of Raphael's works at the National
Gallery in London a few years back; his imagination is truly
captivating. I can't really comment on his moral compass; i'm just not
qualified, i'm afraid :)
Guess you're right, we cannot shut ourselves off from the world around
us; but i'm not sure we're obliged to take in more than we need or
want to (most of the time). It's not so much a call to solipsism, more
a call to discernment.
The "d's" sound like a great life balance to me :)
On Jun 13, 12:12 pm, rigsy03<[email protected]> wrote:
And just how, pray tell, to you propose to wheedle that painting from
the Vatican? Besides, dear Paradox, it is a fresco! I also have a copy
of his "Madonna and Child" in my bedroom- sometimes she looks stern
and at other times, amused. A critic writes of Raphael- Taine: the
"unique blessing of a twofold education which, after showing him
Christian innocence and purity, made him feel pagan joy and strength."
Amen.
No one has absolute freedom/liberty but there are degrees- relative to
the particulars of one's existence and one's desires. And there are
possible adaptations/solutions to culture clamps. One can go along to
being a recluse to committing suicide- quick or slow. We cannot avoid
being social animals, however- even a recluse needs groceries. :-)
Those were just the "d's"...
On Jun 13, 3:39 am, paradox<[email protected]> wrote:
Sounds like you have a serious living space indeed :) I'm saving up
for the original; i expect to have enough just about when i'm wise
enough to apply :)
Last i read Hume was for an undergrad political philosophy module many
lives ago; thanks for the reference; i'll make sure i read the
"Dialogues...".
I take your poiint about relative liberties, but wonder how relative
and free our choiuces if we're "allowed" them; maybe that's the point
you make about the "claustrophobia" of culture, and the trade off of
freedoms for security (in an social sense)?
Hmm, dreams, delights, and duties...the 3 d's...so now we know about
the 03 in rigsy03 :)
On Jun 12, 1:06 pm, rigsy03<[email protected]> wrote:
I have a copy of that painting in my living room. My living room is a
serious space. :-)
Re Hume: I took a grad course in literary criticism- it really took
me- that included some further handouts beyond the laborious
textbook= Hume's "Of the Standard of Taste" which I pulled from
basement files yesterday before I slogged through some passages of
Hume's "Dialogues on Natural Religion". The former still has sway and
sense- at least to me. I daresay we could live quite happily without
modern warfare, politics and culture which resembles a huge
contraption (I have forgotten the word for an evil, menacing machine)
but there are also great gifts of modern times so we have accepted the
trade-offs, it seems- at least we who have freedom and liberty are
allowed.
The juggling: dreams, delights, duties.
On Jun 12, 12:31 am, paradox<[email protected]> wrote:
Perhaps we're "just as deluded and misled" because we have all these
communication tools, rigsy03 (not that we could do without them now);
and maybe not enough time to "think" in the traditional sense. It's
not nostalgia, btw; i'm not old enough to remember the School Of
Athens :)
Yes, i know exactly what you mean about home
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