I'm using part of an elective course to senior undergrad and grad students to teach the rudiments of game theory, and one of my students -- a bright young man from Japan -- just introduced me to a fellow named Yoshiharu Habu, a shogi player of genius qualities.
One of the things that called my attention in learning about him was how he was a figure -- well, the leading figure, but one inter alia -- in a large group of outstanding players that developed their skills in mutual interaction. It reminds me of how the political climate in earlier Soviet times fostered Marxist theoretical work of lasting quality (in various fields, as Zhores Medvedev described in such rich detail). Or, although with the political-algebraic sign reversed, even the Manhattan Project, the Cowles Commission, the EDVAC Project, etc. What do we leftists (Marxists and non-Marxists) need to enter into a dynamics of this sort, but in the realms of organized, effective political combat and serious theoretical work? I don't mind mutual insult festivals as long as they are something about something, but they are pathetic as a substitute for actual motion. My rant is also being propelled by my recent re-reading of Gramsci's late Ordine Nuovo writings. Gramsci continues to blow my mind. I am still puzzled by the inability of the Italian revolutionary left to maintain the political momentum and lift it to a higher level of organization, by what exactly kept them from greater unity thus giving the upper hand to the fascists. It doesn't seem like you can just blame Moscow. _______________________________________________ pen-l mailing list [email protected] https://lists.csuchico.edu/mailman/listinfo/pen-l
