First:
Two who are happy. – Truly, in spite of his youth, this is a great improviser of life who amazes even the subtlest observer; for he never seems to make a mistake although he continually takes the greatest risk. One is reminded of those masters of musical improvisation whose hands the listener would also like [...]
What is religious? I have the suspicion that what is religious, more often than not, degenerates into mere religiosity. Call it the religious sentiment, if that nomenclature is preferable. Posturing and positions based on feeling a certain psychological what-have-you. Give me your Thomistic deductions, your Protestant exegesis – fill me with historical and scientific imperatives. [...]
If you think about the current conflict in ideas, ideals and arms in the current mideast, a stark contrast shows itself. It is not just a clash of arms, but a clash of culture. We ask why the Americans are in the mideast. “To protect our interests.” Why does the Mohammedan lash out against the [...]
What is religious has always included the element of a sacrifice. From the pagan idols all across the globe to the Jews of the Old Testament, from Catholicism to Buddhist self-sacrifice – all have contained this element. Frequently it is of that which is – or should be – most dear: children to Moloch, self [...]
There is a polemical attitude that seeks to strike discord in communication. Dissecting every sentence, every word, every structure to find fault – this is how these morticians of thought proceed. Avoiding synthesis, they seek to overcome ideas – regardless of the intention of the original author, even intentionally disagreeing with intention. Why? To win. [...]
The ‘essence’ of truth lies neither in certitude, nor exactitude, and less still in grammatical wordplay. Examine the dictum: existence precedes essence. If by essence, you mean: to be what it is, of course it must be to be what it is. How could it not? Grammatical wordplay from one who would persue vain morality. [...]
What viciousness is hidden in the ideology ‘respect for persons’! How wretched is the demos that they demand obeisance to – a mask. Greatness demands that we push beyond this. Seek individuals, primary substance, souls, Da-sein; these may be worthy of respect. As for appearances, personally, I find them very readable.
The role of the disciple is one who has set oneself at the feet of the master. The master’s writings are received as pure truth illuminated. If this disciple revere the ancients, he must assume the moderns didn’t understand them – at least not like he does. So smugly he kneels at the feet of [...]
Some wish to seem wise by overcomplication. Others wish to seem wise by oversimplification. Unseemly – the will to wisdom is at root – overdone.
One thing that I have always admired about Nietzsche, Pascal et al. is the ability to write an aphorism. There is something I find profoundly interesting in the ability to state something clearly and lucidity, without argument, in a few short words. Others, like myself, have no capacity for brevity, and tend to drone on [...]
