USUPhilosophy

Per Clay’s request: a search function for this blog, on the bottom, right.

Since Christopher Hitchens regularly pops up in discussion on this blog, I thought readers might be interested in this account of a recent “altercation” in Beirut. Short story: Hitchens acts to take down a swastika in a public square, gets attacked by some serious thugs, and stands up for what he believes (but has to retreat before getting killed). Scary stuff, really.

Philosophical question: is Hitchens right to say that, when you see a swastika, you are obligated to deface it or tear it down?

“The Examined Life.” Get more info and see the trailer here. Watch out for my hero, Cornel West: “I’m a blues man in the life of the mind.”

(Thanks to Sohrab for the link!)

Here is an article that makes an interesting connection between photography and the metaphysics of presence.  While the author becoming ‘steaming mad’ over people taking pictures seemed a little much, I think he is on to something concerning the more philosophical point – that photography is technological thinking par excellence, it seeks to master (capture) a moment and space in time, to control it and preserve it.  As such, it involves an unnatural removal of oneself from the basic temporality of  ‘being-in-the-world’.  

As the father of young children who sees too many parents raise their kids through a viewfinder (and I do get annoyed with it), I am glad to now have a more substantial philosophical view to reflect on as I quietly judge them for their foolishness!

The “God doesn’t exist” brownies were delicious!