Tag: philosophy

Functionally Literate – Quote


Our suspicions are first aroused when we see that the self-declared apostles of ethics and of the ‘right to difference’ are clearly horrified by any vigorously sustained difference. For them, African customs are barbaric, Muslims are dreadful, the Chinese are totalitarian, and so on. As a matter of fact, this celebrated ‘other’ is acceptable only if he is a good other – which is to say what, exactly, if not the same as us? Respect for differences, of course! But on condition that the different be parliamentary-democratic, pro free-market economics, in favour of freedom of opinion, feminism, the environment… That is to say: I respect differences, but only, of course, in so far as that which differs also respects, just as I do, the said differences. Just as there can be ‘no freedom for the enemies of freedom’, so there can be no respect for those whose difference consists precisely in not respecting differences. To prove the point, just consider the obsessive resentment expressed by the partisans of ethics regarding anything that resembles an Islamic ‘fundamentalist’.

The problem is that the ‘respect for differences’ and the ethics of human rights do seem to define an identity! And that as a result, the respect for differences applies only to those differences that are reasonably consistent with this identity (which, after all is nothing other than the identity of a wealthy – albeit visibly declining – ‘West’). Even immigrants in this country [France], as seen by the partisans of ethics, are acceptably different only when they are ‘integrated’, only if they seek integration (which seems to mean, if you think about it: only if they want to suppress their difference). It might well be that ethical ideology, detached from the religious teachings which at least conferred upon it the fullness of a ‘revealed’ identity, is simply the final imperative of a conquering civilization: ‘Become  like me and I will respect your difference.’

Ethics An Essay on the Understanding of Evil, Alain Badiou p24

(1993, trans. 2001)

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Functionally Literate – Quote


Our suspicions are first aroused when we see that the self-declared apostles of ethics and of the ‘right to difference’ are clearly horrified by any vigorously sustained difference. For them, African customs are barbaric, Muslims are dreadful, the Chinese are totalitarian, and so on. As a matter of fact, this celebrated ‘other’ is acceptable only if he is a good other – which is to say what, exactly, if not the same as us? Respect for differences, of course! But on condition that the different be parliamentary-democratic, pro free-market economics, in favour of freedom of opinion, feminism, the environment… That is to say: I respect differences, but only, of course, in so far as that which differs also respects, just as I do, the said differences. Just as there can be ‘no freedom for the enemies of freedom’, so there can be no respect for those whose difference consists precisely in not respecting differences. To prove the point, just consider the obsessive resentment expressed by the partisans of ethics regarding anything that resembles an Islamic ‘fundamentalist’.

The problem is that the ‘respect for differences’ and the ethics of human rights do seem to define an identity! And that as a result, the respect for differences applies only to those differences that are reasonably consistent with this identity (which, after all is nothing other than the identity of a wealthy – albeit visibly declining – ‘West’). Even immigrants in this country [France], as seen by the partisans of ethics, are acceptably different only when they are ‘integrated’, only if they seek integration (which seems to mean, if you think about it: only if they want to suppress their difference). It might well be that ethical ideology, detached from the religious teachings which at least conferred upon it the fullness of a ‘revealed’ identity, is simply the final imperative of a conquering civilization: ‘Become  like me and I will respect your difference.’

Ethics An Essay on the Understanding of Evil, Alain Badiou p24

(1993, trans. 2001)

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Functionally Literate – Quote


Our suspicions are first aroused when we see that the self-declared apostles of ethics and of the ‘right to difference’ are clearly horrified by any vigorously sustained difference. For them, African customs are barbaric, Muslims are dreadful, the Chinese are totalitarian, and so on. As a matter of fact, this celebrated ‘other’ is acceptable only if he is a good other – which is to say what, exactly, if not the same as us? Respect for differences, of course! But on condition that the different be parliamentary-democratic, pro free-market economics, in favour of freedom of opinion, feminism, the environment… That is to say: I respect differences, but only, of course, in so far as that which differs also respects, just as I do, the said differences. Just as there can be ‘no freedom for the enemies of freedom’, so there can be no respect for those whose difference consists precisely in not respecting differences. To prove the point, just consider the obsessive resentment expressed by the partisans of ethics regarding anything that resembles an Islamic ‘fundamentalist’.

The problem is that the ‘respect for differences’ and the ethics of human rights do seem to define an identity! And that as a result, the respect for differences applies only to those differences that are reasonably consistent with this identity (which, after all is nothing other than the identity of a wealthy – albeit visibly declining – ‘West’). Even immigrants in this country [France], as seen by the partisans of ethics, are acceptably different only when they are ‘integrated’, only if they seek integration (which seems to mean, if you think about it: only if they want to suppress their difference). It might well be that ethical ideology, detached from the religious teachings which at least conferred upon it the fullness of a ‘revealed’ identity, is simply the final imperative of a conquering civilization: ‘Become  like me and I will respect your difference.’

Ethics An Essay on the Understanding of Evil, Alain Badiou p24

(1993, trans. 2001)

Functionally Literate – Opening Sentence.


Philisophy does not begin in an experience of wonder, as ancient tradition contends, but rather, I think, with the indeterminate but palpable sense that something desired has not been fulfilled, that a fantastic effort has failed.

Infinitely Demanding – Ethics of Commitment, Politics of Resistance, Simon Critchley (2007)

Horror Scope – Virgo 16th September


Today will be a day for animalistic sexual congress and meaningless libertine rhetoric.

virgo

Radical Thinkers: Five Videos Profile Max Horkheimer, Alain Badiou & Other Radical Theorists


If you’ve ever considered drawing up a list of the most debased words, allow me to nominate radical.

A series of videos after the link.

Radical Thinkers: Five Videos Profile Max Horkheimer, Alain Badiou & Other Radical Theorists

Radical Thinkers: Five Videos Profile Max Horkheimer, Alain Badiou & Other Radical Theorists


If you’ve ever considered drawing up a list of the most debased words, allow me to nominate radical.

A series of videos after the link.

Radical Thinkers: Five Videos Profile Max Horkheimer, Alain Badiou & Other Radical Theorists


There should be no West, East, North and South just round and round and round and round.

Because we live on a fucking globe and we’re all stuck here until we can find a way to terraform and colonize Mars. We would be best served if we all got along with one another until that happens.

There should be no West, East, North and South just round and round and round and round.

Because we live on a fucking globe and we’re all stuck here until we can find a way to terraform and colonize Mars. We would be best served if we all got along with one another until that happens.

Functionally Literate – Opening Sentence.


Morals reformed – health preserved – industry invigorated – instruction diffused – public burthens lightened – Economy seated, as it were, upon a rock – the gordian knot of the Poor-Laws are not cut, but untied – all by a simple idea in Architecture!

The Panopticon Writings, Jeremy Bentham (1791)

Shameless Plug – Beyond The Mountains.


My brother is currently making a feature documentary.

This is the trailer:

(source: Beyond The Mountains)

I just think it looks pretty wonderful and it is going to be amazing so I felt that I would share it. If I didn’t like it I would have probably pretended that the internet had broken or my blog didn’t work any more.

I hope you all enjoy it.

Give him money by clicking on the words below and then he will give you things in return:

[SUPPORT THE FILM]

I told you it was a Shameless Plug.

I told you in the title of the post.

You should not have been so surprised.

Appetite for Distraction – The Power of Context.


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THERE IS NO LINE BETWEEN TRYING TO WIN BACK LOVE AND STALKING WHEN YOU FAIL TO WIN BACK LOVE.

Appetite for Distraction – It Seemed Like A Good Idea At The Time.


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A SURPRISE VISIT BELOW YOUR BALCONY FROM SOMEONE WHO BETRAYED YOU WILL NEVER BE WELCOME.

Culture of Illusion – Thoroeauly Confusing.


Walden: The Video Game. Living deliberatelly virtually – feeling the fan blow stale air around your room as you hunch before glowing screen, back aching, eyes straining, soul dying. It’s exactly what Thoreau was talking about. What could be better to teach children, who are already not getting enough contact with the terrifying reality of nature, than condensing the meaning of Walden and then coding it into a virtual world so that they can enjoy it from the safety of their squalid condominiums? Everything could be better than that. Beating them to death with a paperback copy of the book would be better than that.

“When I wrote the following pages, or rather the bulk of them, I lived with my parents, in their basement, a mile from the nearest Dave and Busters, in a house which I did not own, on the shore of my own self-loathing, and earned my living by the answering online questionnaires.”

It would be a reasonable thing to assume that the above, a butchering of the opening sentence of Walden; or, Life in the Woods, would have been the real opening sentence if Mr. Thoreau had, instead of living in the, admittedly faux, wilderness for a year, had remained indoors, in an energy saving light bulb lit room, playing this video game.

How is it possible to approach the notion of living deliberately that Thoreau espoused by playing a video game? My short answer is that it’s not.

It is however hilarious bullshit, pleasure excuse my earthy language, and brings to mind this wonderful comic below, written by the inestimable Grant Snider:

LIFE IN THE WOODS
[incidental comics by Grant Snider]

Living deliberately is difficult and worthwhile. Yet even as we attempt to embrace nature we crush it. Even as we try and escape and control nature we lose our essential selves. The Slow Suicide of the Human Race. Happy days, folks!

Culture of Illusion – Advice for the Winners.


OSCAR WILL NOT HELP YOU.

NAME CHECKING A SPURNED LOVER IN AN OSCAR ACCEPTANCE SPEECH WILL NOT WIN THEM BACK.

Culture of Illusion – It’s Not Easy Being Green.


interesting use of language and syntax.

The men who joined Washington’s army were young and mostly poor farmers, fishermen, and artisans; some were Africans.

Now I am not an expert in American history and the National Museum of American History in Washington DC is, no doubt, full of experts in history. I do, however, have a couple of points to make about this small sentence on their wall in their American War of Indepence section.

a. Why is the word Africans put after a semi-colon as if it were:

  1. an afterthought
  2. a profession.

b. The sentence is written as if Africans were just hanging around in America waiting to help Washington free the colony from the draconian yoke of their British overlords. From what little I remember I think all those first and second generation Africans were, at the time, mostly there not of their own free will.

c. Africans fought on both sides of the War of Independence because both sides promised freedom from actual slavery if the above mentioned Africans did so.

I am sure I am being both ignorant and churlish that The National Museum of American History should make reference to it’s sordid past at every turn of it’s very well designed corridors. It is a place where a recreation of the Greensboro Lunch Counter sit-in is but meters away from Kermit the Frog trapped in a perspex box. Inbetween the two the ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz. In another room the original Old Glory, the fine flag in a low lit room, the national anthem playing softly in hushed religious tones as you walk up to pay respect to a very beautiful idea of freedom; hard won. An idea of freedom that even now has difficulty manifesting itself in every day life.

Why should they mention slavery at every turn when Britain never mentions it’s involvement in slavery? For the British the common story is that we stopped slavery. How little we wish to remember, how we enjoy our ignorance throwing glances of superiority at our old colonies. We like to forget that the Americans were British before they were American. We like to forget that we helped finesse and perfect the insidious triangle between Africa, America and our own island before we found it to be economically inefficient. We like to forget that we took tea from one ancient Empire in exchange for opium and used another great Empire as a garden in which to cultivate that tea. How civilised is that little bag of dried leaf. How civilised are we.

The National Museum of American History is a building of mythmaking and all nations are guilty of that. No one likes to look into their dark rotten heart. Let the kitchz rub up against the profound. Let the hard won battles of the oppressed be preserved in amber; made anodyne and safe – nuetered and free of all context. It seems like the meat and the marrow has been sucked and licked of the bones of the past and all we are left with are clean plastic moments. Let the bravery of those young men and women who risked their lives drinking a milkshake at a bar sit as equals with Kermit the frog and his struggles. We all like Kermit the frog. What could be so wrong with that? These things are in the past, these issues have been solved. Move along please. Bow to the flag, respect the frog. Gape at the slippers. Wonder at the unusual syntax. It’s not easy being green.

I am sure that I am being both ignorant and churlish.

Culture of Illusion – The Entropic March towards Chaos.


The fact that we are all going to die and the Universe is going to crumble into meaningless dust should be an ultimately depressing and soul-crushing idea. However, Brian Cox makes it sound beautiful and poetic.

Subterranean Thoughts


Prodding dreamily at the space under

My chin. The space where the shotgun would fit

Snugly in. Thoughts that vaguely meander

As I rest under this gnarled tree’s bough. It

–

Seems that it would be no trouble at all

If I was to fall from this place and rest-

Lessly crawl on through. I just need to call

On that one moment’s decision; a guest

–

In no time of neck-snapping Death who yet,

As my host, ushers me beyond.

What remains; a whip lashed marionette,

Shattered and twitching, that will not respond.  

Leaves


The leaves are bronzing over, as umber

Shafts of the Autumn’s sun, tent-

like, shade folly’s of a forced mortal year.

–

Of life’s rich liquor; mulched rot, a blotched smear

On her flawed, lawless cycle of some transient

Phase of decay. A shining veneer

–

On a crafted, sharply piercing, dream spear.

Grinding to the obsequious pause; lanced

Through Nature’s grim drab soul; an empty tear

–

From her nascent eyes drench, with a clear

Banality, the children of a spent

Future with a haggard, wasted fear.