A fantastically accomplished writer and philosopher, Umberto Eco tends to write pieces that are layered and accessible. The common thread is epistemological in nature; he has written everything from treatises on the theory of semiotics to an exploration of the patterns of thought of a game show host. Unflinchingly- perhaps even harshly- realistic, Umberto’s works nonetheless retains a poetic beauty that is Continue Reading …
Neitzsche does an Encore
It’s that time of the month again, and the Not School Introductory Readings in Philosophy group will be tackling Beyond Good and Evil for December. In Genealogy of Morals, we examined Nietzsche’s explanation of how the term “good” originated with the blonde beasts of the nobility and was stolen and twisted by the creative resentment of the lower classes and Continue Reading …
For November, an All-Time Great
Friedrich Nietzsche was one of the greatest philosophers of all time, and his work On the Genealogy of Morals (covered in this PEL episode) was arguably his masterpiece. Regardless of its ranking, it’s acclaimed by many as a work of sustained brilliance. The aphoristic style lends itself to piecemeal reading and discussion, and Nietzsche’s evocative writing can draw out both Continue Reading …
October Not School Group, Communicating with Habermas
[An update from Hillary on Not School Goings On] We’ve been handling a lot of hard science the past few months and I’d like to move in a different direction for October with Jürgen Habermas’ The Theory of Communicative Action. As Habermas is a strong proponent of argumentation I hope it will encourage all involved to chime in with thoughts, Continue Reading …
Intro is fashionably late for September: Psychology by William James
The weather is getting colder, the nights are getting shorter and it’s back to NotSchool time for September. We’re starting out fashionably late this month with Psychology: The Briefer Course by William James (get the text here), written in 1892 as an abridgment of his monumental Principles of Psychology. (And all this was well before he became the name brand Continue Reading …
If It’s Got an Unpronounceable Name, It Must Be an Amazing Treatise
Or German. Or both! The Introductory Philosophy Readings Not School group had a meeting of the minds and decided that we’d like to pursue Kant, so for August we’ll be dipping into the Prolegomena to any Future Metaphysics. I, personally, am of the opinion that my proposal was preempted by those who are slowly growing wise to my puckish tendencies Continue Reading …
Wittgenstein’s Tractatus for Not School
Hello Hello! It’s the beginning of the new month already. This is Hillary, continuing leader for the Not School Intro Philosophy Readings group. For those of you who have been following the Tao Te Ching discussion, hold on to your hats, because we’re drifting a one eighty and dropping into Wittgenstein’s Tractatus. For those of you who haven’t, you missed Continue Reading …
Intro Philosophy Readings: Beyond 101
[Editor’s Note: Hillary S. has been good enough to lead the Not School “Introductory Readings in Philosophy Group” earlier this year and then again this month, and will be doing so again for June, so we asked her to write a little something about it. Maybe you might want to join up?] Introduction classes, done university style, tend to be Continue Reading …