I quote Confucius, Analects 13.3 (from this online version): Zi Lu said: 'The ruler of Wei is anticipating your assistance in the administration of his state. What will be your top priority?' Confucius said, 'There must be a correction of terminology.' Zi Lu said, 'Are you serious? Why is this so important?' Confucius said, 'You are really simple, aren't you? A noble Continue Reading …
Lucian: the Well of Laughter
I was … concerned … to strike a blow for Epicurus, that great man whose holiness and divinity of nature were not shams, who alone had and imparted true insight into the good, and who brought deliverance to all that consorted with him. –Lucian, in Alexander the Oracle Monger Lucian of Samosata (c. 125–180 CE) was a Greek-speaking Assyrian satirist. He’s particularly relevant Continue Reading …
What is Satire for?
When we recorded the Jaspers episode with Paul Provenza I had the good fortune to be in his home of Los Angeles. I was able to meet up with him and his assistant for the recording and along with my wife we met for a meal several days later. I had been re-reading his book ¡Satiristas! and he and I got into a spirited discussion of whether comics, specifically the satirist, have Continue Reading …