The "Those of us who frequent this forum" thread

[Armageddon's Child]

Originally Posted by Nile577

(I hope you don't mind me continuing this old discussion/adding some comments from your PM)

I must admit, I worship Pynchon as an author and profoundly respect him as a person. I think he is second only to Joyce in terms of prose writing. I don't understand how you can call him cold and artificial. Pynchon writes the IS of thinking; or at least an 'IS' I can relate to. I find Gravity's Rainbow to be awe inspiring, hilarious, disgusting and knowing. Symbolism is pervasive, I admit, but that's the whole point: it's surrealism, in which regular, every-day objects are presented in an unusual context. The point of such is not empty novelty but a brilliant awareness of aesthetic reality, more important than the bland, functional world in which many would persuade us we live. I think you should give him another chance. Perhaps the problem is that you read too quickly. For me, Pynchon should be savoured in his density. I think he is best understood when the reader has time to unravel the plethora of imagery from his waves of prose.

I love Pynchon, and would count him (along with his polar opposite, Hemmingway) as one of the two greatest literary stylists and aestheticists of the 20th century (I for one, have little use for the turgid interiority of Joyce). On the other hand, his work at times suffers from the disease of bigness (this is especially true of Mason & Dixon, though Gravity's Rainbow occasionally shudders under the weight of its own erudition and complexity as well), so I tend to find myself drawn most often to his more managable work.

[Cythraul]

I just had a disturbing realization today; I think the university environment is ruining my love of philosophy.

[vihris-gari]

Originally Posted by Cythraul

I just had a disturbing realization today; I think the university environment is ruining my love of philosophy.

How could this be? Explain!

[Justin S.]

There are few things more antithetical to philosophy than the contemporary university. Come on Cythraul, what did you expect?

Concerning more important matters...

Please, fellow posters, let me know who you are when you rep me, as I'm curious by nature.

[vihris-gari]

I don't know what colleges you all go to, but I happen to like my college (VCU)'s philosophy program. We have tons of interesting discussions, and the professors actually make an effort to get to know the students. Granted, it's a small program where I go, so they're able to manage a good student-teacher ratio. Maybe you all are talking about giant lecture classes. I'm curious to know how universities are ruining philosophy, though.

[Justin S.]

Because the University is a bureaucracy, a business, an industry.

Predictably, philosophy is betrayed, treated as an "interesting" "subject"- three cheers for the smothering of Geist, the oblivion of Sein, the abandonment of denken!

[vihris-gari]

Originally Posted by Justin S.

Because the University is a bureaucracy, a business, an industry.

Predictably, philosophy is betrayed, treated as an "interesting" "subject"- three cheers for the smothering of Geist, the oblivion of sein, the abandonment of denken!

I see... so what is your point, exactly? That philosophy professors at a university, by default, have no interest in what they're teaching, and are just doing it to get paid? Or are you suggesting that there's some institutional cover-up of unpopular philosophers?

What do you consider to be the 'proper' environment for a philosophy education, anyway?

[Cythraul]

Originally Posted by Justin S.

Because the University is a bureaucracy, a business, an industry.

Yes. This is precisely what's been bothering me lately.

edit: Also, stop speaking German god damnit. I don't know what the hell you're saying.

[Justin S.]

FYI:

John Rawls is the biggest fucking tool... ever.

If you spot one of his books, immediately confiscate it and dispose of with proper indignation.

[speed]

Originally Posted by Justin S.

FYI:

John Rawls is the biggest fucking tool... ever.

If you spot one of his books, immediately confiscate it and dispose of with proper indignation.

How dare you attack the most important and influential American philosopher. How...how unpatriotic sir, with your high-stepping teutonic airs, attack this fair seeker of justice and liberalism! A Quisling, you are.