Marvelous article, The Case for Working With Your Hands, by a young scholar who is now a motorcycle mechanic.
For me, at least, there is more real thinking going on in the bike shop than there was in the think tank.
I make my living as an engineer and can identify with some of this.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Some Thoughts on the Lost Art of Reading Aloud
From an NYT editorial.
Reading aloud recaptures the physicality of words. To read with your lungs and diaphragm, with your tongue and lips, is very different than reading with your eyes alone. The language becomes a part of the body, which is why there is always a curious tenderness, almost an erotic quality, in those 18th- and 19th-century literary scenes where a book is being read aloud in mixed company. The words are not mere words. They are the breath and mind, perhaps even the soul, of the person who is reading.
The only reading aloud I experience is the scripture reading at church and in Bible classes. It seems we are afraid to show depth of feeling when we do that. Its as if we are trying to set some kind of speed reading record.
Reading aloud recaptures the physicality of words. To read with your lungs and diaphragm, with your tongue and lips, is very different than reading with your eyes alone. The language becomes a part of the body, which is why there is always a curious tenderness, almost an erotic quality, in those 18th- and 19th-century literary scenes where a book is being read aloud in mixed company. The words are not mere words. They are the breath and mind, perhaps even the soul, of the person who is reading.
The only reading aloud I experience is the scripture reading at church and in Bible classes. It seems we are afraid to show depth of feeling when we do that. Its as if we are trying to set some kind of speed reading record.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
A Scientist's Postive Use of 'Postmodern Constructivism'
Robert Ulanowicz's view of postmodernism from page 10 of his introduction to A Third Window: Natural Life Beyond Newton and Darwin
He promises to write in the spirit of "postmodern constructivism". About which he says:
However, a relative few among the postmodernists are picking up elements from among the rubble left by deconstructionists and using them to build new ways of visualizing reality. Although narrative no longer requires that one abide by all the Enlightenment restrictions, neither should one forsake rationality in the process. Viewed in a poisitive light, the postmodern critique frees the investigator to search among classical, Enlightenment, and contemporary thought for concepts that can be woven into a coherent rational whole."
This book promises to be pretty good.
He promises to write in the spirit of "postmodern constructivism". About which he says:
However, a relative few among the postmodernists are picking up elements from among the rubble left by deconstructionists and using them to build new ways of visualizing reality. Although narrative no longer requires that one abide by all the Enlightenment restrictions, neither should one forsake rationality in the process. Viewed in a poisitive light, the postmodern critique frees the investigator to search among classical, Enlightenment, and contemporary thought for concepts that can be woven into a coherent rational whole."
This book promises to be pretty good.
Friday, May 08, 2009
Origins of Political Correctness
From page 145 How Postmodernism Serves (My) Faith by Crystal Downing.
"Maintaining binaries - sometimes by inverting them - is so easy that many of Derrida's followers strayed from deconstruction by stumbling into "political correctness". Welcoming his message that those traditionally marginalized by dominant culture - gays, blacks, women - should be given voice, these followers missed Derrida's point and merely inverted the heiarchy, repudiating straight white males. As postmodern theologian Mark C. Taylor stated in his obituary for Derrida, " Betraying Mr. Derrida's insights by creating a culture of political correctness, his self-styled supporters fueled the culture wars that have been raging for more than two decades and continue to frame political debate." In contrast, Derrida argued that "it is necessary to recognize the unavoidable limitations and inherent contradictions in the ideas and norms that guide our actions, and do so in a way that keeps them open to constant questioning and continual revision. There can be no ethical action without critical reflection."
Yes, I think perhaps we should be open to and practice constant questioning and make continual revision and correction of ourselves.
"Maintaining binaries - sometimes by inverting them - is so easy that many of Derrida's followers strayed from deconstruction by stumbling into "political correctness". Welcoming his message that those traditionally marginalized by dominant culture - gays, blacks, women - should be given voice, these followers missed Derrida's point and merely inverted the heiarchy, repudiating straight white males. As postmodern theologian Mark C. Taylor stated in his obituary for Derrida, " Betraying Mr. Derrida's insights by creating a culture of political correctness, his self-styled supporters fueled the culture wars that have been raging for more than two decades and continue to frame political debate." In contrast, Derrida argued that "it is necessary to recognize the unavoidable limitations and inherent contradictions in the ideas and norms that guide our actions, and do so in a way that keeps them open to constant questioning and continual revision. There can be no ethical action without critical reflection."
Yes, I think perhaps we should be open to and practice constant questioning and make continual revision and correction of ourselves.
Saturday, May 02, 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
