Journeys with Tim

Wittgenstein's poker

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Philosophers love anecdotes and one of the best involves Ludwig Wittgenstein, Karl Popper, and a fire poker. It begins when Popper, as an invited speaker at Cambridge, is giving a talk to a small group of professors and students, including Wittgenstein.

Accounts differ, but most seem to agree that as Popper was talking, Wittgenstein engages him and picks up a poker to demonstrate a point. When the talk gets around to ethics Wittgenstein relentlessly challenges Popper when he finally says, "Give me one example of a moral rule," at which point Popper says, "Do not threaten visiting lecturers with pokers." Beside himself with anger, Wittgenstein slams down the poker and storms out, slamming the door.

The "incident" as it as come to be known was really a bomb waiting to go off, but you can read about that here.

Christmas list

Have you thought about what you want for Christmas? I have. Feel free to be creative and get me what you want, but if you need any ideas look here. The list is also conviently located on the right :)

"Worst book ever..."

The members of my reading group had a conversation about choosing which books to read the other day. We all agreed that one ought to read widely, but what does that really mean? What about escapist reading? Is that okay? What do you make of this: you should only read books that you are willing to pay for. I wonder about that, especially since most of the books I read are from the library. Does that mean those books aren't really worth my time? Perhaps having access to free books lowers the standard of what I ought to read, thus I'm reading books I shouldn't.

Regardless, how do you choose which books to read? Taste? Do you read books because you feel you ought to? Mark Twain famously said that a classic book is one in which people praise but don't read. Perhaps it would be easier to make of list of books I won't read. Here, I'll start...

1. Catcher in the Rye.
2. Heidegger, Being and Time
3. Contemporary Christian fiction
4. The Bridges of Madison County by Robert James Waller
5. The Celestine Prophecy: An Adventure by James Redfield, Carol Adrienne
6. Ulysses by James Joyce

And you?

Turkey, Dissertations and the CIA

Being away from family, I spent the afternoon at Steve's house. Steve is a fellow philosophy graduate student, and every year he and his family invite other students over for Thanksgiving. Thanks again bud.

Another student in the program is defending her dissertation next week. She hasn't found a job yet, but she did apply at the CIA for some kind of analysis job. Wouldn't that be something if she got it? I still want to teach, but maybe I shouldn't rule out the CIA. Humm.

Iraq blog

Check out this new blog by a US Army officer. Amazing first hand accounts from a guy on the ground. Be sure to read "Toy Guns" and "Anatomy of a Decision". Breathtaking.

I help people feel better.

Went out my professor and some students last night after class. "How do you respond when someone asks what you study?" someone asked. My answer: I tell people we don't study individuals, we study problems/issues. I try to give a serious answer, but sometimes that doesn't get me very far because people assume philosophers are supposed to be historians, so they want a list of famous authors.

I like my professor's answer better. I study ways to make people feel better. Then see if they take the bait and think you're talking about psychology. I've gotta try that.

Seasons Greetings

Presented on John Locke today. I think it went well; a few students said they liked it. Glad that's over. The next week I will eat, sleep, and drink logic, wishing I could take more time to celebrate the coming Christmas season. The Jesus in me wishes I could do some caroling to spread Christmas cheer. The devil in me wants to egg every store and every person who says, "seasons greetings."

May I be the first to wish you a Merry Christmas!

Master and Commander

Newsweek has a first look at Return of the King which, telling from the article, looks great. I've decided against rereading the book just to avoid the inevitable disappointment that will surely come. Instead I'm going in as a simple movie goer expecting to be blown away. What I'm grateful for this Thanksgiving? Peter Jackson (And of course his master, Tolkien).

Numerical Identity

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Ever wonder what makes you the same person throughout time? Is there something that you have that you keep throughout time? I'm thinking about this as I get ready to present English philosopher John Locke's theory of personal identity.

His thinks that the basis for personal identity through time is memory. If you have the same memories as an eariler person, then you are that person. There might be something to this, but I'm not convinced.

Winter Storms

I'm told there is a chance of 3-6 inches of snow through today. You know, I like the snow, I like the change in weather. Cold, on the other hand, can be too much. But as long as there are plenty of sunny days, it's all right.

Raise a toast to Lewis

From the New York Times...

"Forty years ago today, as the world mourned the assassination of an American president, the passing of the 20th century's most influential Christian writer was hardly noticed: Clive Staples Lewis, professor of English literature at Oxford and Cambridge, died on Nov. 22, 1963. In his ability to nurture the faithful, as well as seduce the skeptic, C. S. Lewis had no peer."

More the rest for a nice piece on Lewis. Use 'bcread' for both ID and password.

UPDATE: Opps, forgot the link. Here it is. (Thanks Irene).

I remember winter well.

Here's an image from last winter. I remember waking up and seeing the snowing pouring down. It was quiet and not a soul was out. So I grabbed my camera and got this shot just outside Selleck.

A cold wintery day...

Perfect for testing the new look of my blog. Though I need a new description for it. Plus I've got things to do, like run errands, etc.

Still testing

Tonight? Pizza, movie and turning in early cuz I got work early tomorrow. What are you doing?

P.S. Here's the Christmas video: Click here to download.

P.S. Here's the Christmas pics Click here to download.

the last red leaf...

Tonight the winds begin to rise
and roar from yonder dropping day;
the last red leaf is whirled away,
the rooks are blown about the skies;

the forest cracked, the waters curled,
the cattle huddled on the lea;
and wildly dashed on tower and tree
the sunbeam strikes along the world;

And but for fancies, which aver
that all thy motions gently pass
atwart a plane of molten glass,
I scarce could brook the strain and stir

that makes the barren branches loud;
and but for fear it is not so,
the wild unrest that lives in woe
would dote and pore on yonder cloud

that rises upward always higher,
and onward drags a labouring breast,
and topples round the dreary west,
a looming bastion fringed with fire.

--Alfred, Lord Tennyson--

Sweet Girl

Fleetwood Mac Sweet Girl

And he says, What do you love to do?
Outside your world,
Who spends timewith you?
Whom do you love when you're not working?

Sweet Girl...
Where would you go,
If you had the time?
Crossing some crazy State - line somewhere?
To whom do you cry?
People are unkind,
Sweet Girl...

But I chose to dance across the stages of the world.
Everyone said I'd never learn...
And I still hear your words,
Well, I waited all my life for you...
Sweet Girl...

I did try to come back and listen...
You never knew it...
I didn't wish it...
And I did hear every answer of every question...
It's all about protection...
Still through the sunlighted days I wait...
Track a ghost through the fog...

The sun is burning me...
And you come runnin' out...
In the wind with me...
The ocean is your blanket...
But I chose to dance across the stages of the world...
Everyone said I'd never learn...
I still hear your words,
Well, I waited all my life for you...
I watched you fly through the world.
In a golden ball...
Many are the cities that I never saw at all...

Sometimes I feel like I was always on - call
Sometimes even I am allowed to fall...
He says, Come down here for a minute...
Well, come down here for a minute...
He says, Come down here for a minute,
Sweet Girl... Sweet Girl...