Monthly Archives: September 2006

Nietzsche on the Opposition

Posted elsewhere on the Internet in another guise, but I thought it good enough to repeat here. “They have got rid of the Christian God, and now feel obliged to cling all the more firmly to Christian morality; that is English consistency…. Christian morality is a command: its origin is transcendental; it is beyond all …

September 30, 2006 – 4:05 pm | By ashok | Posted in nietzsche, philosophy | Comments (1)

Wisdom vs. Prudence

When one puts the problem in the abstract, saying something such as “Are wisdom and prudence the same thing,” one does the problem a massive injustice. It is a very real problem, and it exists in everyday life. There’s no doubt in my mind that some of my professors are genuinely wise, as they’ve given …

September 28, 2006 – 3:00 pm | By ashok | Posted in Uncategorized | Comments (3)

Decline & Fall

Someone asked me about the faculty situation in the University the other day, and I gave my conspiracy theory response, which is as follows. The big problem with universities is that none of them are hiring new faculty. The market for new PhD’s is terrible; the Chronicle of Higher Education consistently has horror stories where …

September 27, 2006 – 1:41 pm | By ashok | Posted in academia | Comments (0)

Hmm.

I’m pissed at her. I don’t really know why. I want to forgive, but I can only forget.

September 25, 2006 – 2:44 am | By ashok | Posted in Uncategorized | Comments (1)

Thoughts on Nietzsche, Science and Politics

“The harsh Helot condition to which the tremendous extent of science has condemned every single person today is one of the main reasons why education and educators appropriate to fuller, richer, deeper natures are no longer forthcoming. Our culture suffers from nothing more than it suffers from the superabundance of presumptuous journeymen and fragments of …

September 21, 2006 – 3:36 pm | By ashok | Posted in nietzsche, philosophy | Comments (1)

Things to Do:

Clean the apartment Arrange a move-out date Arrange taking exams early Talk to Graduate Dean about comprehensive exams Things I’m doing: Plato’s Laws is currently being read Dissertation proposal piano and choir

September 19, 2006 – 3:04 am | By ashok | Posted in Uncategorized | Comments (0)

Bad Days and Terrible Days

Said several things today that made me look like an insane jackass, unable to keep my marbles together or be civil. I’m also feeling insanely jealous of several graduate students familiar with material I’m not familiar with. I refuse to get depressed. I’m just going to be brilliant – that I can do, that I …

September 17, 2006 – 3:23 am | By ashok | Posted in Uncategorized | Comments (0)

On the Boat Race of Book V of the Aeneid

Racing to Nowhere Ashok Karra First event: four heavy-oared ships chosen out of the fleet, All equally matched. Mnestheus with a lively crew Commanded the Shark. He was soon to be an Italian Mnestheus, from whom came the Memmii. Gyas was captain Of the giant Chimaera, a ship like a city in size; Dardanian youths …

September 17, 2006 – 1:04 am | By ashok | Posted in poetry | Comments (0)

On Plato’s Cleitophon

for David Ring The essay by Clifford Orwin that this polemic tangentially engages is entitled “On the Cleitophon,” and found in “The Roots of Political Philosophy: Ten Forgotten Socratic Dialogues,” ed. Thomas Pangle. Cleitophon is a character in the Republic who agrees with Thrasymachus’ assertion that justice is the interest of the stronger. When this …

September 14, 2006 – 3:07 pm | By ashok | Posted in philosophy, plato | Tagged | Comments (4)

School

Taking two classes, sitting in three more. Then there’s choir and the dissertation, and one of the classes is a language class. I’m busy. I like it. Things I’m thinking about: Plato – A distinction between “wisdom” and “war” is key, yet the figure of Athena combines both and is revered. Does Socrates work to …

September 3, 2006 – 4:54 pm | By ashok | Posted in education, personal | Tagged | Comments (1)