Monthly Archives: March 2009

Brief, incomplete thought on political science today

Right now what’s on my mind is the conduct of political science today. I’ve been reading Jay Cost at Real Clear Politics, and he makes a lot of sense. But there are ways he approaches problems that irk me, because he’s right, but he’s right because he’s narrowed the problem. For example: in his latest …

March 16, 2009 – 9:53 pm | By ashok | Posted in politics | Comments (3)

Links, 3/16/2009

Lee Siegel on George Steiner: …a spiritual energy enlivened Steiner’s work, drawing in readers who surrendered themselves to his profligate ruminations. He attributed this quality to Arthur Koestler, who, he wrote, “seemed to exemplify Nietzsche’s insight that there is in men and women a motivation stronger even than love or hatred or fear. It is …

March 16, 2009 – 6:57 pm | By ashok | Posted in links | Comments (1)

Prompt: Should a University have a class on the Red Sox? If so, who should take it?

Cute quote,  but this class on the New York Yankees, started in response to a class on the Red Sox, is probably still a waste of time and money: “From World War II through the turn of the century, the Yankees were the dominant cultural icon of this country,” says Mr. Curtis. “Nobody can deny …

March 14, 2009 – 10:28 pm | By ashok | Posted in academia | Comments (10)

The Origins of Myth: On Derek Walcott’s “Europa”

for Abhijeet N., because he asked Europa (from Windows on the Universe) Derek Walcott The full moon is so fierce that I can count the coconuts’ cross-hatched shade on bungalows, their white walls raging with insomnia. The stars leak drop by drop on the tin plates of the sea almonds, and the jeering clouds are …

March 14, 2009 – 7:45 pm | By ashok | Posted in poetry | Comments (4)

A Question of Wealth: On Xenophon, Memorabilia I 2.62

Xenophon, Memorabilia I 2.62, tr. Amy Bonnette: In my [Xenophon's] opinion, Socrates – since this was the sort he was – deserved honor from the city rather than death. One would find this out by examining the matter also according to the laws. For, according to the laws, the penalty is death if someone is …

March 11, 2009 – 6:14 pm | By ashok | Posted in philosophy, xenophon | Comments (5)

Links, 3/10/09

Seeds of its own destruction – I am not a fan of  this article, but there is relevant information about how the good times (an increased want to invest) created these times (lots of debt and instability). I don’t like the article because I think this whole “let’s talk about ideology and economics” thing is …

March 10, 2009 – 2:09 pm | By ashok | Posted in links | Comments (0)

Thoughts on “Watchmen” (Movie)

Spoilers ahead: I’ve only seen the movie, not read the book. The movie is too long, too disjointed, and has too much weak acting in places to recommend. It isn’t a complete failure: there are scenes of genuine horror, and you do end up rooting for one character who most doggedly pursues truth and justice. …

March 9, 2009 – 1:42 am | By ashok | Posted in movies | Comments (4)

Preliminary Thoughts on Body, Soul and Morality: Xenophon, Memorabilia I 2.19-20

Xenophon, Memorabilia I 2.19-20, tr. Amy Bonnette: Now perhaps many of those who claim to philosophize would say that one who is just would never become unjust, nor would the moderate one become insolent, nor would anyone who had learned anything else that can be learned ever lose that knowledge. But I, for my part, …

March 6, 2009 – 4:03 pm | By ashok | Posted in philosophy, xenophon | Comments (0)

Stupid Things Conservatives Say, Pt. 1

I can’t believe people would visit here, become aware of what I do, and then fire off an e-mail telling me that education isn’t necessary because – I kid you not – George Washington and Joe the Plumber represent the same sort of person in public life. Also, a classical education isn’t necessary because the …

March 4, 2009 – 1:46 pm | By ashok | Posted in politics | Comments (3)

Well, This Was a Quiet Birthday

The things we thought that we should do We other things have done But those peculiar industries Have never been begun – (Emily Dickinson, from poem #1293) 1. Just wandering around online and realizing that there are whole clusters of people – and I don’t mean this in a bad way entirely – that I …

March 3, 2009 – 11:17 pm | By ashok | Posted in personal | Comments (4)