Monthly Archives: December 2009

On the intersection of poetry, politics and philosophy

I’ve owed all of you an explanation for this blog for some time, but I dread writing posts like these. The best discussion of how poetry, politics and philosophy relate is Book X of Plato’s Republic. What is below is obviously not meant to replace that discussion in any way. All I want to do …

December 3, 2009 – 11:41 am | By ashok | Posted in philosophy, plato, poetry, politics, xenophon | Tagged | Comments (0)

Emily Dickinson, “How well I knew Her not” (837)

for Hayley Withers – happy birthday How well I knew Her not… (837) Emily Dickinson How well I knew Her not Whom not to know has been A Bounty in prospective, now Next Door to mine the Pain. Comment: The dramatic narrative (action) of the poem frames a situation. Does it establish an argument? It …

December 2, 2009 – 8:32 am | By ashok | Posted in dickinson, poetry | Comments (2)

Links, 12/1/09

Megan McArdle, “Will the Former Politicians Please Shut the Hell Up?” – I don’t agree with McArdle here about Cheney, but I certainly feel the way she does to a degree. His comments help people who are willing to throw any and every charge against the President until something sticks. Needless to say, those people …

December 1, 2009 – 8:14 pm | By ashok | Posted in links | Comments (2)