[Still on break. I pulled this from the archive. September 6, 2020. The pandemic part seems long ago. The rest of the post, sadly, not so much.]
I’ve been reading Plato’s The Republic for the second time. The first time was in college 50 years ago. I was a philosophy major. It was required reading.
So was The Brothers Karamazov. I recently reread that classic of love, betrayal, money, murder, and insanity. Fun. And just like that, August flew by.
Reading a book without the pressure of writing a paper or taking an exam is so much more enjoyable. Like running without weights. I figure two or three more Russian novels and this pandemic will be over.
(Or, I’ll be insane).
In college, I took Greek for four years, so I read portions of The Republic in its original language. I wrote a paper. I passed the exam. I don’t know how. The book is obtuse in any language.
Still, I committed to plowing through it again (all 10 books). I also regularly bang my head against the New York Times Sunday crossword puzzle. I’ve heard that reading obtuse books and working crossword puzzles can prevent dementia.
(We’ll see.)
I took up The Republic, in part, because I wanted a diversion from the “ship of fools.” I needed a breather. Nothing like visiting the rational philosophical dialogues of fourth century BCE Greece to get away from this plague of anxiety.
I would breathe fresh Hellenic air. I would revel in wisdom. I would chew lotus. I would forget. Ah, antiquity.
It didn’t work out so well.
Unfortunately, parts of The Republic are clear as day. For example, Plato compares the state to a ship and asks: What would happen if we entrusted the navigation of a ship to a rich man—who knew nothing about piloting—just because he was rich?
(Gulp.)
And then later, in regard to a state ruled by a tyrant adored by the gullible masses, he says: When the tyrant has disposed of foreign enemies by conquest or treaty, and there is nothing to fear from them, then he is always stirring up some war at home, in order that the people may require a strong leader.
I closed the book and pushed it aside.
I’m now rereading Mad magazines.
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Credits:
Top, Sarah Dillon, “The Untitled Space”
Bottom, Alfred E. Neuman, Blueshirtbanter.com
I am not surprised that we are seeing much the same this time as before. It seems to be more extreme this time. I am at the point in your book “The Bible Re examined” where you are discussing interpretations of the bible by current evangelicals and putting the bible on a pedestal. Using it to work against all manner of advancements that might threaten those in power. Familiar content. But it is lamentable that many give up thinking critically about issues and surrender that exercise to those “in power”. I still believe strongly that so much of the “sheep” syndrome is a result of fear of losing one’s “place”.
I like it! Thank you.
I agree, Jessica.
“What, me worry?” > “Yes, me worry!”
From Plato to DT in 2024-plus, “worry” seems a condition when the 1% are given governance power by a greater percentage of “have nots.” To close with Alfred’s wisdom, “The only advantage to living in the past is that the rents are much cheaper.” We’ll see how accurate this is in the next year.
Randy, maybe something middling between Plato, the Russian classics AND MAD magazine would provide more substantive relief??? LOL
P.S. I was joyfully distracted for several seconds with your “running without weights.” Now that could be a healthy remedy!! 😉
Pleasant distractions bring some relief with the crazy looks currently and ahead. With both knees and a hip replaced, I don’t run or jump, but walks, nature, humor, good reading material (old or new) and friends, old and new, do help through tough days.
Now there’s a winning tool box!! 😉
There is so much to confront in our country. Too many fear to say it, but unfettered capitalism (rule by greediest) is destroying our only home. The US has sunk to victim of its own excesses…and it’s own shallowness. Way too much goes into living performance art. Yes. We are really dancing with madness and darkness, foolishly trying to keep the beat.
too true :-/
This may be free association, but your post made me think back to this great song from the late 80s by World Party: https://youtu.be/B2nCugGQZO0?si=M_D03djE2ynpzTc5
I’d recommend giving John Prine’s “Caravan of Fools” a listen if you haven’t already. Only one word comes to mind regarding that particular song from his final album, The Tree of Forgiveness, “prescient”. I won’t attempt to recap it here. Give it a spin, if we can still say that, and allow Prime to speak for himself. Before this second Trump Misadministration is finished, we will no doubt find ourselves marching and protesting his ruinous socio-economic policies right along side disaffected MAGA faithful who realize that they’ve been lied to and fooled once again by a “misadministration” led by a pathological narcissist and staffed with billionaires. I understand that efforts are presently being made to protest this incoming debacle in the near term. May I suggest that we hold our fire “until we see the whites of their eyes.” Another word comes to mind, “calamitous”.
In the meantime, enjoy the remainder of the holidays. I’m in the loving embrace of family in California’s “Gold Country” at Murphys, not far from Calaveras Big Trees State Park. It did us all a world of good to walk among the northern most grove of towering and majestic Giant Sequoias ranging in age from 800-3,000 years. Yes. I felt very small. A good thing for us egocentric humans to experience from time to time. In our WV neck of the woods, Giant Hemlocks are close by in Aurora, WV. Enjoy their majesty and remember, in the immortal words of George Harrison, “And to see you’re really only very small/ And life flows on within you and without you.”
Everyone here is experiencing a collective gasp; & trying to predict the future (based on the past) is a noble & sorrowful excursion into potential hopelessness. I get it.
We, too, have visited our giant hemlocks in West Virginia, driven down the east coast (& back up again), staying on the beaches, watching the sunrises & sunsets, & the full moon glistening & reflecting on the rippling waves. To feel small, & yet part of this great cosmic dance puts my heart & mind & soul at peace. Seeing extraordinary, beautiful places & people around the globe helps me connect to the other side of our nature. In the face of greed, & heartless consumption, I turn to these to see a vision of what the GREATER WE really want & need.
If we can show how we would & can do things another way – over & over & over again… who knows what will happen?
In the meantime, I cherish all of you for sharing this sometimes dreadful, always surprising dance of life with me.
As the love of my life says “ keep a goin’’… we’re all in this together… creative chaos for the common good…the wheel turns…”. And to quote you Randy, yet again “Heaven only knows how it will all turn out”. Thank you for this Sunday foray into Plato, & musings, & giant hemlocks – with people who care.
Always enjoy the comments. and learn from them.
Picturing a dance with others through tough times is a helpful metaphor. “To watch us dance is to hear our hearts speak.” – Hopi Indian Saying
I hope we can create some stronger and more positive steps in the new year.
Hmmm not the most joyous note on a Sunday, “Plato compares the state to a ship and asks: What would happen if we entrusted the navigation of a ship to a rich man—who knew nothing about piloting—just because he was rich?” or “When the tyrant has disposed of foreign enemies by conquest or treaty, and there is nothing to fear from them, then he is always stirring up some war at home, in order that the people may require a strong leader.”
I do not want another insurrection or any kind of civil war (although one that stays within MAGA at MAGA would be tolerable). I want people to come to their senses during the next 201 weeks so that on Nov 7, 2028, a president who meets requirements higher than those in our Constitution. The U.S. Constitution states that the president must:
I would like to see elements of
Can we propose an amendment to the barely anything current requirements in the Constitution? We have 1,409 days.
Randy, I am rereading Dante’s Inferno, also a college assignment from 50 plus years ago. I liked it then, and I am even more impressed now. As one who now reads and thinks about writing Science Fiction, the Inferno is a splendid “world-creation,” creative, visual, coherent.
I’m impressed more generally about the great literature I was forced to read by lit profs. This includes The Brothers K, which I cite a couple times a year.
By the way, did anyone else ever read ” the Mad Magazine’s Guide to the 10 Commandments?” By Vernard Eller. It’s an excellent read an theological commentary.