Perennial Philosophy

  • Magic and Mechanics

    Explore the historic connection between magic and mechanics. Continue reading

    Magic and Mechanics
  • CMM0013–ORDER OF FLO with Joy and Rivkah

    Drawing on themes from queer theory and responding to COVID-19, “Order of Flo” playfully dances along the lines of destiny at the intersection of bodily motion and mindful emotion. Melting the presentations of drag, queer bodies, and weird minds, “Order… Continue reading

    CMM0013–ORDER OF FLO with Joy and Rivkah
  • Care v. Romance

    Stop confusing “manipulating an object of attraction to possess IT” with “embracing ANOTHER PERSON through, with, and in loving-care.“ Continue reading

    Care v. Romance
  • 2020 — SPRING TCCD-NE Course

    My current course in Introduction to Philosophy: Reading schedule, readings, and assignments. If you are not one of my students, you are still welcome to read along with us. Continue reading

    2020 — SPRING TCCD-NE Course
  • Get to know PROF. MARK LANCE

    Mark Lance, Ph. D., is a Professor in the Philosophy Department at Georgetown University as well as a co-founder there of the Program on Justice and Peace. Continue reading

    Get to know PROF. MARK LANCE
  • Open Virtue, Closed Propriety: Considerations on Daoism and Bergsonism

    No consideration of parallels between Daoism and Bergsonism has been accomplished. Yet there is a profitable comparison to be made between the ancient Chinese philosophy of the Dào Dé Jing and the more contemporary work of French philosopher Henri Bergson.… Continue reading

    Open Virtue, Closed Propriety: Considerations on Daoism and Bergsonism
  • Grateful emptiness

    Babies loudly screaming—so much substance!Youth intensely playing —missing no substanceAdults quietly plotting—obsessed with substance.Elders silently waiting—all substance gone.Grateful emptiness—how much longer? 04 September 2019Willow Springs Rehabilitation CenterAbilene, TX Continue reading

    Grateful emptiness
  • Finding a Way: Faith in Times of Crisis

    “Philosophy is the faith which unifies man.”   —Richard M. Owsley[1] For the entirety of my life in Bible Belt Texas, I have encountered both religionists and atheists who interpret “faith” as an irrational action: a totally emotive, rationally groundless hope… Continue reading

    Finding a Way: Faith in Times of Crisis
  • Protected: A braggart unmakes themself

    There is no excerpt because this is a protected post. Continue reading

    Protected: A braggart unmakes themself
  • Suspended academic

    Here is Prometheus bound. Continue reading

    Suspended academic
  • Unchained Mind-walking

    My visit to Abilene this last week has been quiet and refreshing after teaching two courses during the second part of Summer school. Humble thanks to my colleagues Doug and Loni who co-taught one course with me at UNT. First… Continue reading

    Unchained Mind-walking
  • Silent road, cloudless mind

    Saturday, I went to visit my mother at the nursing home in Abilene, TX. Almost 91, she has become much less active, sometimes sleeping most of the day. I brought with me Bashō-Sensei’s beautiful haibun, The Narrow road to the… Continue reading

    Silent road, cloudless mind
  • Wonder of dawn

    The shared reason of the day says, “See, the sun comes up in the east as the earth stands still.” Or maybe, “See, the earth turns on its axis as it swings around the sun.” Yet neither truly responds to… Continue reading

    Wonder of dawn
  • On Bullshit Jobs – RSA

    According to a 2015 YouGov poll, 37% of the UK population believe their job makes no meaningful contribution to the world. And despite the time-saving advances promised by technology, we’re now working longer hours than ever. How has this situation… Continue reading

    On Bullshit Jobs – RSA
  • My teaching philosophy

    This is really the first assignment I give for reading in all of my courses. It is to let students know why I believe they should make a place for philosophizing throughout their life. I have taken to sending this… Continue reading

    My teaching philosophy
  • Warp and woof

    Late June after the solstice is the time when I lose sight of writing and reading. Usually there is a burst of both just after school is out—that is how conditioned I am by the school year at the age… Continue reading

    Warp and woof
  • Queering and Wyrding

    ‘Q’ then, will never be a coherent letter tacked as a bridge on some list of identities. The past decade shows the poverty or ruin of every attempt to do so. We’ve said already that these words are magic. We… Continue reading

    Queering and Wyrding
  • The Hierophant: There is more-so than the just-so

    The most intriguing nuances of experience cannot be wholly captured by words. Positive claims within consciousness-as-such can only apprehend so-much of our being-world as an encompassing phenomenon (Jaspers 1970b: 18-22). We have known this since the very beginning of recorded… Continue reading

    The Hierophant: There is more-so than the just-so