Philosophy as a Way of Life

  • May the Fourth Be with You

    Let-go of what weighs you down… “Attachment leads to jealously. The shadow of greed, that is.” ~Yoda. And May the Fourth be with you! Continue reading

    May the Fourth Be with You
  • Research method: napping

    Over the years as I worked through the #trudgery of academic assignments, napping has become an important aspect of my process. I read and write on a subject for a few hours. Then I drink about 8 ounces of black… Continue reading

    Research method: napping
  • Mindful Self-Acceptance? Bad Idea According to Ancient Chinese Philosophers

    Asian philosophies have proven extremely influential in the United States, but are they being interpreted correctly? Frequently not, says Harvard China historian Michael Puett, who focuses on two main ideas in this video: one transported relatively recently to the United… Continue reading

    Mindful Self-Acceptance? Bad Idea According to Ancient Chinese Philosophers
  • maintaining submission

    Writing poetry rather than writing an exam. Continue reading

    maintaining submission
  • I-Thou Encompassing

    O, Thou; O, Thou… I alone falters embracing uncommon – uncanny entwining – exclusive encompassing I risks everything for no-thing for Thou this encounter nothing else how can “you” capture this? you… you… you… you… you… you… stuttering stabbing particle instants… Continue reading

    I-Thou Encompassing
  • General Kafka

    “The right understanding of any matter and a misunderstanding of the same matter do not wholly exclude each other.” ― Franz Kafka, The Trial something happened we cannot know details rest assured… it happened not a good thing a hushed thing sitting… Continue reading

    General Kafka
  • self conspiracy

    “i” as useful designation like a storm front like a bright day changing temperaments one and then another always another forecaste now is here and then is there here is now and there is then no-thing stable enough to be… Continue reading

    self conspiracy
  • Zen Anarchy

    And nothing is fixed! The famous master Hyakujo wanted to find an abbot for a monastery. He put a pitcher on the floor and asked what it was, adding, “Don’t say it’s a pitcher.” Some of the smarter monks came… Continue reading

    Zen Anarchy
  • A little bit on Crossan’s historical Jesus

    Central to [John] Crossan’s methodology is the dating of texts. This is laid out more or less fully in The Historical Jesus in one of the appendices. He dates part of the Coptic Gospel of Thomas to the 50s CE,… Continue reading

  • Whatever, Etc. 0037: Justice and the Tripartite Soul

    I was asked to drop by and engage in Dialog this evening, Mar 03, at 6pm, with some of my compatriots who are doing a close reading of Plato’s Republic. Live-streaming this for those who want to watch at home… Continue reading

    Whatever, Etc. 0037: Justice and the Tripartite Soul
  • Sun – Line – Cave, Part 2

    I’ll be returning to talk with students in my friend’s class over the metaphors/myths created by Plato in Books 6 & 7 of Republic: the Simile of the Sun, the Analogy of the Divided Line, and the Allegory of the… Continue reading

    Sun – Line – Cave, Part 2
  • Three Articles, One Post, One BEING

    Like many classes these days, my graduate courses have an online discussion component that encourages students to respond to the week’s readings in a central location so they can come to class already interacting on the topic. My Indian Religion… Continue reading

  • A dancing star in a constellation of lies

    Am I decent man? Perhaps. I would use this opportunity to speak about myself with some pleasure (Dostoevsky 7). But I am not sure it is such a pleasure. Does decency really only allow me to speak about myself? Certainly,… Continue reading

    A dancing star in a constellation of lies
  • Sun – Line – Cave, Part 1

    A dear colleague has invited me to discuss a few of the metaphors at the heart of Plato’s Republic. So I’ll be live streaming from his class Friday, 26 Feb 2016 @ 1pm… if you are not busy at work… Continue reading

    Sun – Line – Cave, Part 1
  • Mind Walk 17 Feb 2016

    N. and I go wandering around Denton thinking about Carlos Castaneda and letting the thoughts wander with us. Continue reading

  • Line – circle – motion 

    My pedagogy: I do not claim to know things that will make you more intelligent, more wealthy, or more satisfied. I do claim to have experiences in reading, working, and traveling that I enjoy passing along in exchange for your… Continue reading

    Line – circle – motion 
  • Man Bites Dogma – A RAW Conversation

    He’s been called a cult figure to various lunatic fringe groups, Tom Robbins calls him “a dazzling barker hawking tickets to the most thrilling tilt-a-whirls and daring loop-o-planes on the midway of higher consciousness,” he calls himself an iconoclastic comedian,… Continue reading

  • Nootropics or Smart Drugs

    Important caveat for those thinking smart drugs can make a person more intelligent: Like any performance enhancer, there has to be a core level of intelligence or athleticism to be augmented. Welcome to the world of nootropics, or smart drugs.… Continue reading