Philosophy and Literature

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I wasn't sure if this was appropriate here, but I think Ulysses certainly touches on philosophy, especially in its look at the mind and history. An entertaining article for its anniversary:

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2022/jan/29/dangerous-voyeuristic-transgressive-exciting-anne-enright-on-james-joyces-ulysses-at-100

I'm curious of anyone else feels this way, but there are two ideas in philosophy, which really bother me. One is Camus' idea that life is absurd. The other is our refusing pain and suffering--a denial which religion and politics are both based on. When pain is accepted, it seems to lead to pessimism (as in Schopenhauer), which I also dislike. Each of these views assumes something about life--a human entitlement that exists only in our minds.

Absurdity is a perspective, which assumes the world should appeal to human thought and pleasure, as if this is the aim of reality.

Pessimism assumes pleasure is the goal, and life fails by not meeting this. Why shouldn't we suffer, though? You can be happier once you realize pain is inevitable, instead of fixating on how life could or should be. Not that we should be passive, but pain is one form of meaning, not a refusal of life.

Of course, both relate to our hate of the body, and the idea impermanent things have no value. Religion and society are also based on this. It's very narcissistic to assume temporary things are worthless or illusory. But, that's religion and politics for you. We value things because they are impermanent--otherwise they would lack meaning.

I think happiness is just a relative thing. Without unhappiness it has no meaning.
Swedish cartoonist, poet etc Joakim Pirinen wrote a play once about a family who always were happy "Familjen Bra".
To accomplish that, everything had to get even better all the time. It became quite absurd really fast.

/Mats

That sounds hilarious

Thank you for posting WCW. I watched it last night. ^^

You bet What did you think? I thought it was very well-done, especially for being short. A good, intimate, overview. I loved the comparisons with T.S. Eliot, too.

I enjoyed it, too. I've always been interested in his style for its simplicity and scope.

It's funny how a poet can be so astute about the human condition without rhyming.

A doctor, even

Steve Martin discusses his near-career as a philosophy professor, and how studying philosophy influenced his comedy.

Another good one, about the conductor Paavo Järvi. I thought it would be about contemporary classical composers, but instead it was a personal look into his life and how life is as a conductor.

A brilliant documentary on the poet Marianne Moore. It gives a great overview of her life, and wonderful analysis of several poems. I was very surprised. Nice discussions of technique and effect.