Somebody's Wisdom
Four possibly, but not necessarily, unrelated things to ponder, if you care to do so.
In a world where success means gaining time, thinking has a single, but irredeemable, fault: it is a waste of time.
(Jean-Francois Lyotard, The Postmodern Explained)
Pragmatically, aesthetic value can be recognized or experienced, but it cannot be conveyed to those who are incapable of grasping its sensations and perceptions. To quarrel on its behalf is always a blunder.
(Harold Bloom, The Western Canon)
God, give us the grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed, courage to change the things that should be changed, and the wisdom to distinguish one from the other.
(Reinhold Niebuhr, a prayer)
Heaven knows we need never be ashamed of our tears, for they are rain upon the blinding dust of earth, overlying our hard hearts.
(Charles Dickens, Pip in Great Expectations)
cory said,
Jun 21, 17:41 #
Reinhold Niebuhr is excellent, but I have not had the luxary to read him much. Aesthetic value (aestheticism?) cannot be grasped by those who don’t experience it. I thought that was what aesthetic meant, experiential knowledge. What was Harold Bloom commenting on? Religion? Specific modes of religious? I’m clueless why he says this, apart from context this is ambiguous. Recently I’ve been tending to really reject asceticism. To me it has infected (a small amount) the Church. I’m just going off here but Bloom’s comment says lots and nothing at the same time.
Kokanee Gold rules. Of course it does… And all God’s people said “amen”
Tristan said,
Jun 22, 16:22 #
Bloom is a literary critic commenting on the futility of trying to convince the Western Canon’s detractors (those who believe the Canon represent a power struggle more than an accurate account of the great works of literature in the west – Marxist-, feminist-,, cultural- critics – whom he labels the “School of Resentment”) of a work’s aesthetic merit (particularly versus another’s). If someone cannot appreciate, for instance, the beauty T.S. Eliot’s The Waste Land, there is not much point in making a case for it. Of course, some may not appreciate it immediately, but are capable of doing so and will in time. I agree with Bloom completely.
Niebuhr is great. I love Nature and Destiny of Man, and wish I had more time to read his other works. Apparently some of his lesser known later writings are really insightful. I also love reading about his theological development throughout his life, and his own account in Leaves from the Notebook of a Tamed Cynic, or whatever it’s called.
As for Kokanee Gold, I’ve never tried it. But I’ll you on your word and pick up some soon, in order to better say “amen” with the rest of God’s people.
We need to play pool; converse.
cory said,
Jun 24, 11:01 #
Mm. That makes more sense with the context provided. Asceticism is used in so many contexts as it is. I read a bit of The Nature and Destiny of Man and was sucked in. Have you heard of the book “Genesis: The Movie”. see http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/080286094X/002-7586918-8099233?v=glance&n=283155
I read a few chapters and was quite impressed. He’s an episcopalian (unfortunately I have little respect for their leaders, but hey, the book is good, and the author is quite original in his approach).
It’s a strange book. If you like Augustine check it out.
I’ve got a blog now, but I don’t know if I’m up for blogging yet. How’s the Kokanee Gold? Lately I’ve been diving in the Tequila… :)