tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7225373.post2589746714602921177..comments2024-02-29T03:34:23.190-05:00Comments on Who Were the Sea Peoples?: Plato did not have "doctrines"gcallahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10065877215969589482noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7225373.post-32462242492565626302015-07-28T21:15:52.717-04:002015-07-28T21:15:52.717-04:00Excellent! I very much look forward to reading it...Excellent! I very much look forward to reading it. Will it be behind a paywall? If so, I can probably get to it through one of the subscriptions I have if you'd be so kind as to provide the cite once it's published. Mike B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/11915838997030682650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7225373.post-71423221953098207212015-07-27T12:05:17.179-04:002015-07-27T12:05:17.179-04:00I will be reviewing the book for the British Journ...I will be reviewing the book for the British Journal for the History of Philosophy.gcallahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10065877215969589482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7225373.post-77924614392197625942015-07-24T15:57:23.429-04:002015-07-24T15:57:23.429-04:00Checked out Melzer: eeh, it looks like he attacks ...Checked out Melzer: eeh, it looks like he attacks the usual Straussian straw man of "historicism." I don't know, Mike... I'll see if I can find a review outlet.gcallahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10065877215969589482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7225373.post-22514057719362907052015-07-24T15:45:01.629-04:002015-07-24T15:45:01.629-04:00"But don't be too hasty in dismissing the..."But don't be too hasty in dismissing the broader Straussian thesis about the practice of esoteric writing in general..."<br /><br />But... I didn't say anything about that broader thesis at all! I am certainly not familiar enough with the area to have any opinion. I would like to read that book, however: thanks for the heads up.gcallahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10065877215969589482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7225373.post-77463554913737690062015-07-24T02:12:59.197-04:002015-07-24T02:12:59.197-04:00Gene, you may well be right on this particular poi...Gene, you may well be right on this particular point -- Strauss got this passage in Plato wrong and missed the import of his meaning here. But don't be too hasty in dismissing the broader Straussian thesis about the practice of esoteric writing in general, which you seem to be doing given the scare quotes around "esoteric" and the title of this post. Although Strauss may have made errors about the specific content or interpretation of philosophers' esoteric doctrines, the practice of such writing (and doctrines) absolutely existed. I used to think otherwise, until a recent book called "philosophy between the lines" by Arthur Melzer completely changed my mind. It's one of the most important works of intellectual history to come out in quite some time, IMHO, and a real game changer. I beg you to read it sometime and judge the rather jaw-dropping evidence Melzer marshals for yourself. (and oh what I wouldn't give to see you review it someday! But I won't ask for too much). The reasons for esoteric writing were actually manifold -- some of which I think you would especially appreciate -- and not simply about suppressing "dangerous" ideas.<br /><br />Cheers.Mike B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/11915838997030682650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7225373.post-25473529799308549102015-07-23T19:27:00.919-04:002015-07-23T19:27:00.919-04:00Wow. I confess to being wholly ignorant of Wittge...Wow. I confess to being wholly ignorant of Wittgenstein... I should read more. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00053155617490357148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7225373.post-18977601478369789592015-07-23T18:28:29.442-04:002015-07-23T18:28:29.442-04:00Absolutely not! From Wikipedia:
"Wittgenstei...Absolutely not! From Wikipedia:<br /><br />"Wittgenstein's faith would undergo developmental transformations over time, much like his philosophical ideas; his relationship with Christianity and religion, in general, for which he professed a sincere and devoted reverence, would eventually flourish. Undoubtedly, amongst other Christian thinkers, Wittgenstein was influenced by St. Augustine, with whom he would occasionally converse in his Philosophical Investigations. Philosophically, Wittgenstein's thought shows fundamental alignment with religious discourse. For example, Wittgenstein would become one of the century's fiercest critics of Scientism.<br /><br />With age, his deepening Christianity led to many religious elucidations and clarifications, as he untangled language problems in religion, attacking, for example, the temptation to think of God's existence as a matter of scientific evidence. In 1947, finding it more difficult to work, he wrote, "I have had a letter from an old friend in Austria, a priest. In it he says that he hopes my work will go well, if it should be God's will. Now that is all I want: if it should be God's will."gcallahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10065877215969589482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7225373.post-52924416589552070492015-07-23T15:43:00.804-04:002015-07-23T15:43:00.804-04:00Gene, would you say that Plato was a language skep...Gene, would you say that Plato was a language skeptic? Also, this is the first time that I have heard Wittgenstein be referred to as a mystical philosopher! I have always heard that he was a reductive materialist. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00053155617490357148noreply@blogger.com