Fragmenta Philosophica

Once you've decided ...

Let's say that one has gone on record already and endorsed either Bush or Kerry - given one's "definitive" statement. In what spirit then does one approach intelligent commentators who make a strong case for the opposite? Surely any concession will be qualified with a "but ..." Making one's mind up - which can hardly be avoided - seems to involve a certain amount of stubborness, namely, that which attends a matter which one wishes to have settled.

I've been thinking about this a lot recently, for, I trust, obvious reasons. It came up again this morning, as I noted that Andrew Sullivan had some positive words to say about the Bush endorsement from "Jane Galt." But - and I don't mean this as any kind of atttack on Sullivan; he's just a noteworthy touchstone - surely it's almost inconceivable that he would reverse himself and write a Bush endorsement for TNR to override his recent piece coming out for Kerry.

Yes, the psychology of decision and resolution is quite interesting. As I often do, I think of Nietzsche, whom Freud praised for extraordinary self-insight. I quote Nietzsche a lot here, which might give the misleading impression that I fancy myself a Nietzschean, or buy in to his foundational claims. He is one of my favorites, though, to whom I turn again and again for provocation, amusement, and to be challenged.

"Once the decision has been made, close your ear even to the best counterargument: sign of a strong character. Thus an occasional will to stupidity."

(Beyond Good and Evil, Epigrams/Interludes, 107 - trans. Walter Kaufmann).

Apologies (again)

In a bit of a conceptual rut at the moment - or (here's hoping) perhaps I'm parturient.

Who made him do it?!

Among other things, military cohesion depends upon the seriousness with which the serviceman takes his oaths. Does it, uh, bode ill if a serviceman has pledged his allegiance to the "Father of Lies"?

Batter Up

Whether you supported or opposed the invasion of Iraq, this is kinda cool.

Surprise!

TNR is backing ... Kerry for president. I wonder who National Review is supporting?!

(Yeah, yeah ... I believe TNR backed John Anderson in '80)

Update: Yep - I'm astonished at my ability as an augur.

Light Bulb

That - "light bulb" - is meant in the hackneyed sense of a metaphor for an idea. Perhaps it's not an especiallly good one, but what the heck. Many times I find I don't have much to say here, for some reason, but someone out there in the blogosphere provokes a comment from me. Often I think I write better - perhaps, freer - when not writing here, sad to say. And occasionally I get to "mix it up" out there in a way I don't here.

So, in case you want to read and possibly contribute to some interesting discussion yourself, here are some recent threads that I saw fit to start or join.

At the The Stopped Clock (blog of web pal Aaron Larson), a post keying off of religion and America and the possible character of the two under another Bush term.

At the web lair of the redoubtable Roger, a typically interesting and zany post on a prize-winning novel and its "Sotadic" narrative.

It's good to have tough opponents, and also good to know of some likeminded thinkers. A relatively new blogger who has really impressed me is Steve Kingston at God Save the Queen. I commented on a stimulating post of his concerning troop numbers in Iraq.

Another related and interesting thread is over at Tom Maguire's excellent blog, Just One Minute, concerning planning or lack thereof for the post-war environment in Iraq. Brad DeLong kicks the conversation off with a comment.

Send in Hans

An amusing tale is related by deacon over at Powerline, regarding a trenchant question put to his colleague after a blogger's panel:

"Rocket had to spend most of his post-debate time trying to reason with a lady who wondered why the U.S. doesn't attack itself, since we have weapons of mass destruction."

Yeah - how about a UNSC resolution?! Oh, I forgot - the fusion of legislative and executive powers makes for a malfunctional deliberative body. I'm sure it would pass in the General Assembly, though ...

Update: A reader emails to say "send our troops in unilaterally!"

It's about time

Scholars Grapple With Godzilla Legacy

I know how he feels

I'm speaking of the previous potentate of Iraq - or perhaps the still and deservedly future one, de jure, should you subscribe to the view that the invasion of Iraq was "illegal." No, I don't know what it feels like to be dethroned, though I have been knocked off a pedestal a time or two, and have been cut down to size on occasion. Rather, Saddam "underwent an operation to repair a hernia bout 10 days ago," according to this article..

I had a double hernia repair back in early '02 - an experience I'm glad to have long behind me, even though I was fortunate to have it done laproscopically (and thus was up and running again in short order). The surgeon was so proud of his work that he challenged me to do anything I could think of to undo his handiwork. To this day, thankfully, I've been unable to unravel the teflon-like mesh (or whatever it is) that is now part of my innards.

Is it strange that - barring dangerous hernias, which have been know to occur - Saddam might be given a "comfort operation," since he's likely, uh, not to be with us too much longer, by design?!

The case isn't unique to him, of course. One occasionally hears about prison physicians making every effort to keep a death row prisoner alive, preventing Nature from taking the prize that "society" allegedly covets. Or is it simply humane, so long as a prisoner is alive/allowed to live, to minister to his somatic ailments?

It assuredly sticks in the craw of some people that overseeing the punishment of a malefactor entails a reciprocal desideratum of sorts - medical treatment for the criminal - which in many circumstances isn't automatically available to a law-abiding but indigent person. As Nietzsche might ask, a "parable"?

Res Publica + Publican != Republican

At the suggestion of my web-friend Roger, I've written up a few reminiscenses and observations on my recent trip to the UK. As always, had a great time - what a country.

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Flew Virgin Atlantic, as is my wont. In addition to the generally good service and accoutrements they provide, I became a sympathizer early on, having learned of BA's shameful attempts to enlist the state to quash the competition (typical state-subsidized-Big-Business behavior). Richard Branson's biography is pretty inspiring too - he may be one of the most disarming Billionaires in the world.

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For the most part, stayed in "Wotton-Under-Edge," a village in Gloucestershire about a 15 minute drive up the M5 from Bristol. I'm always struck by how English life generally, and village life in particular, seems to give one a sense of continuity with the past that many Americans surely lack. Most buildings - certainly dwellings - are trans-generational hybrids: a new thatched roof, perhaps, or a new wall or addition, grafted onto a design which has been in some sense "the same" for decades, possibly even centuries. Wotton, probably like many English villages, has its local eccentrics -- for example, the pensioner who merrily trots up and down the High Street in his dressing gown (robe), his "willy" exposed and swingin' around for all to see. The mellow inhabitants merrily ignore or chortle at the superannuated proboscis ... Funny too how even a "village" will have its obligatory Indian restaurant - with "native" staff - and an Indian take-away, as well as some highly creditable Fish/Chips joints.

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Had a fairly anti-climactic debate re: Fahrenheit 9.11 with __ and __. The former took the Mobiot-ian view that of course the narrative was riddled with falsehood and innuendo, but still the whole summed to a potent indictment that somehow transcended the palsy afflicting its parts; the latter thought that the film sucked, being a frivolous distraction from the very real criticisms that could and should be made of the Bush Administration. Were I a Leftist, that's definitely the view I would take.

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I recall chuckling quite a bit, some years back, when I first read What is to be Done? by Lenin - how, in various asides, England is conceded to be a pretty decent place, relatively speaking. As his master would have it, a "nation of shopkeepers," but perchance that's an unintentionlly telling concession to the virtues of the (Anglo) bourgeoisie.

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Chuckled again on my penultimate day in the UK, rereading Twilight of the Idols by Nietzsche, and noting this piece of caustic sententiousness ("maxim" or "arrow"?!): "If we have our own why of life, we shall get along with almost any how. Man does not strive for pleasure; only the Englishman does." It's an interesting question whether many Brits are, in the final analysis, animated by a kind of utilitarian (social) calculus, as evinced by a dogged faith in the - always?! - flagging "public services" (for people who know sociology and economics, think of Pareto and his notion of units of satisfaction, and how that notion argues for a welfare state).

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I often display a "dentulous rictus" on being reminded at how tendentious English newspapers are - much more overtly so than their American counterparts. Lacking firsthand knowledge, it's probably a good rule of thumb to solicit a broad range of respectable opinion and kind of average out the differences; in England that would entail reading several newspapers' takes on the news. So, having been happily asleep during Kerry vs. Bush, round 1, I dutifully purchased the Guardian and The Telegraph the next day, and collated the two accounts. Even the Bush-friendly Telegraph was quick to note that GWB seem rattled and unfocused, essentially in agreement with the gleeful Guardian.

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Mastermind is a program that, dare I say it, would never stand a chance in the U.S. - either in drawing contestants, or an enthusiastic audience. It's amazing how these mild-mannered polymaths come crawling out of the crevices of English society, specializing in some arcane and/or refractory subject, and then freewheeling impressively with general knowledge. Many English seem to have this interesting combination of a notable mild-mannered modesty combined with a devastating competence in some department of learning. The University Challenge is another program where the Brits show an educational seriousness in regards to which - as I make bold to generalize - our Yankee students could barely hold a candle.

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Travelled down to County Dorset for a couple of days, to the village of Chetnole - a lovely setting of rolling green. Had an interesting debate/discussion with __ concerning the Fox Hunting ban. His take explicitly refracted the issue through the class prism, alleging that Fox Hunting, as the last "Blood Sport," had survived only owing to the machinations of the Gentry; earlier sanguinary zoological amusements, such as cock fighting, had been prohibited early on because they were merely the panem et circenses of the lower classes ... On earlier trips to Dorset, beheld such sites as St. Augustine's Well and - speaking of "willies" - the well-endowed Cerne Abbas Giant.

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I can hardly believe how much they drink over there.