This has been a really important Christmas break for Ahreum and I. We've been going out in a serious way for almost two years now. I have felt very certain that she was the right woman for me. There has always been an element of companionship in our relationship that I treasure. I love Ahreum, and I have known I wanted to cherish her for all my years.
Now I've finally been able to get up the courage and have the necessary finances to do something about it. On the day after Christmas, Ahreum and I went to Madison. I am not the most melodramatic person, so I won't tell any stories of how things happened. The important thing is that I asked her to marry me, and she said yes.
We aren't in a rush to marry, but we are quite firm that we will marry just as I finish my PhD. Until then, I am overjoyed to be betrothed.
Once more into the breach,
Ben
Musings on philosophy, politics, photography, and gastronomy.
Friday, December 30, 2005
Sunday, December 25, 2005
Merry Christmas
I am writing to wish everyone a very merry Christmas. Its been wonderful being home, and I have now had 9 days of very good rest and relaxation. I suppose it will be time to start working again soon, but not quite yet.
The holiday has been good for me. I've gotten two new dress shirts, the Cambridge Companion to Immanual Kant, and best of all, a new laptop. I am very happy my parents were able to get this. I certainly don't deserve such a present, but it will be useful for my work . My old computer is holding up ok, but it is limiting in many ways.
As always, though, the most important part of my Christmas is spending time with my family. The gifts used to be more important, when I was a boy, but that kind of materialism, the kind that gets more crass every year, doesn't do much for me. I might sound a bit hypocritical, after receiving a new computer, but what matters just isn't stuff. Gifts, even the best of them, are just things. They have no heart, no mind. You get no recognition from gifts. They are transitory too. But a person's family is a constant part of life. The emotional support and love of my family is what really matters to me.
So I hope everyone has a merry Christmas, spending times with those that love them. That's what I'll be doing the rest of today.
Once more into the breach,
Ben
The holiday has been good for me. I've gotten two new dress shirts, the Cambridge Companion to Immanual Kant, and best of all, a new laptop. I am very happy my parents were able to get this. I certainly don't deserve such a present, but it will be useful for my work . My old computer is holding up ok, but it is limiting in many ways.
As always, though, the most important part of my Christmas is spending time with my family. The gifts used to be more important, when I was a boy, but that kind of materialism, the kind that gets more crass every year, doesn't do much for me. I might sound a bit hypocritical, after receiving a new computer, but what matters just isn't stuff. Gifts, even the best of them, are just things. They have no heart, no mind. You get no recognition from gifts. They are transitory too. But a person's family is a constant part of life. The emotional support and love of my family is what really matters to me.
So I hope everyone has a merry Christmas, spending times with those that love them. That's what I'll be doing the rest of today.
Once more into the breach,
Ben
Friday, December 16, 2005
Rest is at hand
I've now packed up and left Exeter for Christmas break. Its been a rough two days as I had to take a 4:45 coach from Exeter to London on Thursday morning. Then this morning we flew at 6:00 from London Luton to Amsterdam. We left Ahreum's flat at 11:45 and got to the airport around 2:00 am. Needless to say I haven't had much sleep in the last two days.
Now Ahreum and I are spending a little time in the Netherlands meeting her friends from her time interning here at the International Criminal Court. We are staying with her former landlord, who really is a charming gentleman. He is a Korean business man and very kind. I stayed here last year over spring break for three weeks, and it is wonderful to have the chance to meet again.
Sunday we are off to the USA for Christmas.
Once more into the breach,
Ben
Now Ahreum and I are spending a little time in the Netherlands meeting her friends from her time interning here at the International Criminal Court. We are staying with her former landlord, who really is a charming gentleman. He is a Korean business man and very kind. I stayed here last year over spring break for three weeks, and it is wonderful to have the chance to meet again.
Sunday we are off to the USA for Christmas.
Once more into the breach,
Ben
Friday, December 09, 2005
Student Essays and Quince
Its been a long week. I had to finish marking the first round of essays my students produced. The topics were on Thomas Hobbes. On the whole, it was a rewarding set of essays. The students seemed to really understand what was afoot regarding human nature and the properties of Sovereignty.
Last year at this time, I was very disappointed with the work of the students, then in their first year. The same group one year later has really transformed. Yes, there are still some stragglers and some new students who haven't really been forced into good essay writing habits, but the average marks were quite fine. I am proud of these students and I hope their improvements continue.
All that being said, marking eighty essays all roughly on the same subject is fatiguing. I needed escape from Exeter, and have traveled to London for the weekend.
I've also got a lot of cooking done today. On the stove has been oatmeal, lemon ginger tea, quince butter, and home made pizza sauce. I used the pizza sauce with some fresh dough I made to bake supreme pizza with sausage, peppers, chillies, mushrooms, anchovies, and thin sliced onions, and fresh mozerella cheese.
The most fascinating item in this list has to be the quince butter. Before today, I had no idea what a quince was. I was at the Camden Town Market (which is really good for anyone in that area of London). In the fruit stand two several crates of golden yellow fruit called me. They looked in form a lot like apples. The blossom and stem end were clearly just like those of the apple or pear. But the shape was a little wobbly and the smell was different than either pear or apple. I would describe it as something fragrant and tropical - hints of pear and apple mixed with a little mango, peach, and apricot, with something unique and unencountered in any of this litany of fruit. They were only 2 for 1 Pound, so I couldn't resist the lure of the unknown.
I was lucky, really. The fruit seller was happy someone knew what the fruit were. I said I didn't really, but I guessed they were relatives of the apple. That was about right, but the proper name of this fruit was the quince. The man told me they needed to be cooked to be eaten. They could be baked or candied, and many people made jam out of them. Vaguely remembering what apple butter was all about, I resolved to make some quince butter.
There is plenty of information about the quince and its history here. Ahreum recognized the fruit as well, but in Korea the aren't eaten at all but used for air freshening. I can understand this, as their fragrance is quite pungent.
On to the recipe.
Quince Butter
So in the midst of waiting for my pizza dough to rise and cooking down my pizza sauce, I skinned, cored and chopped two quince. I put them into a sauce pan with probably 1 cup (I didn't measure, I just pored in from the bag) of golden granulated sugar about 1 tablespoon of chopped ginger, a squeeze or two of lemon juice, and maybe two tablespoons or so of unsalted butter. I got the whole thing cooking and kept it at a low boil until the quince were nicely broken down and the juice was reduced. It should look like a jam basically. This took about 20 - 30 minutes.
The taste of the quince in this conserve is really fantastic. It has a flavor which is reminiscent of pears and apples but it is really quite unique. If you happen to run into this unique fruit, give it a try. I think it would also make a very cool kind of pie, made just as with apple pie.
Last year at this time, I was very disappointed with the work of the students, then in their first year. The same group one year later has really transformed. Yes, there are still some stragglers and some new students who haven't really been forced into good essay writing habits, but the average marks were quite fine. I am proud of these students and I hope their improvements continue.
All that being said, marking eighty essays all roughly on the same subject is fatiguing. I needed escape from Exeter, and have traveled to London for the weekend.
I've also got a lot of cooking done today. On the stove has been oatmeal, lemon ginger tea, quince butter, and home made pizza sauce. I used the pizza sauce with some fresh dough I made to bake supreme pizza with sausage, peppers, chillies, mushrooms, anchovies, and thin sliced onions, and fresh mozerella cheese.
The most fascinating item in this list has to be the quince butter. Before today, I had no idea what a quince was. I was at the Camden Town Market (which is really good for anyone in that area of London). In the fruit stand two several crates of golden yellow fruit called me. They looked in form a lot like apples. The blossom and stem end were clearly just like those of the apple or pear. But the shape was a little wobbly and the smell was different than either pear or apple. I would describe it as something fragrant and tropical - hints of pear and apple mixed with a little mango, peach, and apricot, with something unique and unencountered in any of this litany of fruit. They were only 2 for 1 Pound, so I couldn't resist the lure of the unknown.
I was lucky, really. The fruit seller was happy someone knew what the fruit were. I said I didn't really, but I guessed they were relatives of the apple. That was about right, but the proper name of this fruit was the quince. The man told me they needed to be cooked to be eaten. They could be baked or candied, and many people made jam out of them. Vaguely remembering what apple butter was all about, I resolved to make some quince butter.
There is plenty of information about the quince and its history here. Ahreum recognized the fruit as well, but in Korea the aren't eaten at all but used for air freshening. I can understand this, as their fragrance is quite pungent.
On to the recipe.
Quince Butter
So in the midst of waiting for my pizza dough to rise and cooking down my pizza sauce, I skinned, cored and chopped two quince. I put them into a sauce pan with probably 1 cup (I didn't measure, I just pored in from the bag) of golden granulated sugar about 1 tablespoon of chopped ginger, a squeeze or two of lemon juice, and maybe two tablespoons or so of unsalted butter. I got the whole thing cooking and kept it at a low boil until the quince were nicely broken down and the juice was reduced. It should look like a jam basically. This took about 20 - 30 minutes.
The taste of the quince in this conserve is really fantastic. It has a flavor which is reminiscent of pears and apples but it is really quite unique. If you happen to run into this unique fruit, give it a try. I think it would also make a very cool kind of pie, made just as with apple pie.
Saturday, December 03, 2005
Ahreum
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I've been editing pictures from a trip I took to Korea last summer. Its been too long since I've even thought of getting these things on the web. I've been busy with teaching and researching. Anyway, this is my girlfriend, Ahreum. I think she looks awfully cute in this picture from Gyeongbok palace. I just wanted to put her picture online. I think almost everyone reading my site has met her, but who knows for sure. She makes all my scholarly life possible, and I'm really blessed to have her support. Our trip to Korea was really the most wonderful kind of time two people could share.Ben
Thanksgiving Recipe 2: Twice baked potatoes
Here is the next in my series of dishes for a classic American family holiday. This is a real classic, and most people love it. Here is my take.
Twice baked potatoes.
Ingredients:
new potatoes, maybe 1 kg or 2.2 pounds worth
6 cloves garlic
200 g cream cheese
142 ml sour cream
4 spring onions
Cheddar cheese, or red leicester or double gloucester.
Begin by washing the new potatoes. I use the Charlotte variety myself. Get them good and clean and cut in half if they are pretty big. Put them into a pot with cold water. Peal the garlic and add each clove to the pot. Now bring the water to the boil. Add plenty of salt when the water starts boiling. Let the potatoes boil until they are soft and you can press the edge of a spoon through them without difficulty.
Drain the water from the pot. Now use a potato masher and start breaking up the potatoes. When they have crumbled a bit add the cream cheese and sour cream. Also slice the spring onions (or you could use chives instead) and add to the potatoes. Keep mashing until you have a nice mashed potatoes consistency.
Now put the whole mixture into a casserole dish and make it level with a spoon or spatula Put in the oven for about 40 minutes and maybe 350 or 370 degrees. Since everything is cooked already, precision is not essential. If the potatoes begin to brown on top before the 40 minutes is up, cover the casserole with foil.
Once the first baking is finished, take the potatoes out of the oven. Grate the cheese over the top until they are completely covered. Put the potatoes back into the oven and bake them a second time. Let the cheese melt entirely then just almost become crisp. This will take about 10 to 15 minutes.
Take the potatoes out of the oven and let the casserole sit on the serving table until your guests are ready. This one will keep heat for a long time, but if it gets too cool while something else is cooking, just pop it back in the oven.
This is another of my favorites, and I hope you'll all give it a try someday.
Once more into the breach,
Ben
Twice baked potatoes.
Ingredients:
new potatoes, maybe 1 kg or 2.2 pounds worth
6 cloves garlic
200 g cream cheese
142 ml sour cream
4 spring onions
Cheddar cheese, or red leicester or double gloucester.
Begin by washing the new potatoes. I use the Charlotte variety myself. Get them good and clean and cut in half if they are pretty big. Put them into a pot with cold water. Peal the garlic and add each clove to the pot. Now bring the water to the boil. Add plenty of salt when the water starts boiling. Let the potatoes boil until they are soft and you can press the edge of a spoon through them without difficulty.
Drain the water from the pot. Now use a potato masher and start breaking up the potatoes. When they have crumbled a bit add the cream cheese and sour cream. Also slice the spring onions (or you could use chives instead) and add to the potatoes. Keep mashing until you have a nice mashed potatoes consistency.
Now put the whole mixture into a casserole dish and make it level with a spoon or spatula Put in the oven for about 40 minutes and maybe 350 or 370 degrees. Since everything is cooked already, precision is not essential. If the potatoes begin to brown on top before the 40 minutes is up, cover the casserole with foil.
Once the first baking is finished, take the potatoes out of the oven. Grate the cheese over the top until they are completely covered. Put the potatoes back into the oven and bake them a second time. Let the cheese melt entirely then just almost become crisp. This will take about 10 to 15 minutes.
Take the potatoes out of the oven and let the casserole sit on the serving table until your guests are ready. This one will keep heat for a long time, but if it gets too cool while something else is cooking, just pop it back in the oven.
This is another of my favorites, and I hope you'll all give it a try someday.
Once more into the breach,
Ben
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
Article is off to the journal
Today Rob Lamb and I will finally send off the article we have been writing together on John Locke and charity. We are sending it for consideration at the Journal of the History of Philosophy. Looks like the journal has a good editorial board, so whatever happens at the very least we should get some good feedback on the piece. But Iain Hampsher-Monk, our supervisor, has given it a good reading, and he thinks it is a good journal piece. He should know since he is co-editor of the Journal of the History of Political Thought. So now that my name dropping is finished, I do think we have a good chance, but who can say what will happen. We shall wait and see.
Once more into the breach,
Ben
Once more into the breach,
Ben
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Thanksgiving Recipes: Candied Yams
Here is the first in a series of traditional American foods, often served at Thanksgiving, Christmas, or other fall roast dinners.
Candied Yams or candied sweet potatoes:
This is a pretty sweet dish, but it is not a dessert. It is probably best served with a mix of other more savory and less sweet side dishes and a good course of roast meat, like turkey, chicken, turkey, goose, or pork.
Ingredients:
Three big yams,
brown sugar
butter
mixed spice (a mix of ground cinnamon, allspice, cloves, and nutmeg)
salt and pepper to taste
Begin by washing the yams, but do not peel them. Cut each yam in half, or in thirds, whichever is required to fit them into a pot of cold water. Bring the water to boil. Let the yams boil until they have softened, and a metal spoon can be pushed into the yams without difficulty. Now drain the pot, and put in cold water. Let the yams cool before working with them further. Drain the pot again and replace with cold water a second time to speed the cooling process if necessary.
Now take the yams out of the cold water and take off their skins. They should come off pretty easily just using your fingers. Now take the skinned yams and cut them into slices about 1/2 centimeter thick. To make it look pretty, arrange them in an medium sized baking dish as follows. Put one row of slices down, then overlap the next row of slices over the first. Keep overlapping like this until the whole baking dish is filled. Now put a little salt and pepper over the yams. Next put just a light dusting of the mixed spice. Then put on plenty of brown sugar over all the yams. Some people like it more or less sweet, so use your judgment, but generally Americans like this pretty sweet. Then put bits of butter over the brown sugar. You need enough butter on the yams so that when it melts, it will coat all of them and mix with the brown sugar.
Now put the whole thing in the oven for about half an hour or so at about 180 Degrees Celsius. The temperature and time don't need to be too precise because the yams are already cooked.
Well I hope some of you get the chance to try this. It really is one of my favorites.
Once more into the breach,
Ben
Candied Yams or candied sweet potatoes:
This is a pretty sweet dish, but it is not a dessert. It is probably best served with a mix of other more savory and less sweet side dishes and a good course of roast meat, like turkey, chicken, turkey, goose, or pork.
Ingredients:
Three big yams,
brown sugar
butter
mixed spice (a mix of ground cinnamon, allspice, cloves, and nutmeg)
salt and pepper to taste
Begin by washing the yams, but do not peel them. Cut each yam in half, or in thirds, whichever is required to fit them into a pot of cold water. Bring the water to boil. Let the yams boil until they have softened, and a metal spoon can be pushed into the yams without difficulty. Now drain the pot, and put in cold water. Let the yams cool before working with them further. Drain the pot again and replace with cold water a second time to speed the cooling process if necessary.
Now take the yams out of the cold water and take off their skins. They should come off pretty easily just using your fingers. Now take the skinned yams and cut them into slices about 1/2 centimeter thick. To make it look pretty, arrange them in an medium sized baking dish as follows. Put one row of slices down, then overlap the next row of slices over the first. Keep overlapping like this until the whole baking dish is filled. Now put a little salt and pepper over the yams. Next put just a light dusting of the mixed spice. Then put on plenty of brown sugar over all the yams. Some people like it more or less sweet, so use your judgment, but generally Americans like this pretty sweet. Then put bits of butter over the brown sugar. You need enough butter on the yams so that when it melts, it will coat all of them and mix with the brown sugar.
Now put the whole thing in the oven for about half an hour or so at about 180 Degrees Celsius. The temperature and time don't need to be too precise because the yams are already cooked.
Well I hope some of you get the chance to try this. It really is one of my favorites.
Once more into the breach,
Ben
Two Turkey days?
Last Thursday was Thanksgiving. I had two brilliant days celebrating. On day one I had friends from my department over. I cooked intermittently over the whole day, and then served the meal around 7:45, if my recollection is at all on target. We had chicken (major bummer, but turkey isn't available yet in England and chicken tastes exactly the same), candied yams, twice baked potatoes, and stuffing. Over the course of the meal wine was consumed in abundance. After a good deal of conversation (focusing on French social problems, Opus Dei, and the Scientologists) my guests left at about 3:00 in the morning. I had one of the most fun coach rides to London not three and a half hours later. I got to London, and then I went grocery shopping. Guess what? It was time to make another Thanksgiving meal. This time some of Ahreum's coursemates came. They were all very charming, and I'm glad she is able to have some good colleagues to go through this year with. The menu was the same, accept we did not have stuffing. After over 24 hours of giving thanks, I finally went to bed just after company left.
So, a lot of comments were given about the stuffing and the twice baked potatoes, the candied yams, and the meat. A lot of Americans will already know how to make all of this, but if anyone is interested in making some real traditional American food, I think its time for a few recipes. See the next post for a series on Thanksgiving dishes.
Once more into the breach,
Ben
So, a lot of comments were given about the stuffing and the twice baked potatoes, the candied yams, and the meat. A lot of Americans will already know how to make all of this, but if anyone is interested in making some real traditional American food, I think its time for a few recipes. See the next post for a series on Thanksgiving dishes.
Once more into the breach,
Ben
Monday, November 21, 2005
Lecturing on Locke
I had a very fruitful weekend in
So Monday morning came, and there was a hard frost on the ground, but I was not discouraged, I practiced once more, got ready, and walked to campus. I had to be careful to breathe through my nose, or risk damaging my vocal chords. So all precautions taken, I went to the exam hall. My professor, Iain Hampsher-Monk, introduced me, and then I got underway. The important thing is be actually interacting with the class. Although I'm just talking to them, I should not be just talking at them. Everything I do and all the walking and posturing I enact must convey meaning and bring a response from the students. This is pretty hard because I'm not an experienced public orator. Luckily, I do have a loud voice, so that helps a good deal. I just tried to push through any nerves and give the lecture without any other thoughts.
It worked out too. At the end I even had a small bit of applause, perhaps out of charity. Anyway, I got Iain thinking about how much of a defender of people's actual decisions Locke really was. Perhaps, he was closer to Rousseau in sanctioning what people ought to want (rather than what they do want) than is often imagined. Well, the point is, if it got my professor thinking, it must have stimulated the class as well. That's really all I can ask for, and I think it was a real privilege to be able to participate in their education at this level.
Now I must step out of the spotlight and back to research and grading.
Once more into the breach,
Ben
Monday, November 14, 2005
Cold in Exeter
I've now returned to
I went to a Korean restaurant, which was alright, but overpriced. The problem is not that the dishes are too expensive, but that all the side dishes, which would simply be included in
I also went to a cool Dutch pancake house with Ahreum and another friend of ours, Tara, who is now working at a top notch conservatoire in
Research went well, but there really is a tremendous wealth of material available just on Locke's ethics of toleration, not to mention his ethics and politics more generally. I made my way through some of the monograph books, but there is still more to do. One particularly good source, by a theology professor at Yale, Nicholas Wolterstorff, works through the ethics of Locke's Essay Concerning Human Understanding. It is clear from this that Essay’s very project has political ramifications, for Locke’s looming fear Locke is the problem of sectarian strife, which he hopes to circumvent through his account of human knowing. Using Wolterstorff's work, one can subsequently see that Locke's theory of knowledge justifies the old Christian recommendation (though not all Christians make or hold to this recommendation) that contention and intolerance are divisive and sinful and that brotherly love and toleration are commanded by God and conducive to peaceful relations between men. My priorities are different from Wolterstorff's, but it is clear his rich account is penetrating in addition to being useful for my own research.
Now, I am away from Ahreum, from the bastion of learning in the British Library, and from the culinary dynamic of
However, I am not writing figuratively. It really is cold today. I should have worn gloves to the office. Other than that,
Once more into the breach,
Ben
Saturday, November 05, 2005
Dining at Gray's Inn
Last night, I spent the evening being wined and dined at the Gray's Inn hall in the company of some prestigious barristers and many trainees. The group I sat with consisted of Ahreum, myself, and two other barrister students, one from Kenya and the other English and Iranian descent. I found the conversation pleasant, and the food except for a somewhat misconceived pudding where all very palatable. All in all, a good evening.
What was especially nice was a wonderful musical performance after the dinner – about an hour of Mozart and Dvorak. The players were all talented, and if not the most brilliant, there was nothing to be faulted about the performance. What I found particularly interesting was the rapport the performers seemed to have with each other. Almost like a group of rock and roll musicians, they really knew each other's styles and played together. The glances between the performers were telling, and you could tell they really enjoyed making music together. It was really a fabulous end to a superb evening.
Once more into the breach,
Ben
What was especially nice was a wonderful musical performance after the dinner – about an hour of Mozart and Dvorak. The players were all talented, and if not the most brilliant, there was nothing to be faulted about the performance. What I found particularly interesting was the rapport the performers seemed to have with each other. Almost like a group of rock and roll musicians, they really knew each other's styles and played together. The glances between the performers were telling, and you could tell they really enjoyed making music together. It was really a fabulous end to a superb evening.
Once more into the breach,
Ben
Friday, November 04, 2005
London
I've just finished the coach journey from Exeter to London. Its about 4 1/2 hours, which is quite long for an Englishman, but since I'm from the States and am used to long driving, it isn't so bad. But it still awfully hard to sit in a dry crowded coach the whole way. National Express has an excellent deal called "fun fair", and I don't think my trip cost more than a fiver. But "fun fair" or not, a coach ride is never fun.
I really feel blessed with my opportunities to travel to London this school year. My girlfriend Ahreum is studying to become a barrister at the Inns of Court, school of law. She's living in Camden town, just minutes North of Central London, and I can visit whenever I am free. This means lots of opportunity to experience culture I couldn't get in Exeter, much less back home in Janesville Wisconsin. Living in the big city has a lot of charm, and though I wouldn't want to settle in a place like London, extended visits allow me to observe life here without becoming caught up in it.
The resources for the scholar in London are exceptional. In my case the British Library tops my list. Now that I have a reading card there, I am going to be doing a good deal of archival research and reading of sources Exeter just doesn't have. It’s a real boon for my PhD. Better yet, its only twenty minutes away from where Ahreum lives.
Luckily, the library isn't really open at night, or I might bury myself there. Instead I've got freedom to explore London in the evenings. In deed, this evening I will be going to a concert with Ahreum put on by her law society. I hope they're in tune.
Once more into the breach,
Ben
Wednesday, November 02, 2005
When an overhead light becomes a shower faucet
Nothing in life is perfect, and that certainly goes for flats and apartments. Every apartment has its quirks, and so does mine. Until last night I thought the most annoying thing about my flat was that the doors are kind of sticky and difficult to open and close. No big problem, life goes on.
But I was very wrong. Last night around 9:00 I heard a dripping sound. I went to investigate in the bathroom, but there wasn't really any leaking going on in there. But I still heard the dripping coming quite quickly, seemingly in the direction of my bedroom. So I went one door down and I was nearly scared to death.
There is an old saying that water and electricity don't mix. Well, apparently they sometimes do (perhaps with bad repercussions). To my shock I saw water dripping rapidly from the bottom of the lightbulb in my overhead lamp. Worse the lamp was still on. Well I swore, and quickly turned the light off. I think it was just in time because there seemed to be a sort of funky electrical smoking odor in the room. It dripped all night long, and it made life real unpleasant. Luckily I have a futon, so Ahreum, was able to get a comfortable place to sleep. I wasn't so lucky and had to hit the floor.
So today I've felt a bit like the living dead. Fortunately, we know the problem is occurring because of a leaky roof line and builders should be here to sort out the problem early next week.
Other than that, my Fenelon presentation went pretty well. I wasn't fully confident that I had prepared adequately because of my new shower head in the bathroom. Also, Fenelon is a bit antiquarian and obscure. I knew this would be the case, but luckily discussion broadened into the concepts at work in his Dissertation on Pure Love and their conection to Plato, Augustine, and Plotinus. I feel a little rescued by my supervisor because he guided the conversation away from a narrow focus on Fenelon alone, which would have definately impoverished our meeting.
Once more into the breach,
Ben
But I was very wrong. Last night around 9:00 I heard a dripping sound. I went to investigate in the bathroom, but there wasn't really any leaking going on in there. But I still heard the dripping coming quite quickly, seemingly in the direction of my bedroom. So I went one door down and I was nearly scared to death.
There is an old saying that water and electricity don't mix. Well, apparently they sometimes do (perhaps with bad repercussions). To my shock I saw water dripping rapidly from the bottom of the lightbulb in my overhead lamp. Worse the lamp was still on. Well I swore, and quickly turned the light off. I think it was just in time because there seemed to be a sort of funky electrical smoking odor in the room. It dripped all night long, and it made life real unpleasant. Luckily I have a futon, so Ahreum, was able to get a comfortable place to sleep. I wasn't so lucky and had to hit the floor.
So today I've felt a bit like the living dead. Fortunately, we know the problem is occurring because of a leaky roof line and builders should be here to sort out the problem early next week.
Other than that, my Fenelon presentation went pretty well. I wasn't fully confident that I had prepared adequately because of my new shower head in the bathroom. Also, Fenelon is a bit antiquarian and obscure. I knew this would be the case, but luckily discussion broadened into the concepts at work in his Dissertation on Pure Love and their conection to Plato, Augustine, and Plotinus. I feel a little rescued by my supervisor because he guided the conversation away from a narrow focus on Fenelon alone, which would have definately impoverished our meeting.
Once more into the breach,
Ben
Saturday, October 29, 2005
Saturday Morning and Fenelon
Ah, what a lovely time. No classes and no teaching. My girlfriend, Ahreum, arrived late last night, and we've slept in a little. Probably should have woken up earlier, but a little laziness every now and again never hurt anywone.
This morning I made nice fancy oatmeal with a little mixed spice, vanilla, and honey added in by yours personally. Plain oatmeal isn't normally that nice, but with a little tweaking it sure is a satisfying breakfast. This is a bit different than the kind of breakfast Ahreum is used to from home. It's quite interesting, but when I traveled to Korea I found that they have a very hearty breakfast. Spicy soup, rice, meat, and side dishes can all be served for a breakfast there. Luckily, Ahreum isn't a breakfast dogmatist, so she likes oatmeal too.
What makes me most grateful about this morning is that Ahreum is here. Sometimes I get a bit lonely over the weeks. PhD work leaves less time for socializing than in the past, and it makes a student somewhat isolated. It is just a bit harder to meet new people. When Ahreum is here any loneliness is instantly vanquished and I feel completely at ease. Its this kind of companionship that is so important to a relationship, and I'm glad I've found that in my life. Whatever else happens Ahreum is always there to listen. Sometimes I go on and on about crazy philosophy (or worse any kind of technological subject), but she never dismisses my geeky soliliquies. Three cheers for that.
Anyway, I don't get to take life too easy this weekend. I'm teaching on the social covenant and political obligation in Hobbes next week. But that's not all. At my department we now have a political theory seminar occurring bi-weekly, and next Wednesday is the next meeting.. The group has pulled out the stoppers across the university, and we have people coming in from several places apart from the usual suspects like politics and philosophy. Hopefully, we can net some classics and theology people interested in ethics and ancient political philosophy.
Now this Wednesday is particular important because I am giving a short presentation and inviting the other members to read an interesting piece by the Archbishop Francois Fenelon de Salignac de la Mothe. Now this name is not likely to ring any bells out there, but he is a hugely important figure in the history of ideas. Despite being the tutor of Louis XIV's heir, the Duke of Burgundy, leading to the enlightened and progressive mean of the Duke's circle, Fenelon was a firm opponent of the absolutist pretensions of the King and his ecclesiastical supporters. More importantly for the history of ideas, his novel The Adventures of Telemachus Son of Ulysses was probably the single most popular book in 18th century France. Not to mention that Fenelon almost certainly exercised a profound influence on Rousseau. The short piece I am looking at is his "Dissertation on Pure Love."
Now before any of you think I've become a total softy, this is not the kind of "true love" one might expect from a romantic relationship. Oh no. In fact it is a self-deprecating love that expects man to transcend the bounds of himself and develop general love or cherite (close to the original meaning of charity as higher Christian love, which has now been lost). This general love prefers the whole of rational creation or, in the case of the ancients, whose love Fenelon always accounts superior to the moderns, at least the whole body of the state over the interestedness of the individual. The individual should be lost in this stepping out of the self. For Fenelon this love can have no interested motivation, i.e. desire of reward or fear of punishment, but must occur for its own sake. This, even by neo-Augustinian standards, is a radical view, and quite unlike much of anything currently in circulation.
Hence, I hope that it will give our group a different way of conceiving of social love and the bounds that can unite an ethical (as opposed to purely practical) society. It will also offer an historically interesting exercise whereby we can muse over how these ideas swelled in popularity and then declined.
So now I'm off to work on Hobbes and Fenelon. Oh, and I've still got a piece on Locke that needs more revision. No rest for the wicked, as they say.
Once more into the breach,
Ben
This morning I made nice fancy oatmeal with a little mixed spice, vanilla, and honey added in by yours personally. Plain oatmeal isn't normally that nice, but with a little tweaking it sure is a satisfying breakfast. This is a bit different than the kind of breakfast Ahreum is used to from home. It's quite interesting, but when I traveled to Korea I found that they have a very hearty breakfast. Spicy soup, rice, meat, and side dishes can all be served for a breakfast there. Luckily, Ahreum isn't a breakfast dogmatist, so she likes oatmeal too.
What makes me most grateful about this morning is that Ahreum is here. Sometimes I get a bit lonely over the weeks. PhD work leaves less time for socializing than in the past, and it makes a student somewhat isolated. It is just a bit harder to meet new people. When Ahreum is here any loneliness is instantly vanquished and I feel completely at ease. Its this kind of companionship that is so important to a relationship, and I'm glad I've found that in my life. Whatever else happens Ahreum is always there to listen. Sometimes I go on and on about crazy philosophy (or worse any kind of technological subject), but she never dismisses my geeky soliliquies. Three cheers for that.
Anyway, I don't get to take life too easy this weekend. I'm teaching on the social covenant and political obligation in Hobbes next week. But that's not all. At my department we now have a political theory seminar occurring bi-weekly, and next Wednesday is the next meeting.. The group has pulled out the stoppers across the university, and we have people coming in from several places apart from the usual suspects like politics and philosophy. Hopefully, we can net some classics and theology people interested in ethics and ancient political philosophy.
Now this Wednesday is particular important because I am giving a short presentation and inviting the other members to read an interesting piece by the Archbishop Francois Fenelon de Salignac de la Mothe. Now this name is not likely to ring any bells out there, but he is a hugely important figure in the history of ideas. Despite being the tutor of Louis XIV's heir, the Duke of Burgundy, leading to the enlightened and progressive mean of the Duke's circle, Fenelon was a firm opponent of the absolutist pretensions of the King and his ecclesiastical supporters. More importantly for the history of ideas, his novel The Adventures of Telemachus Son of Ulysses was probably the single most popular book in 18th century France. Not to mention that Fenelon almost certainly exercised a profound influence on Rousseau. The short piece I am looking at is his "Dissertation on Pure Love."
Now before any of you think I've become a total softy, this is not the kind of "true love" one might expect from a romantic relationship. Oh no. In fact it is a self-deprecating love that expects man to transcend the bounds of himself and develop general love or cherite (close to the original meaning of charity as higher Christian love, which has now been lost). This general love prefers the whole of rational creation or, in the case of the ancients, whose love Fenelon always accounts superior to the moderns, at least the whole body of the state over the interestedness of the individual. The individual should be lost in this stepping out of the self. For Fenelon this love can have no interested motivation, i.e. desire of reward or fear of punishment, but must occur for its own sake. This, even by neo-Augustinian standards, is a radical view, and quite unlike much of anything currently in circulation.
Hence, I hope that it will give our group a different way of conceiving of social love and the bounds that can unite an ethical (as opposed to purely practical) society. It will also offer an historically interesting exercise whereby we can muse over how these ideas swelled in popularity and then declined.
So now I'm off to work on Hobbes and Fenelon. Oh, and I've still got a piece on Locke that needs more revision. No rest for the wicked, as they say.
Once more into the breach,
Ben
Friday, October 28, 2005
Dance with a shadow virus
Well today I had the unfortunate experience of having a seriously wacked out computer. It looked like one heck of a viral infection. Internet explorer, windows explorer, add/remove progam, and even my virus scan were on the fritz. The scanner wouldn't let me update, create a recover disc, or scan the computer. None of that sounds very good, does it?
I restarted, and guess what. All of the same problems were still there. So I was in despair, was preparing to back up what I could, and drop the hammer and fdisc my system into oblivion. Of course I have all my system cds, so its not the end of the world, but my reinstallation cd for windows is a bit crippled and it can't properly reformat the operating system after the hard drive is de-partitioned and repartitioned. It will work, but it needs a little help along the way. Problem is, I can't quite remember what the assistance is (I think booting from cd first did the trick but I am not that certain). So I powered down and powered up again to make my backups. I figured I'd with it one more time, just in case....
Dramatic pause
Anyway, much to my surprise, everything started working properly. So I updated my virus software and tested - nothing. Updated the anti-adware software and also nothing. Nothing seemed to be wrong. It was like a phantom. Of course there is no such thing as phantom's when it comes to computers. So I am very dubious about the seeming recovery. I suspect I will encounter a relapse, but I hope against it.
Other than that, I'm looking forward to a lovely and extended weekend with my girlfriend. She is coming her tonight and will be staying until Wednesday morning. Once she's here I get less lazy and do a little more cooking, so I'll bloc up some commentary on the recipes.
Once more into the breach,
Ben
I restarted, and guess what. All of the same problems were still there. So I was in despair, was preparing to back up what I could, and drop the hammer and fdisc my system into oblivion. Of course I have all my system cds, so its not the end of the world, but my reinstallation cd for windows is a bit crippled and it can't properly reformat the operating system after the hard drive is de-partitioned and repartitioned. It will work, but it needs a little help along the way. Problem is, I can't quite remember what the assistance is (I think booting from cd first did the trick but I am not that certain). So I powered down and powered up again to make my backups. I figured I'd with it one more time, just in case....
Dramatic pause
Anyway, much to my surprise, everything started working properly. So I updated my virus software and tested - nothing. Updated the anti-adware software and also nothing. Nothing seemed to be wrong. It was like a phantom. Of course there is no such thing as phantom's when it comes to computers. So I am very dubious about the seeming recovery. I suspect I will encounter a relapse, but I hope against it.
Other than that, I'm looking forward to a lovely and extended weekend with my girlfriend. She is coming her tonight and will be staying until Wednesday morning. Once she's here I get less lazy and do a little more cooking, so I'll bloc up some commentary on the recipes.
Once more into the breach,
Ben
Thursday, October 27, 2005
Jason
Jason Godin just gave a big shout out to me at his web site the Arrows' Quiver. We've been friends since I was a freshman (fresher for those of the English persuasion) back at the University of Wisconsin Madison. It's always been a pleasure and an honor to be his friend.
Now we are starting web logs almost concurrently. This gives us a chance to boost each other's egos by mentioning each other's blog. Seriously though, his site promises to be very intriguing, reflecting on history as a subject and a discipline. Its well worth a visit. If you missed the link on my sidebar the address is http://arrowsquiver.blogspot.com/.
Once more into the breach,
Ben
Now we are starting web logs almost concurrently. This gives us a chance to boost each other's egos by mentioning each other's blog. Seriously though, his site promises to be very intriguing, reflecting on history as a subject and a discipline. Its well worth a visit. If you missed the link on my sidebar the address is http://arrowsquiver.blogspot.com/.
Once more into the breach,
Ben
This is the craziest real news story I have probably ever seen. Just unbelievable.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/3611666.stm
How can zoo handlers let a chimp do that? Well you'll just have to read and find out to find out what's so funny/disturbing.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/3611666.stm
How can zoo handlers let a chimp do that? Well you'll just have to read and find out to find out what's so funny/disturbing.
Fairtrade Day
Today I am hosting a small "house group" from the Church I go to in Exeter. It's an interesting club which consists of young adults in their twenties and some in their thirties. A lot of us are postgraduate students. We have a good time talking about a wide variety of issues from theology of grace and salvation to crime and destitution. This week we are discussing Fairtrade and what it means for us as Christians. We'll also be having lots of fair trade food for everyone to sample. The food products from Tradecraft, for example, are very good, so the extra price has significant justification.
So, the upshot is that I get to do some baking. I've picked up some fairtrade chocolate and some fairtrade sugar. But what shall I make with them? I'm thinking basic chocolate chip cookies. Nothing to fancy because I'm busy. Otherwise I could also make some kind of chocolate cake, but my oven is a bit dubious in the even heating department. Cookies allow a little more hands on approach if necessary, so I think that will be my course of action.
What has me thinking is whether I could justify buying these products on a regular basis. I don't have a high roller job, and I'm a student. This means, at least temporarily that I'm poor. But I'm poor for a middle class white western guy, which means I've still have next to nothing to worry about. Still, if I am to be responsible in my own situation then what do I choose to eat. Well I try to save money where I can, and much of what I buy is from Europe, so my conscience is significantly eased by that. But what about goods imported from third world countries. I know that there are significant problems with the current trade regime from their point of view. If they were planting the right crops for their needs and for their situation much of the hunger of the third world might be alleviated. So there is a conflict of interests. But the question is, does Fairtrade really make a difference or is it simply a small gesture in the midst of a giant problem. Well I don't know, but that's what I'm pondering.
Of course my other thought is that I can't live every element of my life for other people. I have responsibility to look after my own welfare. Sometimes this will converge with buying things that are fairtrade, but if I can't afford it, I can't afford it. Maybe when I've got a job I'll be able to buy more. But of course then I'll be making money and being part of a system which, allegedly, causes all the problems. This just leads me back to thinking that the world doesn't work out in a fair way for everyone and it is so systematically unfair that for me to help those who are much worse off than me I have to have the cash. And this cash has only been gotten off of an inegalitarian distribution of goods. I don't see that there is much that can be done about this. I just hope that something can be done about starvation, so that at least if there is just going to be poverty it needn't be grinding. Well that's an empirical question, and I don't have the data to know whether an answer is to be had.
So, the upshot is that I get to do some baking. I've picked up some fairtrade chocolate and some fairtrade sugar. But what shall I make with them? I'm thinking basic chocolate chip cookies. Nothing to fancy because I'm busy. Otherwise I could also make some kind of chocolate cake, but my oven is a bit dubious in the even heating department. Cookies allow a little more hands on approach if necessary, so I think that will be my course of action.
What has me thinking is whether I could justify buying these products on a regular basis. I don't have a high roller job, and I'm a student. This means, at least temporarily that I'm poor. But I'm poor for a middle class white western guy, which means I've still have next to nothing to worry about. Still, if I am to be responsible in my own situation then what do I choose to eat. Well I try to save money where I can, and much of what I buy is from Europe, so my conscience is significantly eased by that. But what about goods imported from third world countries. I know that there are significant problems with the current trade regime from their point of view. If they were planting the right crops for their needs and for their situation much of the hunger of the third world might be alleviated. So there is a conflict of interests. But the question is, does Fairtrade really make a difference or is it simply a small gesture in the midst of a giant problem. Well I don't know, but that's what I'm pondering.
Of course my other thought is that I can't live every element of my life for other people. I have responsibility to look after my own welfare. Sometimes this will converge with buying things that are fairtrade, but if I can't afford it, I can't afford it. Maybe when I've got a job I'll be able to buy more. But of course then I'll be making money and being part of a system which, allegedly, causes all the problems. This just leads me back to thinking that the world doesn't work out in a fair way for everyone and it is so systematically unfair that for me to help those who are much worse off than me I have to have the cash. And this cash has only been gotten off of an inegalitarian distribution of goods. I don't see that there is much that can be done about this. I just hope that something can be done about starvation, so that at least if there is just going to be poverty it needn't be grinding. Well that's an empirical question, and I don't have the data to know whether an answer is to be had.
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
Thomas Hobbes and teaching
This week marks the beginning of tutorials, i.e. discussion sections, for the year in Exeter. They are a bright group of students and are a real pleasure to work with. Of course, English students are somewhat reticent, making tutorials a little quiet from time to time. However, on the whole they are productive.
A particular thrill is that I'm teaching the philosophers I've been researching for my PhD. Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau. My research is sometimes too specialized to bring into the classroom, but I'm trying to make sure that my teaching isn't just stock in trade. I want my students to be able to see that what we are studying is vital. Part of that must be to bring my own research interests into the classroom. Its a balancing act to which I'm looking forward.
Apart from this, I just want to show plenty of enthusiasm when teaching. This isn't hard since it’s the subject I love and its Thomas Hobbes. He really is a fantastic figure to teach. For one thing his thought, while subtle and penetrating, is fairly straightforward. I think, and some of my students quickly noticed, that Hobbes wants his reader to understand him. As one of my students said, "he is a transparent thinker." So, Hobbes is the kind of thinker that the students can work through in class one step at a time. That kind of analytical process viva voce is a rewarding experience.
But the thrills of the philosopher from Malmesbury don't stop there. Hobbes happens to be an extremely powerful prose writer. His writing explores the dark side of humanity in a way that few before him did as masterfully. I'll get around to putting some quotations up to show what I mean, but these lines from memory should get the point across. Concerning the problems of the state of nature or war, "and worst of all continual feare and danger of violent death, and the life of man, solitary, poore, nasty, brutish, and short.” (Leviathan, Chapter 13). And concerning justice, law and morality, "in the state of warre force and fraud are cardinall virtues.” (Leviathan, Chapter 13).
For Hobbes it is always fear that is the passion to be reckoned upon. Even though man left to his own devices through egoism, competing desires, worries over self-preservation, and love of glory will construct himself an inferno no less cruel than Dante's, fear gives man a chance for order and stability. And that is the subject for my students next week.
All in all a rewarding exercises, even if Hobbes is often disturbing. I have always agreed with my undergraduate political philosophy professor that even if Hobbes is not quite right, the dark power of his thought must be taken seriously. Even if not all people are appetitive and maniacal without political order, Leviathan has truth to it. The dark side of human nature is there, and a host of recent events testify to man's capacity for horror when order is removed by chaos. Hobbes is probably wrong to universalize this aspect of humanity, but it would be equally foolish to ignore it. Hobbes reminds us that humans have a capacity for radical self-preference, and for this he is pre-eminently valuable.
A particular thrill is that I'm teaching the philosophers I've been researching for my PhD. Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau. My research is sometimes too specialized to bring into the classroom, but I'm trying to make sure that my teaching isn't just stock in trade. I want my students to be able to see that what we are studying is vital. Part of that must be to bring my own research interests into the classroom. Its a balancing act to which I'm looking forward.
Apart from this, I just want to show plenty of enthusiasm when teaching. This isn't hard since it’s the subject I love and its Thomas Hobbes. He really is a fantastic figure to teach. For one thing his thought, while subtle and penetrating, is fairly straightforward. I think, and some of my students quickly noticed, that Hobbes wants his reader to understand him. As one of my students said, "he is a transparent thinker." So, Hobbes is the kind of thinker that the students can work through in class one step at a time. That kind of analytical process viva voce is a rewarding experience.
But the thrills of the philosopher from Malmesbury don't stop there. Hobbes happens to be an extremely powerful prose writer. His writing explores the dark side of humanity in a way that few before him did as masterfully. I'll get around to putting some quotations up to show what I mean, but these lines from memory should get the point across. Concerning the problems of the state of nature or war, "and worst of all continual feare and danger of violent death, and the life of man, solitary, poore, nasty, brutish, and short.” (Leviathan, Chapter 13). And concerning justice, law and morality, "in the state of warre force and fraud are cardinall virtues.” (Leviathan, Chapter 13).
For Hobbes it is always fear that is the passion to be reckoned upon. Even though man left to his own devices through egoism, competing desires, worries over self-preservation, and love of glory will construct himself an inferno no less cruel than Dante's, fear gives man a chance for order and stability. And that is the subject for my students next week.
All in all a rewarding exercises, even if Hobbes is often disturbing. I have always agreed with my undergraduate political philosophy professor that even if Hobbes is not quite right, the dark power of his thought must be taken seriously. Even if not all people are appetitive and maniacal without political order, Leviathan has truth to it. The dark side of human nature is there, and a host of recent events testify to man's capacity for horror when order is removed by chaos. Hobbes is probably wrong to universalize this aspect of humanity, but it would be equally foolish to ignore it. Hobbes reminds us that humans have a capacity for radical self-preference, and for this he is pre-eminently valuable.
Is there a beginning?
In the case of blogs the answer is a definitive yes, and in this case quite a late beginning. The blogging phenomenon has really taken off, and I am quite happy to be an also ran. The point is I get a chance to post my musings and let my friends and family know how my life is unfolding. Even if I'm a little late, I'm still convinced this is useful.
The difference between a blog and a normal journal for myself or an emailed update for my friends and family is obvious. If I'm going to submit my thoughts to a public forum (well if any one drops by), I ought to have something worth saying. If this is a place for me to display mental drivel, then there's no point in writing a blog.
So what is the rai·son d'être of the Song of the Spheres? Well, primarily elucidation. I hope that by formulating my thoughts on a regular basis and sharing them with those that know me or visit the blog, I will learn more about my own life. From my Platonic philosophical sympathies to my delight in cooking and photography, to my PhD studies, I always am keen to learn more. If Plato is right in his Symposium, we go through a variety of loves and interests in our lives leading from the basic to the sublime, but love of any kind whether romantic or philosophic is active. Mere passive cognition and contemplation were never wisdom for Plato nor are they for me.
So I intend to ruminate over whatever interests me and the experiences I have in life, hoping, behind it all, to learn something. Of course my intentions are not purely solipsistic, and what I'm posting will at least appertain to interest and utility. Hopefully, some friends and family and who knows who else will drop by from time to time and join the chorus of the spheres for a moment.
The difference between a blog and a normal journal for myself or an emailed update for my friends and family is obvious. If I'm going to submit my thoughts to a public forum (well if any one drops by), I ought to have something worth saying. If this is a place for me to display mental drivel, then there's no point in writing a blog.
So what is the rai·son d'être of the Song of the Spheres? Well, primarily elucidation. I hope that by formulating my thoughts on a regular basis and sharing them with those that know me or visit the blog, I will learn more about my own life. From my Platonic philosophical sympathies to my delight in cooking and photography, to my PhD studies, I always am keen to learn more. If Plato is right in his Symposium, we go through a variety of loves and interests in our lives leading from the basic to the sublime, but love of any kind whether romantic or philosophic is active. Mere passive cognition and contemplation were never wisdom for Plato nor are they for me.
So I intend to ruminate over whatever interests me and the experiences I have in life, hoping, behind it all, to learn something. Of course my intentions are not purely solipsistic, and what I'm posting will at least appertain to interest and utility. Hopefully, some friends and family and who knows who else will drop by from time to time and join the chorus of the spheres for a moment.
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