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Diary of a B+ Grade Polymath ([personal profile] tcpip) wrote2012-11-28 11:10 pm

A Bookish Life, Politics and Philosophy, Miscellany.

On the topic of books, I'm well into the second chapter of writing the OpenFOAM book, although it will be about a week late. At around seven and a half-thousand words per chapter, it probably doesn't bode as well in sheer quantity as my friends participating in NaNoWriMo who have happily composed one hundred thousand words, this month. At the other end of the extreme visited a "book" launch last Sunday were the author's contribution was around fourteen thousand, and a good third of that as quotes. For reading material over the past week have compled Dostoyevsky's The Idiot (yes, amused that the main character is a philosopher named Lev, whose "idiocy" is not being interested in societal machinations) and Andrew Lang's Custom and Myth and the first volume of Myth, Ritual, and Religion. This is a fascinating collection of myths and writen in at the time of a disciplinary change from philology to structural anthropology where synchronic and diachronic analysis becomes paramount.

Isocracy Network last Sunday had a fair turnout, a great talk by Race Matthews and excellent dinner and drinks afterwards. Most recent post on the website is Syria: Peace with Justice, which looks at why some of the progressive left are more than a little wrong in supporting Assad's fascist government (mind you, this probably has a lot to do with the issue of left wing fascism). On a similar manner, very interested in Dean Edward's contribution to the Unitarian Philosophy Forum this Sunday on "Sexuality and Philosophy". In January will be presenting on the contribution of Unitarian-Universalists to Isocracy (yes, there is a contribution worth noting). On a related note, attended St Michael's on Sunday to hear Dr. McNab speak on having a "flourishing life"; also discovered that my joining "ceremony" at said institution has found its way to Youtube.

In animal life, Furfur the emo guinea pig has lost a lot of weight, due to a malocclusion. A visit to the excellent Dr Jack Zaks has set us back a tidy sum. In other animal improvements, have introduced an aquarium to the workspace I share with [livejournal.com profile] imajica_lj; with club chairs and a plasma lamp already in place, the cocktail bar can't be too far behind. Last Sunday played another session of Dark Heresy, although Redmond informs us that campaign is coming to an end, as is Michael's GURPS China/Korea, leaving us with consideration of "what's next?". I am tempted to run Earthdawn or Twilight 2000 (from the perspective of anarcho-syndicalists), however would like to finish the current Call of Cthulhu and/or Pendragon games that I'm running first.

[identity profile] fluffyblanket.livejournal.com 2012-12-01 09:37 am (UTC)(link)
With all due respect, I feel that you are being rather semantically pedantic .Real Socialism - especially in its highest Anarchist form-incorporates both.

[identity profile] zenicurean.livejournal.com 2012-12-01 04:31 pm (UTC)(link)
I don't have a horse in this race, but in defence of [livejournal.com profile] tcpip's commitment to specificity I should probably say that that particular expression also refers to a stock concept, and would thus be taken by many in that sense of the phrase. Which I suppose goes to show it's never wasted effort to elaborate.

[identity profile] tcpip.livejournal.com 2012-12-01 09:50 pm (UTC)(link)
Well, being semantically pedantic is certainly a means to ensure that the one is also pedantic in practise. I am especially wary of claims to "real" socialism (we may recall Marx and Engel's criticism of "True Socialism" in the Manifesto. After all, I am sure that the Stalinists think that they provide "real socialsm", just as I am sure the Nazis claimed the same.

As for anarchism, my favourite quote on the subject is that the anarchists provide a liberal critique of socialism and a socialist critique of liberalism!

[identity profile] fluffyblanket.livejournal.com 2012-12-02 06:51 am (UTC)(link)
I heartily applaud that ! I can't remember where it comes from though....

[identity profile] tcpip.livejournal.com 2012-12-02 09:24 am (UTC)(link)
"anarchism combines a socialist critique of liberalism and a liberal critique of socialism"
Nathan J. Jun, Shane Wahl, New Perspectives on Anarchism, Lexington, 2010, p294

One of the most pithy statements of anarchism I've encountered.

[identity profile] fluffyblanket.livejournal.com 2012-12-02 11:44 am (UTC)(link)
Thanks-an excellent quotation !
I've just this moment thrown in the towel with "Behemoth".It's unbelievably turgid and written by a German .I think the cover is candid in proclaiming , "Not for sale to the public".Ich kann Deutsch nicht verstehen -and I've not the slightest desire to learn it . ¡Viva el Anarquismo y la lengua española !

[identity profile] fluffyblanket.livejournal.com 2012-12-02 07:01 am (UTC)(link)
I'm bowing out now before i end up voting Conservative ...
: D

[identity profile] tcpip.livejournal.com 2012-12-05 01:25 am (UTC)(link)
If you're even in the situation where you have to choose between a Stalinist that offers socialism, but not democracy and personal freedoms and a conservative that offers (with a grimace) democracy and personal freedom, but not socialism, I think the choice is pretty clear.

[identity profile] fluffyblanket.livejournal.com 2012-12-05 07:59 am (UTC)(link)
It is NOW but not when I was in the Communist Party with its Marxist-Leninist dialectical apologism.Thank goodnress I'm now a straightforward (A)narchist !