Comments on: The Corner reads the classics of analytic philosophy http://crookedtimber.org/2005/10/09/the-corner-reads-the-classics-of-analytic-philosophy/ Out of the crooked timber of humanity, no straight thing was ever made Mon, 13 Feb 2012 10:56:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: nolo http://crookedtimber.org/2005/10/09/the-corner-reads-the-classics-of-analytic-philosophy/comment-page-1/#comment-108145 nolo Mon, 10 Oct 2005 13:48:28 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/?p=3895#comment-108145 A friend of mine in college actually wrote a song about Wittgenstein that was set to the tune of "Good King Wenceslaus." I kid you not-- but it works in so many ways. For one, if you substitute "Ludwig Wittgenstein" for "Good King Wenceslaus" in the first line of the carol, it fits perfectly. The high point was his rhyming of "Tractatus" with "epiglottis," with "epiglottis" then being the very last word of the last line of the first verse. It was really cool. A friend of mine in college actually wrote a song about Wittgenstein that was set to the tune of “Good King Wenceslaus.” I kid you not—but it works in so many ways. For one, if you substitute “Ludwig Wittgenstein” for “Good King Wenceslaus” in the first line of the carol, it fits perfectly. The high point was his rhyming of “Tractatus” with “epiglottis,” with “epiglottis” then being the very last word of the last line of the first verse. It was really cool.

]]> By: Peter http://crookedtimber.org/2005/10/09/the-corner-reads-the-classics-of-analytic-philosophy/comment-page-1/#comment-108124 Peter Mon, 10 Oct 2005 09:56:51 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/?p=3895#comment-108124 I should warn you, Adam, to be careful when singing Wittgenstein. Australian philosopher Charles Hamblin apparently died while setting the Tractatus to music! I should warn you, Adam, to be careful when singing Wittgenstein. Australian philosopher Charles Hamblin apparently died while setting the Tractatus to music!

]]> By: Adam Kotsko http://crookedtimber.org/2005/10/09/the-corner-reads-the-classics-of-analytic-philosophy/comment-page-1/#comment-107979 Adam Kotsko Mon, 10 Oct 2005 03:04:07 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/?p=3895#comment-107979 That "Good King Wencelas" thing is awesome. Thank you, Peter. That “Good King Wencelas” thing is awesome. Thank you, Peter.

]]> By: Daniel http://crookedtimber.org/2005/10/09/the-corner-reads-the-classics-of-analytic-philosophy/comment-page-1/#comment-107978 Daniel Mon, 10 Oct 2005 01:18:45 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/?p=3895#comment-107978 <i>he’s written more autobographies per unit of lived life than anyone in history</i> Even Ginger Spice? he’s written more autobographies per unit of lived life than anyone in history

Even Ginger Spice?

]]> By: John Emerson http://crookedtimber.org/2005/10/09/the-corner-reads-the-classics-of-analytic-philosophy/comment-page-1/#comment-107976 John Emerson Mon, 10 Oct 2005 00:51:33 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/?p=3895#comment-107976 Incidentally, of all those who never succeeded in writing an interesting essay or an actual book, Podheretz's father is the most famous author, and he's written more autobographies per unit of lived life than anyone in history. But young Podheretz does not aspire to his father's stature. Incidentally, of all those who never succeeded in writing an interesting essay or an actual book, Podheretz’s father is the most famous author, and he’s written more autobographies per unit of lived life than anyone in history.

But young Podheretz does not aspire to his father’s stature.

]]> By: John Emerson http://crookedtimber.org/2005/10/09/the-corner-reads-the-classics-of-analytic-philosophy/comment-page-1/#comment-107975 John Emerson Mon, 10 Oct 2005 00:46:51 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/?p=3895#comment-107975 Well, if Podheretz had attacked Quine or Davidson or Kripke he could have turned me into a rightwinger just like that, but I sorta like Wittgenstein because he's so fucking weird at times. [Cue The Troll of the Mad Spoofing Skillz.] Well, if Podheretz had attacked Quine or Davidson or Kripke he could have turned me into a rightwinger just like that, but I sorta like Wittgenstein because he’s so fucking weird at times.

[Cue The Troll of the Mad Spoofing Skillz.]

]]> By: pjs http://crookedtimber.org/2005/10/09/the-corner-reads-the-classics-of-analytic-philosophy/comment-page-1/#comment-107973 pjs Mon, 10 Oct 2005 00:24:58 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/?p=3895#comment-107973 When I first came across this, I had the same reaction Holbo had: "How could anything Wittgenstein cared about come into contact with anything Podhoretz cares about?" But I think Glenn Bridgman nailed it. Podhoretz is no doubt channeling some silly Straussian gripe about how Wittgenstein turned philosophy into a highly technical vocation, one no longer interested in the grand themes of human existence and the purpose of life. If I recall correctly, Straussians define a philosopher not as someone who investigates a particular set of problem in a particular way, but as someone who, like Socrates, was not afraid of death. You can kind of see how they might think that they have a problem with the analytical tradition, even though they know nothing about it. When I first came across this, I had the same reaction Holbo had: “How could anything Wittgenstein cared about come into contact with anything Podhoretz cares about?” But I think Glenn Bridgman nailed it. Podhoretz is no doubt channeling some silly Straussian gripe about how Wittgenstein turned philosophy into a highly technical vocation, one no longer interested in the grand themes of human existence and the purpose of life. If I recall correctly, Straussians define a philosopher not as someone who investigates a particular set of problem in a particular way, but as someone who, like Socrates, was not afraid of death. You can kind of see how they might think that they have a problem with the analytical tradition, even though they know nothing about it.

]]> By: Daniel http://crookedtimber.org/2005/10/09/the-corner-reads-the-classics-of-analytic-philosophy/comment-page-1/#comment-107972 Daniel Sun, 09 Oct 2005 23:44:31 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/?p=3895#comment-107972 Hmmmmm I can see how the Wittgensteinian style might appeal to right wing bloggers. 5.4.1 Is this "the true face" of liberalism? 5.5 Heh! Indeed. 5.5.1 <i>Read</i> the <i>whole thing</i>. Hmmmmm I can see how the Wittgensteinian style might appeal to right wing bloggers.

5.4.1 Is this “the true face” of liberalism?

5.5 Heh! Indeed.

5.5.1 Read the whole thing.

]]> By: Delicious Pundit http://crookedtimber.org/2005/10/09/the-corner-reads-the-classics-of-analytic-philosophy/comment-page-1/#comment-107970 Delicious Pundit Sun, 09 Oct 2005 23:28:11 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/?p=3895#comment-107970 One is reminded of another Wittgenstein phrase (which I only know because Steve Reich set it) -- "How small a thought it takes to fill a whole life." One is reminded of another Wittgenstein phrase (which I only know because Steve Reich set it) —“How small a thought it takes to fill a whole life.”

]]> By: MQ http://crookedtimber.org/2005/10/09/the-corner-reads-the-classics-of-analytic-philosophy/comment-page-1/#comment-107968 MQ Sun, 09 Oct 2005 22:17:16 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/?p=3895#comment-107968 "I await hungrily the day when Podhoretz attempts to phrase an attack on Old Grand-dad Heidegger. That is going to be awesome." In one of his books Rush Limbaugh let loose with a double-barreled attack on the Frankfurt School, perhaps you should look that up while you are waiting. “I await hungrily the day when Podhoretz attempts to phrase an attack on Old Grand-dad Heidegger. That is going to be awesome.”

In one of his books Rush Limbaugh let loose with a double-barreled attack on the Frankfurt School, perhaps you should look that up while you are waiting.

]]> By: nick s http://crookedtimber.org/2005/10/09/the-corner-reads-the-classics-of-analytic-philosophy/comment-page-1/#comment-107965 nick s Sun, 09 Oct 2005 21:44:46 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/?p=3895#comment-107965 "I think, therefore I am not John Podhoretz." “I think, therefore I am not John Podhoretz.”

]]> By: Peter http://crookedtimber.org/2005/10/09/the-corner-reads-the-classics-of-analytic-philosophy/comment-page-1/#comment-107963 Peter Sun, 09 Oct 2005 21:43:07 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/?p=3895#comment-107963 And the German sentence, of course, can be sung to the tune of "Good King Wencelas". Was W. in a prison camp in Bohemia when he wrote this, I wonder? And the German sentence, of course, can be sung to the tune of “Good King Wencelas”. Was W. in a prison camp in Bohemia when he wrote this, I wonder?

]]> By: Adam Kotsko http://crookedtimber.org/2005/10/09/the-corner-reads-the-classics-of-analytic-philosophy/comment-page-1/#comment-107962 Adam Kotsko Sun, 09 Oct 2005 21:18:39 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/?p=3895#comment-107962 Presumably, in an "intentional clever mistake" interpretive paradigm, his goal would be to say, in that cleverly ungrammatical way: "Whereof one cannot speak -- therefore... shut up! HA!" Right? (I hope he reads this, so that he can use my brilliant explanation.) Even better, in terms of driving the anti-elitists crazy, would be to quote it slightly inaccurately <i>in German</i>: <blockquote>Worauf man nicht sprechen kann, darüber muß man schweigen.</blockquote> (Hilarity ensues. I leave it to future generations to divine the "joke" intended in my error.) Presumably, in an “intentional clever mistake” interpretive paradigm, his goal would be to say, in that cleverly ungrammatical way: “Whereof one cannot speak—therefore… shut up! HA!” Right? (I hope he reads this, so that he can use my brilliant explanation.)

Even better, in terms of driving the anti-elitists crazy, would be to quote it slightly inaccurately in German:

Worauf man nicht sprechen kann, darüber muß man schweigen.

(Hilarity ensues. I leave it to future generations to divine the “joke” intended in my error.)

]]> By: Matt Austern http://crookedtimber.org/2005/10/09/the-corner-reads-the-classics-of-analytic-philosophy/comment-page-1/#comment-107961 Matt Austern Sun, 09 Oct 2005 21:14:00 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/?p=3895#comment-107961 Perhaps this is some subtle form of irony I'm missing, but... Atheist and peace activist Bertrand Russell? The author of Why I Am Not a Christian, who was refused permission to teach in the US in the postwar era for being insufficiently anticommunist? That's the Bertrand Russell you're referring to as a conservative icon? Perhaps this is some subtle form of irony I’m missing, but…

Atheist and peace activist Bertrand Russell? The author of Why I Am Not a Christian, who was refused permission to teach in the US in the postwar era for being insufficiently anticommunist? That’s the Bertrand Russell you’re referring to as a conservative icon?

]]> By: blah http://crookedtimber.org/2005/10/09/the-corner-reads-the-classics-of-analytic-philosophy/comment-page-1/#comment-107960 blah Sun, 09 Oct 2005 20:41:20 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/?p=3895#comment-107960 I think conservatives are still mad that Wittgenstein wiped the floor with conservative icon Bertrand Russell. I think conservatives are still mad that Wittgenstein wiped the floor with conservative icon Bertrand Russell.

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