Well, now, Dean THAT explains a few things I'd been wondering today- coming to terms with, uh certain people I know.

Heh.

I am currently enjoying "Meditations" of Marcus Aurelius. That book has a totally calming effect.

Hmmm... Charles Sanders Peirce gets not just one, not just two, but three articles in this encyclopedia. And, just glancing through them, they seem accurate and judicious.

Though Josiah Royce definitely deserves an article of his own.

Yes, and did you notice Nietzsche isn't under Nietzsche? Not that I care, but where is he? Which reminds me of a great t-shirt I saw:

"God is dead"- Nietzsche.

"Nietzsche is dead"- God

Hahahahaha

Other philosophers I'd like to see have articles of their own:

* Ernst Cassirer

* George Santayana

* Charles W. Morris (although Morris is mentioned a few times in the bibliography of the article on his mentor George Herbert Mead)

Also, Dani, your remark reminds me of a T-shirt worn by a dude I once spent several weeks working for. Arnie was a Jesus Freak from California, who came to Wisconsin to found a small plastic sign factory. He sometimes wore a T-shirt which bore on the front the slogan: "'That which does not kill me makes me stronger.' —Nietzsche." On the back, a picture of an empty tomb, and the slogan: "'Even that which kills me makes me stronger.' —Jesus Christ."

The first thing I noticed was that the encyclopedia of philosophy treated the life and works of Ayn Rand and objectivism with -- well, for want of a better word -- objectivity. Which is the most you have to expect from any published source. Even if you are not an objectivist.

For the rest of you out there, stop wasting your time with Plato, Emmanuel Kant, Lenin, and various other irrationalists and greater or lesser altruists. And get with objective reality. Before your lives run out, along with foolish dreams of divine immortality, sin, heavens, hells, devils, angels, reincarnation, and the rest of the tommyrot that priests use to ruin the minds of small children.

Arnold Harris
Mount Horeb WI

Arnold:

If you say so. ;-)

My own preferred advice to people is summed up in my old tagline, "Think for yourself, and 'let the finder beware!'"

Which may or may not lead others to agreement with Paul Burgess. Actually, I'd be sorely disappointed if anyone either picked up, or dropped, the works of a particular philosopher simply because Paul Burgess told them to.

I'd much rather they look into it for themselves. And think for themselves. And "let the finder beware."

Who knows? If you think for yourself, you might end up being right on a point where Paul Burgess is wrong. You might even end up being right on a point where Arnold Harris is wrong.

That said, one could do far worse than to read the philosophical works of Peirce, Royce, and some of the others I mentioned above. As well as a great, great many others whom I didn't mention.

Though please, don't anybody take my word (or anyone else's word) for it— think for yourself.

That's what philosophy is about, after all. :-)

Paul, you are absolutely correct on at least one of your stated assumptions here, where you point out that through eclectic pursuit of philosophy, I might even end up being right on a point where Arnold Harris is wrong.

I have been wrong so many times in my life I can't begin to count them. Which is what happens if you are still thinking and not just drinking by the time you reach age 70. If you reach age 70 at all.

So what's a man supposed to do in the face of this? Adapt! When I discover that I'm wrong about something, I'm the first man to admit it, and then I work hard to re-square the foundation. Because as a house cannot long sit on a sloping foundation, a wholesome, productive and satisfying life cannot be sustained on a tissue of lies.

But, just like you (or what I assume to be the essence of Paul Burgess), I have to come to my own conclusions.

Arnold Harris
Mount Horeb WI

Arnold:

I'm afraid in that one paragraph I was slipping temporarily into using "you" in the general sense— that is, not "you" (singular) in the sense of Arnold Harris, but rather "you" (plural) in the sense of the reading audience at large.

Good one, ol' buddy! Touché!

But, just like you (or what I assume to be the essence of Paul Burgess), I have to come to my own conclusions.

You mean I have to come to Arnold Harris's own conclusions? Oh, sheesh...

Sorry, just kidding! :-)

How can God be dead if God never existed in the first place? You can't kill something that doesn't exist, but millions of people can still dress up in funny polyester clothes every sunday and worship a non-extistent thing.

Tim:

Sorry, you're one of the good guys, but I decline to carry your baggage for you.

Think for yourself, and "let the finder beware!" ;-)