A very difficult book to read, but one with a compelling hypothesis: that the process of evolution culminates in the advent of the noosphere, which coA very difficult book to read, but one with a compelling hypothesis: that the process of evolution culminates in the advent of the noosphere, which converges on a state called the Omega Point. The most exciting idea to me was that what set monkeys and apes apart over the course of evolution was that they did not develop specialised body parts like horns or antlers, which are evolutionary dead ends, but instead developed internally, in the central nervous system. The lack of specialisation in the 'without' of things, and the concomitant hyper-development at the 'within' of things led to our advanced reflective consciousness, which is the springboard for the future evolution into a universally-shared yet individually-centred consciousness....more
Poor old Emma was pretty hopeless, but I don’t blame her too much. She is a product of her time, being both spoiled by middle-class wealth and starvedPoor old Emma was pretty hopeless, but I don’t blame her too much. She is a product of her time, being both spoiled by middle-class wealth and starved by the lack of opportunities for meaningful employment afforded to her sex. Yes, she is avaricious and impetuous, however it is also true that her life is wanting in genuine emotional connections with others. I thought it lacked in psychological drama until the end....more
In light of the COVID pandemic, this book takes on additional interest and it is in the description of austere bureaucracy and human suffering as the In light of the COVID pandemic, this book takes on additional interest and it is in the description of austere bureaucracy and human suffering as the primary material and moral consequences that Camus is vindicated in his prognostication of the course of a modern disease outbreak, even if it was intended as an allegory of Nazi-occupied France. The struggle of the characters for meaning in the face of isolation and death is emblematic of the author’s work and it is where the main attraction of the book lies for me. Tarrou, who maintained his own humanity and a belief in the goodness of others, and Grand, with his absurd obsession of the perfect composition of a sentence, were my favourites, while the revelation of the identity of the narrator was a nice surprise at the end. That life, with its attendant emotions and relations, goes on in the face of catastrophe is an idea that has interested me lately....more
I went into this book expecting to read about the social contract between people and their government and instead learned about the contract that peopI went into this book expecting to read about the social contract between people and their government and instead learned about the contract that people agree on amongst themselves in order to gain liberty over the state of nature. Rousseau’s influence on the American system of government seemed apparent, and in turn he was heavily influenced by the Greek and Roman republics. I don’t pretend to understand all of it: there was a great deal of reasoned logic about how a state should be constituted, plenty of historical references (especially to Machiavelli, Cicero, Plato and Aristotle) and he stressed that the constitution of the state should change over time and depending on the people, the historical context and even the climate, but I learned a lot. Rousseau’s emphasis that the body politic should make the laws, regardless of what form the executive branch takes, and the need for direct democracy over representative democracy were interesting takeaways....more
Never having read any Voltaire, I have to say that I was hoping for more from these two stories. I expected philosophical insight coupled with wit, buNever having read any Voltaire, I have to say that I was hoping for more from these two stories. I expected philosophical insight coupled with wit, but instead I found thinly-veiled parables which dragged interminably on through frustrating repetition and good events inevitably followed by their undoing. Candide and Zadig were similar tales which reached opposite conclusions, I suppose due to the different merits of each protagonist. The so-called morals of each story were wholly simplistic, ridiculous and not worthy of an Enlightenment writer....more
I came across Jean Grenier when he was mentioned in Camus’s The Myth of Sisyphus as a mentor, so I was intrigued. More Rimbaud than Camus and more DaoI came across Jean Grenier when he was mentioned in Camus’s The Myth of Sisyphus as a mentor, so I was intrigued. More Rimbaud than Camus and more Daoism than philosophy, Grenier seems closer to Camus’s Algerian essays than to Sisyphus. Grenier’s enjoyment in, and fascination with, paradoxes, the elegance and ambiguity of language, hidden connections, and the value in the void, in nothingness, in emptiness, found sympathy with me. He offers no answers other than the suggestion that there is a deeper experience possible in existence. These essays are not for everyone....more
An amazing and wonderful – but very difficult – book. Camus’s philosophy of the absurd, encompassing a scope of every major philosopher from Plotinus An amazing and wonderful – but very difficult – book. Camus’s philosophy of the absurd, encompassing a scope of every major philosopher from Plotinus and Augustine, through Descartes, and scaling the peaks of Kierkegaard and Nietzsche, is the most complete modern philosophy that I have encountered. It doesn’t pretend to be too much; it doesn’t relieve any of the burden of choice; it doesn’t shirk the yoke of meaninglessness and futility; but it does give a decent prescription for living: revolt, liberty and passion.
That Camus wrote this before he was 30 is ample evidence of his towering intelligence and singular talent for synthesis of that which he had read and digested. Camus’s appreciation for 19th century Russian literature also wins him points from me.
The essays at the end were inspired poetical flourishes of Camus mostly paying homage to Algiers. They were really delightful and sweet, yet not without overtures of his philosophy, and dated as some were prior to Sisyphus, showed nascent glimpses of what was to come....more
Very French – the clatter of enthusiasm spiced with flair and charm, but underneath the crisis of existence: the emptiness. It was difficult to get a Very French – the clatter of enthusiasm spiced with flair and charm, but underneath the crisis of existence: the emptiness. It was difficult to get a handle on all the characters in the chaos of the opening pages, but I guess that is the effect de Beauvoir was going for, in order to provide a contrast for what followed. I enjoyed the thoughtful, introspective narrative flow and the existential struggle. I appreciated reading from an honest and unapologetic female’s perspective (on de Beauvoir’s part, not the protagonist’s) of doubting herself, and I recognized the experience of the emptiness, and the futility of it....more
Reading a philosophy book that was first published in 1641 was an enjoyable experience. This book is the original source of several philosophical techReading a philosophy book that was first published in 1641 was an enjoyable experience. This book is the original source of several philosophical techniques and, as such, very useful and educational. On the other hand, with our modern knowledge of the human body, physics, evolution, information and logic, much of the reasoning doesn’t stand up to scrutiny. The final section was quite comical in its description of how nerves work and its explanation of phantom limbs and dropsy. However, Descartes did make me think about how I know I’m awake as opposed to dreaming and it reinforced for me the power of the ‘ex nihilo nihil fit’ argument....more
Sartre wrote fiction beautifully and skillfully; he had a great knack for evocative and creative adjectives and metaphors. There is something wonderfuSartre wrote fiction beautifully and skillfully; he had a great knack for evocative and creative adjectives and metaphors. There is something wonderfully French and different in his writing. and this was the best feature of the book.
The narrative in this instance was largely bland though, redolent of the bleak choices one has to make in the ordinary course of a life. Sure, it was about freedom, but only because the characters thought of it as such; compare it with any other novel and existential freedom is no more evident in the choices of the individuals involved. What they lacked, I thought, was imagination: the protagonists imagined their freedom to be constrained and circumscribed, and I expected more from Sartre....more
What a perplexing little book. The protagonist, in some ways so fascinating, while in many others so boring and unlikable, made me wonder whether the What a perplexing little book. The protagonist, in some ways so fascinating, while in many others so boring and unlikable, made me wonder whether the novel has any significance at all. The Kierkegaardian 'either way you will regret' angle evident in the story is not a very human philosophy and Meursault's lack of emotional responses suggested a deficient personality rather than a case upon which a major observation about the nature of human existence or society could be made. An indictment of a farcical legal system is really as far as it goes. It was an easy read though and I enjoyed it....more
Not a novel, exactly. It lacked the depth of characters and the scope that one expects in a novel. Very literal; I didn't detect any trace of allegoryNot a novel, exactly. It lacked the depth of characters and the scope that one expects in a novel. Very literal; I didn't detect any trace of allegory, which the topic begs for. It was a little shocking in some parts, but didn't go into enough detail for revulsion. I think this was an opportunity missed....more
I didn’t think this translation was quite as good as the one by Oliver Bernard and it had a few minor errors in it. This is Rimbaud’s masterpiece: it I didn’t think this translation was quite as good as the one by Oliver Bernard and it had a few minor errors in it. This is Rimbaud’s masterpiece: it mixes poetry with prose, visions with material imagery. I wasn’t quite as awe in it as I was when I read it as a younger person, but I understood it to a far greater degree and appreciated the mix of structural elements more. The form is truly a sight to behold. It’s so tragic that Rimbaud’s attempt at the alchemy of the word and the purity of his poetical aspirations was spectacularly and completely abandoned, but I think he said all there was to say on the topic in this piece, in which he leads the reader through his hopes to their abnegation. I wasn’t familiar with the short religious introduction and I don’t know where it comes from because I didn’t think it was part of the poem, but it was an interesting addition....more
An alarming exposition on the nature of the human condition, uncovering the aloneness and nothingness that characterise our existence. I never knew SaAn alarming exposition on the nature of the human condition, uncovering the aloneness and nothingness that characterise our existence. I never knew Sartre could be so poetic and aesthetic; what he achieves with his prose is to beautifully depict the solitary ingredients of nature and weave them into a vibrant, living portrait of our passing moments. A triumph – psychologically, intellectually and philosophically: drawing the veil from the banality of everyday life and revealing the panic and disgust which one must experience at perceiving the bare bones of being. The story of my life; Sartre's frank loneliness made me aware of my sanity. A radiant sabre of truth amidst a world of lies....more
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