Philosophy
Had an idea for a possible recurring theme, Compare and Contrast. So, let's see how it goes.
Compare and contrast Animal Farm and Animal House.
My take -- in both cases we see the cautionary tales about power and repressive regimes. When a non-democratic structure causes power to rest in the hands of a small group, it inevitably gives rise to oppression and to the rise of anti-structural organizations which see the enemy not only as those in power, but the power structure itself. However, where in Animal Farm, Napoleon sought to leave that power structure in place and assume control of it in the name of fairness, Dorfman, Bluto and company sought an anarchist solution. The irony, of course, being that at the very end of Animal House, when we learn that John Blutarsky would go on to become a United States Senator, it does seem that we see him transforming into a structural insider and thus something more akin to Napoleon.
- Noah Webster: Founding Father Of Political Correctness
The phrase "political correctness" may have been coined within the last few decades, but the concepts behind it and the initial attempts to put them in action may be found in the earliest years of our country. Noah Webster is best remembered for...
- Groucho And Pure Jokes
My Fellow Comedists, I was unable to get this weekend's comedist post up in time, so let's do it today. This week marks the 50th anniversary of Groucho's last public performance. An aging Groucho was slipping into depression, so...
- Continuity Of Self
Today is my birthday and it is fun to look at all of the greetings on Facebook from folks I've known over the entire range of my life. Some who know me only as a graying department chair and others who knew me as a member of the red group in...
- Most Important Presidential Words
On Presidents' Day, let's think about what Presidents of the United States have said. Perhaps the most powerful part of the position is an informal power, the bully pulpit. When presidents speak, we listen. What are the most...
- George Carlin - Pro-life, Abortion & The Sanctity Of Life
In my cursory and anecdotal study of human nature, I've noticed that those most loud and sure about their own opinions tend to love to vilify the views of others instead of fairly assessing and evaluating alternative points of view. Aristotle once...
Philosophy
Compare and Contrast: Animal Farm and Animal House
Had an idea for a possible recurring theme, Compare and Contrast. So, let's see how it goes.
Compare and contrast Animal Farm and Animal House.
My take -- in both cases we see the cautionary tales about power and repressive regimes. When a non-democratic structure causes power to rest in the hands of a small group, it inevitably gives rise to oppression and to the rise of anti-structural organizations which see the enemy not only as those in power, but the power structure itself. However, where in Animal Farm, Napoleon sought to leave that power structure in place and assume control of it in the name of fairness, Dorfman, Bluto and company sought an anarchist solution. The irony, of course, being that at the very end of Animal House, when we learn that John Blutarsky would go on to become a United States Senator, it does seem that we see him transforming into a structural insider and thus something more akin to Napoleon.
- Noah Webster: Founding Father Of Political Correctness
The phrase "political correctness" may have been coined within the last few decades, but the concepts behind it and the initial attempts to put them in action may be found in the earliest years of our country. Noah Webster is best remembered for...
- Groucho And Pure Jokes
My Fellow Comedists, I was unable to get this weekend's comedist post up in time, so let's do it today. This week marks the 50th anniversary of Groucho's last public performance. An aging Groucho was slipping into depression, so...
- Continuity Of Self
Today is my birthday and it is fun to look at all of the greetings on Facebook from folks I've known over the entire range of my life. Some who know me only as a graying department chair and others who knew me as a member of the red group in...
- Most Important Presidential Words
On Presidents' Day, let's think about what Presidents of the United States have said. Perhaps the most powerful part of the position is an informal power, the bully pulpit. When presidents speak, we listen. What are the most...
- George Carlin - Pro-life, Abortion & The Sanctity Of Life
In my cursory and anecdotal study of human nature, I've noticed that those most loud and sure about their own opinions tend to love to vilify the views of others instead of fairly assessing and evaluating alternative points of view. Aristotle once...