Short essays in Dillard's inimitable style about travels to China by American authors, Dillard included, and to America by Chinese authors. ]]>
bookshelves: greece-and-rome-project, philosophy
I'm blogging about this book on a philosophy forum. I'm reworking Farquharson's English translation of Marcus's original Greek into more modern English Here's one of my entries:
Marcus on the gods, the universe and procrastination
Posted 03-09-2008 at 02:05
Book II
Section 3
Marcus: The work of the gods is full of Providence: the work of Fortune is not divorced from Nature or the spinning and winding of the threads ordained by Providence. All flows from that other world; and there is, besides, necessity and the well-being of the whole universe, whereof you are a part. Now to every part of Nature, that is good which the nature of the Whole brings, and which preserves that nature; and the whole world is preserved as much by the changes of the compound bodies as by the changes of the elements which compose those bodies. Let this be sufficient for you, these be continually your doctrines. But put away your thirst for books, that so you may not die murmuring, but truly reconciled and grateful from your heart to the gods.
Me: Everything flows from the gods: fortune, necessity, and the unbroken fabric of the universe, which includes you. That universal wholeness is preserved by change both visible and invisible. These truths of the universe should be enough to satisfy you. Don’t be distracted by your desire for intellectual attainment and entertainment. Die with a grateful heart, reconciled to this universal fate.
Section 4
Marcus: Remember how long you have been putting off these things, and how many times the gods have given you days of grace, and yet you do not use them. Now is it high time to perceive the kind of Universe whereof you are a part and the nature of the governor of the Universe from whom you subsist as an effluence, and that the term of your time is circumscribed, and that unless you use it to attain calm of mind, time will be gone and you will be gone and the opportunity to use it will not be yours again.
Me: You have long delayed thinking about your place in the Universe. The gods have allowed you to remain here, but you waste your time, not remembering that you are a mere puff of universal breath. Your time here shortens; the circle of your life will soon close. If you don’t make the effort now to understand the nature of the Universe and its governor, your chance to gain peace will have passed and will never come again, for you, and your time, will be gone.
***
Section 3 was difficult for me to pick apart and rework. Actually they both had their sticking points for me, but the first took longer. I think I did a better job with 3 than with 4. I like the words in the original so well ("time will be gone and you will be gone and the opportunity to use it will not come again") that I found it difficult to make changes. I don't think I captured it as well as I think I did 3. Also, I think it sounds a bit like Kahlil Gibran. ;)
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bookshelves: greece-and-rome-project, philosophy
I got sidetracked while reading this, but I finally went back and finished. It's an overview of philosophers and philosophical trends within a story framework. The story about Sophie/Albert, et al. is aimed at getting young people interested in reading about philosophy. I'm not sure it (or anything) would get kids in this country to read philosophy, but maybe it worked in Gaarder's Norway. I enjoyed it and wanted to finish it, but only because I'm already interested in philosophy. ]]>
by Jon Ronson
I love listening to Jon Ronson on radio and podcast. Haven't read any of his books yet. I'll be interested to know if you like it. ]]>
bookshelves: critical-thinking, currently-reading, philosophy
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by Bill McKibben
Wow, you actually read this, eh? Impressive! ]]>
bookshelves: to-read
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 | Kitty wrote:"Very good and a nice companion to The End of Faith. Hitchens is a little more conversational than Ha...more" |
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by James Morrow
Looks interesting - thanks for the recommendation! I'm full of acceptation for it! ]]>
Kitty
took the never-ending book quiz.
| questions answered: | 35 |
| correct: | 30 (85.7%) |
| skipped: | 10 |
| best streak: | 9 |
| questions added: | 0 |