Alexander > Recent Status Updates

There's a moment of almost bitterly funny irony here when, at the time of Pitkin's writing in 1967, she notes Burke's idea of 'unattached interests', interests like those of 'the economy', trade, or defence, have been forgotten in the light of a liberal ascendency of 'the interests the people'. 50 years later, the 'interests of the people' seem like a romantic and naive daydream. The return of the Burkeian repressed.

If only for the nuanced discussion on the distinction between representing and symbolizing, this would have been worth reading already.

This is dizzyingly good. Possibly the clearest account the motivation(s) behind Zizek's articulation between German Idealism and psychoanalysis. Touches on exactly the questions I've always struggled with in Z's work.

Lotta lightbulb moments here (ha).

I almost forgot how exhilarating/exasperating reading Zizek is. He writes at such speed, with such clamour and contrast that it's hard not to be swept up in it. Enjoying this though.

I spent almost a year prepping myself for reading Deleuze’s Difference and Repetition, and while that was worth every bit of effort, The LoS is no less a part of that book, both cut from the same incredible weave. To think that I’m only just coming to grips with it. It’s only once I finish this in full that I can say that I’ve read D&R I think.

Makes everyone else look like a featherweight.

This is an original, first-rate study of political concepts disguised as a text on Wittgenstein... While also being, incidentally, a text on Wittgenstein. Soo good.

A slim but utterly exhausting tract.

This is fantastic if only as a introduction to analytic debates over 'truth'. I don't quite think Ellenbogen has got Witty 'right', but her readings of and engagements with those like Michael Dummett, Crispin Wright, and John McDowell are masterful and clear. Enjoying this.

This is fantastic if only as a introduction to analytic debates over 'truth'. I don't quite think Ellenbogen has got Witty 'right', but her readings of and engagements with those like Michael Dummett, Crispin Wright, and John McDowell are masterful and clear. Enjoying this.

I kinda wish I'd read this before the Claim of Reason. It's true that Cavell here is more 'academic' and less free-associative and wide-ranging, but the younger Cavell is more combative, more to the point, and just an all round better read.

So.... close...

Part IV of this goes off the deep end am I'm not sure if I love or hate it. Leaning toward hate, but that might change.

Cavell is one of the few writers for whom the title of 'discursive' actually fits like a glove.

Actually pretty disappointed with this so far, although that's more down to my expectations than anything. Bought this after reading his awesome article in Nautilus (http://nautil.us/issue/49/the-absurd/...), but this has very little of that good stuff. Mostly just an exercise in cataloging well-known paradoxes without attempts at digging much deeper. Good for beginners, I think.