Ask the philosophers: the 11 greatest philosophical quotations

Posted on February 6, 2007 by raincoaster

Hobbes. Bet you didn't expect that, eh?

But they left out my favorite, from Camus: “It is the obligation of the intelligent to oppress the stupid, otherwise they will take over the world.”

Too late. That’s what three decades of Relativism gets you.

Here, from Mental Floss via Neatorama, are the 11 greatest philosophical quotations, with arguably enlightening commentary. Bonus pronounciation guide, for those of you who prefer to pronounce things as if you were still living in Bavaria…here’s a tip: I was born near Paris, but I pronounce it “Pare-iss” not “Pay-ree” because I do not live in France. I do not pronounce Indonesia with five syllables either, although you do once you’re there. That goes double for idiomatic English names (eg “It’s spelt ‘SMITH’ but has been pronounced “Williams” since the Battle of Hastings…”) If you do not live in France or Germany or Worcestershire or Bandaniera either, making a point of pronouncing things like the natives do simply makes people write you off (correctly) as one of those beret-wearing pretentiati. And when raincoaster here tells you you’re being pretentious, you know you’re out of bounds.

Ahem.

3. “The life of man [is] solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.” – Thomas Hobbes (1588 – 1679)
Referring to the original state of nature, a hypothetical past before civilization, Hobbes saw no reason to be nostalgic.

Whereas Rousseau said, “Man is born free, and he is everywhere in chains,” Hobbes believed we find ourselves living a savage, impossible life without education and the protection of the state. Human nature is bad: we’ll prey on one another in the most vicious ways. No doubt the state imposes on our liberty in an overwhelming way. Yet Hobbes’ claim was that these very chains were absolutely crucial in protecting us from one another.

getting medieval on your astronaut!

Posted on February 6, 2007 by raincoaster

How I love it when a loyal reader sends along a piece of web strangeness saying, “Saw this freakishness and thought of you.”

I feel speshul.

A certain horse blogger of heretofore normal inclinations has passed along the following sad and bizarre tale.

Remember when you were little, and you were asked what you wanted to grow up to be? Now, as a little girl I knew “cowboy” was off the table, but I saw no reason not to say “jillaroo” or, indeed, “astronaut.” “Firefighter” was for dumb lugs, sorry to my four cousins who became firefighters; I can only suggest they are playing against type.

Yes, didn’t we all want to be astronauts when we grew up? Everyone old enough to have seen the first Moon landing surely shares my one-time dream. But, as age and marks caught up with us, we realized we’d never have the PhD from MIT that seems to be the prerequisite, much less the Olympic medals, the Saudi princedom, or the College Republican presidency that are just the oak leaf clusters on the dingleberries of your application form.

We felt bad.

Ladies and gentlemen, allow us at the ol’ raincoaster blog to make your day. Allow us, in fact, to make up for decades of feelings of inadequacy. Your life may suck. Your job may involve the phrase “would you like fries with that?” Your love life may be as imaginary as your next vacation. Your socks could have holes, your dog could snap at you, and your shirt could well be tucked into your underwear at this very moment.

But you will never be the country-song-in-waiting that is the trainwreck which is this astronaut’s sorry-ass life. The mugshot goodness!

A NASA astronaut faces her first appearance before a judge this morning after police say she attacked her rival for another astronaut’s attention at Orlando International Airport Monday.

Lisa Marie Nowak drove more than 12 hours from Texas to meet the 1 a.m. flight of a younger woman who had also been seeing the astronaut Nowak pined for, according to Orlando police. She is being held on no bond at Orange County Jail and has a court appearance at 9 a.m.

Nowak — who was a mission specialist on a Space Shuttle Discovery flight last summer — was wearing a trench coat and wig and had a knife, BB pistol, and latex gloves in her car, reports show. They also found diapers, which Nowak said she used so she wouldn’t have to stop on the 1,000-mile drive.

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start your day off right, biotches: with the Spirit of Truth!

Posted on February 6, 2007 by raincoaster

My mother was a Buddhist, but she never missed a service at the Pentecostal church down the street. This shiat is why.

Then she’d come home and watch Ernest Angeley. So that’s where I get it the multiculti freakness from, in case you’re axin’.

the secret to hula-hooping

Posted on February 5, 2007 by raincoaster

So this is why I can’t do it. From Explosm.

PSA: 12 Midnite’s Money-Grubbing Cash & Carry Art Sale

Posted on February 5, 2007 by raincoaster

12 MIDNITE: Political Pop art pioneer, lowbrow legend and hot rod hooligan hosts sale of vintage art thought long lost

Feb. 5, 2007
Vancouver:
12 MIDNITE, Canada’s best known unknown arist has a checkered history of shifting gears on his career. Coming to the forefront of the thriving political street art movement, by the mid 80s his name became synonomous with gritty urban pop art. Since that time he has been an established member of the elite society of Lowbrow legends, moving through graffiti to pop painting and neon art, running galleries, a hot rod shop and back, while popping up irregularly with guitar in hand, to front an ever-shifting band of punk ex-patriots to shock and amaze fans and foes with his beer-drenched tales of misadventure before disappearing in a blur of flat black and throaty exhaust.
On one magical night only, February 17th, Midnite will host a MONEY-GRUBBING sale of long-lost art: paintings, prints, drawings, graffiti and neon from the early days to fund his latest album, “SWEET TURNS SOUR” at LUCKY RED, on the bitter end of Vancouver’s historic chinatown.
Those who cough up over 200 dollars will recieve an advance copy of the album along with the smug satisfaction of knowing that BUYING ART MAKES YOU COOL!

12 MIDNITE’S MONEY-GRUBBING CASH AND CARRY ART SALE
Saturday, February 17th: 8PM
LUCKY RED: Union at Main…on the bitter end of chinatown
www.12midnite.com
midnite at telus dot net

	raincoaster on Goodbye, Robert Redford
	raincoaster on Goodbye, Robert Redford
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raincoaster

49 degrees latitude, 360 degrees attitude!

Monthly Archives: February 2007

Ask the philosophers: the 11 greatest philosophical quotations

start your day off right, biotches: with the Spirit of Truth!

the secret to hula-hooping

PSA: 12 Midnite’s Money-Grubbing Cash & Carry Art Sale

Don't keep it to yourself!

Don't keep it to yourself!

Don't keep it to yourself!

Don't keep it to yourself!

Don't keep it to yourself!