Making a weekly habit of writing about what I’m reading (this seems meta to me; does it seem meta to you?) is apropos; I tend to read a number of books concurrently, and my interests shift rapidly and intensely all over the literary spectrum. I intend, too, on posting my book reviews and recommendations. Lately, my focus has been on introductory philosophy. As I’m obsessed with chronologies, I’ve been working from an overview of the early Ionic/Pre-Socratic philosophers (Hesiod, Thales, Anaxamander, &c), with the ambition of moving then on to Plato and Aristotle. With the generous assistance of friends, I’ve assembled a ‘dream sheet’ of some twenty works (varying in their relationship to a most pure definition of ‘philosophy’) to absorb and digest over the next few months.
Currently, I’m working through a selection of four books:
- Philosophy Before Socrates by R. McKirahan
- Early Greek Philosophy edited by J. Barnes
- The Man Who Was Thursday by G.K. Chesterton
- Insomnia by S. King
The last book needs only the briefest of mention: I’ve read a Stephen King novel every finals week for eight years (finals week being the only time to read King, of course). I’m not that particular breed of of the intellectual snobbery to turn my nose up at King. Rather, I think he’s actually a superb writer, marvelous storyteller, and an indelible part of the contemporary American literary canon. His books are the sort that one can just fall into, and – upon the stresses of final examinations, papers, presentations, etc. – he is a welcome relief.
The Man Who Was Thursday came well-recommended to me a few years back. I’d bought a copy about a year ago and false-started it a few times: I’d get through the introduction, begin the novel, and – for one reason or another – be lured away by the literary wiles of another book. It finally seems that I may finish, though: I’m some 90 pps. in, and have only another 90 pps. to go. Overall, it’s a worthwhile venture: Chesterton is a lot like C.S. Lewis insofar as he is (a) a Christian apologist, and (b) allows his individual philsophies pertinent to religion to seep into his writing. Thematically, Chesterton addresses moral relativism, using an anarchist group in London as his vessel. The protagonist, Syme, is the upright symbol of idyllic Christiandom: he represents moral fortitude and benevolence.
For me, the true merit of The Man Who Was Thursday lies in its time of publication: 1907, when anarchist movements were extant, and World War I had not yet entered into the intellectual consciousness. Any writing from this time period (up until the cusp of the Great War, and – for many – including and the immediate aftermath) is always captivating; it was a time of such grandiosity, Romanticism and culture, with tempestuous rage seething below the surface of humanity. Certainly, Civilization and its Discontents (S. Freud) is a necessary accessory to any 1905 – 1920 literary venture.
Finally, first two are being read concurrently. I’d purchased Early Greek Philosophy with the intention of supplementing Philosophy Before Socrates with extant fragments and secondary sources pertinent to the philosophers being discussed. However – much to my chagrin (and a testament to my essential ignorance of the subject matter) – there is really so little remaining of the pre-Socratics that having Early Greek Philosophy is redundant: all of the fragments are also contained in Introduction … .
My strategy, then, has been to read a chapter in Philosophy Before Socrates and then the corresponding in Early Greek Philosophy. Though it’s mostly just re-reading (though Barnes does offer some slightly different translations, and re-enforces the historic and social context of the related work), the repetition is useful for solidifying an understanding of the material covered. Plus, I’m able to remember the main points of each philosopher, and link them together in some semblance of a cogent manner. The biggest drawback, really, is the embarrassing lack of knowledge about pronunciation: I’ve never taken a philosophy course, I’ve never been lectured to, or told about, any of the individuals contained in these two volumes. Therefore, I have only the most scant of abilities in pronouncing any of these fellow’s names (Xenophanes, anyone?). Truly, a pity. I’m about halfway through these works, as well.
For the more briefly-interested amongst us, here are the books referenced in this entry:
- Insomnia – S. King
- The Man Who Was Thursday – G.K. Chesterton
- Civilization and its Discontents - S. Freud
- Philosophy Before Socrates – R. McKirahan
- Early Greek Philosophy – J. Barnes
