I think best in dialogic form. When people ask questions, offer their perspective, and suggest venues of analysis, that really helps me figure out my own ideas. Unfortunately, the kind of teaching that I do precludes any dialogue about the ideas that interest me. So I created this blog, and it’s literally the most useful tool I have found to advance my intellectual development. I’m grateful to everybody who is participating because I’m a slow, plodding thinker, and I need a lot of repetition and looking at things from different perspectives to arrive at complete ideas.
When I’m stuck in my writing, which is at least every other day, I write something on here, and it always pushes me along to where I need to be.
The whole point of the blog for me is to share what I read and think about and receive feedback. I read voraciously in many different directions. I need complete freedom to look at all sorts of ideas, try them on, discard, adopt, modify, and so on. I don’t have another place to do it other than this blog. Life isn’t worth much to me if I can’t read, think and discuss. This sounds like a big statement but I’m completely sincere. I need this like I need to breathe air.
Many people over the years have found value in hearing what I have to say on here. Some found books to read, discovered favorite authors, sharpened their rhetorical skills, consolidated their system of arguments, or simply found a way to have fun, enjoy, relax, and have a chuckle. I think it can be very useful to witness a person’s intellectual journey as it happens and see what goes into making ideas. If Zygmunt Bauman, for example, had a blog where I could see how he arrived at his ideas, that would be fascinating to me. Obviously, I lay no claim to being at the level of Bauman but I believe there’s value in observing a regular person, a mom, who packs lunch boxes, makes PB&J sandwiches, and decorates the dining room table with fluffy bunnies, read and then create philosophy.
I’m very attached to long-time readers who, to me, are more close and real than most people I know in my daily life. But this is a relationship that has to be honest and free if it is to have any meaning. I’m not going to censor myself because then what’s the point? We have to accept collectively and individually that pursuing the life of the mind isn’t always all flowers and butterflies. It’s akin to crashing through the thick forest undergrowth, leaving flaps of skin and drops of blood on thorny branches.
Clarissa's Blog 
“pursuing the life of the mind isn’t always all flowers and butterflies”
And just because you cite something that someone has written doesn’t mean you completely agree (or disagree). That people still equate citation (directly or indirectly) as endorsement is… kind of amazing.
I regard your posts summarizing what someone else wrote as a prompt to think about and offer feedback if it makes you think. Am I alone in this?
Often I don’t have much to add (or only think of what to add much, much, much later) but they’re always interesting.
LikeLiked by 1 person
In Byung-Chul Han, for example, there’s more I disagree with than agree. Let alone Nick Land. I found it useful and enlightening to read Land but his is not the direction that currently interests me.
I once tried teaching Bauman’s “Wasted Lives”, and it was a mega fail. Students were so offended that somebody would call any life wasted that we couldn’t move on and get into where Bauman was very much against the kind of society that produced these wasted lives. I got bored with having to issue retractions and never taught Bauman again.
I can only imagine the quagmire if I’d got to the part where Bauman Is critical of “sexual freedom” and short, meaningless relationships.
LikeLike
I’m extremely grateful for this blog. It has helped me think through a lot of important issues. I routinely send your posts to friends! And I appreciate that you take criticisms of your positions with so much grace, even on topics that are very close to your heart. I’ve never seen anything like this.
Your faithful reader for the last 15 years,
Stringer
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’m extremely grateful for this blog. It has helped me think through a lot of important issues. I routinely send your posts to friends! And I appreciate that you take criticisms of your positions with so much grace, even on topics that are very close to your heart. I’ve never seen anything like this.
Your faithful reader for the last 15 years,
Stringer
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much. This means crazy tons. Please don’t leave again.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aww you remembered I was away for a couple of years!
LikeLiked by 1 person
How could I possibly not?
LikeLiked by 1 person
What’s with the double posts today??!
LikeLike
Some people say they can’t comment at all. I didn’t change anything, so it’s glitching independently from my will.
LikeLike
I got an error message while posting that was like “you just posted that, are you *sure* you wanna post it again??” So I think it’s happening to everyone.
LikeLike
“Some people say they can’t comment at all.”
I can only comment through my wordpress reader.
The problem seems to be you have be logged in to wordpress to comment but at present the comment system doesn’t let you do that. Also I can’t log into wordpress from your home page which I used to be able to.
Typical techfail degradation of service.
LikeLike
Another platform I use (not major) is also gone glitchy this week. There is speculation that it’s related to the big USAID audit/freeze and users are wondering if the platform was receiving funds from that org.
LikeLike
This is the last thing I need right now. Such nasty garbage is happening at work that I need to be around sane people somewhere.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am thankful for this post. I am thankful for the ways in which you share and have taught me over the years. I have been away a while because I disagreed with some of your thoughts on the Ukraine war and I am conflict averse. At the same time I always appreciate your perspective. I have read so many books that you suggested, (Atlas Shrugged, Animal Farm, 1984). And I learned the best borscht recipe here that now informs how I eat every day. Cabbage is a regular part of my diet now because of your recommendations.
“When I’m stuck in my writing, which is at least every other day, I write something on here, and it always pushes me along to where I need to be.”
I never knew this about you. I have been stuck in my writing for a few years now. I used to write regularly for local papers and on my blog. I have a lot of personal conflict that has caused me to struggle with my thoughts and processing information. I think I will engage with this blog again and see if I can stimulate my brain.
”We have to accept collectively and individually that pursuing the life of the mind isn’t always all flowers and butterflies. It’s akin to crashing through the thick forest undergrowth, leaving flaps of skin and drops of blood on thorny branches.”
I agree.
LikeLike
I’m really glad you are back, Margaret! The news about borscht really gladdens my heart. I’m planning to use this recipe to convince the new priest to stay at our parish, so let’s hope that works. 😊
LikeLike