The question of knowledge is a very old problem, going back to the ancients. What we can know about the world, and how we know it, is a huge puzzle. Now, we all love to tell stories, to tell people about things that have happened to us—or even stuff that happened to others, if it … Continue reading Narratives and Our Ways of Knowing Part III: Descartes and the Scientific Revolution
Me and The Blues
As I said in my inaugural post, I’ll occasionally post here something about the blues (or music generally). I grew up first on the usual pop music, and then graduated to classic rock as a teenager. My introduction to straight blues was a real revelation, one of those life-transforming events. On a bit of a … Continue reading Me and The Blues
#MakeKensDay: The Ken Mooney Book Bomb
Helping out a friend of a friend here. Let's make Ken's day.
Narratives and Our Ways of Knowing Part II: The Middle Ages
The question of knowledge is a very old problem, going back to the ancients. What we can know about the world, and how we know it, is a huge puzzle. Now, we all love to tell stories, to tell people about things that have happened to us—or even stuff that happened to others, if it … Continue reading Narratives and Our Ways of Knowing Part II: The Middle Ages
“Deconstruction” and its misuses (and, yes, Nietzsche)
I’ve recently seen on Twitter and in blogs several misuses of the word “deconstruction.” I knew my students didn’t really understand that term; but now I realize the misconception is more wide-spread than that. In the instances where I’ve seen it misused, people are treated it as a synonym for “analysis,” which means to break down, … Continue reading “Deconstruction” and its misuses (and, yes, Nietzsche)
A Frank Koenig Story: “The Stolen Car”
Frank’s partner, Carl Gibson, had a large waistband and chubby cheeks, with his hair cut into a dirty blond flattop. He wore a cheap Sears and Roebuck suit with a white shirt and a chocolate striped tie. He always smelled of Aqua Velva. Carl sat behind the wheel of his new De Soto, a pale … Continue reading A Frank Koenig Story: “The Stolen Car”
Chicken and Vegetables in the Dutch Oven
I love food, and I've gotten pretty good at cooking. (Okay, pretty damn good.) And as I promised in my inaugural post, I'm going to offer the occasional recipe here. For this dish, I use chicken thighs, since I think they’re the best part of the chicken. As for vegetables, I mix it up. I … Continue reading Chicken and Vegetables in the Dutch Oven
A Review of David Baldacci’s The Hit
Last month I took a quick trip to San Diego for a conference, and as is my usual habit, I picked up a suspense novel at one of the airport shops. I normally don’t go out of my way to read people like Baldacci, Michael Connolly, or Lee Child. They’re solid story-tellers, but I’ve read … Continue reading A Review of David Baldacci’s The Hit
A Frank Koenig Story: “The Meridian Lounge”
The Meridian Lounge The Meridian Lounge on West 125th Street in Harlem featured local and up-and-coming jazz acts. The venue, smoke-filled and done in brass, contained a dozen tables, and the varnish had worn off the floorboards where the waitresses trekked from the bar to the patrons in the tight space. Alma Boudreau stood on … Continue reading A Frank Koenig Story: “The Meridian Lounge”
Plato’s Forms
I had a request to post more about Plato’s Forms. So, here you go, Jess! UNIVERSALS Plato’s theory of Forms is a proto-theory of universals. What are universals? They’re characteristics that individual things share. The quality of being blue, blueness, for instance, isn’t an individual thing. It’s a characteristic shared by many individuals. Universals also … Continue reading Plato’s Forms
Mark T. Conard 