Why?

Philosophers ask "why?" William James argued that philosophical questions were live, meaning they had more than one possible answer, momentous, meaning how your answered them would changer your life significantly, and forced, meaning even with out a conscious decision, you have chosen.

So why not philosophise?

Artists assert why not? Let's try this- let's experiment with that. Let's see what happens. Also, this is what I want to say, or paint or do or think.

WHY BLOG? Because you, dear reader, are reading it, and I wanted to write it, even if you didn't want to read or even write these thoughts, although I am glad you did.

In short, why not? Assert meaning, don't merely state your case. Live it, for as long as you can. embrace those possibilities- those are not permanent.

Soulcraft

Here is a handy little book review by Francis Fukuyama. He is discussing the book Shop Class as Soulcraft, written by Matthew B. Crawford. Crawford owns and operates a motorcycle repairshop but has a Phd from Chicago.

"most forms of real knowledge, including self-knowledge, come from the effort to struggle with and master the brute reality of material objects — loosening a bolt without stripping its threads, or backing a semi rig into a loading dock."

It feels oddly appropriate as I divide my time between the aptly named headspace of a Grad student- essays, much reading and discussion with colleagues both junior, peer and senior- and my work as carpenter/ handyman. I installed a couple of hundred metres of 2 by 6 fence boards yesterday but started my day reading an essay by Seb Franklin on avante garde art practice and digital games, published in Ctheory.