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Tag: Jean Baudrillard

On Evil

On Evil

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I was re-reading a dissertation exam question, and I was somewhat surprised to discover that there has been no real transformation in my views on evil in more than a decade. Question: Compare the language of cause, analysis, description, and solution to evil in Augustine, Nietzsche, Schüssler-Fiorenza and one author of your choice (Buber). Identify juxtapositions, similarities, opposition, etc., amongst the authors, and situate your own view. The text of Augustine’s Confessions constructs an aesthetic metaphysics from within a post-Manichaean…

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Contraints on Communication Construct More Interesting Truths

Contraints on Communication Construct More Interesting Truths

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I would like to see someone do some contemporary intellectual work on how indirect communication – communication by signals and pointers and gestures rather than direct statement – produces the best art. The pure and simple truth is rarely pure and never simple. ~ Oscar Wilde Communication whose style and content is dictated by constraints imposed by the rules of a scene is more creative, even more joyful, even if the realities of the life that produces the thought is…

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Buy John’s Book

Buy John’s Book

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I have been seriously remiss in my intellectual (and wifely) support! I haven’t even urged you to buy, read, and comment on hubby’s book – The Allure of Machinic Life: Cybernetics, Artificial Life, and the New AI (Bradford Books, MIT Press)! Preview The Allure of Machinic Life at Google Books. I’m a little annoyed about the title, since I preferred “The Lure of Machinic Life” to “The Allure of Machinic Life.” However, the absolutely wonderful bit on me me me…

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Hell Opens in Paris

Hell Opens in Paris

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No kidding. Hell is open for business. Of course, “hell” is not the best translation of “L’Enfer.” “Inferno” would be better, but Hell rings about right (if you would excuse the pun) for much of the current American audience . [Aside: Have you ever looking into the meaning of “Lucifer”? Light-bearer, god of light, Venus, the morning star, son of dawn. In Hebrew it means “Helel (bright one) son of Shachar (dawn).” Helel, the morning star, was a Babylonian (Canaanite)…

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Baudrillard – Outlaw Analyst?

Baudrillard – Outlaw Analyst?

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I never thought of Baudrillard as an outlaw, despite his fascination with perfect crimes. He may have stood somewhat outside the academic establishment, but in many ways that can only be considered a compliment. The reality that we have created has overtaken us… and is creating us. To challenge how that happens, to describe it, even to play against it, is not the same thing as being an outlaw. He refused to be pressured into a mindset that had ceased…

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The Need to Speak, and Nothing to Say

The Need to Speak, and Nothing to Say

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“The need to speak, even if one has nothing to say, becomes more pressing when one has nothing to say, just as the will to live becomes more urgent when life has lost its meaning.” – Jean Baudrillard I remember a lecture given by Baudrillard at Emory. The crowd had transcripts of Baudrillard’s lecture, in case his accent was too overwhelming for them. People flipped pages like it was the Bible. I just looked and listened. I had no trouble…

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