tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687347459208158501.post3655939778918041745..comments2024-03-29T02:27:32.635-04:00Comments on The Philosopher's Stone: A BRIEF MEMOIR, TO REFRESH USRobert Paul Wolffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11970360952872431856noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687347459208158501.post-58089745474028358182017-01-30T11:41:45.200-05:002017-01-30T11:41:45.200-05:00For Chris and all those interested in Bryan Magee...For Chris and all those interested in Bryan Magee,<br /><br />I listened to the BBC podcast entitled "Bryan Magee" and Magee does not appear nor<br />do they spend more than 5 minutes out of 40 talking about him. I guess the fact that the BBC entitles the podcast with his name indicates Magee's "star-power" in the U.K. <br /><br />In any case, it's an interesting and at times very critical discussion of philosophy, both in and out of academia today. s. wallersteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17448905469871566228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687347459208158501.post-12816508716643418702017-01-29T20:33:26.395-05:002017-01-29T20:33:26.395-05:00I just googled Magee and he is actually quite an i...I just googled Magee and he is actually quite an interesting person.<br /><br />From a working class background, he went to the university on a scholarship. He's not a professional philosopher, as I had imagined. He was actually a Labor MP for one term. Here's the Wikipedia write-up:<br /><br />https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bryan_Magee<br /><br />Here's a recent BBC program where he appears or where perhaps they discuss him: it's not clear from the write-up. I haven't listened to it yet, but will tomorrow.<br /><br />http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b073b0nj<br />s. wallersteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17448905469871566228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687347459208158501.post-4403953073908759552017-01-29T20:15:55.356-05:002017-01-29T20:15:55.356-05:00I know in the actual episode on Schopenhauer too, ...I know in the actual episode on Schopenhauer too, Magee specifically says Schopenhauer meant some kind of 'energy' or 'force' by 'will', which physics has largely proved correct. That's Magee's claim. But Schopenhauer explicitly rejects will is synonymous with 'enery' or 'force' in the physics sense. Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08250295324149056708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687347459208158501.post-46914435608185278702017-01-29T18:45:03.996-05:002017-01-29T18:45:03.996-05:00Very charming recollections. Frankly, it makes for...Very charming recollections. Frankly, it makes for a much needed break with the standard fare.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687347459208158501.post-55816114147523877792017-01-29T16:51:28.766-05:002017-01-29T16:51:28.766-05:00I agree that it's not a difference of style. M...I agree that it's not a difference of style. Magee is known for being quite critical of the more analytic strains of thought. That said, I've tried reading some of Magee's books, even the ones on Schopenhauer, and I've simply never found him to be an 'impressive' philosopher. But he is a great interviewer.Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08250295324149056708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687347459208158501.post-41384306434927787512017-01-29T16:47:57.380-05:002017-01-29T16:47:57.380-05:00Chris,
Magee, although conventionally very brig...Chris,<br /><br />Magee, although conventionally very bright, is simply a more narrow and less creative thinker than Marcuse. I don't even see it as a contrast between two styles of philosophy since there are Marxists who are even less creative than Magee.<br /><br />I think that with time Marcuse will be increasingly recognized as a first-rate social thinker or philosopher, one of the few of the 1950's and 1960's who is worth reading today. s. wallersteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17448905469871566228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687347459208158501.post-37729119554326316402017-01-29T16:36:52.771-05:002017-01-29T16:36:52.771-05:00As someone whose a huge fan of most Coen brothers ...As someone whose a huge fan of most Coen brothers films (Bartin Fink is top three favorite movies), I thought Hail Caesar was a pile of garbage, and the portrayal of Marcuse was even worse... :/Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08250295324149056708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687347459208158501.post-80253112869827866432017-01-29T15:58:59.957-05:002017-01-29T15:58:59.957-05:00Have you seen "Marcuse" the character in...Have you seen "Marcuse" the character in the Coen brothers film "Hail Caesar!"?<br /><br />https://www.jacobinmag.com/2016/03/hail-caesar-coen-brothers-marx-clooney/<br />Sethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16486234948199900568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687347459208158501.post-13662905381760817442017-01-29T15:52:48.904-05:002017-01-29T15:52:48.904-05:00I love that interview Wallerstein, Magee is comple...I love that interview Wallerstein, Magee is completely unprepared to actually have a 'debate' with Marcuse.Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08250295324149056708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687347459208158501.post-86145668391572320742017-01-29T14:44:05.065-05:002017-01-29T14:44:05.065-05:00Thank you very much for posting your recollections...Thank you very much for posting your recollections of Marcuse.<br /><br />I don't know if you've ever seen the Brian Magee interview with Marcuse. Magee tries to be hostile, but Marcuse's ironic, dry sense of humor (which you note) makes hostility futile. Marcuse is too big a thinker and human being for Magee to take on. <br /><br />https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jFIfJBKdaws. wallersteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17448905469871566228noreply@blogger.com