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Misogyny and Ressentiment from Orpheus to Dylan and Meat Loaf

Introduction There are books on pop music genres and classical antiquity — partly to sell books, if also in part to sell studies of classical Greek and Latin antiquity at university[1] — in addition to an urge to attend more broadly to musical reception as such.[2] Not quite a general review of classical influence, whichContinue reading “Misogyny and Ressentiment from Orpheus to Dylan and Meat Loaf”

HowTheLightGetsIn London 20 Sept 2025

11 AM: [9] The Future of European Thought (or analytic vs. continental philosophy) Host: Danielle SandsDate of event: Saturday, September 20 thTime: 11:00Venue: Hat Speakers: Christoph Schuringa, Genia Schönbaumsfeld, Babette Babich 17:30 PM: [50] The Word and the World Host: Joanna KavennaDate of event: Saturday, September 20 thTime: 17:30Venue: International Speakers: Hilary Lawson, Babette Babich,Continue reading “HowTheLightGetsIn London 20 Sept 2025”

Feyerabend’s “Science as Art” and Aloïs Riegl: On Progress in Science and Art

Babich, Progress in Science and Art Borderless Philosophy 8 (2025): 1-31. 1. Introduction: Progress and Decline, Evolution and the Primitive The idea of “decadent art” is well-known from its use against cultural elements often associated with Jewish artists during the Nazi era. But, as Paul Feyerabend (1924- 1994) points out, the idea of Verfall wasContinue reading “Feyerabend’s “Science as Art” and Aloïs Riegl: On Progress in Science and Art”

Ivan Illich’s ‘Cultivation of Conspiracy’: How to be a Saint

Abstract My theme is ‘con-spiratio’ and Ivan Illich’s lecture on the ingredients or prerequisites of establishing a community or polity. In addition, I explore questions of culture in Illich’s conspiracy lecture along with the related question of grace, Illich’s ‘Umsonstigkeit.’ In addition to Illich on the parable of the good Samaritan and his meditation onContinue reading “Ivan Illich’s ‘Cultivation of Conspiracy’: How to be a Saint”

Hermeneutics, Love, and Education: Reading Gadamer, Nietzsche, and Illich

Being an excerpt of a text currently available behind a paywall Go get yourself a culture, only then will you find out what philosophy can and will do. — Nietzsche Hans-Georg Gadamer (1900-2002) wrote about prejudice and the importance of critique, that is: being oneself exposed, personally, to challenge. For Gadamer this explicitly included anContinue reading “Hermeneutics, Love, and Education: Reading Gadamer, Nietzsche, and Illich”

Anti-Conviviality

Ivan Illich as Nature Activist Given the controversial ‘Extinction Rebellion,’ it might seem reasonable to suppose that Ivan Illich might have supported this movement, given his criticism of the education industry along with the missionary industry, today that would include nonprofit and humanitarian NGOs, along with criticizing the medical industry, the water (treatment and recycling)Continue reading “Anti-Conviviality”