Abstracts

[linthornhill]

Years ago, one of the facets of my job at Global Entertainment Company was to abstract contracts. It was something I thoroughly enjoyed. In fact, it's very much the way I do research. I scour books for the information I need, skimming over text (thank you, seventh grade speed reading class,) and hunting and gathering choice tidbits I can mold to

Comments

[linthornhill]

I knew there were different branches of philosophical thought, and the more abstruse the less I enjoyed them. Truly, I think it's a matter of how the material was presented, and you make an excellent point, and the translation. I have read several copies of Sun Tzu's Art of War, and in some cases, it's completely opaque!

My brother loves Socrates, and I don't remember Locke, except in terms of general theory. I think Nietzsche will be challenging ... but a must read. Strathern makes an excellent point when talking about the Renaissance as a period just beyond the scholasticism of the Middle Ages, when education was taught through the filter of Christianity. I suspect we're currently in a similar period of time. Education is taught through third and fourth hand accounts of theories and discoveries. How can anyone really understand Newton if one doesn't read Newton? And each person brings to their work the sum total of their own experience and education, thus context is as important as content. At least, I think it is.

Strathern is just a short cut to help me decide who I want to delve into in more depth. It's a real help when one has so little spare time.

You're right about Western concepts, but they're what we were raised with so it's second nature. Although I have read a little Confucius, and I don't think he's terribly difficult.

It's so funny that I like these books, when I'm usually a 'read the source' type of person. I think