Hi and goodbye, and dry. It's been an interesting time of late, getting back into things down here and get into some sort of routine. I haven't quite managed the routine thing though. I'm pluggin away with the french lessons and hopefully someday it will be naturally for me to say ladee dee instead of ladee die. Some di soon.
I met a teacher of mathematics at a conference on saturday who actually knew of Simone Weil and could even pronounce her name, as her brother André was - according to this teacher - the mathematical genius of the century. We got into some abstract discussions about infinity and uncountable series, and to misquote a line from Jerry Maguire 'He lost me at infinity ...' I told him I found it a problematic concept, especially to base an argument for the existence of God on, as it didn't seem genuinely quantifiable, which to me is its point, but he thought that it sort of was. At least, to mis quote Morrisey, of 'The Smiths' fame, 'some infinities are bigger than others' so they have to have some 'quantifiability'. Then we got on to the problem of evil and ... with a glass of wine in my hand, it was hard to be convincing about affliction.
But on the Thursday before, to be anti-chronological, I had a set-to at a public seminar given by a new lecturer in our department. I had never even met him or shaken his hand. I don't think that will happen now, as we had a right royal fight over the right to freedom of thought and expression. He was some strange species of conformist, but to God knows what - he was keeping all this quiet, but it seems to be the Church. I asked him about Socrates, and he said Socrates philosophised himself to death! No danger of that with him, I fear. It all went a bit ad hominem, and best not to dwell on it too much. But it is saddening to know he will be teaching students ... not to think!
Computers closing down. I'll continue anon.
5 comments:
I think that maybe your frienemy (to quote Jameela Siddiqi) may very well be an Atonist. Like Milton. But at least Milton was good at it. I'm sorry that he will be teaching kids too. Not to worry. If I had him I would make fun of him.
As for infinity I don't know what the hell you're talking about. But it sounds really interesting I might understand if I understood anything beyond Algebra II.
...and anyway i'm confused...weren't you taking the semester off? then what's the deal with shaking the hands of Atonists?
My run in with the lecturer is by now infamous. Apparently it's what six postgrad students had already felt like doing, and were sort of congratulating me. I'm not sorry about it, but those things aren't that easy for me. But, as you say elsewhere, it is good to stand up for yourself, and others.
As to infinity, I'm as lost as you are, I just threw in the countable series thing, as that's what the guy was trying to get me to understand a bit. But I don't like the concept as people often talk about it as if it could be something real, but by definition it can never be in reality at all. Reality has limits and corners, or else we'd never see it at all. Anyway, enough of that stuff and nonsense.
But as to your last kind point. Yes, I am taking the semester off teaching, but I'm still making my way in every now and then in my official student capacity. I'm doing a bit of study, and am giving a talk on it in about two weeks, but I do have to be careful. I can overdo it very easily at the minute. I have to 'husband my energy' better thesedays. That was a phrase my supervisor used and I like it. So that's the story. I turned up to this weekly public seminar and met the pretty extreme Atonist.
Well, that's as much as anyone has got a right to say I guess. Sometimes I really like people who are ridiculous because they are at least interesting. I have a list of ridiculous quotations to remind me that people are insane if you are quiet long enough to hear them. Maybe you should take a list with you to those public seminars.
Hehe, I was a bit Loganish in my last comment, and I apologize. I'm glad you had an infamous run in. Infinity is a good way to pass the time and maybe someday I'll understand it. I hope you work yourself up to teaching again though. Because it would be a tragedy if the profession was left to the Atonists.
Keep husbanding Essie! Happy St.Patrick's Day! Hope to catch up with you in person very soon. Take care, Eff.
To quote a cliché 'that was one of the nicest things anyone has ever said to me.' And the cliché is true too. Thanks Emily. There also wasn't anything to apologise for, but thanks for that too. And I'm glad you're taking the necessary precautions with the absinthe!
Fionnuala, thanks for the greetings. I hope you had a good day on Saturday too. Mine was quietish, though I did go out for a drink with a responible MLitt postgrad called Neil. But I couldn't quite get him to do the young, free and single routine. Lovely guy though. I now refer you to an answer I gave some moments ago, in your email inbox - viz. I'm sending you an email. Please find it enclosed.
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