#philosophical discourse

[blueheartbookclub]

Delving into Poetic Wisdom: A Review of "On the Art of Poetry" by Aristotle

Aristotle's "On the Art of Poetry," translated by Ingram Bywater, stands as a seminal work in literary criticism, offering profound insights into the nature and function of poetry that continue to resonate with readers and scholars alike. Written in the 4th century BCE, this treatise serves as a comprehensive examination of the principles and techniques that underlie the creation of poetry, providing valuable guidance for poets and readers alike.

At its core, "On the Art of Poetry" is a testament to Aristotle's keen intellect and analytical prowess. In this work, Aristotle explores the various elements that contribute to the effectiveness of poetry, including plot, character, diction, and spectacle. Through his systematic analysis, Aristotle seeks to uncover the universal principles that govern the art of poetry, shedding light on its essential nature and its role in human society.

One of the most compelling aspects of "On the Art of Poetry" is Aristotle's emphasis on the importance of mimesis, or imitation, in poetry. According to Aristotle, poetry is a form of imitation that seeks to represent the actions, emotions, and experiences of human life. Through the skillful use of language and imagery, poets are able to create a vivid and lifelike portrayal of the world, inviting readers to engage with their work on a profound emotional and intellectual level.

Moreover, "On the Art of Poetry" offers valuable insights into the principles of dramatic structure and the role of catharsis in tragedy. Aristotle argues that tragedy is a form of poetry that evokes feelings of pity and fear in the audience, leading to a purgation or cleansing of these emotions. Through the depiction of the fall of a tragic hero, tragedy allows audiences to confront their own mortality and the fragility of human existence, ultimately leading to a deeper understanding of the human condition.

In addition to its exploration of tragedy, "On the Art of Poetry" also examines the principles of comedy and epic poetry, providing valuable guidance for poets working in these genres. Aristotle discusses the importance of unity of plot, character, and theme in epic poetry, as well as the role of humor and satire in comedy. Through his analysis, Aristotle highlights the diversity of poetic forms and the unique challenges and opportunities that each genre presents to the poet.

In conclusion, "On the Art of Poetry" by Aristotle is a timeless classic that continues to inspire and enlighten readers with its profound insights into the nature of poetry. Aristotle's systematic approach to literary criticism, coupled with his keen observations and analytical rigor, make this work an indispensable resource for anyone interested in the art of poetry. With its timeless wisdom and enduring relevance, "On the Art of Poetry" remains a cornerstone of literary theory and a testament to the enduring power of poetic expression.

Aristotle's "On the Art of Poetry," is available in Amazon in paperback 12.99$ and hardcover 18.99$ editions.

Number of pages: 116

Language: English

Rating: 10/10                                           

Link of the book!

Review By: King's Cat

[blueheartbooks]

Delving into Poetic Wisdom: A Review of "On the Art of Poetry" by Aristotle

Aristotle's "On the Art of Poetry," translated by Ingram Bywater, stands as a seminal work in literary criticism, offering profound insights into the nature and function of poetry that continue to resonate with readers and scholars alike. Written in the 4th century BCE, this treatise serves as a comprehensive examination of the principles and techniques that underlie the creation of poetry, providing valuable guidance for poets and readers alike.

At its core, "On the Art of Poetry" is a testament to Aristotle's keen intellect and analytical prowess. In this work, Aristotle explores the various elements that contribute to the effectiveness of poetry, including plot, character, diction, and spectacle. Through his systematic analysis, Aristotle seeks to uncover the universal principles that govern the art of poetry, shedding light on its essential nature and its role in human society.

One of the most compelling aspects of "On the Art of Poetry" is Aristotle's emphasis on the importance of mimesis, or imitation, in poetry. According to Aristotle, poetry is a form of imitation that seeks to represent the actions, emotions, and experiences of human life. Through the skillful use of language and imagery, poets are able to create a vivid and lifelike portrayal of the world, inviting readers to engage with their work on a profound emotional and intellectual level.

Moreover, "On the Art of Poetry" offers valuable insights into the principles of dramatic structure and the role of catharsis in tragedy. Aristotle argues that tragedy is a form of poetry that evokes feelings of pity and fear in the audience, leading to a purgation or cleansing of these emotions. Through the depiction of the fall of a tragic hero, tragedy allows audiences to confront their own mortality and the fragility of human existence, ultimately leading to a deeper understanding of the human condition.

In addition to its exploration of tragedy, "On the Art of Poetry" also examines the principles of comedy and epic poetry, providing valuable guidance for poets working in these genres. Aristotle discusses the importance of unity of plot, character, and theme in epic poetry, as well as the role of humor and satire in comedy. Through his analysis, Aristotle highlights the diversity of poetic forms and the unique challenges and opportunities that each genre presents to the poet.

In conclusion, "On the Art of Poetry" by Aristotle is a timeless classic that continues to inspire and enlighten readers with its profound insights into the nature of poetry. Aristotle's systematic approach to literary criticism, coupled with his keen observations and analytical rigor, make this work an indispensable resource for anyone interested in the art of poetry. With its timeless wisdom and enduring relevance, "On the Art of Poetry" remains a cornerstone of literary theory and a testament to the enduring power of poetic expression.

Aristotle's "On the Art of Poetry," is available in Amazon in paperback 12.99$ and hardcover 18.99$ editions.

Number of pages: 116

Language: English

Rating: 10/10                                           

Link of the book!

Review By: King's Cat

[turiyatitta]

Absolute Monism

Singularity is the same as MultiplicityIn the vast expanse of philosophical discourse, few concepts challenge the contours of human understanding as the idea of Absolute Monism. At its core, it posits that everything is essentially a unified, singular reality, but herein lies a paradox: If all is One, how does one account for the seemingly infinite multiplicity that populates our universe? The…

[gothamspring]

if the people who debate over the whole batman vs red hood ideological differences knew even the first thing about anarchist philosophy my life would be so much easier. we could be skipping so many steps.

[umnokorito]

wink of god

[fleshengine]

unironically, dealing with like... casual transmisogyny is the most exhausting thing. I see a post on instagram, the first slide says "trans erotica" and I think "awesome, I wonder what's in it?" As I go through the slides I notice... huh these first couple are all transmasc erotica, well maybe the last few will be transfem. So I keep scrolling, and while it doesn't specify if the books have transmasc or transfem characters, there are tags for the relationships and they're all fucking Ms. "MM relationship" "MMM polycule" and I get to the end and there's not a single one that has a transfem character. I go to leave a comment like "hey please put 'transmasc' instead of 'trans' so people know what you're talking about. But I check the description first because that's polite. They've already added a section in the description (at the very bottom) saying next time they'll be clearer. "Title slide should definitely say transMASC erotica! I will makes this more clear in future versions, as trans women and femmes are too often neglected in discussions of trans literature [double heart emoji] (added 7/8/2024)"

Remake the post? I'm not kidding. If other transfems see this post, get excited and then scroll through the whole thing and then go to the comments, enough that the poster was made aware of the mix up, then it's going to push this post in the algorithm. This person is benefitting from misleading people, and they are aware of it. But fixing it is just too much work. And like... okay fine I get that it's a little exhausting to re-edit the image and then takedown and reupload the post. But when I went to their account to take a poke around I saw they made a part II to their trans erotica post.

I thought "oh cool they didn't change the first image, maybe they've included transfem erotica now!" Second sentence of the first paragraph of description: "Offering up transmasc erotica collection PART TWO bc I've been staying fed recently [trans flag][black heart][bow][smiling devil face]" Which at least personally I found really frustrating to read. They used the exact same graphic for the first slide as they used in part I, again implying that there would be trans people in general. I went through the books, there's two amab enbies, both of which are side characters it seems one of which is the devil So yeah, horray, you included tranfems. But the focus is still clearly on transmasc characters. But to be fair, it was posted before the edit to part I's description was added. But also even though part II was posted before that edit, it doesn't have an edit of it's own. Probably because there's plausible deniability in the form of the amab enby characters, so they can claim that all trans people are included. Despite it being two characters in ten books, neither of which are a trans woman. It's the sort of fake, tokenizing inclusion that really starts to get under my skin and pour sand in my joints.

I went through all the posts they've made since part II, I'd go through all the ones since part I but I don't have that kind of time and frankly this is fucking exhausting. Every book they talk about, sans the two featuring amab enbies mentioned earlier, is about transmasc characters. In both erotica and other genres, that's all this person offers. It's also really telling when they make a post about "trans enby & gender queer book accounts of follow", where I would assume that they might shout out a transfem account that focuses on that side of erotica, and from what I can tell every single account of the nine they shout out is transmasc.

People in real life: "hey dude what's up?"

Yeah yeah reality check whatever. Okay so is this account in and of itself a problem? No, a 800 follower instagram account that talks about books does not a cause for alarm make. Is this indicative of a wider spread issue in the queer community? Yeah actually, the exclusion (intentional or not) of transfem stories and creators from the community starts with what individual people are engaging with. If all you read is transmasc books, and all you talk to are transmasc people then you're going to have issues when trans people aren't that. I'm not trying to attack this account, I didn't include their username very intentionally. I'm just using them as an instance of a specific brand of transmisogyny that I see a lot and find fucking exhausting, that being extremely trans positive accounts that only ever talk about transmascs. I don't know where I'm going with this. I didn't really have a plan.

There's an aversion to trans women. For a variety of reasons society hates us. People who have an easier time integrating with society at large tend to overlook that, and instead often adopt some of those aversions subconsciously. They're not going to mistreat you in public, or do anything obvious, they've got manners, but they're not gonna read books about you, or shout you out. It sucks because I feel like a crazy person pointing it out. I didn't talk about it for years because I thought people would think I'm weird, but discussions of transmisogyny on tumblr have opened my eyes to the fact that I'm not alone, that other people also see this, and that it's an actual problem.

Thanks sisters. It sucks on this boat, but at least it's crewed.

[max-nolastname]

aang having a code against killing makes sense because as the last airbender he carries the weight of his entire peoples and culture on his wee shoulders, and that includes respecting and valuing all life. it is core to his being, and him finding a roundabout way to solve the issue of killing ozai makes sense both as an airbender and for the story. we find out later in the kyoshi series that murder literally inhibits your ability to airbend, hence kyoshi and her mother's use of fans! and dont bring your utilitarian "oh we can save more lives by killing one person" into this, because sure that can work for another show but not this one!! it is literally the core thesis of the show! have some media literacy my god

[clawsextended]

in my perfect world everyone makes so many lesbian muses the men then have to deal with the exact same behavior when every single post ever written isn’t about dick.

[funky-brainedwhaletransgender]

Okay so gender is socially constructed and some of us decided that it wasn’t enough so we constructed queerness to defy, nuance and tailor the social construction of gender. We have been very intentionally working and reworking this queerness we constructed since we laid the foundation. I think that intentionality of the process of building the concept of queerness is odd. We regularly, through less than ideal means unfortunately because we have a bad habit of yelling at each other about it, redefine transness amongst ourselves. Ask the first people who identified as transsexual what that identity meant to them and you will get a wildly different answer than you would get from your average modern day trans kid. We are weirdly self aware about this process. I mean. Not totally. Obviously. But in comparison to straight people who are typically mind blown when the 13 year old nonbinary child of someone they graduated with explains to them that gender is a social construct we are hyper conscious of how we’re talking about our genders and attractions. Spend some time scrolling through old asexual forums. Watch the four hour video essay YouTuber X made about respectability politics and transmedicalism. Straight people generally put less thought into being straight over the course of their entire lives than a gay teen spent thinking about gayness in the month following the realization that they’re not straight. This level of intentional consideration going into the development of this social construct is weird, right?

I will be thinking more about why we do this (probably as a way to defend our existence and because queerness in its current form has only really gained traction in this recent age of science and philosophy where we think about everything more but that’s its own thought soup to cook) and what effect this intentionality has on our community and society at large. Are there benefits to this method of social construction? Harms? Are other concepts being socially constructed in a similar way right now? In the past?

Anyone have thoughts on this? Sources? Has someone else already done this thinking for me that you’re familiar with? Strategies for sleeping when your brain won’t shut up about your gay ponderings?

[blueheartbookclub]

A Review of "The Eleusinian and Bacchic Mysteries" by Thomas Taylor

"The Eleusinian and Bacchic Mysteries" is an illuminating journey into the heart of ancient Greek religious practices, meticulously explored and vividly presented by the renowned philosopher and translator, Thomas Taylor. This dissertation, complemented by the evocative illustrations of A. L. Rawson, takes readers on a profound exploration of the mystical rituals that shaped the spiritual landscape of ancient Greece.

Thomas Taylor's scholarly expertise in Neoplatonism and his unwavering dedication to preserving the wisdom of the past shine brilliantly in this work. Through his meticulous translation and commentary, Taylor unveils the enigmatic rites and ceremonies of the Eleusinian and Bacchic Mysteries, providing readers with a window into the spiritual world of ancient Greece.

One of the most remarkable aspects of Taylor's work is his ability to convey the deep spiritual significance of these ancient rituals. He delves into the symbolism, mythology, and metaphysical underpinnings of the Mysteries, revealing how they were designed to facilitate personal transformation and spiritual enlightenment. Taylor's profound insights into the mysteries' inner workings give readers a profound understanding of their purpose and significance.

The accompanying illustrations by A. L. Rawson add another layer of richness to this dissertation. Rawson's artistry brings to life the mystical and mythological elements of the rituals, making the ancient world tangible and captivating. These illustrations serve as a visual guide, enhancing the reader's comprehension and engagement with the material.

"The Eleusinian and Bacchic Mysteries" is not merely a historical account but a spiritual odyssey. It invites readers to contemplate the enduring relevance of these ancient practices in the modern world. Taylor's work inspires us to reflect on the importance of initiation, transformation, and the quest for spiritual truth.

In conclusion, "The Eleusinian and Bacchic Mysteries" is a masterpiece of scholarship and spiritual insight. Thomas Taylor's dedication to preserving the wisdom of antiquity and his ability to convey its profound significance make this dissertation an invaluable resource for anyone interested in the spiritual and mystical traditions of ancient Greece. A. L. Rawson's illustrations add a visually captivating dimension to this already enlightening work. It is a must-read for seekers of wisdom, scholars, and those fascinated by the mysteries of the past.

"The Eleusinian and Bacchic Mysteries" by Thomas Taylor is available in Amazon in paperback 13.99$ and hardcover 19.99$ editions.

Length of the Book: 184 pages

Language: English

Rating 8/10

Link of the book!

Review by King's Cat

[blueheartbooks]

A Review of "The Eleusinian and Bacchic Mysteries" by Thomas Taylor

"The Eleusinian and Bacchic Mysteries" is an illuminating journey into the heart of ancient Greek religious practices, meticulously explored and vividly presented by the renowned philosopher and translator, Thomas Taylor. This dissertation, complemented by the evocative illustrations of A. L. Rawson, takes readers on a profound exploration of the mystical rituals that shaped the spiritual landscape of ancient Greece.

Thomas Taylor's scholarly expertise in Neoplatonism and his unwavering dedication to preserving the wisdom of the past shine brilliantly in this work. Through his meticulous translation and commentary, Taylor unveils the enigmatic rites and ceremonies of the Eleusinian and Bacchic Mysteries, providing readers with a window into the spiritual world of ancient Greece.

One of the most remarkable aspects of Taylor's work is his ability to convey the deep spiritual significance of these ancient rituals. He delves into the symbolism, mythology, and metaphysical underpinnings of the Mysteries, revealing how they were designed to facilitate personal transformation and spiritual enlightenment. Taylor's profound insights into the mysteries' inner workings give readers a profound understanding of their purpose and significance.

The accompanying illustrations by A. L. Rawson add another layer of richness to this dissertation. Rawson's artistry brings to life the mystical and mythological elements of the rituals, making the ancient world tangible and captivating. These illustrations serve as a visual guide, enhancing the reader's comprehension and engagement with the material.

"The Eleusinian and Bacchic Mysteries" is not merely a historical account but a spiritual odyssey. It invites readers to contemplate the enduring relevance of these ancient practices in the modern world. Taylor's work inspires us to reflect on the importance of initiation, transformation, and the quest for spiritual truth.

In conclusion, "The Eleusinian and Bacchic Mysteries" is a masterpiece of scholarship and spiritual insight. Thomas Taylor's dedication to preserving the wisdom of antiquity and his ability to convey its profound significance make this dissertation an invaluable resource for anyone interested in the spiritual and mystical traditions of ancient Greece. A. L. Rawson's illustrations add a visually captivating dimension to this already enlightening work. It is a must-read for seekers of wisdom, scholars, and those fascinated by the mysteries of the past.

"The Eleusinian and Bacchic Mysteries" by Thomas Taylor is available in Amazon in paperback 13.99$ and hardcover 19.99$ editions.

Length of the Book: 184 pages

Language: English

Rating 8/10

Link of the book!

Review by King's Cat

[flowercrowncrip]

So I did philosophy at uni and was really interested in philosophy of mind and took several modules on it. And I saw a post calling something that definitely wasn’t mind body dualism. So this post is to say that you can recognise that a condition is a mental illness without subscribing to mind body dualism.

The belief that we have a mind isn’t on its own dualism. Dualism is the belief that the mind isn’t made of/ doesn’t arise from physical stuff or processes but instead is made of a separate “mental stuff”

You can recognise that we have subjective thoughts, behaviours and emotions and sense of self that arise out of physical processes in the brain (and beyond), and call those things a mind while not being a dualist.

You can call an illness that disrupts those physical processes in a way that causes (mainly) symptoms that affect those mental experiences (subjective thoughts, sense of self, behaviours and emotions) a mental illness without being a dualist.

You can definitely say “people with conditions which affect their mind (and have historically been called and are still called mental illness) have a different experience of ableism to people whose disabilities affect mainly non-mental parts of them (known as physical disabilities) which includes being called different slurs” without being a dualist.

On a side note it’s ridiculous to say “my movement disorder affects my brain and so does schizophrenia so I can call myself slurs related to psychosis” so “my mental illness impacts my brain which is physical so I can call myself cripple“ also doesn’t make sense

[wolfsong-the-bloody-beast]

[your-average-teenage-mess]

I do think that a lot of the culture around art criticism is just disguising categorical errors as insight. Like, what, hazbin hotel is garbage because it's just a bunch of exaggerated caricatures of horrible people that the audience is meant to stan, plastered over everything Tumblr likes to hyperfixate on in tv shows that weren't meant for them, except now it's done on purpose, in an attempt to make gay teenagers fawn over it? Buddy, I think you fundamentally misunderstood what they were doing if you think that's the part where they failed.

[tlaquetzqui]

If you’re going to talk about objectification I’m going to need you to explain, in your own words, the concept of subjectivity as it appears in the works of Beauvoir and Sartre.

You did understand there were risks to using existentialist jargon in your shallow media criticism, right? You didn’t think you could invoke those ideas to play a latter-day Moral Majority and not have to answer for it, right?

[stewyhosseini-bf]

Ppl who haven’t engaged with succession beyond a surface level act like ‘the Roys are all bad people’ is some sort of incredible insight. Like cool, good for you for figuring that out 👍. Now what