Profile
Name:
Allan David Bloom
Channel Views:
13,562
Total Upload Views:
103,690
Beat:
Politics
Joined:
February 22, 2009
Last Visit Date:
1 month ago
Subscribers:
466
Anti-smoking, the last refuge of the moral instinct in America. And it's the only thing I "do".
About Me:
I have a real taste and gift for reading Aristophanes. Although I have always enjoyed Jewish comedy, the Anglican High Churchman Swift was really one of my masters. I thought of becoming a novelist many years ago, but I realized that I would have been inferior to such writers as Flaubert or Stendhal, and therefore used my resources otherwise. I am not a culture critic or vulture. I am rather a kind of interpreter of amusing philosophical hieroglyphs.
I made heroic-like efforts to try to understand the naturalness and artistry of Shakespeare's perspective, but I fear with varying success.
Above all, I have reflected on the meaning and necessity of the right kind of irony.
As for my good students, many of them have probably become wiser than I was or could have been. As for my interesting ones, they have surely surpassed me, and may even have achieved some greatness. As for those who were loyal, we both know that I shall remain ever superior to them. And finally, as for my best students, some of them have perhaps understood me; though none of whom I am aware have appreciated what I tried to accomplish - which is no reason for me to complain.
Of my friends I have said:
«Parce que c'était eux, parce que c'était moi.»
The common man views his life with grim seriousness. But I was different. With laughter and scorn at this personal individual life, I found my way to immortality. Believe it or not, I leaped into my grave with irony. And what of the real me could ever be buried?
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Influences:
Plato, Aristotle, Plutarch, Shakespeare. Others:
Churchill, Raymond Aron, Alexander Kojeve, and of course Leo Strauss, the decisive moment in my life.
______________________________
Favorite News Sources
Hearsay, although preferably seeing with one's own eyes. I found the best source for political and moral understanding here:
www.archive.org/details/PlatosRepublicallanBloomTranslation
_______________________________
Hometown:
Indianapolis, Indiana
Country:
France
Occupation:
Writer and Translator, for pay too.
Companies:
Various ''elite'' universities.
Interests:
Interests? Yes, naturally. ''Hobbies''? No.
Movies:
La règle du jeu
Music:
Mozart horn concertos, Rossini.
Books:
my least favorite among good ones are my own good ones.
Subscribers
(466)
Channel Comments
(19)
I'm studying Lacan, as it seems an increasing number are, and so am having to come to terms with Hegel as well..
I know you are very busy, aber es wuerde mir seher helfen wenn ich diese Papiere kriegen koennte.
Especially Strauss fantastic introduction to Maimonides "How to Study the Guide."
Mein Herz sagt mir das ich den Konflikt zwischen Philosophie und Torah besser verstehen muss bevor ich das Konflikt zwischen Plato und Homer.
תודה רבה