Chomsky on the Election

"Kerry is sometimes described as 'Bush-lite', which is not inaccurate. But despite the limited differences both domestically and internationally, there are differences. In a system of immense power, small differences can translate into large outcomes."

An endorsement that might not help a great deal, and might even hurt. I am of two minds about it myself. Chomsky is for the welfare state and against the warfare state, and I have lost any ability to tell them apart. Chomsky would want an LBJ without the Vietnam. But Vietnams are what Great Societies do...

(Thanks to metaphorge for the link.)

Marinoff Makes the Times Mag

''Even sane, functional people need principles to live by,'' Marinoff told me, his voice lowering without slowing in the sun-flooded courtroom, ''so we are offering what Socrates called the examined life, the chance to sit with a philosopher and ask what you really believe and make sure it's working for you.''

Trained philosophers without academic appointments are no longer limited to driving cabs or doing technical writing for Wall Street banks, and academic philosophers can now supplement their modest salaries rather generously by offering personal counseling and corporate consultation. And these may be good things, though after almost seven years of considering the philosophical practice movement, I must admit that I still can't picture how I fit into all of this.

In the years since I met him at the CUNY conference mentioned in the article, Lou Marinoff has gone from political refugee (from Canadian feminazidom, as he sees it) to best-selling celebrity, writing a book I recommend without reservation, and another to which I am largely sympathetic, but of which I am also rather critical, which I have, indeed, plugged here.

As you can see, the story continues...