Explain yourself
James Larson
Issue date: 10/28/08 Section: Opinion
STRAIGHTAWAY, I wish to apologize for the foolish and embarrassing things I will inevitably be saying with this column. Don't know why they keep giving me these positions on campus; maybe someday the powers that be will finally see me as the clown that I am!
But, to start with an apology is not entirely inappropriate. When I was in the tenth grade, I had a young math teacher who, for some reason, presented the class with Plato's "The Apology of Socrates."
Now, I'm no scholar of philosophy, and I will admit that I never picked it up and read it myself, and so I can only go by my teacher's pit-stained translation of the idea: Plato's was not an apology in our sense of the word, but rather a defense, a rationalization of one's self.
Let me tell you, there is nothing more pragmatic or sexier than a good rationalization. If anyone's seen the film The Big Chill, they'll tell you that the ever-moral Jeff Goldblum makes this very case.
His character argues that one can go weeks without sex, but cannot make it through the day without "two or three JUICY rationalizations."
Apparently, the juicy rationalization in "The Apology" is that a man is not truly wise unless he can admit to his own ignorance. That's what Socrates came up with, at least.
Recent events here on campus have had me reflecting on this idea of ignorance and embattled wisdom. Somehow, I found myself at this year's One Hundred who Influence dinner. Wonderful event: great speaker, evoked memories of former CLA Dean Garvin Davenport.
Way back in the spring of 2005, Davenport delivered the luncheon address to a Sorin-overflow crowd of bored and nervous incoming students at the annual Spring Reception.
As I recall, his message that day was essentially simple but deceptively complex: as progressive individuals, we must strive towards ambiguity.
Somehow, the idea of being ambiguous struck a chord with me, reminded me of my own ignorance, my old math teacher's Socratic manner. Now, there were a bunch of prospective students here for College Day, students I will not share this university with as a fellow student.
But, to start with an apology is not entirely inappropriate. When I was in the tenth grade, I had a young math teacher who, for some reason, presented the class with Plato's "The Apology of Socrates."
Now, I'm no scholar of philosophy, and I will admit that I never picked it up and read it myself, and so I can only go by my teacher's pit-stained translation of the idea: Plato's was not an apology in our sense of the word, but rather a defense, a rationalization of one's self.
Let me tell you, there is nothing more pragmatic or sexier than a good rationalization. If anyone's seen the film The Big Chill, they'll tell you that the ever-moral Jeff Goldblum makes this very case.
His character argues that one can go weeks without sex, but cannot make it through the day without "two or three JUICY rationalizations."
Apparently, the juicy rationalization in "The Apology" is that a man is not truly wise unless he can admit to his own ignorance. That's what Socrates came up with, at least.
Recent events here on campus have had me reflecting on this idea of ignorance and embattled wisdom. Somehow, I found myself at this year's One Hundred who Influence dinner. Wonderful event: great speaker, evoked memories of former CLA Dean Garvin Davenport.
Way back in the spring of 2005, Davenport delivered the luncheon address to a Sorin-overflow crowd of bored and nervous incoming students at the annual Spring Reception.
As I recall, his message that day was essentially simple but deceptively complex: as progressive individuals, we must strive towards ambiguity.
Somehow, the idea of being ambiguous struck a chord with me, reminded me of my own ignorance, my old math teacher's Socratic manner. Now, there were a bunch of prospective students here for College Day, students I will not share this university with as a fellow student.
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