Progress
August 16, 2010
Poring over old posts, I noticed that it has been over a year since I last blogged about what books I’d been reading. Since The Plague, which is the last book I reported on, I’ve actually made substantial progress toward finishing my infamous List of books to read. In fact, the very next list book I finished, Rene Descartes’ Meditations on First Philosophy was the last book of the “Proctor” sublist. Named for the character John Proctor in Arthur Miller’s play “The Crucible”, this was the fifth of the eight sublists which make up the list, so the tide was definitely turning.
As for the book itself, it was slow going. Descartes, a formidable intellect, was also meticulous to an extent that would probably be medicated in our current age. The concepts he was exploring and the lines of reasoning he pursues are fairly abstract, and there aren’t many good car chases to liven things up, either.
On a more serious note – I think that Descartes’ ideas relating to the proof of existence (you know, the cogito: “I think, therefore I am”) are very sound, but I was much less convinced at his attempt to extend these lines of reasoning to prove the existence of God. I’m not saying the Big Guy doesn’t exist, mind you, just that Descartes, for all his method, doesn’t prove it – which I suppose is an argument for agnosticism.
Anyhow, I followed the Meditations up with a ton of other good books – and I’m giving myself the project of writing about one of them here each day this week.
Miss you. Family news – Uncle Lou died most recently, head of our Italian connection in Boston. Also lost Aunt Sheila and Aunt Joann. Uncle Aldee and Uncle Adrien not doing so well either. So few left now of that generation. Makes you think of your mortality and wonder if it might be time to make the leap to Vermont to spend time I have left with the rest of the aging sisters. Facebooked with Beka, sounds like you are doing well. I have been in a funk most of the summer, hopefully the Fall will bring better times.
Sorry to hear of our dwindling kinfolk. I also find myself thinking a bit about mortality these days – though the catalyst in my case is the 30th birthday that is bearing down on me. Anyhow, I’m glad you and Rebek are Facebook pals. Though I am a poor correspondent, you are often in my thoughts, and I hope that Autumn does lift your spirits some – it never fails to lift mine.