Ashley's decision to fire-hose us with Burke means that it can only get better/easier from here.
I read Valerie's post for today and agree that 50+ years of KB is near-impossible to "summarize" for anyone hoping for a coherent and linear explanation of Burkology. That said, I applaud Foss-von Trapp-family for even trying to provide a primer for the assigned selections from KB as well as nods to other key KB texts. It was good to review his key concepts. My only recommendation would be to include a list of terms KB invents to contain his thoughts. Said list would serve to calm everyone down who is trying to "understand" KB by making it clear KB cannot be broken down into components and studied but he is definately greater than the sum of his parts. Reconsidering the bibliography Foss included makes me think a list of terms would also be inadequate--the list of articles is enough to demonstrate it.
I'm not sure I really understand Crable's rationale for his expansion of KB. Regardless, I think it's a useful example of how the community seeks to extend KB as a way to contribute to wider conversations (something i think KB would want). It is also a good example of how difficult it is to "ground" ones argument using KB (since understanding KB is like pushing a mountain of jello: you push in one place and it just shifts the mass around without any real progress). Crable's claim that KB's writings are of "extraordinary value for the study of contemporary philosophy" is also interesting because I've yet to meet a philosopher who would cite KB as part of his or her bag of tricks. Perhaps its because his "body of work" is so vast and inconsistent that philosophers might have hard time saying "according to KB: [insert syllogism]." Crable's eventual application of KB to his interest in race felt forced/arbitrary, but I guess that's what his Crable's book is for--btw it was published in 2012 and looks fascinating!
Bottom line: one of my favorite books is the Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy 'cause I can pick it up, turn to any page, and laugh at all the made-up words and irrational concepts being treated seriously. KB is kinda the same for me...
I read Valerie's post for today and agree that 50+ years of KB is near-impossible to "summarize" for anyone hoping for a coherent and linear explanation of Burkology. That said, I applaud Foss-von Trapp-family for even trying to provide a primer for the assigned selections from KB as well as nods to other key KB texts. It was good to review his key concepts. My only recommendation would be to include a list of terms KB invents to contain his thoughts. Said list would serve to calm everyone down who is trying to "understand" KB by making it clear KB cannot be broken down into components and studied but he is definately greater than the sum of his parts. Reconsidering the bibliography Foss included makes me think a list of terms would also be inadequate--the list of articles is enough to demonstrate it.
I'm not sure I really understand Crable's rationale for his expansion of KB. Regardless, I think it's a useful example of how the community seeks to extend KB as a way to contribute to wider conversations (something i think KB would want). It is also a good example of how difficult it is to "ground" ones argument using KB (since understanding KB is like pushing a mountain of jello: you push in one place and it just shifts the mass around without any real progress). Crable's claim that KB's writings are of "extraordinary value for the study of contemporary philosophy" is also interesting because I've yet to meet a philosopher who would cite KB as part of his or her bag of tricks. Perhaps its because his "body of work" is so vast and inconsistent that philosophers might have hard time saying "according to KB: [insert syllogism]." Crable's eventual application of KB to his interest in race felt forced/arbitrary, but I guess that's what his Crable's book is for--btw it was published in 2012 and looks fascinating!
Bottom line: one of my favorite books is the Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy 'cause I can pick it up, turn to any page, and laugh at all the made-up words and irrational concepts being treated seriously. KB is kinda the same for me...
