Craft vs. Content

[IntravenousJava]

Do you, as a reader, prefer to read fashionably dressed works of dubious depth or profundity in rags?

I have always been eminently impressionable with respect to literary style and eloquence, but I'm also a self-styled philosopher in search of wisdom. Sadly, it's been my experience that many of the greatest thinkers are all but unreadable while some of the greatest literary stylists make a very scintillating display of drivel. For me at least this is problematic.

How does one penetrate to the depths of a work whose syntax and diction are virtually impenetrable?

Perhaps the simplest answer is alternation: plod grimly through the denser forests for a spell and then turn to the shallow, bubbling brooks for relief and refreshment. That's the best I can contrive.

Any thoughts?

[Damze36]

I've never had a problem with diction or syntax or different styles. I can read Aristotle, Plato, The Art of War, etc. and have no problem at all. My advice would simply be to read books and increase the reading difficulty with each book. A good way to do this might be to increase the age of each new book you read, as it seems to me diction has grown increasingly simplified over the years. For example, while not hard to read, a child that can read Harry Potter might not be able to read Mark Twain's works.

[dark desire]

Craft is all there is. There is no such thing as content. It's craft that takes a genius and not hypothetical analyses. There are no higher truths, only things expressed in more or less appealing ways. It takes a genius to whine appealingly - this was Fitzgerald. Serious philosophers and deep thinkers should know - Life is too important to be taken seriously.

[Dark Muse]

For me it really depends. I have to say to an extent I agree with you. While I have an interest in philosophy, I have found often philosophers make horrible writers and so while I may find their ideas interesting, it can be infuriating attempting to read them.

In the case of reading a work of fiction, than I have to say that craft takes precedence. The book must be enjoyable to read.

But when it comes to Non-Fiction, if the subject matter is in itself fascinating enough than I can be more leant in regards to style.