What is some readable philosophy?

[Trevor Gower]

The question of desire for repetition also struck me. I would say that repetition is not the same as beginning anew, at least in the sense that Cioran meant. There is a certain sense of completeness, to the end of a great piece of music, the feeling that it could be no other way. We don't try to force the piece to go on playing in new ways in our head - except perhaps if you have real musical talent.

By contrast, many great thoughts in philosophy kick off, with excitement and enthusiasm, a rush to test the idea, play it out in new ways, see how we could rephrase it, put it up against other great thoughts, and on and on. This, I believe, is what Cioran means, and it is also where I believe that style can step in. After reading something that is perfectly phrased, particularly poetry, I experience a great contentment that matches even music. While much good poetry often leads me to that same rush, a great piece can have a feeling of completeness, wholeness. I may re-read the piece immediately, but I don't try to begin something anew off of it. It stands as it is, to be experienced.

I agree entirely with everything you wrote about music. Except that there does seem to be certain mood associations with certain notes, such as a sensation of dread associated with low notes. There must be something physiological to the matter, if some of the things I've read about are true, but that still is not a meaning, much less a question. Anything like a question is put together in the mind. To quote one of the Zen patriarchs, "It is not the wind that moves; it is not the flag that moves; it is your mind that moves."

[YesNo]

I think we agree about everything except our different assessments of Cioran. I'll have to see if I can find something by him. Do you have any recommendations?

[Trevor Gower]

I agree that we agree on pretty much all points so far, with the one exception. I'm not even too certain as to my opinion of Cioran yet.

So far I've kept my reading of him to collected aphorisms and quotes, rather than whole works; I am prejudiced against Paris intellectuals, their pessimism, insularity, and frequent pretentiousness. Doubtless I'll open up more over time, as I find a better use and place for them, but I only take small doses meanwhile for a healthier digestion. Post-war existentialism generally provides interesting psychological insights and good turns of phrase but the whole tone, emphasized by the style of writing, is entirely too pessimistic, self-defeating.

Cioran's most discussed works are On the Heights of Despair, A Short History of Decay, The Temptation to Exist, and The Problem with Being Born. The first on the list is also his first work and the second, which I may start with, broke him into the Paris scene and is considered particularly stylized.

[Blanchot]

I agree with most people when they suggest Nietzsche and Plato because they are straight forward. I'd also say Hume and Machiavelli.