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I have to admit this book has forced me to come to the realization that many on the right are utopians (which I should have known all along). Its a must read for any serious student of political theory.
It wasn't until I read this book that I started to worry about the unconstrained visions of the right. We're well aware of the problem with the unconstrained left, but until this book gave me a better gauge, I didn't see the problems with the right fringe as clearly as I do now.
I like how Haak wants to go through it again with a pen and paper. I finally just started marking up my book with my favorite green pen, which is not something I normally do to my books.
Oh absolutely. Its one of those books one re-reads every year and finds new insights in every time. I'm used to recreational reading if you will, and this book is work. But then again maybe I've gotten intellectually lazy and its time for a work out.
It wasn't until I read this book that I started to worry about the unconstrained visions of the right. We're well aware of the problem with the unconstrained left, but until this book gave me a better gauge, I didn't see the problems with the right fringe as clearly as I do now.
I think a part of the problem there is that the descriptors "left" and "right" are very inadequate. There are constrained actors on both the Left and the Right, as there are unconstrained actors on both the Left and the Right.
I think a part of the problem there is that the descriptors "left" and "right" are very inadequate. There are constrained actors on both the Left and the Right, as there are unconstrained actors on both the Left and the Right.
You know me- it's a point I was trying to make earlier today, and it's a point I will try to bring up again in the future. "Left-right" doesn't do anything for me anymore. The two visions are just superior, imo.
I have finally made it to the last chapter, which so far might be my favorite.
I like how Haak wants to go through it again with a pen and paper. I finally just started marking up my book with my favorite green pen, which is not something I normally do to my books.
I will have to do that as well.
I have yet to purchase another copy. I have been enjoying in an odd way going around to all of the small used book shops in the city and asking them if they have a copy.
I know I will have to break down and order another copy online.
I will order it again soon and this time, I will not hesitate to use the highlighters.
I enjoy non-fiction because I like learning stuff. I do read some fiction for fun, but I just want to know so much, it's hard to not pick up more non-fiction. But even with all the thinking those books have spurred me to- it doesn't compare to the level of contemplation I've done because of this book. I doubt any book will ever cause me to think and reflect as much as this one has. Revolutionary, imo.
This Bill O'Reilly vs Keith Olbermann paradigm is not only the death of civil discourse, but the death of any hope that the citizenry will actually think about politics beyond a superficial food fight level.
Early in the debate concerning Intelligent Design "freetoken" made a comment about the lack of civics education and understanding that has really stuck with me. It was one of the reasons I was so thrilled to see haakondahl pick up the book, as he had mentioned he was taught civics (not "government"). People don't stop and think about the larger issues concerning political thought and the roles of government and the people because they don't have the education. I see it even here at times. I mentioned yesterday that I wasn't trying to knock "family values" but that it wasn't the role of government to make us all members of a good family. This isn't contained to just the left- people from all over the political spectrum fail to keep the boundaries clear, much less understand why those boundaries are there.
I enjoy non-fiction because I like learning stuff. I do read some fiction for fun, but I just want to know so much, it's hard to not pick up more non-fiction. But even with all the thinking those books have spurred me to- it doesn't compare to the level of contemplation I've done because of this book. I doubt any book will ever cause me to think and reflect as much as this one has. Revolutionary, imo.
It is interesting to look at other authors, both fiction and non-fiction, and look at how they see the world. When a person wrights, they reveal themselves and how they perceive the world around them. Carl Sagan, unconstrained. Very likable, but very unconstrained. T.E. Lawrence, Unconstrained, and self-righteously so.
I have a few guesses at authors that I think would fit in the constrained camp, but I will have to read and reread them to be certain. (Herman Melville, Boris Pasternak, Daschel Hammet?)
And, actually, the lack of civic understanding has gotten me to thinking a lot as well. Forming a few ideas, but it's a big problem that requires not only correction in our educational institutions, but a re-education of many adults too.
And, actually, the lack of civic understanding has gotten me to thinking a lot as well. Forming a few ideas, but it's a big problem that requires not only correction in our educational institutions, but a re-education of many adults too.
I think the constrained vision has been ebbing for awhile. It's under attack from not just the unconstrained, but other non-constrained visions as well. It would be nice to see a resurgence in constrained thought, and perhaps that will happen over the next few years. The constrained vision certainly needs all the allies it can get, and hopefully some of them will be articulate enough to help promote the vision.
The essence of Christianity is told us in the Garden of Eden history. The fruit that was forbidden was on the tree of knowledge. The subtext is, All the suffering you have is because you wanted to find out what was going on. You could be in the Garden of Eden if you had just kept your mouth shut and hadn't asked any questions. -- Playboy Interview, April 1993
Frank says: