Plato and the Groundhog

Plato and the Groundhog Michael Ventimiglia People are always surprised when I mention my favorite holiday. There’s no party in Times Square.  No fireworks or barbeques.  It doesn’t come with presents. It’s the sort of day you forget about until someone reminds you, and then you forget about it again. But, for me, it’s my…

Red Dwarf and the Gift of Life

Red Dwarf and the Gift of Life by Zoran Kojcic Red Dwarf is a British sci-fi sitcom that follows the adventures of the last human being in the universe, David Lister. Because he was being held in suspended animation as a punishment, Lister survived a massive accident on a mining space ship, Red Dwarf. After…

Confucius, Nietzsche, and Wolf Totem

Confucius, Nietzsche, and Wolf Totem: The Culture of the Wolf versus the Civilization of Sheep George A. Dunn We have learned differently. We have become more modest in every way. We no longer derive man from “the spirit” or “the deity,” we have placed him back among the animals.             ~ Friedrich Nietzsche, The Antichrist…

Charlie Brown and Existentialism

Charlie Brown and Existentialism Check out this article about Peanuts and existentialism published by Vanity Fair. It’s pretty good, but the focus on Kierkegaard misses the more important existentialist connections. I would have liked to read a discussion of the Great Pumpkin and Waiting for Godot. And what about The Myth of Sisyphus and Charlie…