Hi all,
My gut feeling is that the first arguement here is correct. However,
I think Nick would feel both hurt and that the effort was wasted if the
focus is on him. I believe that is definitely not his goal.
Larry
Larry Kueneman
P.O. Box 1609
25411 Hotei Lane
Idyllwild, CA 92549
H 951-659-2567
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----- Original Message -----
From: "Chris Thomson" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, September 05, 2010 2:59 AM
Subject: Friends of Wisdom
Dear All
I thought I had finished with Friends of Wisdom, but two very recent
messages have prompted me to write. I donĀ“t think what I am about to say
will make me popular.
First, I think the main reason why FoW has not fulfilled its early potential
is because it is far too focused on Nick, the person and the ideas. If Nick
has started this venture by calling it "Friends of Nick", that would have
been more honest, and, who knows, may have led to something. So, one of the
two reasons why I dropped out is because, effectively, "non-Nick" voices are
not heard.
The other reason is that I think that the only way to introduce wisdom into
academia is by introducing wise people. I think there is no other way. The
problem with this is that, in my experience, wise people try keep as far
away from academia as they can, no doubt because academia tends to be toxic
to wisdom.
None of the above is to suggest that I am wise (occasional flickers of light
perhaps!). I suspect that it takes many lifetimes to become truly wise, and
I know that I still have some way to go.
One more thing - and I do hope I am stating the obvious - there is
absolutely no relationship between being wise and being intellectual, except
perhaps an inverse one.
Best to all from Barcelona
Chris Thomson
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