Philosophy Book Club: Ribbon Cutting

[Scotch78]

We are going to start with Fear and Trembling . I cut and pasted the webpages into a 73-page Word file. If anyone would like a copy of it, PM me your e-mail address or IM me at Since1978.

We will start with the preface and prelude, but no timeline. Simply post your thoughts in this thread as you read and when things feel wrapped up we'll move on to Chapter 1.

Scott

[edtost]

I compressed the Word file; the ZIP is available here.

[chezlaw]

[ QUOTE ]
I compressed the Word file; the ZIP is available here.

[/ QUOTE ]

many thanks

chez

[RJT]

I read last night that SK died 11/11/1855. We decided to read him on 11/11/2005 (when Scotch confirmed in his post of 11/11 that we would go with him.) 150 years later - I think if we had any doubts on whom to read first, this anniversary is reason enough.

RJT

[DougShrapnel]

[ QUOTE ]
I read last night that SK died 11/11/1855. We decided to read him on 11/11/2005 (when Scotch confirmed in his post of 11/11 that we would go with him.) 150 years later - I think if we had any doubts on whom to read first, this anniversary is reason enough.

RJT

[/ QUOTE ]I like it when a plan comes together. I am having trouble getting past the inaccurate description of the story of abraham tho.

[mosquito]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I read last night that SK died 11/11/1855. We decided to read him on 11/11/2005 (when Scotch confirmed in his post of 11/11 that we would go with him.) 150 years later - I think if we had any doubts on whom to read first, this anniversary is reason enough.

RJT

[/ QUOTE ]I like it when a plan comes together. I am having trouble getting past the inaccurate description of the story of abraham tho.

[/ QUOTE ]

Do you suppose there is a significance to the description's inaccuracy, or is it merely fluff?

[DougShrapnel]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I read last night that SK died 11/11/1855. We decided to read him on 11/11/2005 (when Scotch confirmed in his post of 11/11 that we would go with him.) 150 years later - I think if we had any doubts on whom to read first, this anniversary is reason enough.

RJT

[/ QUOTE ]I like it when a plan comes together. I am having trouble getting past the inaccurate description of the story of abraham tho.

[/ QUOTE ]

Do you suppose there is a significance to the description's inaccuracy, or is it merely fluff?

[/ QUOTE ]I believe it is of significate importance to the story being told. There is likly nothing about the Abe story in this work that is fluff. Unfortunelty, for the author there is a much simpiler explaining of Abrahams actions. It's not as rightoues as the author would have you believe. Milgram More so it is very very dangerous. But give me some more time so I can re read this work to give it a fairer read.

[DougShrapnel]

Hey guys. Em... this is all I can make out of the prelude. Is this a good summary of the preludes I, II, III, and IV? I am asumming the author is trying to state the ways in which man looks at fiath incorrectly.

1. Man sometimes attemps to disguise faith

2. Man sometimes hides faith

3. Man creates a separation between himself and faith

4. Man sometimes tries to go beyond faith.

[chezlaw]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I read last night that SK died 11/11/1855. We decided to read him on 11/11/2005 (when Scotch confirmed in his post of 11/11 that we would go with him.) 150 years later - I think if we had any doubts on whom to read first, this anniversary is reason enough.

RJT

[/ QUOTE ]I like it when a plan comes together. I am having trouble getting past the inaccurate description of the story of abraham tho.

[/ QUOTE ]
As I read it, we are not getting a description of the Abraham story (of which I remember only the jist) but a description of what one man saw as significant in the story. We are reading the message that he gets from the story.

The man revisits the story several times as he gets older and sees a different message each time.

We are given four different messages (maybe as an intro to stages we and/or the book go through) plus a final teaser about the greatness of the story.

chez

[RJT]

[ QUOTE ]
As I read it, we are not getting a description of the Abraham story (of which I remember only the jist) but a description of what one man saw as significant in the story. We are reading the message that he gets from the story.

The man revisits the story several times as he gets older and sees a different message each time.

We are given four different messages (maybe as an intro to stages we and/or the book go through) plus a final teaser about the greatness of the story.

chez

[/ QUOTE ]

I had that same idea that the man retells the story at different stages of his life. I wasn’t sure if that was implied by SK or even the case for sure.

I also agree that SK will probably get into more of what he is offering here as we proceed with F & T. I am going to give the Prelude another go later on this evening. I suggest that we discuss this a bit longer - (Scotch, you set the timetable) - but not get bogged down in it quite yet, as it seems this might be what the whole book deals with in various ways.

I don’t mean to suggest that if someone has a good idea so far that they should refrain from posting it. I certainly will post if I have something to add after my re-read. “Not bloody well likely.” (That last sentence is a quote from Seinfeld. I’ll probably allude to him often as we get into existentialism. Thought I should disclose this from the onset. The Bible, Godfather I and II, To Kill a Mockingbird, Seinfeld and a dictionary - my essential reference material in my life thus far. Mosquito, your use of the word fluff - is that an homage to Seinfeld, too? )