The colonial period of U.S. history contains a variety of interesting lessons. One of these pertains to the concept of a "virtuoso." The virtuoso was primarily characterized by curiosity. Rather than being overly specialized, the virtuoso explored a wide range of interests. The study of nature, art, literature, and theology all would have been pursuits common to this stereotype. This blog aspires to take this early category and use it as a point of departure for exploration and reflection.
Monday, May 2, 2016
Foucault on Socrates's Unexamined Life Quote
"In order to formulate what is both a general principle and an attitudinal schema, Epictetus refers to Socrates and to the aphorism stated in the Apology: 'An unexamined life [anexetastos bios] is not worth living.' In reality, the examination Socrates was talking about was the one to which he intended to subject both himself and others apropos of ignorance, knowledge, and the non-knowledge of this ignorance. The examination Epictetus talks about is completely different: it is an examination that deals with representations, that aims to 'test' them, to 'distinguish' (diakrinein) one from another and thus to prevent one from accepting the 'first arrival.' [...] This inspection is a test of power and a guarantee of freedom: a way of always making sure that one will not become attached to that which does not come under our control." Foucault, "The Care of Self," in The History of Sexuality, Vol. 3 (New York: Vintage Books, 1988), pp. 63-64.
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