Farewell from a Luddite
July 7, 2010
Well after about a year, and 110 posts, I have decided to call it quits on my blog. Why? Well because blogging and philosophy are incommensurable.
Blogging is at its best when it is crisply written, relevant and catchy – philosophy is at its best when it is terribly written, irrelevant to all but a few, and absurdly dreary and technical. Also, blogging flattens out complexity, whereas philosophy tries to map out complexity in fine detail, patiently searching for small steps forward. Blogging is about personal interaction and entertainment, and philosophy, alas, is often an impersonal and unentertaining activity.
This all may sound like I’m a defeatist of kinds, or that I’m experiencing some bitterness towards my chosen specialization. Far from it! I want to get even better at philosophy. Blogging, however, will have no place in this. At least for the next little while.
My parting advice to the loyal reader? Read a book. And then think about it.
