R.I.P. Harry Frankfurt; July’s poem
The outstanding philosopher Harry G. Frankfurt has died. He’s one of just a few philosophers of my lifetime whom I would unreservedly recommend to the general reader.
Here are his two most important books – collections of short- and medium-length essays. “Jewel-like,” these pieces often are said to be.
See also this book about Frankfurt. But read the two other books first!
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
This month’s poem is “The Windhover” by Gerard Manley Hopkins.
To Christ our Lord
Here are his two most important books – collections of short- and medium-length essays. “Jewel-like,” these pieces often are said to be.
- The Importance of What We Care About (which includes his most famous work, “On Bullshit”; my favorite piece in this collection is “Freedom of the Will and the Concept of a Person”)
- Necessity, Volition, and Love (my favorite chapter of which is “Equality and Self-Respect”)
See also this book about Frankfurt. But read the two other books first!
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
This month’s poem is “The Windhover” by Gerard Manley Hopkins.
To Christ our Lord
⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
I caught this morning morning’s minion, king-
dom of daylight’s dauphin, dapple-dawn-drawn Falcon, in his riding
Of the rolling level underneath him steady air, and striding
High there, how he rung upon the rein of a wimpling wing
In his ecstasy! then off, off forth on swing,
As a skate’s heel sweeps smooth on a bow-bend: the hurl and gliding
Rebuffed the big wind. My heart in hiding
Stirred for a bird, – the achieve of; the mastery of the thing!
Brute beauty and valour and act, oh, air, pride, plume, here
Buckle! AND the fire that breaks from thee then, a billion
Times told lovelier, more dangerous, O my chevalier!
No wonder of it: shéer plód makes plough down sillion
Shine, and blue-bleak embers, ah my dear,
Fall, gall themselves, and gash gold-vermillion.
⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯