On the same day that we find out that Russell Crowe will be playing both Robin Hood and the Sheriff in Ridley Scott’s Nottingham, I officially begin my PhD studies in the town of the same name.
This morning at 3:45am, Tiana left the house for Rome for a week with our friend Ester who has somewhat extensive ties with the Focolare movement. So, this week I’ll be missing her while I dive into my studies.
This afternoon I sat in on the first session of Philip Goodchild’s “Continental Philosophy of Religion” module. Much of this class will be review for me, but a good handful is new and will be really helpful, especially the Nietzsche and Deleuze stuff. So far (just one day), the module is already bursting at the seams with attendance. I’m hoping that another module I hope to sit in will also be eagerly attended by taught MA and research students alike. That module is called “Aesthetics, Philosophy and Religion: From Idealism to Romanticism,” taught by Michael Mack. That module will cover Spinoza, Herder, Hamman, and Novalis, among others.
Meanwhile, it looks like the $700 billion bailout did not happen and the Dow crashed pretty bad. No idea what this is really going to mean both in the short and long terms. My still-living grandmother lived through the great depression, but she told me once that she didn’t really notice as much because she was 9 years old and lived on a farm that was able to sustain itself. Because I can’t offer anything approaching coherence on the present economic crisis, John Médaille offers some informed thoughts here.
Glad to hear you’re off to a good start. Enjoy Philip’s module, he’s especially brilliant on Bergson, Deleuze, and Spinoza. And that Michael Mack module sounds amazing, I’m bummed he didn’t do that last year. Herder and Hamann will be amazingly helpful in situating Kierkegaard, a few people here have been bugging me to read them both. Hope things keep going well.
Will do. Looks like Philip is leaving aside Spinoza this term so as to allow Michal Mack to teach Spinoza without any overlap. I just hope enough people sign up for the module for credit so that us research students can sit in! Wish you were here tomorrow to celebrate the finishing of your MA dissertation!
Eric, are you at the Centre of Theology and Philosophy there at Nottingham?
John, indeed I am.
Hey Eric,
Any word yet on Rome videos, etc.? Just checking. Thanks. peace.
Just curious. For some reason, I am honored to be listed as a Member of that Centre on their website. Give my regards to John Milbank; he was kind enough to write a blurb for my book. Good luck with your studies.
Will do. I actually found your blog in part from the promotion of that blurb: last year at the AAR I saw your book for sale, saw John’s blurb, then Googled your name, and have been reading since! I don’t always understand the nitty gritty of economics, but I find what you’re doing quite helpful.
And, thanks.