So, reading the Republic in my Phil. class.. again. I'm pretty sure this is the 3rd or fourth time that I've read it. Major problem with being a classics fan, they really don't put out a lot of new material, and all profs seem to think it will be THEIR take on The Republic (Meno, etc etc etc ad naseum) that will rock your world.
For a little dirty philosophy fun, I've been reading the Phaedrus. (Just the dirty parts, like the Fountain Head. It's about as wild as us Phil majors get I think. ) Alright. Your soul - made up of a chariot with a charioteer (reason), a black horse (simplified - your desires) and a white horse - (goodness and spirit). Dualing, of course. Given that the Greeks were fairly.. upfront..with their homosexual tendencies and whatnot, you can imagine how black horse leads when it comes to erotic love -
"The black horse of appetite immediately urges towards sexual intercourse. The white horse — “constrained then as always by shame” (254a2) — holds itself back. Eventually, however, the black horse forces both the charioteer and the white horse “to move towards the beloved and mention to him the delights of sex” (a5-7). Again they balk, “indignant at being forced to do terrible and improper things” (b1). But finally, “when there is no limit to their plight, they follow its lead, giving in and agreeing to do what it tells them” "
Wow. Hot damn.
Then I came home, and listened to that KT Tunstall song, "Black Horse and a Cherry Tree". And now.. now I'm a little wary of these innocent pop stars. Wary, and..excited..?
For a little dirty philosophy fun, I've been reading the Phaedrus. (Just the dirty parts, like the Fountain Head. It's about as wild as us Phil majors get I think. ) Alright. Your soul - made up of a chariot with a charioteer (reason), a black horse (simplified - your desires) and a white horse - (goodness and spirit). Dualing, of course. Given that the Greeks were fairly.. upfront..with their homosexual tendencies and whatnot, you can imagine how black horse leads when it comes to erotic love -
"The black horse of appetite immediately urges towards sexual intercourse. The white horse — “constrained then as always by shame” (254a2) — holds itself back. Eventually, however, the black horse forces both the charioteer and the white horse “to move towards the beloved and mention to him the delights of sex” (a5-7). Again they balk, “indignant at being forced to do terrible and improper things” (b1). But finally, “when there is no limit to their plight, they follow its lead, giving in and agreeing to do what it tells them” "
Wow. Hot damn.
Then I came home, and listened to that KT Tunstall song, "Black Horse and a Cherry Tree". And now.. now I'm a little wary of these innocent pop stars. Wary, and..excited..?
No comments:
Post a Comment