Elmo Recio
Date:
99-08-01
Entry:
Hrm, here's something that I didn't pick up before. He brings up the idea of the "robots" underneath the clothes of these men that he may see roaming the streets. This had quite amazed me because I see the concept of the robot, and taken into the 20th century, the android, as a purely 20th century concept brought about by industrialization.
It's rather odd to read a 17th century author and have him speak about robots. It kind of reminds me of the move I saw this weekend. "The Red Violin."
"The Red Violin" is about the history and story behind this elusive red violin. The movie switches between the present (an auction) and past history, as each bidder's reason for wanting the violin. For example, there is a Monk bidding on it, for it's historical value to the monastery in Germany; there is a Chinese man bidding on it because it was a gift of his mother's during the communist revolution when having such items were made illegal. A historian from Great Britain wants to bid on the violin because of it's significant to a radial and powerful violinist of the 1800's. There were more bidders and after each one bid the time machine was activated and the story was told as to why it was important to them.
Well, I was reminded of "The Red Violin" because, of course they needed a way to varnish and finish the musical instruments. Yet, these varnish, to me, is a harsh and smelly chemical that I associate with the post industrial 20th century. Argh, I don't know I am just rambling right now, but that's why I got on this tangent.
On proofs and arguments: this has been the first time I have actually realised how important logic is on the subject of philosophy. It puts a whole new spin on the rather drole class of Logic. I used it twice in this last assignment and rather enjoyed being able to nit pick the uses of Descartes arguments, and the premises which he has assumed to this point.