Read on Twitter
Last night was fun - I've signed up to the @interintellect_ series on "reading the greats" of western literature hosted by @tommycollison and @dmcdougall. We started with the Iliad. I'll keep notes with interesting links from the series 
I am attending to plug gaps in my knowledge. I've studied science and technology – learning the arts has always been a hobby. I'm hopeful that a curated list of reads and group discussions will help. Plus, it's on my list of lifetime skills to learn 
https://twitter.com/jamiemchale/status/1345648288452800513
https://twitter.com/jamiemchale/status/1345648288452800513
There are lots of topics in the Iliad - it's a story of wrath, anger, choices, fate, status and honour, but also love. We discussed how these interact in the story, and ended talking about their relevance today. https://twitter.com/dmcdougall/status/1348406897343393796
One of the interesting themes was the role of the gods. There are many, they interfere, and they use force and fate. They are present and speaking to the participants.
Some folks highlighted links to theories on the voices of gods, and conciousness
https://slatestarcodex.com/2020/06/01/book-review-origin-of-consciousness-in-the-breakdown-of-the-bicameral-mind/
Some folks highlighted links to theories on the voices of gods, and conciousness
https://slatestarcodex.com/2020/06/01/book-review-origin-of-consciousness-in-the-breakdown-of-the-bicameral-mind/
We also spoke briefly about the Late Bronze Age Collapse - with the book 1177 by Eric H. Cline recommended https://www.amazon.co.uk/1177-B-C-Civilization-Collapsed-Turning/dp/0691168385/
I'd previously listened to the @Fall_of_Civ_Pod podcast on the topic (recommended) https://fallofcivilizationspodcast.com/2019/01/21/episode-2-is-now-live/
I'd previously listened to the @Fall_of_Civ_Pod podcast on the topic (recommended)
https://fallofcivilizationspodcast.com/2019/01/21/episode-2-is-now-live/
We had a discussion about the modern relevance of the Iliad. I think that we can look at glory, a "great life", an epic narrative and figure out how that might be lived today, in peace. Someone kindly highlighted Fukuyama's comments in The Last Man: https://www.the-american-interest.com/2019/05/03/the-last-man-and-the-future-of-history/
We also talked about the violence: the constraints to it (against the gods), and the uncontrolled nature of anger and vengence. What morality is here? Reminded me of the questions raised in the old West Wing episode on a "proportional response"
The next Salon is on Antigone by Sophocles, "Good Lives Are Made So By Discipline" - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/good-lives-are-made-so-by-discipline-antigone-ii-salon-tickets-131401903631 - I'm looking forward to it!
