Aristotle was a dude

UNCW's network is just being silly today. Hopefully, I can post this blog without too much trouble. Probably won't have many (or any) links, though, if the network doesn't start working better. I've got no internets.

Fortunately, this is a blog for class, so my primary source will be a book (imagine that). For this week's class, we read Aristotle who, by the way, probably invented the Internet, considering he invented pretty much every other way that we think about things now. Or at least suggested them. Reading through his writings, a lot of his ideas seem pretty obvious, but that's probably because they've been generally accepted as true for a couple thousand years now. For example, he says:

"If a man was able and wished to do a thing, he must have done it; for all men do a thing, when they are able and resolve to do it, for nothing hinders them." (140)

And

"And if anything was on the point of being done, it most probably was done; for it is likely that one who was on the point of doing something has carried it out." (141)

Thanks, Aristotle. That's really helpful information. At times his writing reminds me of Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood or the old "Grayson Moorhead Securities" SNL commercial parodies (the internet is back) where the leader of an investment bank explains how the bank works. He has to tell his employees to make a list of their clients and how much money they owe and to keep that list in a safe place, like in a safe. And then he tells them to not leave clients' money lying around, but keep it in a safe place, like in the safe where they keep the list. It's all very didactic with pretty obvious information. Of course, keeping in mind, that, at one point, people probably didn't know that men usually do things that they're on the verge of doing or that they should wear a sweater if it's cold out or that keeping cash investments in freezers isn't a good idea. So, keep the list in a safe.

But alongside this obvious and didactic material, Aristotle has some pretty deep ideas. Dr. Atkins, my (sort of) boss, observed my Lit class today. Before class started, he and I were chatting about Aristotle (as one often does), and he mentioned that the meaning of a lot of what Aristotle wrote is still intensely debated in composition circles. For example: What the hell is an enthymeme? What does Aristotle mean by topoi or topics? What's the difference between dialectic and rhetoric?

From reading George A. Kennedy's take on Aristotle, I learned that Aristotle wrote a lot of his works at completely different times and didn't necessarily go back and edit for consistency. For this reason, I don't think these composition debates will really ever be solved or should be for that matter. I don't see any reason to try to figure out what Aristotle was thinking while writing (an intentional fallacy, for any of my Lit students who are paying attention). I think it's more important to consider what we're thinking when we read Aristotle.

I suppose I'm suggesting a dialectic approach to rhetoric: we should be in conversation with the text to find truth between us and the text and not seek truth in the text.

Anyhow…

I didn't even realize Wake and Duke played yesterday until I saw the highlights on SportsCenter this morning. From what I saw, it didn't look like Wake realized it either until the second half. Even with the Duke win and UNC's loss to Maryland and General Greivis Vasquez, UNC will still win the ACC if they "win out," as the saying goes. There are only three games left on their schedule.

Kevin Garnett is sidelined for a few weeks here, which I guess makes Rajon Rondo the best player in Boston.

Well, I need to start grading. Sorry for the short sports news. I guess.

I also have a sudden urge to talk about the Oscars, but I didn't watch and my internets are acting up again.

QotD:

What word(s) need an "s" on the end?

My take: Internets, of course, and many others.

Golem's take: Preciouses.

Sal from Futurama: Insanes, whoas, and a bunch of others.

Salma Hayek in 30 Rock: Underwears.