John,

It's not simply a matter of interest, inclination, my laziness and
stupidity, etc. tho it does involve that.

It also has to do with considered philosophy: my understanding of truth,
and the human condition, history, nature, knowledge, life, philosophy etc.
Interests that we share, no?

Hegel interests me, and I've read quite of bit of Hegel. Not as much as
you, of course, but there we are. Life is short, and you can't know
everything.

If I devote myself to listening to Mozart, then I can't focus on Schubert
or Schoenberg, Dvorak, or Carter. And then, if I don't devote myself to
Mozart, does that mean that I'm not entitled to say anything pertinent
about him? Are we sealed up in those few composers or philosophers to whom
we devote ourselves?

Is it possible to have insightful useful two-way conversations with those
with whom we disagree?

Some may be intrigued by what I say here, coming at Hegel from an external
POV, and if no one is... I will shut up.

Bruce

On Sat, Feb 11, 2012 at 9:40 AM, john <jgbardis@...> wrote:

> **
> -- In hegel@yahoogroups.com, Bruce Merrill <merrillbp@...> wrote:
>
> > I really am outside of Hegelianism. And in fact very far away, not like
> > those Kantian neighbors you are always squabbling with.
> >
> > And happily so-- which may be ever harder for Hegelians to grasp than the
> > case that there is an outside...
>
> Of course there's an outside, Bruce.
>
> It is simply human nature not to be interested in things--and especially
> things that require an effort. Often times people brag that they are not
> interested in this or that, as though it were some remarkable distinction
> on their part. But that is just the norm. Insofar as someone is actually
> interested in something, whatever it might be, that is unusual.
>
> And, certainly, one doesn't become a Hegelian first and then, on that
> basis, begin to read Hegel. If, for whatever reason, someone makes the
> effort to read Hegel then, perhaps, they might find Hegel interesting.
>
> You've expressed an interest in 18th century English philosophy. I haven't
> read any of that. Of course I've heard what their opinions are in 25 words
> or less. On that basis they certainly don't seem worth troubling with. But
> maybe if I actually got a book by one of them and tried to read it, maybe I
> would find it interesting. Maybe I would find it to be time well spent.
> From the little I know of them, though, I don't have any reason to think
> that.
>
> At any rate, if you want to engage with Hegel, then you need to get one of
> his books or lectures. Maybe you will find it interesting. Maybe you will
> like it enough to get another of his books and read it. Then, maybe, just
> as if you listened to a great deal of music by Mozart you might learn to
> become a fan of Mozart, so here, too, you might become a fan of Hegel.
>
> But that, of course, is not something most people do.
>
> John
>
>


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