Some Future Singulars

Instead of looking for Easter bunnies ("Osterhasen"), I am searching pearls and some meaning in a few Aristotelian passages on necessity. Or is it rather that I am looking for trouble and mines in these renowned minefields? I am not so sure...In any case I enjoy the readings: starting with the second book of his Physics, turning to the Sea Battle Problem, then the last chapter of On Generation and Corruption, and the last chapters of On the Heavens I. But now I have to interrupt and devote myself to a coming conference. I am namely excited about getting to know the West Coast this time: the Ancient Philosophy Society is meeting in San Francisco this year (see program and details here). I am looking forward to catching up with friends and talking philosophy in friendship, and meeting people I have not met for ages -or not at all. The day before the conference begins, and while still in jet lag, I shall experience a British production of Harold Pinter's The Caretaker, which made it across the pond (Jonathan Pryce at SF Curran Theater), hoping that I will make up for the recent Berlin theater disappointment on o'Neill's Electra. The standards are again quite high (Michalakopoulos as the Caretaker and Leuteris Vogiatzis directing Pinter's Ashes to Ashes in two excellent Athenian performances). In case of two discouraging theatrical experiences in a row, I will remain faithful to Peter Stein's authority and attend nothing else but his direction.

After coming back, I will have the pure pleasure to attend Stephen Menn's seminar on Plotinus (check the particulars in the Humboldt VVZ SS 2012 here), which will necessarily be one of the highlights in Berlin's philosophical landscape; and will continue wrapping up some articles, and a paper on the Problem of the Possibilty of the World, which does not concern the last chapters of Peri Ouranou I, but the Timaeus' and the Politicus' Myths. On this later.

P.S.: Hereby a traditional Cypriotic song, a fairy tale for St. Georgios, sung by someone whom I appreciate perhaps the most among modern Greek composers and interpreters: Alkinoos Ioannidis, in Megaron Mousikis, accompanied by choir, Athens 2010. I miss you Athens, my Athens and my Greece, and still carry and nurture you in my memory and transform you in my hope. Καλό Πάσχα.














P.P.S.: A good friend informed me that I ought not to swim in SF Bay, which nipped in the bud my wish to swim in the sea again after almost two years. These waters are cold and inhabited by sharks. Hands off and no future singulars...










Looking over the Pacific Ocean from the Cliff House, San Francisco.