Friday, May 04, 2007

The joy of sects

The ever enjoyable Scott Adams today cites the Wikipedia article on Spinoza, prompting me to read it myself. I'm pretty certain I studied Spinoza at least in passing sometime during a three-year degree in Philosophy & Politics, but I can't say his work stuck in my mind.

But what grabs me about the Wikipedia account is:
"Spinoza, having dedicated himself completely to philosophy after 1656, fervently desired to change the world through establishing a clandestine philosophical sect."
Well, don't we all? All that has held me back from doing just that myself is:
  1. the sect bit - a sect needs followers. How do I recruit? From readers of this blog? They are by definition broad minded sensible types so unlikely to fall for it. Also, I know for a fact that several are under 18 so it would probably be illegal.
  2. the philosophical bit - what philosophy, exactly? The Philosophy of Ben derives from many sources. I dare say I could come up with something suitably mystical.
  3. the clandestine bit - defined by the department's New Oxford Dictionary of English as "kept secret or done secretively". For just one of the obvious disadvantages of this, see (1).
But once I've worked out solutions to these obstacles, I promise that my philosophical sect will be launched amidst a blaze of absolutely no publicity at all, after which I submit my membership application to the Amalgamated Union of Philosophers, Sages, Luminaries and Other Thinking Persons.
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6 comments:

  1. Peter Brewer9:59 am

    I look forwards to joining your aforementioned sect. If this is acceptable please suggest some form of stupid signaling so we can recognise each other without publisizing group.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ben1:03 pm

    Dear Mr Brewer,

    Your application for membership is hereby accepted. The secret salute will be to reach over the top of your head with your right hand and tug the lobe of your left ear. I would be very surprised if anyone noticed.

    Sincerely,
    Ben

    ReplyDelete
  3. Peter Brewer4:01 pm

    I thank you for the kind offer. I look forwards to our next meeting...

    ReplyDelete
  4. Unknown12:19 am

    Dear Mr Ben, whose last name I now realise I don't know,

    Could your cult please address the issue of figure-skating. I would be very interested to know what the official stance would be before I commit.

    Yours faithfully,
    Anna

    ReplyDelete
  5. Penny4:51 pm

    Uh-oh - turns out I am already a member without even realising it. The answer on figure-skating could be life-shattering...

    ReplyDelete
  6. Ben9:40 am

    Fortunately we will have no need to know each others names, as we will each choose a secret philosophical identity. The Policy Unit is still deliberating on figure skating, but advance info suggests that we will be in favour of it in principle, subject to sight of the figure in question.

    ReplyDelete

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