Brice Cummings
@abcummings.bsky.social
Peripatetic (adjunct) instructor of philosophy and history
renaissanceanimal.com
renaissanceanimal.com
(the translation is that of Arleen Dallery)
February 5, 2026 at 1:54 PM
(the translation is that of Arleen Dallery)
"An examination of the domain of algorithm would show there too, I believe, the same strange function which is at work in the so-called inexact forms of language." (3/3)
~ Merleau-Ponty, in a prospectus prepared for the Collège de France, to which he was elected in 1952.
~ Merleau-Ponty, in a prospectus prepared for the Collège de France, to which he was elected in 1952.
February 5, 2026 at 1:51 PM
"An examination of the domain of algorithm would show there too, I believe, the same strange function which is at work in the so-called inexact forms of language." (3/3)
~ Merleau-Ponty, in a prospectus prepared for the Collège de France, to which he was elected in 1952.
~ Merleau-Ponty, in a prospectus prepared for the Collège de France, to which he was elected in 1952.
"It [language] is rather the call which a situated thought addresses to other thoughts, equally situated, and each one responds to the call with its own resources." (2/3)
February 5, 2026 at 1:51 PM
"It [language] is rather the call which a situated thought addresses to other thoughts, equally situated, and each one responds to the call with its own resources." (2/3)
I'm lucky to have access to a good research library, so I'll be able to find it. Thanks again
January 31, 2026 at 3:07 PM
I'm lucky to have access to a good research library, so I'll be able to find it. Thanks again
I'll give it a read. Thank you!
January 31, 2026 at 3:06 PM
I'll give it a read. Thank you!
I had somehow never read this particular essay of M.-P.'s until today. Have you put any of your comments upon it into writing?
January 31, 2026 at 3:02 PM
I had somehow never read this particular essay of M.-P.'s until today. Have you put any of your comments upon it into writing?
"Relationships between the subject and those in power, like those between the self and others, are cemented at a deeper level than judgment. As long as it is not a matter of contempt's radical challenge, they survive challenge." (5/5)
January 31, 2026 at 2:49 PM
"Relationships between the subject and those in power, like those between the self and others, are cemented at a deeper level than judgment. As long as it is not a matter of contempt's radical challenge, they survive challenge." (5/5)
"The power which is called legitimate is that which succeeds in avoiding contempt and hatred...." (4/5)
January 31, 2026 at 2:49 PM
"The power which is called legitimate is that which succeeds in avoiding contempt and hatred...." (4/5)
"Power is of the order of the tacit. Men let themselves live within the horizon of the State and the Law as long as injustice does not make them conscious of what is unjustifiable in the two." (3/5)
January 31, 2026 at 2:49 PM
"Power is of the order of the tacit. Men let themselves live within the horizon of the State and the Law as long as injustice does not make them conscious of what is unjustifiable in the two." (3/5)
"There is only a crystallization of opinion, which tolerates power, accepting it as acquired. The problem is to avoid the dissolution of this consensus, which can occur in no time at all, no matter what the means of coercion, once a certain point of crisis has been passed." (2/5)
January 31, 2026 at 2:49 PM
"There is only a crystallization of opinion, which tolerates power, accepting it as acquired. The problem is to avoid the dissolution of this consensus, which can occur in no time at all, no matter what the means of coercion, once a certain point of crisis has been passed." (2/5)
Right! I had my heart set on waist-high snowdrifts
January 25, 2026 at 3:59 PM
Right! I had my heart set on waist-high snowdrifts
The late MacIntyre makes the point that none of us are fully abled over the entire course of a full life masterfully in Dependent Rational Animals
January 23, 2026 at 1:44 PM
The late MacIntyre makes the point that none of us are fully abled over the entire course of a full life masterfully in Dependent Rational Animals
For example, strikes are simply, explicitly illegal for public employees in Texas. So while they *could* not show up to work & call that a strike, they'd have no leverage whatsoever because there's not even a need for the state to break the strike: officially, the strike wouldn't even be happening.
January 21, 2026 at 1:53 AM
For example, strikes are simply, explicitly illegal for public employees in Texas. So while they *could* not show up to work & call that a strike, they'd have no leverage whatsoever because there's not even a need for the state to break the strike: officially, the strike wouldn't even be happening.
“Devils! Dost thou then so much as dare to critically think of me?—On deck!”
“Starbuck now is mine; cannot oppose me now, without rebellion.”
"Aye, and say’st the men have vow’d thy vow; say’st all of us are Ahabs."
It's a Moby-Dick world out there.
“Starbuck now is mine; cannot oppose me now, without rebellion.”
"Aye, and say’st the men have vow’d thy vow; say’st all of us are Ahabs."
It's a Moby-Dick world out there.
January 21, 2026 at 12:52 AM
“Devils! Dost thou then so much as dare to critically think of me?—On deck!”
“Starbuck now is mine; cannot oppose me now, without rebellion.”
"Aye, and say’st the men have vow’d thy vow; say’st all of us are Ahabs."
It's a Moby-Dick world out there.
“Starbuck now is mine; cannot oppose me now, without rebellion.”
"Aye, and say’st the men have vow’d thy vow; say’st all of us are Ahabs."
It's a Moby-Dick world out there.