Current Reading
This is it: content; post #1. I’m nervous. But not too nervous. Let’s get on with it then.
As a Literature student, I read a lot, and I’ve come to enjoy it, so I read even more. This type of post – basically a blurb about how studious and book-y I am – will probably appear a lot on here, as I read a diverse array of literature and require an outlet for my sometimes academic/critical, sometimes casual/conversational thoughts about what I’m currently reading. I’m not yet even sure (this is a tangent) how proper or conversational a voice I plan to use on this blog, so we’re all along for the same idiomatic ride.
Currently, I’m reading Plato’s The Trial and Death of Socrates (see above). The Greek philosopher and teacher of Plato, Socrates, was famously tried and executed for impiety in the 4th century BCE. Plato’s four dialogues constitute his classic philosophical account of the trial and tackle concepts such as wisdom, piety, and justice.
Why am I reading this? I supposed I’m mainly reading it for pure mind-expanding enjoyment, but that’s not the only reason. I had to read Plato’s Republic for an intro Political Science course last year, and I have to admit that for dense philosophical literature, Plato’s style of writing in dialogue (see dialectical method or Socratic method) is quite engaging and easy to read. I’d almost say it’s fun. More seriously, though, reading important classics like this has proven an enormous help in almost every university class I’ve taken. It’s almost guaranteed that any canonical author up until the 20th century (and some, beyond) has studied every important Greek work and themes, ideas, and even quotes from those works frequently turn up in the most unrelated literature. As far as speculation goes, I find that it’s also a glimpse into Greek thought, perception, and culture, however diluted by anachronistic and idiomatic English translations it might be (I’m not a huge fan of this “Dover Thrift Editions” translation). Having recently read the Bhagavad Gita, a canonical Sanskrit text from around the same era as Plato (although the exact date is under dispute), I can’t help but compare similarities and differences in cultures and philosophies. Maybe I should just write a 1500-word compare and contrast essay already? Anyway, I’m digressing and I’ll definitely have more to say concerning cultural comparisons after I’ve finished this book and have re-read the Gita and other Eastern philosophical literature.
Well, that about does it for this book-post. Be sure to check back for more (and more refined) posts later!
-rusticwriter
