tragedy
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The Essence of Tragedy
What is the essence of tragedy? How is it a phenomenon of life, a genre of art? In what actions, characters, and thoughts is it most clearly represented? Join our Philosophical Happy Hour as we take up a central question of artistic signification. “That dinner party was a complete tragedy.” “Her outfit is, like, totally…
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Retrospect: Fate and Freedom
A retrospective reflection on the recent Philosophical Happy Hour concerning fate, providence, and the limits of human free choice. A few brief reflections derived from our recent Philosophical Happy Hour on Fate: 1. Many people use the term to avoid responsibility for not only their own actions, but even for having to think about the…
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On Fate and Choice
A Philosophical Happy Hour discussing fate, providence, and the limits of human free choice. What determines the course of a human life? Some might answer this question by appealing to choice: you are what you choose to be. Others might blame circumstances: being born into wealth or poverty of money or genes, suffering youthful traumas,…
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On Tragedy
A Philosophical Happy Hour on the nature and purpose of tragedy in both poetic and real experience. Twenty-three years ago, on nearly this day, many of us bore witness to an undoubtedly tragic event—a relative few with our own eyes, most through the television. I do not need to elaborate: only to say that I…