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Die Eule der Minerva beginnt erst mit der einbrechenden Dämmerung ihren Flug.


With Ezra's foray into The Sorrows of Young Werther, Henry was feeling a little put out so has started to explore Daddy's extensive library on the works of one G.W.F. Hegel.

So Saturday afternoon, when Jen was out knitting, he starts on about Elements of the Philosophy of Right, and was asking me what defines the actualisation of freedom. I said that I doubted that history had an actualisation point and wanted to leave it at that, but then he started on about what it was to lead a 'moral life', so I asked him what it was to lead an 'ethical life', and then Ez got started on the unity of being and nothing which Henry confused with the master-slave dialectic and things were just getting out of hand, and I was rapidly getting a headache.

We did however, find some common ground regarding the owl of Minerva, that is, its big eyes made it appear quite cute.
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Comments

The Wife said…
"Some people are allergic to Hegel and I confess that my own tolerance is low" (E. H. Gombrich).
6 April 2009 at 18:55
Candie said…
Strange I was too discussing about owls yesterday and how I love them very much.They are a mystical animal.It's true that it was on Athena's side.I have read about it yesterday and apparently the tree associated with Athena is the olive tree too.My favorite animal is the owl and my preferite tree is the olive tree.Now I'm not pretending I was Athena in another life,lol!I've always liked greek mythology very much but i forgot about lots of things,that's why yesterday I was pleased to know that.Did you see I had a owl on the side of my blog?cool stuff!:)
6 April 2009 at 19:38
Priyanka Khot said…
whoa! that's some discussion.. wouldn't know who to side with...
6 April 2009 at 21:23
KL said…
I don't blame them for getting confused :-D
7 April 2009 at 06:41
KL said…
We went to the beach yesterday. Seeing Henry doing something on the beach few days back inspired me to do something. I want to send that photo to you. How can I send it? An ugly one though.
7 April 2009 at 07:16
Kris McCracken said…
The Wife, I'll still take Hegel over Kant any day of the week. I still have nightmares over my time reading Kant.

That said, Schiller, Herder and Fichte were all mightier word smiths than ol' GWF!
7 April 2009 at 09:34
Kris McCracken said…
Candie, owls are great. Henry does a good impression of an owl.

The owl of Minerva and the owl out of Meg and Mog are my two favourite owls.
7 April 2009 at 09:38
Kris McCracken said…
Priyanka, do you identify with the Young Hegalians too?

Do you think Marx got it right?
7 April 2009 at 09:39
Kris McCracken said…
KL, Hegel talks a lot of sense, he just uses too many words.

Kant is confusing.

Marx could turn a phrase, but maybe was a little too certain for my tastes.
7 April 2009 at 09:42
Kris McCracken said…
KL, sent it on Facebook or Orkut!
7 April 2009 at 09:43
Sue said…
Henry has the eyes of an owl...he is cute too.
Though he looks a little tired here...could it be all that mail delivery getting to him???
7 April 2009 at 14:58
Kris McCracken said…
Sue, he has an incredibly difficult life. Waited on hand and foot. Two personal servants, two beds, toys, books, pencils, DVDs on and on and on.

It must be a real struggle for him to cope.
8 April 2009 at 09:12
yamini said…
I agree with the "big eyes" part. He looks soooooooooo cute!!!!!!
8 April 2009 at 15:06
KL said…
Given up.
8 April 2009 at 20:48
Kris McCracken said…
Yamini, owls and those disturbing Japanese cartoons!
10 April 2009 at 18:20
Kris McCracken said…
KL, don't give up!
10 April 2009 at 18:20
KL said…
I almost did since it is almost absolutely not possible to send any attachments through facebook or orkut. But then somehow did!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
11 April 2009 at 10:55
yamini said…
How can u compare My Dear Henry to Owls? This is a serious crime...
13 April 2009 at 20:46
Kris McCracken said…
Yamini, you don't like owls? Why not?
15 April 2009 at 09:03
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