Life: A rigorous student/ teacher/ grader/ librarian. Not a typical Berkeley student, but that is probably an oxymoron anyway. 5:37 on a Thursday afternoon, grading essays. Have come to the consciousness [Marx!] that my words, my thoughts, my time are no longer my own [alienation!]. They have been bought-- cheaply-- by this institution, association [Tocqueville!] known as the University. And I slave, I work [Arendt!] for it.
My life is this metaphysical state of existence. You think it is easy to be an intellect? I feel bad for the folks, if this is the life. Picture this: 10+ hours of reading philosophy books, grading essays, writing exams, sitting through class, answering students' questions (okay well that one is a stretch-- BSing answers, maybe), meeting with students, emailing students, emailing professors, re-reading the text, making neat notes in the margins, proofreading introductions, scheduling emergency office hours... a day. Is it enough to make one go 'crazy'? Foucault: 'Or is madness merely unreason?'
But I've learned a few things. For instance, when presented a question you do not know the answer to, begin talking anyway. They lose interest after a while. Email is actually pretty helpful-- no immediate responses necessary. Use all the indices and online resources you can. Probably the most important: Laugh. At yourself-- and at what they write.
Okay, so this is probably wrong of me.
[the Nietzschean voice inside]: But what is 'wrong'?! That is a Christian value that has been burned into your mind! Think not of it!
I'm doing it anyway. Ridiculous quotes from COLLEGE papers:
"Morality has been conceptualized primarily in two ways."
"The 'ultimate dream' and 'reality' are two different things."
"All throughout history, everybody has always tried to get a democracy."
"Capitalists have no respect for women and even though they have their own wife's, in search of simple pleasures they will seduce each other's wife."
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