Posted by tangobob on February 26, 1999 at 10:03:29:
Although I've always enjoyed thinking about philosophical questions, I didn't enjoy reading philosophy until I read Dostoevsky.
I know he's not a philosopher by most definitions, but the implicit philosophy in his writing seems more profound to me than any of the analytic philosophers.
So I started reading Kierkegaard. I still think Dostoevsky hits on some things that Kierkegaard deceives himself about, but I like reading Kierkegaard. I've actually never enjoyed Sartre that much, but Camus intrigues me as well as Nietzche.
But I give this personal narrative only in an effort ot spark some discussion. I say existence takes preeminence over essence. After all, the essence of my ideal, soul-mate, girlfriend is pretty clear in my mind, but a lot of good that does me on Friday nights. No, I've found more success in currying favor with existing girlfriends rather than with the essence of one. But of course I have't given up my essential ideal--I think that's important too, it's just that never bridging the gap with existence would make us all starving theoretical mathemeticians trying to survive in our own solopsistic worlds. I study theoretical math, but I also recognize that it wouldn't be worth a @#$@ if no one ever applied it. . .