A question was posed on May 1, 2000, by Erika L Webster of George Mason University: How can literature help one lead the good life in the contemporary context? I liked the question so much, I thought it would be good for us all to think together on this one. Below are some of the questions I tried to ask and answer.

1. What resources might help for background research?

   Answer

   Some of the resources to which I would refer would be:

   • Charles Lemert's Postmodernism Is Not What You Think
   • Jonathan Lear's Open Minded

Both of these refer to the postmodern dilemma of "truth" and "knowingness." Perhaps the most significant contribution of literature is the telling of stories in ways that help us to imagine different truths, different paths, different levels and kinds of "knowing." Both Lear and Lemert provide some excellent theoretical explications of the need in the present age to adapt to new kinds of "knowing."

2. How would you define "good life?"

Answer

I think I would go back to the Rorty and Heidegger piece and try to answer the philosophical question of how should I live? to make the world a better place for all? or to realize my own unique potential? As Socrates suggested, that is the fundamental question. Our answer to that question would help us decide whether the recognition that the "good life" might just be the pragmatic best that we as humans can do affects us as it does Rorty, as a pretty good place to end up.

3. Erika said: "The paper focuses on postmodernism and the problems it brings with the "loss of center" or foundation, emphasizing how literature, Dennis Potter, or narrative can be of use in the postmodern condition." What's the role of Dennis Potter in all this?

Answer

Eek! I'd never heard of Dennis Potter. How embarassing! But I went to find a site and located this one: Clenched Fists, The Dennis Potter Homepage. Hope it's the right Dennis Potter, but it sounds like it should be. And hope that Erika will share her paper with us, so we'll have the answer.

4. Did Sachar's Holes help any of you to see new ways in which postmodernism might fit into "the good life?"

Answer

Holes helped me see ways in which we might encourage love and caring in place of the "truth" of one perspective only. Stanley Yelnats was innocent, even though that innocence may have seemed implausible to others. Might not others whom we presume "guilty" also be innocent, and might we not have a "better life" for all if we were willing to explore such alternatives?

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Figurine by Rudiger Appel. Notice that you can see three effects in the animation. Either the Variation on the Kandinsky figurine appears to turn in a clockwise direction, or in a counterclockwise direction, or it appears to open and close. Can you see all three effects? Try. Fascinated? Link to Appel's site and then link to the background he provides. Scroll down until you find a link to background.

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Chantessy's Page Chantessy's Mardi Gras Alphabet was originally used on this page. We changed it because it was too distracting as eye candy. Chantessy was the first contributor to our Kids' Site when we began Dear Habermas. Visit her page. Check out the sliders puzzles on her fun page. Or check out her candy box and send a friend a posty. Non-violent ways to respond to structural violence in the academy! It's great fun.