SOCRATES (469-399 BCE)
Of smart know-it-alls there's a huge glut,
But they're dolts when you're down in a rut.
The one person to see
If your life's up a tree,
Is an ignorant pain in the ----.
WILLIAM OF OCKHAM (1288-1347)
I sing of the great Ockham’s razor,
That sharp philosophical laser.
A theory that’s bloated
Will fast be demoted,
And blasted with Captain Bill's phaser.
FRIEDRICH NIETZSCHE (1844-1900)
“Thank God for eternal recurrence,
For endings I have an abhurrence.
I just love Groundhog Day,
When it’s done, press Replay,
Thank God for eternal recurrence."
“God is dead,” said Herr Nietzsche, “He’s toast.
He’s no more than an axed talk show host.
Though he sports a white beard,
And makes Christians afeard,
He's as dead as an ex-parrot's ghost."
AND ONE FINAL META-LIMERICK
That iambic pentameter’s cool,
Had to learn it in primary school.
But trimeter’s the best
When the foot’s anapest:
In great poetry limericks rule. — A History of Western Philosophy in 108 Limericks
the end made me really question how I think about everything. — theUnexaminedMind
For example ? — Amity
Just recently I heard 'the cookie thief' poem for the first time and it blew my mind. The whole way up until the end I was sympathetic towards the woman but the end made me really question how I think about everything. — theUnexaminedMind
Well I did indeed find myself sympathetic with the woman of the story all the way until the end. — theUnexaminedMind
So she munched the cookies and watched the clock, as the gutsy cookie thief diminished her stock. She was getting more irritated as the minutes ticked by, thinking, “If I wasn’t so nice, I would blacken his eye.” — theUnexaminedMind
Then when I realized the twist and I had to ask myself why I thought the way I did. — theUnexaminedMind
...if that's just a passive acceptance of stimulus or should I be more forward thinking, or open-minded enough to force out/delay any thoughts of judgement until the very end of any situation or experience — theUnexaminedMind
It was just an eye opening moment. Not sure if I described it well. — theUnexaminedMind
Thanks for answering my question; describing it well and making me think again... :sparkle: — Amity
I actually thought it was an interesting social commentary. The woman perceived the man as a bully for stealing the cookies. The man perceived the woman as a flirt when she was stealing the cookies. — Hanover
...Tried hard to be hailed
Nazi-Plato, but failed
Then denied that he tried, with great vigor. — Ciceronianus the White
MARTIN HEIDEGGER (1889-1976)
A phenomenological jerk
Hated good analytical work.
He composed Sein und Zeit,
And liked Nazis all right,
Firing Jews was a pleasant job perk. — A History of Western Philosophy in 108 Limericks
W.S. Merwin tackles some phenomenology: — Valentinus
Here's a very philosophical poem, by Wallace Stevens — Ciceronianus the White
Author's note:
I rarely talk about what my own poems are about but for me poetry is the only written form where I am completely truthful.
I have been writing poetry for as long as I can remember and it is the oldest form of expression for me.
When I need to make sense of something it is often poetry that helps me to do so. When none of the other literary forms are enough — poetry is the one I reach for.
'The Narcissist & the Light Stasher' is a simple truth best told in this form. It is concerned with how ordinary people cope with extreme circumstances and how we all have choices to make in how we respond to the people in our lives. — Scottish Poetry Library - Jenni Fagan
— Scottish Poetry Library - Jenni Fagan
https://www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/poem/narcissist-light-stasher/ — Amity
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