Posted by
Andrews on Monday, March 01, 2010 10:38:06 AM
My wife and I were (unusually) home alone this morning and while sitting around found ourselves engaged in one of those conversations that seem to plague both college students and older people who have unexpected free time. In other words, she asked me one of those questions that we recognize as amusing diversions, but which younger people think carry heavy significant. Specifically, "If you could meet anyone now dead, who would it be?"
Why I mention this is that my first three answers surprised me a bit. I started with Frederic Bastiat. Which seems a bit strange as a first choice, but considering the similarity between his lengthy newspaper campaign against protectionism and this blog, I suppose it isn't all that unusual. Also, as he was both brilliant and amusing, and, most unusual of all, economically literate, I guess picking him isn't that surprising.
Choice number two is a bit less surprising. Aristotle seems a logical choice for most who have some previous Objectivist affinities, even apostates like myself. Though, if we are perfectly honest, I think I would like to meet Aristotle more to fill in omissions and errors in Thucydides than to ask him about his thinking. After all, he would, in addition to all his philosophical knowledge, have first hand information about Plato, as well as Alexander and Philip of Macedon, and second or, at most, third hand information about Socrates, the Peloponnesian War, Pericles, and the rest, and only slightly more distant information about the Persian Wars as well. So, in addition to being one of the greatest philosophic minds of antiquity, he would provide a brilliant and philosophically inclined storehouse of historical information for a crucial period. Which makes him much more interesting than most Objectivists would imagine when selecting him.
Which brings me to the third choice. Andrew Jackson. I suppose long time readers who pay very close attention would not be surprised. (See "
The Best Historical Example", "
We're From the Government and We're Here To Help You" and "
National Debt". Though those who pay
VERY close attention might expect Grover Cleveland instead -- see "
Depressing Realization", "
Interesting" and "
Our Official Motto".) But most of those fascinated with libertarian, or even federalist leanings would ahve picked Jefferson, or Madison. (For some reason, Monroe gets little respect, not sure why.) But, for all the great ideas Jefferson and Madison had, I find Jackson's simple, common sense applications of principles, mixed with a brilliant grasp of economics for which he receives little credit, much more fascinating. And, to be honest, I have always wondered what he would be like in person, as he was a clearly very intelligent man who was portrayed as an ignorant rube, and that always makes me wonder what he was actually like in person.
Clearly the list could go on and on, filling itself with historical figures -- C. Julius Caesar, Empress Theodora, Clemens von Metternich, Alexius Comnenus, Ramses II -- philosophers -- Maimonides, Averroes, Spinoza, Locke -- generals -- Basileus, Patton -- and others -- Dante, Cicero, Shabbatai Zvi -- but rather than publish an endless list of my own thoughts, I thought it might be fun to take us all back to our college days and indulge for a moment in an on-line "bull session".
So, for a moment, imagine this our stuffy, smelly virtual dorm room, and ask yourself "If you could meet anyone no longer among the living, who would it be?" I know I mocked college students for finding significance in the answers, and I still think it is more amusing than informative, but whatever the case, at least it will be interesting.
POSTSCRIPT
In case anyone is curious, I omitted religious figures as I am not sure whether or not meeting them would be worthwhile. Not being Christian, obviously Jesus would have only historical and philosophic interest for me, as would Mohammad, Krishna, Buddha and others. On the other hand, as Moses was buried in an unmarked location for a reason, I think it may be somewhat improper to want to meet various prophets or patriarchs. So, I have limited my list to my other areas of interest, though a few of the philosophers obvious have a religious element as well.