Comments on: Beards and Philosophers http://virtualstoa.net/2007/09/29/beards-and-philosophers/ Chris Brooke's Weblog Thu, 20 Nov 2008 08:13:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: beardless non-philosopher http://virtualstoa.net/2007/09/29/beards-and-philosophers/#comment-117915 beardless non-philosopher Fri, 05 Oct 2007 03:52:15 +0000 http://virtualstoa.net/2007/09/29/beards-and-philosophers/#comment-117915 I don't think we can blame Carneades' bad reception at Rome on his beard. I'm not sure about Roman shaving habits in the second century, but by Cicero's time (when clean-shaven was certainly the mainstream fashion), big beards were associated with old-fashioned ancestral virtues. In the Pro Caelio, Cicero makes a big deal of the distinction between the little goatees of modern wastrels like Clodius and "that bristly beard we see on ancient statues and images" of famous old Romans like Appius Claudius Caecus. Carneades' beard might have given him a reputation for great virtue, if he had only kept his mouth shut. I don’t think we can blame Carneades’ bad reception at Rome on his beard. I’m not sure about Roman shaving habits in the second century, but by Cicero’s time (when clean-shaven was certainly the mainstream fashion), big beards were associated with old-fashioned ancestral virtues. In the Pro Caelio, Cicero makes a big deal of the distinction between the little goatees of modern wastrels like Clodius and “that bristly beard we see on ancient statues and images” of famous old Romans like Appius Claudius Caecus. Carneades’ beard might have given him a reputation for great virtue, if he had only kept his mouth shut.

]]> By: Palash Dave http://virtualstoa.net/2007/09/29/beards-and-philosophers/#comment-117690 Palash Dave Wed, 03 Oct 2007 23:06:14 +0000 http://virtualstoa.net/2007/09/29/beards-and-philosophers/#comment-117690 All great philosophers have beards. I have a beard. Therefore I am a great philosopher. All great philosophers have beards. I have a beard. Therefore I am a great philosopher.

]]> By: neil http://virtualstoa.net/2007/09/29/beards-and-philosophers/#comment-117587 neil Wed, 03 Oct 2007 11:08:42 +0000 http://virtualstoa.net/2007/09/29/beards-and-philosophers/#comment-117587 Does this make Keith Flett, founder of the Beard Liberation Front, a philosopher? Before commenting should people declare themselves as bearded or not bearded? I am not bearded. There are those who declare that a beard is not a beard until you have to decide to sleep with it under or over the duvet. Tom wolfe has his "Masters of the Universe". Michael Lewis had his "big swinging dicks" (questionable attribution?). So do philosophy departments have their "big swinging beards"? Does this make Keith Flett, founder of the Beard Liberation Front, a philosopher?

Before commenting should people declare themselves as bearded or not bearded? I am not bearded.

There are those who declare that a beard is not a beard until you have to decide to sleep with it under or over the duvet.

Tom wolfe has his “Masters of the Universe”. Michael Lewis had his “big swinging dicks” (questionable attribution?). So do philosophy departments have their “big swinging beards”?

]]> By: Chris Brooke http://virtualstoa.net/2007/09/29/beards-and-philosophers/#comment-117103 Chris Brooke Mon, 01 Oct 2007 15:03:17 +0000 http://virtualstoa.net/2007/09/29/beards-and-philosophers/#comment-117103 No, a blog doesn't a philosopher make, but Norm's philosophical work is independent of his blogging, and much of it is very good indeed. No, a blog doesn’t a philosopher make, but Norm’s philosophical work is independent of his blogging, and much of it is very good indeed.

]]> By: ejh http://virtualstoa.net/2007/09/29/beards-and-philosophers/#comment-117101 ejh Mon, 01 Oct 2007 14:55:48 +0000 http://virtualstoa.net/2007/09/29/beards-and-philosophers/#comment-117101 <i>A beard does not a philosopher make</i> Possibly the modern equivalent would be "a blog does not a philosopher make" which would certainly apply to Norman Geras. A beard does not a philosopher make

Possibly the modern equivalent would be “a blog does not a philosopher make” which would certainly apply to Norman Geras.

]]> By: ejh http://virtualstoa.net/2007/09/29/beards-and-philosophers/#comment-116938 ejh Sun, 30 Sep 2007 19:39:17 +0000 http://virtualstoa.net/2007/09/29/beards-and-philosophers/#comment-116938 Observing book signings in my part of the world, there seems to be a high incidence of beards among authors. In Britain this would presumably only indicate a liking for real ale. Observing book signings in my part of the world, there seems to be a high incidence of beards among authors. In Britain this would presumably only indicate a liking for real ale.

]]> By: Nick Brooke http://virtualstoa.net/2007/09/29/beards-and-philosophers/#comment-116899 Nick Brooke Sun, 30 Sep 2007 13:08:12 +0000 http://virtualstoa.net/2007/09/29/beards-and-philosophers/#comment-116899 Maxim Gorky, or one of his characters at least, blamed the Great Schism on a beard ("And from the same source, from the beard, arose also the Great Schism," in <i>Through Russia</i>). Maxim Gorky, or one of his characters at least, blamed the Great Schism on a beard (”And from the same source, from the beard, arose also the Great Schism,” in Through Russia).

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