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23 comments:
I actually like the Rorty cover that you blogged on. But this... Wow. Just: Wow.
Come on - you made that one up, right? Nothing could be that bad.
If by "horrific" you mean "wonderful" then I agree.
But this... Wow. Just: Wow.
I think you mean to say, "Wow. Bow: Wow."
More philosophers should include their pets or other family members in book covers. And this is now my favorite cover since the one by some philosopher (sadly, I forget who) who noted on the back cover that he's also written several books on fine whiskey.
>1000 Words.
I own this edition. If you look at the cover up close it seems as if the dog is taking a crap on ol' Freddy's lap.
What edition is this? I'd like to own all the existing copies. I'll fill a hallway bookshelf with a set.
I'm also going to insist that my author photo, if not the cover of my next book, includes at least one lap pet. Everyone should immediately update their department photos accordingly.
There's another edition without the dog:
http://www.librarything.com/work/164542
I would love to have been at this photo shoot. I wonder what else he put on his lap.
Central Philosophical Questions.
Question 1: Why is there a dog in your lap?
Question 2: What is that dog staring at?
and so on. . . .
If I'd contributed 1/50th of what A.J. had to the history of philosophy, I'd think I'd also justified a photo of an open-mouthed kiss of my favorite pet plastered on such an opus--and you can substitute for "pet" any favored noun you feel most mocked by a condescending attitude fortified by speciesist/sexist/ageist/don't-give-a-damn bloggist stupidity. Thought-experiment: someone unearths a sketch of Hume hugging a Corgi he wanted impressed for the Treatise. Laughs around?
10:41,
If you think that by calling attention to this absurd cover photo, I'm thereby trashing Freddy as a philosopher, you're wrong. The man was a giant, and he'd easily wipe the floor with 98% of the profession today. The cover photo, however, is a disaster.
Anon 10.41. Answer to your rhetorical question: "sure". Some people have minds complex enough to think it is possible to laugh at images like this without thinking that the person who posed for it can't be a good philosopher (or a good person, for that matter). And some don't, apparently. My guess is that Freddie would have joined in the laughter, if he were still around.
Utterly amazing! I've never seen a philosophy book cover like that. I've had a miserable day at the office and this has actually brightened my day.
Thanks Spiros!
Many more here:
http://www.thingsmagazine.net/projects/1970s/index.htm
But the Ayer is the best of the lot.
I think the dog is named "Tyson."
http://www.thingsmagazine.net/projects/1970s/pel01q.htm
ha ha ha
In my analytic seminar we watched an interview of Ayer with Brian Magee. Ayer appeared to be wearing some sort of regal attire that seemed woefully out-of-place for the 1980s when the interview was conducted (I think, anyway).
Of course, there is also this delightful Ayer anecdote [via Uncommon Priors]:
"At a party [in 1987] held by fashion designer Fernando Sanchez, Ayer, then 77, confronted Mike Tyson harassing the (then little-known) model Naomi Campbell. When Ayer demanded that Tyson stop, the boxer said: 'Do you know who the fuck I am? I’m the heavyweight champion of the world,' to which Ayer replied: 'And I am the former Wykeham Professor of Logic. We are both pre-eminent in our field. I suggest that we talk about this like rational men.' Ayer and Tyson then began to talk, while Naomi Campbell slipped out."
That's an awesome anecdote (I read it first in the biography from a decade or so back). The man had guts. There's no way to read L,T, & L and not be impressed. The fact that it can be so impressive even to those unconvinced by it (viz., everyone) is a testament to its greatness.
I liked it better when we were just condescendingly making fun of a truly tasteless book cover.
@10:41 - experimental outcome: clearly, laughs around. But don't see why you think Ayer had a particularly close relationship with his dog (not that there's anything wrong with that...I guess). I'm mocking the laziness and armchair pomposity that oozes from the photo.
Your story about Ayer and Mike Tyson reminds me of a story about Sydney Morgenbesser (and there are a few) and a new york city cop (you've probably already heard it):
Morgenbesser was leaving a new york subway platform about to light his pipe. He was stopped by a cop telling him to put it out. Morgenbesser explained that he was leaving not arriving. The cop said, 'Listen, if I let you do it, then I'll have to let everyone do it.' Morgenbesser replied, 'Who do you think you are? Kant?' The cop heard it as a vulgarity and Morgenbesser was hauled down to the police station for insubordination.
This is remarkable.
The only way I can imagine improving the cover is by imitating the promo art from David Bowie's *Diamond Dogs* and thus drawing Professor Ayer a canine body from the legs down. Kinda like so:
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/ian.mcintosh/music/David_Bowie_-_Diamond_Dogs-front.jpg
Speaking of notable book covers, check out what's on John Greco's recent book:
http://assets.cambridge.org/97805211/93917/cover/9780521193917.jpg
Home run, or strike out?
It's not in the same league as Freddie and friend, but I've always thought the cover of Galston's Liberal Pluralism is a real piece of work:
http://books.google.com/books?id=4ili8i5ycqYC&lpg=PP1&dq=galston%20liberal%20pluralism&pg=PP1#v=onepage&q&f=false
Yeah, that's a different league - but it's still a champion in that league.
Anon 4:24: I was totally unprepared for that book cover when I clicked on the link. It's utterly amazing but in a different sort of way than the AJA. just can't imagine whoever would have thought that cover was a good idea for anyone.
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