metonymy4u

The early existentialists shared a common vision: looking back to a time when the idea of life was inevitably bound up with the idea of good. A time when it would have been difficult to define existence as Hobbes did: merely freedom from violent death. I think Plato would respond to the modern situation by saying he would rather die than live the life we lead – empty of conversation, devoid of dialectic. By looking back to Plato, the existentialsists hope to revitalize this question: what is virtue-living? Without such a question, it is doubtful if anyone will be willing to purchase anything with the coin of the living. Without the question, it’s all bargain basement, 2-for-1 blue light specials. And a year later we give it away. Because we’re bored. Because we were never really interested in the first place.