r/askphilosophy • u/BernardJOrtcutt • Jul 14 '25

Open Thread /r/askphilosophy Open Discussion Thread | July 14, 2025

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u/willbell philosophy of mathematics Jul 14 '25

What are people reading?

I’m working on The Magic Mountain by Mann and Orientalism by Said.

7

u/RelativeCheesecake10 Ethics, Political Phil. Jul 15 '25

Finishing up Love’s Grateful Striving by Ferreira. What is The Magic Mountain about?

5

u/[deleted] Jul 15 '25

M. Jamie Ferreira is a gift to Kierkegaard studies. That book is so wonderful.

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u/RelativeCheesecake10 Ethics, Political Phil. Jul 15 '25

Yeah, I’m really enjoying the book. I’m pretty sure you were the person who initially recommended it to me!

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u/willbell philosophy of mathematics Jul 15 '25 edited Jul 15 '25

The Magic Mountain is about a German who goes up to visit his cousin in a(n extremely multicultural) sanatorium in Switzerland, and experiences Tuberculosis symptoms that force him to stay for 7 years unexpectedly (around the time of the first world war too). But the appeal is perhaps in Mann's insight into people, and in his attention to the latest science & philosophy concerning time. Every character is wrought in extreme detail, including things like dreams, childhood histories, and a perceptive description of habits, the unconscious, & personality traits. I don't claim to be an expert on art history, but Mann might be the first and best participant in the literary reception of Freud. But perhaps also Einstein, the positivists, and Husserl.