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Hitchens is dying

devnull

Philosopher
devnull
Joined
Nov 28, 2007
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Location
Perth, Western Australia
Hey all

Thought it was about time we had a thread for this. Perhaps it is better suited to Community though?

I love Hitchens - he is one of the few thinkers that, to my mind, is so clear in thought and communication that it is inspirational to those of us who use so many words to say so little.

Im also a bit pissy at him, why the hell couldnt he give up the booze and smokes sooner? For someone who prides themselves on rationality, I find it hard to comprehend how he managed to justify his behaviour to himself for so long. I guess we all have blind spots.

So - Hitchens is dying. How does that make you feel?
 
My dad died too soon. When sane, creative and original people go, they're gone. I really don't like the idea of Hitchens not being around to school the planet.
 
I've been my working on my impression of the late Hitchens: *gurgle*.

I should also say Hitchens was a fan of grave-dancing and I only say these things as a tribute. Here's a guy who would enter a room and ask, "What's the most obscene joke you've ever heard?"

I will grant that he was one of the more articulate warmongers.
 
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Cain said:
I should also say Hitchens was a fan of grave-dancing and I only say these things as a tribute. Here's a guy who would enter a room and ask, "What's the most obscene joke you've ever heard?"
Click to expand...

"We call the act The Aristocrats. "
 
devnull said:
Im also a bit pissy at him, why the hell couldnt he give up the booze and smokes sooner? For someone who prides themselves on rationality, I find it hard to comprehend how he managed to justify his behaviour to himself for so long. I guess we all have blind spots.
Click to expand...

I don't think there's anything inherently irrational about it, unless you assume that the only rational goal in life is to live as long as possible.

I confess that it seems dubious to me, a non-smoker (other than the occasional cigar), that the pleasures of cigarette smoking could be sufficient to justify the health detriments. But someone could say the same thing about my consumption of alcohol and unhealthy foods, and my preference for sedentary activities as compared to working out at the gym. Just as I could say that any hobby that carries any risk of death, however remote, is "irrational" by that standard.
 
Ditto complexity and Dunstan.

I'm sad he is dying but grateful he lived.
 
JAStewart said:
I'm dying too. We all are. Hitchens wouldn't want sympathies.
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I don't think that's quite right. I think Hitchens has said that he appreciates the sympathies and tributes that have been offered to him recently.

He doesn't feel entitled to them, though, and I don't think he expects people who think he's a horrible vile warmonger (or whatever) to pretend to be sympathetic, or to be sorry when he's gone.
 
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