For those of a similar disposition, days spent like Bernardo Soares are so satisfying that it is impossible not to long for days that are always like this. From that longing, however, springs the seed of sorrow, since it is not possible to have them always. Sometimes, it is not even possible to have them. And when one allows the absence to linger, the mind, recalling the indescribable sensation of that fertile, creative, imaginative placidity, laments the impossibility of producing it at will. Action is required. But may Mr. Bernardo be eternally blessed for having taught us a sure path to satisfaction!
Category: Notes
There Are Those Who, Unfortunately…
There are those who, unfortunately, reach adulthood without having experienced loyalty—which, if we think about it, is not all that common. However, those who have been fortunate enough to find themselves in the right circumstances to assimilate it must take a step further. No matter how much they value it, no matter how many important lessons they have learned through it, they must realize its inadequacy for sustaining a relationship. Excellent, yes; but no more than a prerequisite. It is, then, to return to St. Thomas Aquinas, strengthened by experience to give him greater reason.
Teaching Is Certainly a Very Rewarding Activity…
Teaching is certainly a very rewarding activity, sometimes even more so than learning itself. However, it is easy to make it frustrating: all it takes is for the teacher to set expectations—or rather, to try to force the learning process. It takes time to understand this, and only then can one develop the appropriate response, which boils down to an attitude that is always open, always well-intentioned, but that waits for a positive signal before acting. Patiently, one waits for interest to manifest, and, knowing that both this and the outcome of teaching are beyond one’s control, one can finally enjoy the experience of helping.
Through the Phenomenal Appearance…
Through the phenomenal appearance of Kant’s books, one learns that it is only possible to form an opinion about Kant’s phenomenal appearance, since Kant himself cannot be known. Likewise, Kant’s philosophy can have nothing more than its phenomenal appearance apprehended, just like a dog, a refrigerator, or an equation. Now, the following happens: from the moment one accepts this precept, everything is justified, except for study and, ultimately, life. It is incredible that there could have been armies of Kantians who lived as ordinary men—that is, who accepted this phantasmagoria and allowed themselves a natural death. In truth, there seems to be only one explanation for this, one that is somewhat discrediting to Kant’s philosophy.