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Ruminations: Selected Philosophical, Historical, and
Ideological Papers, Volume 6: Slow Tricks and Old Moles
by Eric v.d. Luft
At this stage of my life, in my mid-seventies, my favorite reading
consists of my own works. This preference is not because of ego,
arrogance, conceit, or anything like that. Rather, it is because
rereading what I wrote ten, twenty, thirty, forty, fifty, sixty years ago
helps me to remember, relive, and revive the various philosophical,
poetic, literary, and even spiritual concepts, inquiries, experiments,
and convolutions that I once had. Beyond just reminiscing about
forgotten intellectual adventures, I can thus recover lost trains of
thought which may now either lead to new destinations or finally
arrive at their originally intended destinations after difficult and
extended journeys.
In the game of bridge, a quick trick is one which is immediately
guaranteed, such as leading an ace in a no trump contract. A slow
trick is one which is needed but may never materialize, and which
a player has to develop with precise timing, clear purpose, efficient
imagination, deep understanding, and a flexible plan. Developing
slow tricks is among the most important skills for players to acquire
if they hope to be consistent winners over the long term. Sometimes
realizing a slow trick is so exhilarating that it feels like creating
something out of nothing - or at least something significant out
of very little, power out of weakness.
For decades I have been building up slow tricks in philosophy. These
processes naturally involve perseverance, which can easily be lost.
Rereading my own works helps me to regain the necessary focus
and concentration to complete these tasks.
There are very few - if any - quick or easy tricks in philosophy. Probably
there are none. Instead of falling into the deceit of believing that such
things exist, it is better to push through the muck of abandoned projects,
unfinished business, and false starts, striving, burrowing, delving, not
knowing where or when to emerge from it. Such tenacity, such dedication
to the point of resoluteness (Zielstrebigkeit) or even obstinacy, gradually
gives equanimity.
Hamlet praised his ghostly father with "Well said, old mole. Canst
work i' th' earth so fast?" Good for the dad, but in my experience,
moles do not work fast at all. If they create anything worthwhile,
they create only slow tricks.
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FORTHCOMING!
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