I recently discovered that a full performance of Robin Field’s Reason in Rhyme: A Philosophic Oratorio is available online. (Warning: It’s an hour long, and if you start watching you won’t be able to stop.)
Anyone familiar with Robin’s work knows that to say this is worth watching would be a profound understatement. For those unfamiliar with his work, here’s an indication by way of a few excerpts transcribed from the performance. The excerpts, however, cannot begin to do justice to this man’s brilliance as a thinker and entertainer. If you want justice, you’ll simply have to enjoy the video (see below).
Here are a few excerpts to whet your whistle. These first few stanzas are from early in the performance:
Why should you study philosophy
With all there is to pursue?
Simply because your philosophy
Underlies all that you doWhy bother checking your premises?
Why should you make that a goal?
Premises can be your nemeses
If they’re not under controlWhat is regarded as knowledge
Is garbage we’ve got to outgrow
That which is taught in our colleges
Ain’t necessarily so . . .
Field then proceeds to review the history of philosophy—in poetry and song. And he weaves basic principles of Objectivism seamlessly and humorously into the mix.
Here’s another excerpt:
Existence is an axiom
Upon which all else rests
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