What Is Truth? Metaphor, Language, and a Blue Guitar

Join us for a philosophy reading group exploring truth, language, and imagination through three provocative works. Together we’ll ask: Is truth discovery or invention? A mirror of reality, or a song we play?

📖 The Readings:

• Friedrich Nietzsche – On Truth and Lies in the Extra-Moral Sense (1873)
  In this fiery early essay, Nietzsche claims that what we call “truths” are nothing more than well-worn metaphors and illusions we’ve forgotten are metaphors. He asks us to consider whether language itself distorts reality even as it makes life possible.
• Richard Rorty – The Contingency of Language (1989)
  One of America’s most influential philosophers, Rorty argues that there is no final, objective vocabulary that “gets reality right.” Instead, all of our descriptions are contingent — shaped by history, culture, and imagination. For him, truth is not a mirror of nature but a product of conversation.
• Wallace Stevens – The Man with the Blue Guitar (1937)
  A long, playful modernist poem perhaps inspired by Picasso’s painting The Old Guitarist. Stevens explores the relationship between imagination and reality, insisting that “things as they are / are changed upon the blue guitar.”

📄 Practical Details:

• Total reading: ~45 pages

Join us to discuss these readings:
Sat 9/6 12:30-2:30pm Seahorse Room @ Pier 57

Readings:
Nietzsche - "Truth and Lies in the Extra-Moral Sense." (approx. 15 pages)

• I will be reading the Tim Newcomb translation. Here or here.
• Feel free to read any translation that you like.
• I see a PDF available online here.

Rorty - "The Contingency of Language" which is Chapter 1 of his book Contingency, Irony, and Solidarity. (approx. 20 pages)

• I will be reading the paperback available here.
• This one is under copyright still, but you can find it online or in the NYPL.
• We'll only read chapter 1.

Stevens - "The Man with the Blue Guitar" (33 stanzas, approx. 20 pages)

• I will be reading the paperback available here.
• I see it online here (starting at page 78).
• Be sure to read the full text, which has 33 stanzas (a shorter expert was published as well).

Rules for Our Group:

1. Be Courteous
Criticizing ideas is totally acceptable. Attacking people’s character is not.
2. Be Concise
Keep comments on topic and relatively brief.
Moderators will do their best to make sure everyone gets a chance to speak who wants to.
3. Do the Reading
If you have not done all of the reading for the week you are welcome to attend and listen to the discussion, but out of respect for those who have read, you will not be permitted to participate in the discussion.

For more info and FAQ on the group click here.

Looking forward to the discussion!
- Brent