I'm sorry to miss such a worthwhile and brilliant discussion. I am still interested in utilizing the resources for this discussion. Will there be by any chance notes compiled from the discussion that can be posted to our meetup group?

I feel that I missed an interesting and enlightening discussion--sorry that I couldn't make it. Would there be anyone that would like to continue this valuable discussion?

An energetic and stimulating discussion - we went 20 minutes over the time.

A very interesting, enlightening discussion. thanks C.J.!!

For tonight's discussion here are some questions to consider (we will explain the 3 lectures and Toni Morrison's novel "Song of Solomon" in case you couldn't read or watch):

What is a Self? Is a Self narratively constructed? How do names help construct a Self? Is the whole truth and the history of one's family & community important in forming a Self? Is becoming a Self the essence of one's Art of Living?

Is there a deep paradox between the enabling conditions (symbolized by flight) and the restricting conditions in forming a Self? Does the individual emerge from the restrictions imposed by others as flight emerges from the resistance of air? Are Self & Community a yin-yang oneness? Are Self & Community incompatible? Can we fly and be rooted at the same time?

How can we practice our Art of Living given this conundrum? Do novels give us the tools for reading, thinking & practicing an Art of Living to narratively build our Self and to understand & interrelate with others?

One could validly say that you cannot really care for others unless your sense of self is firmly rooted. I've been considering this since hearing the word "selfless' tossed around so freely at the "CNN Heroes" TV event - all of the individuals being honored were strong individuals with deeply held personal values - far from selfless. The Wright brothers had a great deal of confidence in their own abilities. Pilots fly - passengers less so.

Here are my notes on the 48m lecture "It's not about you Living Longer. It's About how you Live and Why" by Joshua Landy: http://vimeo.com/22362723

Landy critiques his colleagues' conclusion that Milkman has become a Self at the end of Toni Morrison's novel "Song of Solomon". He suggests flying and caring for others are irreconcilable: you can't be fully yourself and fully responsive to others. Do you agree? Can we fly and be rooted at the same time? Is this paradox of Self & Community resolvable? How ought we approach our Art of Living in the face of this difficulty?

For Landy novels help us develop our capacities by providing a storehouse of models to inform the story of our life. Does reading give your value system a workout? What genre is the story of your life? Is life necessarily a tragedy? Can a novel help you develop your Art of Living?

I have more extensive notes at https://www.facebook.com/cj.fearnley/posts/427757753969476

Watch Landy's lecture: http://vimeo.com/22362723

Here are my notes on the 43m lecture "The Flight of Self" by R. Lanier Anderson: http://vimeo.com/22358387

Anderson's profound lecture explains the final line in Toni Morrison's "Song of Solomon": "If you surrender to the air, you can ride it." He explores the motif of flight in the novel arguing it places values on both what we aspire toward as well as what we leave behind. He builds on Taylor's discussion on names in the novel by observing that our names are put upon us by others (a restricting condition). Yet through narrative we can own our lives by controlling our interpretation of names (an enabling condition). He concludes that Milkman's flight realizes that the restricting conditions on our lives ARE the enabling conditions: the resistance and opposition of others defines our life and gives it meaning & value. Individual is community!

I have more extensive notes at https://www.facebook.com/cj.fearnley/posts/354455221335465

Watch Anderson's lecture: http://vimeo.com/22358387

Here are some notes on the 53m lecture "The Narrative Construction of the Self" by Kenneth Taylor: http://vimeo.com/22352839

Taylor's lecture interprets Toni Morrison's "Song of Solomon" from the perspective of his philosophical theory of the Self as "a being capable of self-representation". He explains how narration is intimately connected to our identity as a Self. A few relevant passages from "Song of Solomon" relating to the self can be found on pp. 69-70 and 137. Can you suggest others?

Do you personally have a complete & coherent self? Is that important? Is narration a vital part of the construction of an identity? Is the whole truth & the history of one's family and community significant to the formation of a Self? Is this becoming of a Self the essence in developing an "Art of Living"?

I wrote more extensive notes about Taylor's exquisite lecture on my FaceBook page: https://www.facebook.com/cj.fearnley/posts/217682948372289

Watch Taylor's lecture: http://vimeo.com/22352839

One week from tonight we will discuss "The Art of Living: The Roles of Self and Community" based on Toni Morrison's novel "Song of Solomon" and three lectures from Stanford University's free on-line course "The Art of Living".

Spoiler alert: the videos and our discussion will disclose the ending, so you may want read the novel first.

The discussion will mainly follow the three Stanford lectures (each is about 50 minutes long):
1. The Narrative Construction of the Self by Kenneth Taylor: http://vimeo.com/22352839
2. The Flight of Self by R. Lanier Anderson: http://vimeo.com/22358387
3. It's not about you Living Longer. It's About how you Live and Why by Joshua Landy: http://vimeo.com/22362723

What is a Self? Are names, whole truth, community & history necessary to build a Self? What is the importance of flight? Are Milkman, Pilate, and all characters in the novel & in life ambiguously graced w/ good & foible, just like me? Can ambiguity in great literature further our Art of Living?