A recent visit to New York City prompted reflections on the state of contemporary American life, from the aesthetic preferences of former President Trump to the ubiquity of chain businesses and the changing habits of New Yorkers regarding reading.
Observations from a Recent Trip
The author noted the prevalence of luxury storefronts around Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue, offering insight into the origins of the former president’s aesthetic. A sense of suffocation was felt amidst the numerous chain businesses—Cavas, Pret a Mangers, and Shake Shacks—raising the question of whether these establishments are a nuisance or simply necessary infrastructure.
A striking observation was the apparent decline in the number of New Yorkers reading books and newspapers in public, compared to previous visits. This contrasted with Los Angeles, which has long been characterized as a city that doesn’t read. The author found the anonymity of iPhone use less revealing of strangers’ inner lives than observing someone reading Mary McCarthy’s “The Stones of Florence.”
Philosophical Reflections
The author revisited Vaclav Havel’s “The Power of the Powerless” (1978), which describes a system built on falsehoods. Havel argued that a regime built on lies must falsify everything—the past, present, and future—and that individuals contribute to the system simply by accepting life within it.
Evenings were spent reading Tolkien’s “The Hobbit” and revisiting the 1906-1907 lectures of William James on pragmatist philosophy. James believed philosophy should have practical implications for human behavior, and cautioned against metaphysical abstraction, which he saw as a form of “literary woo-woo.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What struck the author about New York City?
The author observed fewer New Yorkers reading books and newspapers compared to previous visits, and noted the prevalence of chain businesses like Pret a Mangers.
What is Vaclav Havel’s argument in “The Power of the Powerless”?
Havel argues that a regime built on lies must falsify everything and that individuals contribute to the system by accepting life within it.
What did William James believe about philosophy?
James believed philosophy should have practical implications for human behavior and cautioned against metaphysical abstraction.
Given these observations, how might the pursuit of “practical cash-value” shape our understanding of concepts like freedom and democracy in contemporary society?
