Using Technology to Deepen Democracy, Using Democracy to Ensure Technology Benefits Us All

Tuesday, March 06, 2007

Today's Random Wilde

The only thing that one really knows about human nature is that it changes. Change is the one quality we can predicate of it.

4 comments:

Robin said...

This might be my favorite Wilde to date. Can you tell me the source? This would make a great intro to one of my dissertation chapters :)

Dale Carrico said...

It's from "The Soul of Man Under Socialism" -- possibly the most insanely quotable essay ever written.

Robin said...

I've never read that one! Why must you provide such good reading material when I'm supposed to be writing!

Dale Carrico said...

I teach the text all the time in my critical theory course at the Art Institute, it's a real kick, a nice pairing is with Valerie Solanas' SCUM manifesto. Both are available all over the web for free. Since they both oscillate between parody and earnestness and just crazy incendiary wit it's not not one can exactly "agree" with them... but it's like Burroughs for me: you finish the text feeling they've captured something about freedom that Mill and Dewey and Arendt and Chomsky and other sensible people never quite manage to convey, if you know what I mean.