Monday, March 01, 2004
(7:14 AM) | Adam Kotsko:
"Critique of Violence"
Today's the big day. Rather than start off with a positive, thorough interpretation of Benjamin, I'll just list off some questions that we might use to begin discussion:
- How does he move from justifying means by ends to critiquing means in themselves?
- What is the relationship between violence and law?
- In what way is a universal strike non-violent?
- What is the relationship between mythical law and divine law?
- Is there a difference between the way he uses Greek mythology and biblical texts?
I believe it is providential that HaloScan started offering trackback just as we were beginning this project. If anyone posts something on Benjamin on his or her own site, then please send a trackback ping to this post, so that they will all be available in a central location for those who are interested. Instructions for sending trackback pings can be found on HaloScan's site.
UPDATE: Open up your blog in one window, then open a new window to the HaloScan page. Click "Manage Trackback." Click "Send a Trackback Ping." Fill in the obvious blanks; for "Permalink URL," use the permalink to the post in which you comment on Benjamim (or, more generally, in which you comment on the post you wish to ping). Now go to the post you're commenting on (this post, in this case). Click on the Trackback link. It will have an URL at haloscan.com. Paste this URL into "URLs to ping." Click "Ping now." If everything has been filled in properly, a link to your post, with a brief excerpt, will appear under the trackback on my site. I have done this a couple times, and it actually does work, with an instant response.
Eventually HaloScan might make it easier to ping trackbacks -- basically following all your links to see if there are trackback-enabled posts and then pinging them automatically. For now, we have to do it by hand.
Incidentally, all HaloScan users -- the donation really is worth it, not only for the greater space, but for the benefits of having e-mail notification of new comments. The function could be improved to include a short exerpt from the original post so you know what the comment refers to, but it's a lot nicer than checking your blog constantly and scrolling around, if you're neurotic about keeping up on comments, as I am.
