I’ve finally started posting old posts and writing new posts. It’s been a while, but there is a lot to come in the near future. I feel ashamed, in a way. I let all of you slip out of my mind. This past year, I was focused entirely on my writing for college. I mostly wrote philosophical essays on topics ranging from the nature of obedience according to Socrates to a response to ancient, modern, and postmodern interpretations of dreams. You can read some of these essays here. I had an unbelievable year. But, I am here now, sitting under this hot light while my hands moves through the sticky air. I initially intended this post to focus on four elements of life, but I think three should suffice. This is a look over the past and into the future. So, here it is; my life, Facebook, and my writing.
Me this year.
My Life
I changed a lot this year. I’m studying philosophy, first and foremost. I truly enjoy reading the beautiful words of Plato and struggling with the impenetrable ideas of Nietzsche. However, this preoccupation with the past and the ancient has not shattered my love for the now and the new. In fact, my studies of Ancient Greece have only renewed, redefined, and rebooted my interest in social technology, politics, and art. Today, I feel I can call myself a philosopher, technologist, and artist. I engaged my mind in new ways during my first year of college.
Next semester, I am expanding my course load, for this past year was heavily rooted in philosophy (Ancient Greece, Socrates, and Nietzsche), not that there’s anything wrong with that! In September I will be taking Intro to Psychology, Intro to Computing: The Semantic Web, Art and the Internet, and Philosophy of the Arts.
However, despite what you may be thinking right now, I didn’t just lock myself in my room and read all semester. I had, held, crashed some of the best parties and conversations. Though I am shy, I need people to survive. Shutting the world out and reading Plato is not what philosophy is about. For me, it is about an experience in the world. I am, as a human, a social being. I need people.
I learned things about myself I did not know before – intellectually and socially. It is reassuring that being a philosopher does not require, though it may beg, solitude. So, that is me. I’ve enjoyed sharing these bits of my life with you, the Internet. I have been in Boston for the summer working as a research assistant with Chris Csikszentmihalyi. I’m around for about another week. If you’d like to chat, email me!
Some friends.
I’m trying to develop a new channel of communication and rethink “friendship.” I’m trying to figure out my online life, in a sense, if not practically, philosophically (of course). I recently rebooted my Facebook Fan Page. I initially created it as part joke and part curiosity. But I see more realistic uses for it. As of last month, I had near 800 Facebook friends. Far too many, in my book, but by August, I cut that number. Now I have under 500. I’m not de-friending people out of spite or hostility. I’m simply removing the people who I’m not friends with. I’m getting rid of those whom I don’t have conversations with. I don’t like the idea of “filtering” my friends list. I’d rather just cut the _real_ number down (in life, you can’t apply the “Bard” filter, or the “Family” filter – it’s all there). I’m trying to make my private Facebook private.
My Facebook fan page.
This is where the Fan Page comes in (even though I hate the name). Lets call it a Public Profile, for now. This more open and public page will let me interact with those of you who are not my friends. It will let me share things with you strangers, and let you strangers share things with me. And, who knows, maybe after talking, we’ll add each other as friends. I felt disconnected with my Facebook friends. At one point, I was really interested in collecting Facebook friends. No more. I’m not interested in mass interactions, but rather close interactions. It really should not be a popularity contest. If you get cut, I’m sorry. There was just too much crap on my home page. The same thing has happened to me with Twitter – I have been slowly vetting my following list, adding those I have conversations with while removing those who are just there.
Let me know what you think of this plan. I’d love to hear your thoughts on private kabren vs. public kabren. How are you managing your online life? If you are my friend, you’re my friend; do not add me as a fan (thanks, Colin, for pointing that out).
Writing
I wrote a lot this year. I’ve posted select essays from my first semester in college, and I’m now posting essays from my second semester. Bear in mind, these are mostly philosophical essays. Let me know what you think. Here’s a link to my writing.
Finally
There’s more to come: posts, ideas, etc.Let me know what you think.
Kabren Levinson is fist-year student at Bard College. Throughout high school, Kabren has worked in various technological, political, and artistic positions. He has worked as an intern at the MIT Media Lab Computing Culture Group and during his senior year of high school, he developed an Academic Technology program at the Cambridge School of Weston. He has been podcasting for over three years and has been blogging for two. Kabren is a philosopher, technologist, and artist.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Hey Kabren, good to see you blogging again! I’m glad to here about your studying at Bard, as in a few years I hope to be studying Philosophy or something like that at either a British or American university. I was wondering if you plan to study for a master’s degree or doctorate after completing your BA?
Interesting idea about Facebook and the whole privacy thing, considering a simple Google search of “Kabren” gives numerous results directing to you.
Alex.
Hey Alexander,
Good to hear from you! I’ve enjoyed studying philosophy. Even though much of it is reading ancient texts, the philosophies these texts and people teach are alive and well today. It has impacted my life on the Internet, my life as a Jew, and my life in every other way. It’s about thinking. I _probably_ will pursue a masters and maybe a doctorate, probably not in philosophy, but we’ll see.
Yeah. It’s kind of, creepy? But I’m hoping I can continue to enjoy my Internet lifestyle.
kl.
I guess it’s due to your unusual name!
I aim to read 3 books as school starts again for another year, I’m going to restart reading “The Republic” and I have 2 Noam Chomsky books. I’m looking forward to them, have you read any from Chomsky?
What would you study and eventually go on to do? I can see you being some sort of lecturer or professor.
Alex.
I have not read any Chomsky. His politics are, well, controversial, to say the least. He came to speak at Bard, but I was at SXSW when he spoke. Send me an email – I can recommend some other books for the future!
I could go into education, we’ll see. I’m also passionate about how we use technology in our lives. Not _really_ sure at this point.
kl.
Yes, his politics are controversial, a political dissident if you will, though not as much now as he was. His books appear to be interesting and it’s interesting to know people’s different points of view, regardless of whether one agrees with them or not. I look forward to reading them.
I will send you an email once I’ve read these books, thank you!
Alex.
Great post I enjoyed reading it very much you are a great writer. Merry Christmas.