John D. Caputo

John Caputo's book, "Truth" is good. It is a good book to read, and it helps that his style of writing is lucid and easy.

In general, I fear reading philosophical texts, because most authors believe it is essential, they kill the reader with boredom. John Caputo avoids this approach, and I thank him for it.

The introduction is brilliant, in particular, the way he uses the words 'sedentary' and 'pedestrian'. From there, he moved to a discussion of truth, as the ancients perceived it, as well as religious texts.
Then, he explored some "Enlightenment" philosophers, some "Modern" philosophers" as well as "post-modern" ones.

There is no absolute truth. We know this. In Vedic/Hindu philosophy, we have the Goddess Maya who casts a veil over us. In the rock opera "Jesus Christ Superstar", Jesus asked Pilate - "what is truth? is truth a changing law? what is truth? is mine the same as yours?"

It's possible to skip the entire book and just focus on those lines in the opera. However, then you'd miss a super romp through the 'history of truth'.

Keep one thing in mind: he has explored only Western philosophers.

In other parts of the world, we used to have a more nuanced view of concepts like 'truth'. Not anymore, sadly.… (más)

This was a great book. The interview or conversation with Derrida is very short - disappointingly short. The commentary by Caputo is most of the book. Caputo is very entertaining, though. I thoroughly enjoyed his commentary. His enthusiasm for Derrida definitely shines through. He made me laugh a few times, always a good thing.

I'm new to Deconstruction and I probably still couldn't tell you what Deconstruction is in a nutshell, though I could say "yes, yes" if you asked me. I did learn quite a bit. I had no idea just how metaphysical theory could get. I had originally assumed Deconstructionism was merely literary theory but I was wrong on that - this book applies it to law, to politics, to religion.

I have liked what I have understood of Derrida. I realize how he could be unpopular, but I think, from what I understood of what he was saying, he is putting into words thoughts that I've had but couldn't articulate - or even understand - very well. I know a lot of people with very conservative viewpoints - this is the only way there is, this is it, we have arrived, no more to learn, threatened by outside influences - and I haven't agreed with that, so I was very interested in learning about being open to the other, come, yes, yes.… (más)