The musicians and management of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra have agreed to extend the musicians’ current contract through October 31, and are bringing in a retired judge to mediate further negotiations. The extension will insure that the CSO season will run for at least six weeks without interruption by strike or lockout, and the joint selection of a mediator suggests that, while the talks remain contentious, there is at least a desire on both sides to avoid the public relations disaster that a work stoppage would likely precipitate.
Tag: 09.04.04
Philosophy For The Masses
Philosophy, while usually an exalted profession in academic circles, has rarely held much interest for the public at large, with its convoluted language and bafflingly theoretical views of real-world events. “These days, though, philosophers are engaging with the world more readily than before. During the past 10 years there has been a spate of books intent, not so much on taking philosophy to streets, as taking it to the dinner parties. And they’re a mixed bag. Many are just crass attempts to cash in on the movement – the worst kind of arranged marriage between publishing and opportunistic editors.” But some of the books are legitimately moving philosophy into the mainstream without much dumbing down.