As is clear from both V&R and blog posts, I am a huge fan of Huizinga’s Homo Ludens. As I’ve said before, it is a theoretical work I believe largely true. A recent profile of Karl Lagerfeld, and his astonishing capacity for work at 83, has a colleague observe: “He like games. Sometimes I…
V&R is primarily about the best way for the fashion industry to morally structure its business plans. V&R shows that this question is inseparable from the broader problem that from the time of Plato moral philosophy has seen in vanity and luxury a highly problematic field of desire. For very deep reasons, religions intensify this…
*Special note: V&R broadly relies on a natural law argument, that moral values are universal, real, and persuasive. I am often asked for a good introductory book to natural law but I cannot say that I know of one. The history of ideas offers a variety of natural law theories and even in Thomism, the…
I don’t wear sneakers save when going to the gym. However, news about collectors and the exclusivity of certain kinds seems to be hot news (https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-collectible-sneaker-game-a-guide-for-obsessives-and-beginners-1484849746). Huizinga (see V&R Chapter 6) identifies collecting and joining clubs as a trademark way play builds civilisation.
So much fun: I now drive a Fiat 500 Abarth. Here is the great historian of the motor car, Jay Leno, discussing the Austrian engineer Carlos Abarth and throwing around one of his cars: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywmtrrFf4xo
V&R Chapter 6 discusses one of my absolutely favourite philosophy books: Homo Ludens by Huizinga. This is a book I think largely true. He identifies the Baroque as an intensely playful period and points to the strange fact that during the Baroque the West expanded its intellectual and commercial footprint all the while its adventurers were…
Later today I am being interviewed about V&R and a half hour radio segment will air this Saturday on Sirius XM Radio. Tune into the Catholic Channel — that’s Channel 129 — either at 11 am EST or between midnight and 1 am Saturday morning (EST). If they give me an audio file I will…
V&R Chapter 5 proposes Scheler’s estate as the norm of business ethics. I put forward Brunello Cucinelli (http://www.libertylawsite.org/2016/03/23/a-better-account-of-corporate-social-responsibility/) as an ideal of the estate with Patagonia as a modified runner-up (and then downgraded on learning more about its business model: http://www.ethicsoffashion.com/patagonia-actually-moral/). Levi’s has a thoughtful leadership (https://www.fastcompany.com/3067895/moving-the-needle/levis-is-radically-redefining-sustainability) and connects with Scheler at a few points.…
I came across a really good article today by Alice Hines (http://vestoj.com/my-brand-loves-your-brand/) which also meant I discovered Vestoj.com. This site has great graphics and is stuffed full of content for all interested in a thoughtful account of the role fashion and design play in our lives. At the risk of losing readers, it’s a must-visit…
Short, but a detailed and interesting read about the history, meaning, and business of fashion: http://1granary.com/magazine/issue-4/conversation-fashions-biggest-homme-daffaires-didier-grumbach/ I’ll get his book and tell you what I think soonish.