The Magazine of the Liberal Arts for General Audiences

Welcome to Issue 1: A note from the editor

The inaugural issue of this publication asked a big question. Several people I spoke with expressed amused consternation (or worse) that I would ask potential contributors such a broad and ill-defined question: "What is Life?"

But I'm happy to report that my boldness in putting this question out there has provoked some fascinating and thoughtful responses.

Clinical psychologist (and so much more) Louis Berger invites us to reconsider the presupposed supremacy of the natural sciences—and in particular its materialist tendencies—when considering the nature of life and consciousness in his essay, "Life demands reconsidering physicalism as dogma." He points to panpsychism—an idea that consciousness exists everywhere, in everything—as an alternative to the logical and ontological problems embedded in accepting a reductionist materialism to its bitter end. His discussion is a brisk tour through some unresolved and interconnected issues of philosophy, psychology, and physics.

Cultural anthropologist Jill Florence Lackey takes a different tack, suggesting that life is what we make it and therefore addresses how we might make it most meaningful and useful—for ourselves and the planet we share. In her essay, "Creating a formula for an efficacious life: A view from a cultural anthropologist," she outlines a four-step process she believes can help humans make sense of their world as they work to improve and create it. It's not rocket science, but how often do we actually challenge ourselves to reflect on the direction we choose to live our life? Hers is a message inspiring in its simplicity and honesty.

Digital arts student Chris Poff attempts a synthetic approach in his essay, "Life has purpose," questioning where the meaning in life lies—in physics?, chemistry?, biology?, information?, semiotics?, creativity?, sex? In a casual but well-informed discussion, he suggests that living creatures differ from the nonliving because they alone display intention. For Poff, life creates the distinction of living/nonliving and life/environment by virtue of living and altering the environment to suit its purposes. Poff's approach is honest, incisive, and witty.

Inventor and civic provocateur Greg Bird ponders whether or not the question is at all useful to ordinary people in "Life presents us with opportunities." He decides, I think, that it is, so long as we don't let our heads get stuck in the clouds. Life, to him, is a force constantly challenging us to adapt, a la the challenges brought by the energy crises in the modern world. The questioning of life, and what life means, has evolved with humans through the ages, and Bird suggests that this questioning is an essential feature of human living and also the fount of much of applied science.

In my own essay, "Fascinating! (Life is)," I also attempt a synthetic approach. I am fascinated by the idea of symbiogenesis advanced by microbiologist Lynn Margulis, the resonant cross-scale connections suggested by biologist Lewis Thomas, and the conjecture about life's origins discussed by Freeman Dyson. While my reach no doubt exceeds my grasp, I hope I too am contributing something worthwhile to this endeavor.

Issue 1 is just a humble beginning.

There are many other voices out there—perhaps yours!—with ideas about life, and you are welcome to read and comment at Milwaukee Anthropologist. The discussion only begins here. I invite readers to learn from the arguments presented here, get curious, get fascinated—and also question, challenge, criticize, and augment the essays by posting feedback or sharing what you've read here with others.

What about the next issues?

I happen to believe in free will, but I also appreciate when seemingly chance events conspire to nudge me along specific trajectories among the eddies and currents of existence. I was happily so nudged when I heard on the local radio a few weeks ago that John Mellencamp, who'll be in Milwaukee June 28, has a new album coming out. It's to be entitled Life, Death, Love & Freedom.

That was good enough of a sign for me to make my free choice. So, here's the lineup of questions for the first four issues:

Issue 1 (June 21, 2008): What is Life?
Issue 2 (Sept. 22, 2008): What is Death?
Issue 3 (Dec. 22, 2008): What is Love?
Issue 4 (March 20, 2009): What is Freedom?

Thanks to all who consulted on or contributed to this project. If you are interested in contributing in the future, please contact me. Milwaukee Anthropologist is now open for submissions for Issues 2, 3, and 4. The deadline for Issue 2 is Sept. 1, 2008.

Readers, please feel free to widely disseminate this site address to others you think would find it interesting, via email notices, word-of-mouth, or list servs.

Be of good cheer!

-Michael Timm
June 21, 2008

No comments:

About this Publication


Milwaukee Anthropologist
is an experimental publication that seeks to unite voices of enlightened authority from disparate disciplines, engaging a conversation about themes of human import.

It supposes that academia need not speak to or within academia to be of value or interest. It seeks to connect these voices with ordinary people, serving those readers who are united in a genuine curiosity about life and living.

The magazine begins humbly. While it is open to all, it focuses on writers with some connection to southeastern Wisconsin, and in particular, Milwaukee.

Milwaukee is not exactly thought of as any kind of cultural mecca, yet in its own humble way, it is precisely that--a cultural mecca along Lake Michigan. A small big city. A big small town. A mixing place of agricultural heartland and gritty urban reality. A city of neighborhoods, the hub of a thriving metro area. It is a place facing, among other challenges, an identity crisis following the shift away from a manufacturing economy. Therefore, one of the goals of this magazine is to fully respect the modern Milwaukee, as a place with people who care, who are intelligent, who are creative, who work hard, and who live humbly. It is both of and for Milwaukee, both of and for our entire world.

Each issue will be structured around a question of a preselected theme, the first of which is What is Life? in the tradition of physicist Erwin Schrödinger.

In each issue, writers from various disciplines will respond to the same question in an in-depth article of magazine quality and length. It is my hope that writers from disciplines as apparently diverse as Anthropology, Art, Engineering, Literature, Music, Philosophy, and Science will prove to have interesting and complementary things to say about topics to be discussed. Discussions will not be restricted to these categories and diverse voices will be welcomed. The idea here is interdisciplinary, but not necessarily in the sense of one author bringing together two or more disciplines to bear on one subject (although this is not a problem); rather, I hope to invite distinct and in-depth voices to explore human topics, allowing the reader to become sensitized to the connections within and among those various perspectives expressed. Voices need not be "of" academia to contribute, though I will be seeking such voices.

Another goal of this magazine is to provide a way for liberal arts learning to come in contact with the general population, because we live better lives when we consider things from various perspectives--especially perspectives not within our own comfort zones. What we do with what we learn remains up to us.

Finally, this online magazine seeks to remind us of two ideas. First, that those with specialized knowledge should not fear to share it. And second, that we can come to a better understanding of the world by recognizing both our human sameness and that there are many different ways of seeking truth.

-Michael Timm
April 30, 2008
rev. June 21, 2008

Milwaukee Anthropologist


Editor & Publisher
Michael Timm

Issue 7 Contributors
Tony Gibart
Ben Klandrud
Michael LaForest

Issue 6 Contributors
Jason Haas
Charles Oberweiser
Richard J. Sklba
Kevin Woodcock

Issue 5 Contributors
Luke Balsavich
Brandon Lorenz
Michael Timm


Issue 4 Contributors
David C. Joyce
Ryan Kresse
James Mlaker
Cody Pinkston
Michael Timm


Issue 3 Contributors

Tina Kemp
Mary Vuk Sussman
Michael Timm

Issue 2 Contributors
Kevin Cullen
Helena Fahnrich
John Janssen
Michael Timm

Issue 1 Contributors
Louis Berger
Greg Bird
Jill Florence Lackey
Christopher Poff
Michael Timm


Issue Themes: Life, Death, Love, & Freedom


In each issue of Milwaukee Anthropologist, writers from various disciplines will respond to the same question in an article of approximately 2,000 words. The first themed question was What is Life? in the tradition of physicist Erwin Schrödinger.

Issue 1 (June 21, 2008): What is Life?
Issue 2 (Sept. 22, 2008): What is Death?
Issue 3 (Dec. 22, 2008): What is Love?
Issue 4 (March 20, 2009): What is Freedom?
Issue 5 (July 15, 2009): What is natural?
Issue 6 (Winter 2010): What is happiness and how do we get it?
Issue 7 (Autumn 2010): What is democracy and is it a good idea?
Issue 8 (2011): How central is music to the human experience?
Future topics: What is our purpose and how do we know it? What about God? Why is humor funny and what does that mean?



There are many other voices out there—perhaps yours!—with ideas about life, death, love, and freedom, and you are welcome to read and comment at Milwaukee Anthropologist. The discussion only begins here. I invite readers to learn from the arguments presented here, get curious, get fascinated—and also question, challenge, criticize, and augment the essays by posting feedback or sharing what you've read here with others.

If you are interested in contributing in the future, please contact me. Milwaukee Anthropologist is open to submissions. The deadline for unsolicited submissions is the 1st of the month in which an issue will be published.

Readers, please feel free to widely disseminate this site address to others you think would find it interesting, via email notices, word-of-mouth, or list servs.



Contact


platypus (dot) found (at) yahoo (dot) com

A Platypus Found Publication

A Platypus Found Publication
All Rights Reserved -- copyright 2008-10