[lit-ideas] Fwd: Why philosophy?

With a tip of the hat to Walter, who noticed that I might have been wanting
to send this to the list.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: John McCreery <john.mccreery@xxxxxxxxx>
Date: Thu, Apr 24, 2008 at 8:12 AM
Subject: Re: [lit-ideas] Why philosophy?
To: wokshevs@xxxxxx




On Thu, Apr 24, 2008 at 3:29 AM, <wokshevs@xxxxxx> wrote:


I find that there is much here that repays careful reflection and analysis.
> But
> why JM subsequently describes himself as a "professional sophist" remains a
> mystery to me. As we have no privileged self-access to our
> self-attributions,
> attempts at resolving the mystery are certainly open to all and welcomed.
>

Surely Walter knows that I make a reasonably comfortable living working in
and around the Japanese advertising industry. As a copywriter and creative
director, it is my job to come up with ways for  purveyors of products and
services to present them, using all of the modes of classical rhetoric:
facts and logic if possible, but always character and trope. As a supplier
of "value-added translation" my task is similar; to take the words with
which our clients present us and translate them in a way that maximizes
their appeal. My pragmatism is a way of life, constantly looking for
something that works a bit better than whatever else is on the table. Always
aware, moreover, that once used, an idea must be left to lie fallow, until a
new twist or occasion can be found. Clients pay for what they perceive as
fresh and original, not for what the other guy did just the other day. A
sophist I am, I embrace the role. And I have my professional standards.
Check out
http://www.talentzoo.com/website/columns/ColumnContent.aspx?Id=2118

or Google "John McCreery Talent Zoo"; any and all comments welcome.

John





-- 
John McCreery
The Word Works, Ltd., Yokohama, JAPAN
Tel. +81-45-314-9324
http://www.wordworks.jp/



-- 
John McCreery
The Word Works, Ltd., Yokohama, JAPAN
Tel. +81-45-314-9324
http://www.wordworks.jp/

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