Jennifer Panehal-Hope in the Dark

I chose to write about Alphonso Lingis from our book (pg 107). He is an American Philosopher and Writer who was born November 23, 1933, and grew up outside of Chicago on a farm, and is now a retired Professor from Penn State. He is known for many works about the history of philosophy and traveling the world and translating complex writings from other countries. He also is known for his lectures as being captivating and almost giving a performance when he speaks. For example he dresses in costume and face paint and does his speeches to music. He then turned from Philosophy and translating to writing works of his own, and now has more than several books that have been published. He says he gets his inspiration from traveling and researching ancient civilizations. He is considered a leader because of his communication with his students and readers by moving them, making them think outside the box, and introducing them to a new experience with his lectures and books. He is one of the only Western Philosophers who studies and writes about other civilizations and ancient cultures in depth. One of his lines from his book Love Junkies: "Love is awakened only by chance. It flares up at the merest coincidence. . . . Nothing is more contrary to love than to exercise the reckoning mind so as to exclude adverse chances...Shit happens."