Thinking about you.

A.E. Manier Sr. (A.E.Manier.1@ND.EDU)
Tue, 29 Apr 1997 12:30:16 -0500

People in my line of work get very busy this time of year, but I wanted you
to know that I haven't forgotten my promise to fund a new Moviegoer.
Thursday, May 1, just before midnight, right after Sling Blade.

It's been a while since I checked the back of the book, but my critical
principles lead to preference for views which (1) do not ASSUME ANY
fictional character, no matter how much he or she reminds some readers of
the author, believes everything, or even anything the author believes;
(2) note how risky it is to attempt to INFER what one fictional character
thinks a different fictional character is trying to say.

An educated, albeit fictional, inhabitant of the world of <The Thanatos
Syndrome> knows the greatest threat to Fr. Smith's vocation is that
world's Qualitarian ethos. Instead of the body parts of <Guernica> we
get the sinister combination of Fedville and the Qualitarian Centers.
Linkage between liberal, pragmatic utilitarianism and the terrible sort of
"tenderness"?

Maybe. Worth exploring in an introduction to ethics. Too preachy and
philosophical for a good novel. Poor puzzled Tom More.

Ed Manier

A. Edward Manier, Professor
Philosophy & History and Philosophy of Science
Reilly Center for Science, Technology and Values
314 Decio
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, IN 46556

(o) 219-631-6520
FAX 219-631-8209
Dept 219-631-6471
http://www.nd.edu/~amanier/index.html