Professor Pidgeon
Patrick Pidgeon was my Philosophy Professor at San Diego Mesa College in 1987. It was a great class and still ranks among my favorite in-class learning experiences. Pidgeon had a way of dissecting philosophical material, and especially language in a way that was challenging and engaging. It was such a good experience for me that I recommended my Mom take his class. She did, and she very much enjoyed it. In fact, in the year since Leah and I have been back in Roanoke, my Mom probably mentioned Pidgeon and his class half a dozen times.
I have no idea what “tomocracy” is in this drawing.
“Tomocracy” I think would be “governance by drinking” — I’m thinking that the word I missed was actually “autocracy” maybe. And here’s what looks like notes on Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave:”
And here’s a cartoon of what was one of Pidgeon’s explorations of the origins of words and how they apply to meanings now, ruler as a measuring device, ruler as the “standard:”
Chris Greazel
February 2, 2011 3:45pm
Howz about:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timocracy
Then there’s Geithner…
Joe Crawford
February 2, 2011 4:35pm
Timocracy could definitely be what I mis-heard. Funny, I was just watching Starship Troopers with Leah and wondering what the form of government was where there was a requirement of service or some other action to be taken before the full rights to participate in government and society would be granted.
Freaky.
Chris Greazel
February 3, 2011 12:54am
Still got Roth and Beecher?
Joe Crawford
February 3, 2011 1:00am
Roth, yes.
Beecher, I believe is in storage. It’s also in one of the USDHS yearbooks — I think — in the feature section, though a little fuzzier.
David E. Hurst
February 6, 2014 6:29pm
I have those same notes from Pat and I took his class twice, with some 15 years in passing between. It is “Timocracy” and he used it to mean “rule by those of worth or honor” and Starship Troopers would be a good example. Plato meant it to describe the rulers of Sparta. Thanks for the memories and the sketches.
Joe Crawford
February 6, 2014 6:33pm
David, thanks for writing in! Good memories I have of him.
I’m vaguely remembering your name — did we take his class together? Would have been 87/88.
ArtLung : Tom Hanks, I love you! ~ 14 Jan 2015
January 14, 2015 12:40pm
Omid
February 25, 2015 3:23pm
With utmost sadness I would like to inform you all that, our beloved Mr. Patrick Pidgeon passed away on Feb. 11, 2015. Mr. Pidgeon was a rare and extraordinary character who touched so many lives. He will never be forgotten in my heart and in the hearts of those who realized the valuable role he played in our community and beyond. May he rest in peace.
http://www.villagecremations.com/memsol.cgi?user_id=1519070
Joe Crawford
February 25, 2015 3:26pm
Oh goodness Omid. That’s very sad to hear. Thank you for sharing that information. May he rest in peace.