Ralph Dumain

The Philosophy of Aphorisms Reviewed

Hui, Andrew. A Theory of the Aphorism From Confucius to Twitter. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2019.

Introduction: A Line 1
1 Confucius: The master wishes to be silent 23
2 Heraclitus: What is hidden 43
3 The Gospel of Thomas: What is revealed 62
4 Erasmus and Bacon: Antiquity and the new science 84
5 Pascal: The fragments of infinity 121
6 Nietzsche: The fragments of the unfinished 151
Epilogue: A Circle 177
Acknowledgments 189
Notes 193
Bibliographic Essay 213
Bibliography 223
Index 249

This is a treatment of the aphorism from the standpoint of the history of philosophy, that is, a perspective broader than treating the aphorism as an isolated phenomenon. Dimensions of this treatment: first of all there is the historical alternation between aphoristic teachings / collections (oral or written) and commentators stabilizing them or systematic philosophers countering them. In turn, systematic philosophies may be countered by aphoristic opposition. Another dimension: beyond the texts themselves there is the dynamic relationship between sages and disciples. This pattern does not obtain the case of Heraclitus, who eludes all systematization, but who is also my favorite. I can live without Confucius and Thomas. We will see how the narrative develops, and what thematically and analytically are missing.

Also, I see that my own project outlined in 1997 is not so original. The manifest difference is that, in this history aphorisms and expositions follow one another in historical progression, while as an individual I alternate between my own contractions (aphoristic) and expansions (expository). Also, my impetus for ironic or cryptic statements originated in distrust of my audience.

Finally, it is not just the historical dynamic but the content and ideology of the aphorism that should be taken into account. In this respect, aphorisms may be analogous to memes, which may be predicated on illuminating or faulty constructions. Systems or gnomic phrases: where is dogmatism to be found? (5 April 2025)

Geary, James. The World in a Phrase: A Brief History of the Aphorism. 2nd ed. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 2025. (1st ed., 2005.)

In the first edition, the most interesting chapter is on heretics. The quotable quoted include Spinoza and Blake, and naturally Nietzsche. There is a brief mention of Bob Dylan. No Adorno, though.

Friedrich Schlegel on Philosophy in Music

Athenaeum Fragments (1798): Aphorism 220 (Leibniz, logical chemistry, & combinatory thought)

Adorno’s ‘True Thoughts’ & the Logic of Aphorisms by R. Dumain

Contractions and Expansions (3 September 2006),
with ‘In My Solitude’ (written 13 August 1997)

Gaston Waringhien pri Proverboj