After a disastrous attempt to even begin to try to comprehend Ludwig Wittgenstein a few weeks ago
I steered clear of philosophy books until yesterday when I ran across a book called "What Is Philosophy?" by Jose Ortega y Gasset. I only read a tiny bit of it last night but I feel like this guy might be someone I can (at least partly) understand and enjoy.
Check out this quote : "Hence, because life is part fate, and part the freedom we need to make decisions for ourselves, there is at its root the stuff of art; nothing symbolizes this better than the position of the poet who bases his lyric freedom on the exigencies of rhyme and rhythm. All art implies the acceptance of a shackle, of a destiny; as Nietzche said, 'The artist is he who dances in chains.'"
Well, I really like that quote... It had originally had me thinking of Bob (although he is really speaking of all people and life, I think...At least the opportunity to bring an art to our existences) but having just now read about Levon Helm here at the NEP, I'm thinking of the "rhythm" part of the quote and of him.