tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458341.post5813659965760726990..comments2024-01-06T10:36:04.084-05:00Comments on A Commonplace Blog: Denis Dutton, 1944–2010D. G. Myershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10659136455045567825noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458341.post-15778195600855925462010-12-29T18:20:40.416-05:002010-12-29T18:20:40.416-05:00Thanks so much for writing this. I wish you the b...Thanks so much for writing this. I wish you the best in overcoming your health troubles. <br /><br />In the years since 1999 when I discovered A&L Daily and immediately made it my home page, I wrote a handful of e-mails to Denis. Some flagged a bad link or an unfortunately phrased "Nota Bene" tag, some suggested posting an article from an American newspaper he wasn't likely to be reading. He wrote back without fail, usually the same day, always with thanks for the query/correction/quibble, and his brisk, kind responses affirmed a love of ideas and a welcoming regard for anyone who takes ideas seriously. He'd always tell me his decision about posting one of my suggestions, and a "yes" always made my day. Though infrequent and brief, Denis's messages delivered his liveliness and graciousness. I'll miss them. <br /><br />R.I.P., Denis Dutton. I hope that all of us who've learned so much from ALD -- which has been my virtual seminar during years of desk jockeying in some aggressively nonintellectual workspaces -- will keep reading and writing, thinking and conversing, in his spirit and in the model of his wonderful enterprise.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458341.post-33577478330446723752010-12-29T08:43:46.618-05:002010-12-29T08:43:46.618-05:00Thank you for writing such a nice obit. I wanted t...Thank you for writing such a nice obit. I wanted to also mention what an impact that Denis had on his students. As a former student of his I can honestly say that no one with the exception of my parents was as influential in making me into what I am today. Denis taught me how to think critically. I’m sure that anyone who took one of his classes feels grateful that they did.<br /><br />My introduction to Denis was in 1978 at the University of Michigan. The name of that first class was Intro to Philosophy. He had the ability to take what could have been very dry material and make it come alive. He was also tough. If you hadn’t done your homework or didn’t think through an argument thoroughly, he could be brutal. It was more than a few times that I left his class feeling emotionally and intellectually beaten but exhilarated at the same time. I still remember what he said at the end of the first class that I took from him. “In the years to come, if you don’t remember anything about this class, remember this: Make sure that if you take a stand on something, leave open that possibility that you could be wrong. Your hypothesis must be falsifiable. Don’t be afraid to be wrong.”<br /><br />Over the years I took four classes from Denis. Although I was a business major, I consider his classes on ethics and critical thinking to be more important in my career than a lot of the business courses I took.<br /><br />I kept in touch with him over the years. I would often make suggestions for articles to include in his website Arts and Letters Daily. I bet I was one of the first to buy his book “The Art Instinct: Beauty, Pleasure, and Human Evolution.” I sent him a congratulatory email when he appeared on The Colbert Report and marveled that he was on the same show as Paul McCartney. <br /><br />Denis told me that he was sick but swore me to secrecy. I have some comfort in knowing that I was able to express to him how important he and his classes meant to me. He will be greatly missed.<br /><br />My condolences go out to his family and friends.<br /><br />Sincerely,<br /><br />Rich Roberts<br />Dearborn Heights, MIUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08831113150414232236noreply@blogger.com