The Sound of One Hand Clapping
Whether this book will help you understand philosophy is debatable. However, philosophy inspires debate and seems to thrive off it, so that?s not necessarily a detriment. It?s certainly enjoyable and definitely merits re-reading since it?s a fairly short book and easy for the layman to understand.
Naturally there is a lot of discussion about male philosophers. But where is the woman?s place in all this?
Excerpt:
A man is dating three women and is trying to decide which to marry. He gives each of them $5,000 to see what they do with the money.
The first has a total makeover. She goes to a fancy salon, gets her hair, nails, and face done, and buys several new outfits. She tells him she has done this to be more attractive to him because she loves him so much.
The second buys the man a number of gifts. She gets him a new set of golf clubs, some accessories for his computer, and some expensive clothes. She tells him that she has spent all this money on him because she loves him so much.
The third woman invests the money in the stock market. She earns several times the $5,000. She gives him back his $5,000 and reinvests the remainder in a joint account. She tells him she wants to invest in their future because she loves him so much.
Which one does he choose?
Answer: the one with the biggest boobs.
QUIZ ? Is this an anti-feminist joke or an anti-chauvinist-pig joke? Discuss.
End of excerpt.
My notion is that it is an anti-male joke. We know three things about the man in this tale. He?s male. He?s a slut (he?s dating three women at once). He?s a fool. (He?s got $15G and he gives it away to three women. It would have served him right if at least one of them had said ?Bye, loser!?, taken the money and run. You know what they say about a fool and his money.). Knowing all this about his person (male, sleazy, stupid), is it likely that he?d choose his future spouse based on integrity, moral fiber or intelligence? No, he?d pick the one with the biggest breasts.
Of course, the women don?t come off any better. One?s obsessed with her looks, one with possessions and the latter with money.
