What happened to Rick Roderick?
The Bill Hicks of Philosophy
Rick Roderick was born in Abilene, Texas in 1949 and received his B.A. at the University of Texas at Austin. He did post-graduate work at Baylor University and earned his Ph.D. at the University of Texas at Austin. Since 1977, Professor Roderick taught at Baylor University, the University of Texas, Duke University and National University in Los Angeles.
His best topics were Marx and Marxism, Social and Political Philosophy, Critical Theory, 19th-Century Philosophy, and Contemporary Continental Philosophy. He also taught Ethics, Logic, History of Modern Philosophy, Aesthetics, and Existentialism.
He was the recipient of the Oldright Fellowship at the University of Texas and served as associate editor to The Pawn Review and Current Perspectives in Social Theory. Dr. Roderick was the editor of the Baylor Philosophy Journal and a member of the Phi Sigma Tau National Honor Society of Philosophy. He presented more than 25 papers, and published 13 reviews and literary criticisms. He was the author of the book Habermas and the Foundation of Critical Theory (1986) as well as numerous articles in professional journals.
Rick Roderick died in 2002.
Audio Lectures
Here are the three audio lectures of his I have. All from The Teaching Company, but they are out of print now. If you for some reason think these shouldn't be available for download, please contact me. Unfortunatly, the two last lectures in "Philosophy and Human Values" are suffering from quite a bit of "tape noise". I guess it was recorded from a worn tape. If you have these in better quality, sharing them will be rewarded in heaven.
Rick Roderick - Philosophy and Human Values
Rick Roderick - Self Under Siege - Philosophy in the 20th Century
Rick Roderick - Nietzsche and the Post-Modern Condition
The files are .RAR, a file format for data compression. Like ZIP, just not. A free program for decompressing the files can be found here. Or you might want to try this if you have a Mac.
- Socrates and the Life of Inquiry
- Epicureans, Stoics, Skeptics
- Kant and the Path to Enlightenment
- Mill on Liberty
- Hegel and Modern Life
- Nietzsche - Knowledge and Belief
- Kierkegaard and the Contemporary Spirit
- Philosophy and Post-Modern Culture
Rick Roderick - Self Under Siege - Philosophy in the 20th Century
- The Masters Of Suspicion
- Heidegger And The Rejection Of Humanism
- Sartre And The Roads To Freedom
- Marcuse And One-Dimensional Man
- Habermas And The Fragile Dignity Of Humanity
- Foucault And The Disappearance Of The Human
- Derrida And The Ends Of Man
- Fatal Strategies
Rick Roderick - Nietzsche and the Post-Modern Condition
- Nietzsche as Myth and Mythmaker
- Nietzsche on Truth and Lie
- Nietzsche as Master of Suspicion and Immoralist
- The Death of God
- The Eternal Recurrence
- The Will to Power
- Nietzsche as Artist
- Nietzsche's Progeny
The files are .RAR, a file format for data compression. Like ZIP, just not. A free program for decompressing the files can be found here. Or you might want to try this if you have a Mac.
Lecture Notes
Albemuth has been gracious enough to send me his notes from Roderick's lecture on "Theses on the Philosophy of History" by Walter Benjamin. Many thanks!
Albemuth's comment:
During the late 1980s, I knew Roderick and a number of his students. One afternoon in March, I walked in with one of his graduate classes. It was typical of Roderick that people could attend his classes without being signed up for the class or even attending Duke University.
These notes are the result of my two hours (with a break in the middle) with Rick and about 10 students in a classroom on Duke's East Campus. I have reworded or added to my notes here and there, but I have tried not to change them much. Of course, there may be an error or two where I have misinterpreted one of my jottings. Reflecting on these notes now, I think that Roderick did a great job in introducing Benjamin's difficult piece and also in relating these ideas to issues of thencurrent interest.
I will venture that Roderick's remarks say something about the situation of the left in the late 1980s. In the face of a political climate that had moved to the right and the failure of actuallyexisting socialism, the left seemed (to me) to turn to more anarchistic and romantic ideas. I am sure that Rick would have something to say to this statement were he still around.
During the late 1980s, I knew Roderick and a number of his students. One afternoon in March, I walked in with one of his graduate classes. It was typical of Roderick that people could attend his classes without being signed up for the class or even attending Duke University.
These notes are the result of my two hours (with a break in the middle) with Rick and about 10 students in a classroom on Duke's East Campus. I have reworded or added to my notes here and there, but I have tried not to change them much. Of course, there may be an error or two where I have misinterpreted one of my jottings. Reflecting on these notes now, I think that Roderick did a great job in introducing Benjamin's difficult piece and also in relating these ideas to issues of thencurrent interest.
I will venture that Roderick's remarks say something about the situation of the left in the late 1980s. In the face of a political climate that had moved to the right and the failure of actuallyexisting socialism, the left seemed (to me) to turn to more anarchistic and romantic ideas. I am sure that Rick would have something to say to this statement were he still around.
What do I know?
Not much more than Wikipedia. However, there are two old letters and one article about him published at Duke Chronicle, the paper of Duke University where he was a professor for about 8 years. Here it would seem that he was fired from Duke in '92 or '93. The article mentions his plan of moving to "Compton in Los Angeles where he will teach adults who have lost their jobs". In his lecture "Self Under Siege", he also talks about moving to Los Angeles.
To the editor:
Does anyone know why one of Duke's only nationally recognized professors has been fired? From our own conversation with Professor Roderick, we know that he has no idea--because he has never been given any specific reasons. This four-time nominee for the Alumni Undergraduate Distinguished Professor Teaching Award has been recognized by the Smithsonian Institute as the best teacher in his field. His "The Philosophy of Human Values" lecture series has been the bestselling videotape in the history of academia. He has been published in five countries. His "Habermas and the Foundations of Critical Theory" is an internationally recognized standard in the field. His work has been studied and reviewed worldwide--India, China, Denmark, Germany, etc., etc.
No one at this university has been willing to debate with Professor Roderick, in public or private, the issue of tenure and research at Duke--either in his own case or the other controversial cases here.
To further their hypocrisy, the University has time and again sent visitors to Professor Roderick's classes as an example of teaching excellence. If he is not fit to teach at Duke, why for eight years did the University continue to use him to entertain prospective freshmen? Either the University was wrong then or they are wrong now.
Professor Roderick has obviously spent way too much time visiting with students, working with the Black Faculty Initiative, organizing protests (such as the one which aided the removal of the union-busting ServiceMaster from campus), working with students for gay and lesbian rights, and being involved in countless other "extracurriculur" activities. Professor Roderick treated Duke students and employees as essential to the University rather than as excess baggage.
Sadly, this letter cannot change anything in this specific case. However, I think we can learn something from this pathetic situation. We always found Professor Roderick's approach to be neither dogmatic nor crude, but radically Socratic. We have written this letter in the hopes that Duke will not sin twice against philosophy.
Katherine Johnson
Trinity '93
Scott Heftler
Trinity '91
Does anyone know why one of Duke's only nationally recognized professors has been fired? From our own conversation with Professor Roderick, we know that he has no idea--because he has never been given any specific reasons. This four-time nominee for the Alumni Undergraduate Distinguished Professor Teaching Award has been recognized by the Smithsonian Institute as the best teacher in his field. His "The Philosophy of Human Values" lecture series has been the bestselling videotape in the history of academia. He has been published in five countries. His "Habermas and the Foundations of Critical Theory" is an internationally recognized standard in the field. His work has been studied and reviewed worldwide--India, China, Denmark, Germany, etc., etc.
No one at this university has been willing to debate with Professor Roderick, in public or private, the issue of tenure and research at Duke--either in his own case or the other controversial cases here.
To further their hypocrisy, the University has time and again sent visitors to Professor Roderick's classes as an example of teaching excellence. If he is not fit to teach at Duke, why for eight years did the University continue to use him to entertain prospective freshmen? Either the University was wrong then or they are wrong now.
Professor Roderick has obviously spent way too much time visiting with students, working with the Black Faculty Initiative, organizing protests (such as the one which aided the removal of the union-busting ServiceMaster from campus), working with students for gay and lesbian rights, and being involved in countless other "extracurriculur" activities. Professor Roderick treated Duke students and employees as essential to the University rather than as excess baggage.
Sadly, this letter cannot change anything in this specific case. However, I think we can learn something from this pathetic situation. We always found Professor Roderick's approach to be neither dogmatic nor crude, but radically Socratic. We have written this letter in the hopes that Duke will not sin twice against philosophy.
Katherine Johnson
Trinity '93
Scott Heftler
Trinity '91
To the editor:
In the Spring issue of Duke Blue, Vice President of Student Affairs Janet Dickerson said, "We're in the midst of the great push to be a more inclusive community. . .In our society, we are struggling with the tension between the kind of fragmentation that [Greek organizations] can cause and our aspiration to be one society, one university community, kind of the one world concept."
This utopian commentary on Duke's social vision is quite noteworthy. The ideal is beautiful, and I--as a fraternity president-- do not deny that legitimate contentions exist supporting the reform of Greek life at Duke which could foster more oneness. No doubt, this campus is plagued by a dearth of peace, love and understanding. However, if the Administration favors Greek reforms with the ultimate end of creating "one society [and] one university community," then, under the banner of consistency, the Administration must do its share to engender this ambition. Otherwise, the social critique stagnates as rhetoric.
Strikingly, we must question whether the Administration seriously seeks an "inclusive community." This semester I have been enlightened by two of the best professors I have had in my four years. Assistant professors Colette Carter of the Political Science Department and Rick Roderick of the Philosophy Department have both been denied the opportunity to teach next year despite their overwhelming talents to encourage independent thinking and sustain student enthusiasm. Perhaps this travesty occurred because they offer a more liberal--or as Roderick would admit, radical--perspective on American affairs than is customary in Duke's conservative climate. We students must insist on being exposed to the vast array of perspectives which we shall inevitably confront in the so-called real world--from fascist to anarchist. Otherwise, instead of maturing and developing intellectually, we will continue to wither away and be enslaved in Duke's mental prison.
Steve Hess
Trinity `93
In the Spring issue of Duke Blue, Vice President of Student Affairs Janet Dickerson said, "We're in the midst of the great push to be a more inclusive community. . .In our society, we are struggling with the tension between the kind of fragmentation that [Greek organizations] can cause and our aspiration to be one society, one university community, kind of the one world concept."
This utopian commentary on Duke's social vision is quite noteworthy. The ideal is beautiful, and I--as a fraternity president-- do not deny that legitimate contentions exist supporting the reform of Greek life at Duke which could foster more oneness. No doubt, this campus is plagued by a dearth of peace, love and understanding. However, if the Administration favors Greek reforms with the ultimate end of creating "one society [and] one university community," then, under the banner of consistency, the Administration must do its share to engender this ambition. Otherwise, the social critique stagnates as rhetoric.
Strikingly, we must question whether the Administration seriously seeks an "inclusive community." This semester I have been enlightened by two of the best professors I have had in my four years. Assistant professors Colette Carter of the Political Science Department and Rick Roderick of the Philosophy Department have both been denied the opportunity to teach next year despite their overwhelming talents to encourage independent thinking and sustain student enthusiasm. Perhaps this travesty occurred because they offer a more liberal--or as Roderick would admit, radical--perspective on American affairs than is customary in Duke's conservative climate. We students must insist on being exposed to the vast array of perspectives which we shall inevitably confront in the so-called real world--from fascist to anarchist. Otherwise, instead of maturing and developing intellectually, we will continue to wither away and be enslaved in Duke's mental prison.
Steve Hess
Trinity `93
By KATIE CROCKER
Being kicked out is becoming a habit for Rick Roderick, assistant professor of philosophy.
Besides losing the tenure battle, Roderick also lost his ex-officio status in the Bunch of Guys living group when the group became extinct last fall.
In a casual discussion on the upper level of the Bryan Center, Roderick answered students' questions Tuesday night with sarcasm, cynicism and several one-liners.
The University Union tried to find a member of the administration to publicly debate Roderick over the tenure process and other issues, but the Union was unable to find anyone. Roderick, however, still had something to say.
In his typical outspoken manner, Roderick commented on everything from the tenure process to race relations at the University to Durham social life.
On the tenure issue, Roderick said tenure at the University is not given on the stated qualifications of published research, good teaching and community service.
Some administrators argued that Roderick had not completed enough research in his field to receive tenure. Roderick claimed that, while research works nicely for the Medical Center, no one can research philosophy.
Roderick said that research is plagiarism and simply means "writing books with lots of footnotes."
Roderick said that if students want to protest his departure, and they can try force the administration to reverse their decision. Otherwise, he said he will teach next year at a school in Compton in Los Angeles where he will teach adults who have lost their jobs. He did not speculate as to his future plans after that.
Besides tenure, Roderick also criticized the University for failing to hire more black faculty.
While the University searches across the country to find great black athletes, they do not search the country and find great black faculty, he said.
Remaining in the academic sphere, Roderick addressed his well-known liberal grading policy.
"Grades are one of our ways of disciplining you," Roderick said. "In my view, you're too . . . old for this. I'm not supposed to give all As this summer so I think I'll have a lottery and give a B+."
Roderick also offered his perspectives on drugs and alcohol. He said that alcohol is a "vicious drug" and that anyone who drinks cannot condemn people who use drugs. He also said that he is not pro-crack.
"Only in America would someone take cocaine and say, `We need something stronger than that.' "
In discussing other social aspects of the University, Roderick said that there is very little to do. He encouraged students to find more imaginative ways of having fun and to take advantage of the possibilities that a campus like Duke's has to offer.
"My time at Duke has been like being around an old folks home for young people," Roderick said. "[The University] is one of the most clean-cut, de-eroticized places you could ever find yourself."
To improve the University's social life, Roderick said that different living groups including fraternities should be scattered around campus to create a more diverse atmosphere. He said that shutting down BOG was a mistake because "every University needs `walking disasters.' "
Being kicked out is becoming a habit for Rick Roderick, assistant professor of philosophy.
Besides losing the tenure battle, Roderick also lost his ex-officio status in the Bunch of Guys living group when the group became extinct last fall.
In a casual discussion on the upper level of the Bryan Center, Roderick answered students' questions Tuesday night with sarcasm, cynicism and several one-liners.
The University Union tried to find a member of the administration to publicly debate Roderick over the tenure process and other issues, but the Union was unable to find anyone. Roderick, however, still had something to say.
In his typical outspoken manner, Roderick commented on everything from the tenure process to race relations at the University to Durham social life.
On the tenure issue, Roderick said tenure at the University is not given on the stated qualifications of published research, good teaching and community service.
Some administrators argued that Roderick had not completed enough research in his field to receive tenure. Roderick claimed that, while research works nicely for the Medical Center, no one can research philosophy.
Roderick said that research is plagiarism and simply means "writing books with lots of footnotes."
Roderick said that if students want to protest his departure, and they can try force the administration to reverse their decision. Otherwise, he said he will teach next year at a school in Compton in Los Angeles where he will teach adults who have lost their jobs. He did not speculate as to his future plans after that.
Besides tenure, Roderick also criticized the University for failing to hire more black faculty.
While the University searches across the country to find great black athletes, they do not search the country and find great black faculty, he said.
Remaining in the academic sphere, Roderick addressed his well-known liberal grading policy.
"Grades are one of our ways of disciplining you," Roderick said. "In my view, you're too . . . old for this. I'm not supposed to give all As this summer so I think I'll have a lottery and give a B+."
Roderick also offered his perspectives on drugs and alcohol. He said that alcohol is a "vicious drug" and that anyone who drinks cannot condemn people who use drugs. He also said that he is not pro-crack.
"Only in America would someone take cocaine and say, `We need something stronger than that.' "
In discussing other social aspects of the University, Roderick said that there is very little to do. He encouraged students to find more imaginative ways of having fun and to take advantage of the possibilities that a campus like Duke's has to offer.
"My time at Duke has been like being around an old folks home for young people," Roderick said. "[The University] is one of the most clean-cut, de-eroticized places you could ever find yourself."
To improve the University's social life, Roderick said that different living groups including fraternities should be scattered around campus to create a more diverse atmosphere. He said that shutting down BOG was a mistake because "every University needs `walking disasters.' "
What is the point of this page?
Just like the people who wrote those letters, I too think Rick Roderick had something valuable to say. I won't try to explain what, I'm neither smart nor informed enough to do him justice. But I would like to know what happened in the last 10 years of his life. To know more about his work, where to get the books, lectures or articles. If you have any information, it would be great to hear. Or if you just have something you want to say about the man - please do.
February 13, 2007 - 14:55
I just googled Rick Roderick after listening to his "Philosophy and Human Values" TTC lectures and being very impressed by them. He's a great teacher, witty and enthusiastic, and is obviously someone who's not scared to stand up for his beliefs. I'm very sad to learn that he died so young.
June 16, 2007 - 04:30
No need to feel sad about Rick's early departure. He often said that he had no desire to live to be a vegetable. He lived life well, fully knowing that death was inevitable.
February 20, 2007 - 05:34
I checked out Rick Roderick's Philosophy and Human Values" tape several years ago and have returned to it again and again. I'm sorry to hear he was so badly treated at Duke. Duke is obviously far from Kant's "kingdom of ends" in which everyone is treated as an end an not a means. Thank you for setting up this website to remember this extraordinary man.
February 22, 2007 - 06:37
I too took out the above series of tapes from my local library several times. The tapes inspired me to read the original sources, which is what a great teacher hopes for. Since he had left Duke by then, I searched for his email address and found a discussion group in which he was asking about which sociology textbooks were well liked by students. I emailed him to see what else he had written, and he sent me a CV, which I have somewhere. When I first heard the "Terminator" was thinking of entering politics, I sent Roderick another email and asked him if this was an example of Baudriallaridian Hyper-reality. He quickly responded, "Baudriallardian, through and through! More on that when I get well."
Later when I saw and recorded a segment on book TV on a book by the family of the sociologist C. Wright Mills, suspecting he might be interested in something about Mills, I emailed Roderick to see if he wanted the tape. He indicated he would like it so I sent it. I never heard again, and later found out he had passed away.
Later when I saw and recorded a segment on book TV on a book by the family of the sociologist C. Wright Mills, suspecting he might be interested in something about Mills, I emailed Roderick to see if he wanted the tape. He indicated he would like it so I sent it. I never heard again, and later found out he had passed away.
February 22, 2007 - 22:11
Thank you for the information. I'm sad to hear that he wasn't well. 
It would have been great to see that CV and have it here on the page. If you want, you can send it to me at rodericksite@gmail.com, or try posting it in comments. It would be greatly appreciated.
It would have been great to see that CV and have it here on the page. If you want, you can send it to me at rodericksite@gmail.com, or try posting it in comments. It would be greatly appreciated.
February 22, 2007 - 11:07
Great work on this page, I hope we'll be able to find out more. He is sorely missed.
February 25, 2007 - 20:40
Thanks very much for putting up this page. I'm not certain I understand how to get at the contents of your download but I will figure it out (I might be on the wrong operating system).
I took classes with Rick Roderick when I was at Duke University during the late 1980s. I will not attempt a complete account right now. But I can confirm that he was a brilliant and inspiring teacher. I took a particularly good class with him on Marx and Hegel. As many of you have heard in the tapes (which I bought from the Teaching Company many years ago), Roderick was very good at explaining difficult ideas in everyday language that related to people's real lives.
He also had a tendency to poke fun at Duke University, the very process of having formal classes, and especially issuing grades. [Digression: In the Hegel-Marx class he gave us all "A" grades on the first day and then said something like: "So all of you can go now. If you pay your bill to Duke, then you will get your "A." But if anyone wants to accomplish anything worth a shit, then stick around." Roderick then proceeded to give an excellent class that I still have my notes for. Alas, it is hard to see from my notes how funny and illuminating he was -- that sort of thing is hard to write down. But live, the Bill Hicks of philosophy was even better than the tapes!] Roderick also had a few personal troubles, including, I am pretty sure, a drinking problem. So, I don't think that it is quite true that Duke "railroaded him out of town." That said, I wish that Duke could have kept him. He shaked the school up in a constructive way. The more conservative professors could and would complain about Rick but -- hey -- they got their time, too!
Thank you so much for your much-needed efforts here. I am now a teacher myself and I would say that Roderick formed part of my style -- and gave me one resource for keeping my teaching alive. I know you are not reading this Rick but, anyway, thank you, thank you!
I took classes with Rick Roderick when I was at Duke University during the late 1980s. I will not attempt a complete account right now. But I can confirm that he was a brilliant and inspiring teacher. I took a particularly good class with him on Marx and Hegel. As many of you have heard in the tapes (which I bought from the Teaching Company many years ago), Roderick was very good at explaining difficult ideas in everyday language that related to people's real lives.
He also had a tendency to poke fun at Duke University, the very process of having formal classes, and especially issuing grades. [Digression: In the Hegel-Marx class he gave us all "A" grades on the first day and then said something like: "So all of you can go now. If you pay your bill to Duke, then you will get your "A." But if anyone wants to accomplish anything worth a shit, then stick around." Roderick then proceeded to give an excellent class that I still have my notes for. Alas, it is hard to see from my notes how funny and illuminating he was -- that sort of thing is hard to write down. But live, the Bill Hicks of philosophy was even better than the tapes!] Roderick also had a few personal troubles, including, I am pretty sure, a drinking problem. So, I don't think that it is quite true that Duke "railroaded him out of town." That said, I wish that Duke could have kept him. He shaked the school up in a constructive way. The more conservative professors could and would complain about Rick but -- hey -- they got their time, too!
Thank you so much for your much-needed efforts here. I am now a teacher myself and I would say that Roderick formed part of my style -- and gave me one resource for keeping my teaching alive. I know you are not reading this Rick but, anyway, thank you, thank you!
February 26, 2007 - 12:11
It's really great to hear these first person accounts, thank you very much! Wish I could have been there.
Sorry about the downloads. I have added a short explanation now, hope it helps. Don't hesitate to ask if you still have trouble.
Sorry about the downloads. I have added a short explanation now, hope it helps. Don't hesitate to ask if you still have trouble.
February 27, 2007 - 16:16
Rick Roderick was an amazing teacher and a thinker that I think Socrates and the like would have been more than happy to hold discourse with - a gadlfy through and through. May we all live up to his memory and thought-provoking words.
Long live philosophy.
Long live philosophy.
March 02, 2007 - 17:01
Rick was a really wonderful teacher, detailed, thorough, and concrete even when he was talking about some of the more abstruse figures in ocntemporary post-structuralism. He could've taught Hegel to a stump, yet for those of us who worked with him as graduate students he was a really helpful and kind mentor.
I first heard about his passing about four years ago and have wondered about what happened to him ever since. Thanks for hosting this page.
Trent
I first heard about his passing about four years ago and have wondered about what happened to him ever since. Thanks for hosting this page.
Trent
March 28, 2007 - 16:46
Rick's lectures are simply brilliant and I was fortunate to hear the first of the series recently, and will now proceed to the second series after downloading these from this site which I came to from the wiki site. Its sad to know he is no longer around. His insights and wit will be missed. His ideas synthesized from Socrates onwards, and their excellent presentation under the philosophical quest for what is ultimately human will hopefully be carried forward by people inspired by him.
March 29, 2007 - 22:43
Like some of the other respondents, I took an introductory course in philosophy from Rick Roderick in 1986. He was quite regularly a spell-binding teacher and lecturer. That he was not granted tenure doesn't come as a surprise. He seemed to relish the prospect of being crucified in some way or other.
Rick was a striking mixture of qualities. However, I would be interested to know the details of his death if anyone knows.
Thanks.
Rick was a striking mixture of qualities. However, I would be interested to know the details of his death if anyone knows.
Thanks.
April 25, 2007 - 05:20
Does anyone know why he died?
May 03, 2007 - 21:32
-UPDATE-
I have finally found and added Roderick's lecture on 'Nietzsche and the Post-Modern Condition'. Enjoy!
I have finally found and added Roderick's lecture on 'Nietzsche and the Post-Modern Condition'. Enjoy!
May 07, 2007 - 19:24
I would love to see the note from Rick's class, but I am not able to find them here. Can you help?
Thanks,
Matt
Thanks,
Matt
May 08, 2007 - 00:13
Sorry, no. What you see is what I've got.
May 08, 2007 - 01:50
Holy crap you found another lecture, this is an awesome day.
May 15, 2007 - 18:32
Thanks to all participating to this website. I first heard Roderick through his teaching company lecture on Derrida. I would have like to known him. Duke has another faculty member who interests me, Stanley Hauerwas. Hauerwas is somewhere between a Catholic, a Mennonite, a Methodist and anything but a Modernist. His work interests me. Although he's probably answering questions many people in contemporary philosophy aren't asking. I guess that's it.
It's good to know the world can still produce the eudaimonic type; may Roderick live on.
Best,
Faubion
It's good to know the world can still produce the eudaimonic type; may Roderick live on.
Best,
Faubion
May 22, 2007 - 04:05
Thanks for the new lecture that you put up. I'm enjoying it.
I found my notes for part of Roderick's Hegel-Marx seminar (from 1987) and a single lecture on Walter Benjamin's Theses on the Philosophy of History (from the following year, I think). I cannot type up the seminar (!) but I could give a try (sometime) to the Theses lecture. Interested?
I found my notes for part of Roderick's Hegel-Marx seminar (from 1987) and a single lecture on Walter Benjamin's Theses on the Philosophy of History (from the following year, I think). I cannot type up the seminar (!) but I could give a try (sometime) to the Theses lecture. Interested?
June 11, 2007 - 14:03
Sorry about this late answer.
It would be very nice to see. If you want to do it, I'll certainly include it here on the site.
It would be very nice to see. If you want to do it, I'll certainly include it here on the site.
June 03, 2007 - 01:14
I loved the feeling hearing Rick say,"A man has got to know how to write his name.He is his name."His morning style was accompanied by a shake to the left,hair clearing line of vision. Rick was intense and enthralling. We taught in a workshop on the Tx. State School campus. Teens and adults mixed daily.Challenged, institutionalized clients allowed growth. Rick taught manual assembly skills, while running a wonderful social commentary to my glee. Lunch breaks at the house on Austin time were fun times-'75-'76.A reunion years later was dynamic. June 2, 2007 I log onto learn he is physically out of touch. The lecture notes will help me begin to grasp what transpired since the '80s .His son was an infant.I am a neophyte.Rick means much to me.
June 05, 2007 - 20:54
Thank you so very very much for this series!!!!!!!!!!!!! Honestly, I almost cried upon seeing it here, as I've been desperately seeking it ever since discovering Rick in 2003. Thank you for this page, this paradise for we free spirits. Thank everyone for contributing, particularly the personal accounts. ... In short, thank you all!!!!! May the spirit of rick and critical inquiry live on, despite Baudrillard's post-modern paradigm!!!!!!!
June 16, 2007 - 04:24
The system deals with threats by Banalization, which produces idiocy. In conveying ideas like this, Roderick was the ultimate maverick. He told my class at Duke to put away our notebooks, that he was once a short order cook, and why would be writing down the things that he said. He would convey life lessons, like "Know your body chemistry." He was the antidote to the modern college education. I am re-listening to "Self Under Siege" right now, completely enthralled by the content and delivery. This guy was the real deal. Keeping his ideas and spirit alive is an imperative for us all. Great thanks to you for doing so!
August 03, 2008 - 06:52
yes I agree with you the 'self under siege' series is excellent and still relevant let it spead via cyberland
June 17, 2007 - 23:19
I was overcome with a sense of urgency earlier today listening to "Philosophy and human values". By the time I had to switch off my player I had listened six lessons non-stop. Each lesson will receive the attention it deserves in due time; today I just listened as if there was no tomorrow. Thank you for making the downloads available on this page.
June 21, 2007 - 23:20
I'm Rick's eldest son. The amazing thing about the lectures here is that what you hear here doesn't even scratch the surface of his humor or depth of analysis. It also should be known that he was always "on" - always funny, engaging, and savagely brilliant. I will write up something about the last 10 years of his life and send it to the webmaster here. It is an insane final chapter.
I do want to say, regarding his early death, that it came as a complete shock to all of us. At the time he was teaching more classes than ever. It happened out of the blue, but should have been diagnosed early. He died of a congestive heart condition. It is something that normally kills within 5 years, so it is possible he knew but didn't want to tell us. Though he died suddenly, he died in his sleep surrounded by three of his sons. He went to sleep on his couch to take a nap before heading out to his best friend's funeral (who had died the day before) and never woke up. Rick and I talked a lot about death. He always said that he wanted to go in his sleep. He also said that when he died, he wanted people to celebrate his life rather than mourn his death. I can't help but mourn.
I do want to say, regarding his early death, that it came as a complete shock to all of us. At the time he was teaching more classes than ever. It happened out of the blue, but should have been diagnosed early. He died of a congestive heart condition. It is something that normally kills within 5 years, so it is possible he knew but didn't want to tell us. Though he died suddenly, he died in his sleep surrounded by three of his sons. He went to sleep on his couch to take a nap before heading out to his best friend's funeral (who had died the day before) and never woke up. Rick and I talked a lot about death. He always said that he wanted to go in his sleep. He also said that when he died, he wanted people to celebrate his life rather than mourn his death. I can't help but mourn.
October 04, 2007 - 06:03
I would love to know more about his life. I first listented to his lectures in 1995. I have sence listened to his TTC lectures almost regulary since. Really, I owe soo much to this guy I know of no one that had a better grasp of the age we live in and what is most important. I only now feel as though I grasp the weight of his single comments as he might have ment them. I would love to visit his resting spot and leave my own thaks to his work. I hope he earned "this individual" on his grave marker. I do remember him saying that he loved graveyards. Thank you. My email address is russpears@hotmail.com
June 21, 2007 - 23:39
A quick anecdote Rick told me from a conference he attended: he and some of his grad students created an avant garde philosopher named Jean Au Trey (Gene Autry) and went around lauding his praises and creating fake quotes from his last book. The one I remember most was: "We're looking so far through theory's eyes that we see its ass again." That one always made me die with laughter.
June 23, 2007 - 01:46
Wow. Great to hear from Marshall Roderick! Thanks, Marshall. That's a great line about Jean Au Trey and theory's ass. That's the kind of thing that Rick would say but, of course, not quite the sort of thing to end up on the Teaching Company's tapes. I will try to type up my Benjamin class notes from the late 1980s. They will not be particularly funny but they might be an interesting document of the times, and Rick's thinking.
June 30, 2007 - 23:34
I once worked for TTC, and customers often called to order Ricks' course, some heard he was "the cowboy philosopher". the comments we would hear were, that "he is one of your best", "I was sad when the lectures ended", "I've listened to them over and over again". Most who owned his courses were shocked and stunned at his death. His Self Under Seige lectures dared to deal with the misery and sad painful state of the human condition. Although we seem powerelss to stop or change the bankrupt human condition and spirit possessed by so many people, the outlook he provided made it bearable and with great though provoking questions that dared to further address it.
July 03, 2007 - 20:07
During glad school at a party, Rick saved me from being beat up by some drunken Canadians who were visiting a fellow graduate student. I don't know what I did to invite hostility but these two guys were both over 6' and I'm under 5'5." Just when things were getting ugly, Rick said, "You just keep hassling Matt, I'll whip it out and piss on my watch. You won't want to see that." Nothing like a theatrical Texan philosopher with some true grit to call the bluff of Canadians overplaying their rural roots!
July 05, 2007 - 13:51
Hi, I am listner and reader of Rick Reoderick from Iceland and I was reading Rodericks entry on Wikipedia and they (wikipedia) is proposing it will be deletet because it's a summary or incomplete. So I was wondering if there are some stundents of Rick Roderick here who are able to write him a good biography on wikipedia?
July 06, 2007 - 18:27
Hi 
. I am a danish philosophy student who have been enjoying listning to Ricks lectures. In an effort to try and spare the Wikipedia-entry (en.wikipedia.org) from deletion I have expanded it a little. Please try to improve on it - and don't be shy: If even I can add a little, then surely a lot of you can be improve the article too - and please correct me if I have written something misleading.
It seem to me that there have been much too few philosophers like Rick Roderick, so he clearly deserves the entry - allthough he did'nt produce much in terms of writing. Or maybe something is left out. Please include everything and mention the translations of his work too, etc.
. I am a danish philosophy student who have been enjoying listning to Ricks lectures. In an effort to try and spare the Wikipedia-entry (en.wikipedia.org) from deletion I have expanded it a little. Please try to improve on it - and don't be shy: If even I can add a little, then surely a lot of you can be improve the article too - and please correct me if I have written something misleading.It seem to me that there have been much too few philosophers like Rick Roderick, so he clearly deserves the entry - allthough he did'nt produce much in terms of writing. Or maybe something is left out. Please include everything and mention the translations of his work too, etc.
August 13, 2007 - 16:30
Hi. I was a member of a good-sized group of undergraduates at the University of Texas in the early 80s who were heavily influenced by Rick. At school we took many independent studies courses with him on Marx, the Frankfurt School, Deconstruction, etc. Away from school we gave him music (punk, Joy Division) and spent countless hours at his house, went out to play pool, went to concerts, drank beer. Together we watched the Reagan Era unfold. Watching TV with Rick was nightly worth 3 hours of course credit. His influence was so profound that a great number of the group went on to do graduate work in philosophy.
August 17, 2007 - 12:56
I'm an Indian student who's a big time TTC fan and I happened to come across Rick's Self Under Siege series on a torrent website. I listened to the whole thing in two days and simply loved it. Does anybody know why TTC does not officially sell his lectures anymore?
RIP Rick
RIP Rick
August 06, 2008 - 05:19
contraband I think FBI CIA stuff
August 18, 2007 - 17:47
Has anyone heard from Marshall? I would be really interesting to know about the last 10 years of Rick Roderick's life.
To Marshall (if you're still out there): I just wish I had a professor like him - just ONE - when I was in undergrad or grad school! Marshall, I don't have to tell you this, but your father was simply AMAZING! He is missed.
To Marshall (if you're still out there): I just wish I had a professor like him - just ONE - when I was in undergrad or grad school! Marshall, I don't have to tell you this, but your father was simply AMAZING! He is missed.
August 30, 2007 - 01:09
Hi,
I am from Germany. I am reading Heidegger and others at the moment. The TTC Self Under Seige was picked up via torrent. I listened to the first two chapters. Will do the rest tomorrow. I only have an audio track, but it is very well presented. Rick radiates just by his voice a passion for the subject. Must have been a great lecturer.
What blows my preconceived assumptions about Texas & USA is to hear a Texan describing a German philosopher like Heidegger, when at the same time I only know a Texan like GW Bush on the TV stammering ... I am so glad to know that more can come from there.
I'm not much younger than Rick, but a normal working citizen and perpetual philosophy student. I can recommend Rick's lectures for anyone wanting to make an interesting encounter with the wonderful world of thinking. Are they available on DVD? I'd love to send it to my nephew in Salt Lake City & BYU; he would love it and may be liberated from some ideological hindrances ....
I got to this page via the Wikipedia. It can be updated with Marshal's new info about the last 10 years.
Greetings
Lando
I am from Germany. I am reading Heidegger and others at the moment. The TTC Self Under Seige was picked up via torrent. I listened to the first two chapters. Will do the rest tomorrow. I only have an audio track, but it is very well presented. Rick radiates just by his voice a passion for the subject. Must have been a great lecturer.
What blows my preconceived assumptions about Texas & USA is to hear a Texan describing a German philosopher like Heidegger, when at the same time I only know a Texan like GW Bush on the TV stammering ... I am so glad to know that more can come from there.
I'm not much younger than Rick, but a normal working citizen and perpetual philosophy student. I can recommend Rick's lectures for anyone wanting to make an interesting encounter with the wonderful world of thinking. Are they available on DVD? I'd love to send it to my nephew in Salt Lake City & BYU; he would love it and may be liberated from some ideological hindrances ....
I got to this page via the Wikipedia. It can be updated with Marshal's new info about the last 10 years.
Greetings
Lando
August 06, 2008 - 05:25
yeah liberatng, the unforced force of unconditional knowledge
September 09, 2007 - 16:02
I've just discovered Roderick. I was listening to the Self Under Siege series, lecture one, while making coffee. I was at minute 9 before I began a search to find out who Rick Roderick is, or as I now know, was (actually is, but that's a long explanation). Suffice it to say, that within minutes I was impressed enough to find out what else this guy might have had to say. Mainly, I recognised what I thought was a very keen insight into the philosophies of Sartre, and the talent to express that insight; a rare talent.
After reading much from this site, I want to comment on the tenure issue. I lack details on this subject. The details are being withheld, apparently, by Duke. However, it's possible that a hint as to what reasons may be at the core of their motivations are found in the lecture on Neitzsche, "Nietzsche As Myth Maker." I think it likely that most students don't truly understand the issues of power, its structures; and it would take a book to cover the topic. I'll just say that it appears Roderick didn't respect the powers that be--he was an iconoclast hacking away at the foundations of the academia's reason's for existence and, consequently, their authority.
If you want to understand power structures thoroughly, then acquire and read the following books: Secrets of Power, vols. I & II, by Ingo Swann. To my knowledge, they are the best written on the subject of power.
To the creator of this page: THANK YOU!
After reading much from this site, I want to comment on the tenure issue. I lack details on this subject. The details are being withheld, apparently, by Duke. However, it's possible that a hint as to what reasons may be at the core of their motivations are found in the lecture on Neitzsche, "Nietzsche As Myth Maker." I think it likely that most students don't truly understand the issues of power, its structures; and it would take a book to cover the topic. I'll just say that it appears Roderick didn't respect the powers that be--he was an iconoclast hacking away at the foundations of the academia's reason's for existence and, consequently, their authority.
If you want to understand power structures thoroughly, then acquire and read the following books: Secrets of Power, vols. I & II, by Ingo Swann. To my knowledge, they are the best written on the subject of power.
To the creator of this page: THANK YOU!
August 06, 2008 - 05:33
Yeah it would seem he didn't want to toe the line of the establishment
September 16, 2007 - 05:14
Rick has his fans in Australia as well. Solid, honest intelligence. I hope he had a happy life.
September 18, 2007 - 03:43
I just wanted to raise my hand as another person whose life has been touched by Rick's only in the last year, as TTC lectures became available to me. To have learned just how far his principles reached into the world around him makes me teary.
September 30, 2007 - 20:06
ive just had a whole stack of teaching company lectures become available to me and easily one of the most engaging and enjoyable of the series is Rick's course on Philosophy and Human values, which ive found stimulating and enjoyable (not to mention confusing on occasion). More than anything his style of delivery is something which attracts the listener as he has a clear enthusiasm for his subject, despite the fact that he must have given similar lectures 100's of times before. I found this page after looking for information on him on wikipedia, and was shocked to find he had passed away 5 years ago! This is something which has genuinely saddened me, and as such i wanted to leave a message of praise out of respect.
August 06, 2008 - 05:44
agreed, I've listened to macy ttc tapes, rick's hands down are the most thought provoking and entertaining
October 02, 2007 - 00:10
I'm sociologist from Macedonia, and I can say that with the TTC "Self Under siege" I learned more about the postmodernity and post modern theory foundations than from the bunch of my professors at philosophy faculty. Rick was great teacher! I was shocked when I found that he passed away. May he rest in peace. Respect!
October 07, 2007 - 05:59
I first head Rick Roderick years ago in the Teaching Company tapes. I downloaded the course that I did not have. Thanks for loading it on the Internet. He was a gifted teacher, and I bet a fun guy. I would love to know more about him, and his family. I have about 10,000 hours of Teaching Company courses. Roderick was / is among the best.
October 11, 2007 - 14:06
another fan from australia
does anyone have a copy of the videos? i have searched high and low
they must exist - he keeps referring to himself being on video
does anyone have a copy of the videos? i have searched high and low
they must exist - he keeps referring to himself being on video
February 22, 2008 - 12:39
I've been looking too everywhere for the videos---You probably know about this already but I found an awesome website with an early video that was superb!! Rick_Roderick.avi;
October 12, 2007 - 16:16
Wow, I think I checked this site a year ago there were about 2 posts and I though to myself, 'well here's a site that'll never grow because the world is far too stupid." Amazing to see that people actually listen to and appreciate Roderick. The site admin did the world a great favor putting up all those lectures, but even if I saw the future long ago and knew they would be posted here eventually, I would probably still have spent the $55 on the set of used tapes of the Nietzsche course that I miraculously managed to snatch off of Amazon, just to get at them quicker.
While I've managed to get ahold of all of the lectures on audio, I have, like Chris - the poster before me - been looking everywhere for the videos. If anyone knows of the whereabouts of any, please do tell.
-Andrey
P.S. To Marshall Roderick, if you ever get chance, please do describe, as much as your time permits, the last 10 years of your father's great life. It would be much appreciated.
While I've managed to get ahold of all of the lectures on audio, I have, like Chris - the poster before me - been looking everywhere for the videos. If anyone knows of the whereabouts of any, please do tell.
-Andrey
P.S. To Marshall Roderick, if you ever get chance, please do describe, as much as your time permits, the last 10 years of your father's great life. It would be much appreciated.
October 17, 2007 - 05:46
I have back up copies in EP mode on old vhs tapes. They are watchable.
God, I must have been in poverty in those days not to have used a couple extra videotapes for SP speed.
I'd be willing to share these if I was sure to get them back.
God, I must have been in poverty in those days not to have used a couple extra videotapes for SP speed.
I'd be willing to share these if I was sure to get them back.
October 18, 2007 - 04:33
Hey Joe. I don't really know what EP is or SP, but if it is something watchable on VCR that would be amazing. Where are you at? (I'm in USA, Jersey to be exact). There's a place on the web where you can send a VHS tape and have them make a DVD for you and send you back both. If you'd be willing to go along with it, I would pay to have the DVDs made, then I could copy the DVD and send it to you also. My email is ayg209@nyu.edu. Let me know what you think.
October 22, 2007 - 17:10
if this plan works and i somehow end up with a copy, i will make it one of my life's projects to redistrubite to anyone who requests it, completely free of charge
ctrlshift @ gmail
ctrlshift @ gmail
October 16, 2007 - 17:24
"...there are far worse things than being mad, and one of them is to be in a culture that is mad, and to consider yourself sane. That's worse"
Someone from the Philippines looks up to Mr. Roderick as well.
I've been looking for the video lectures too. I found one on the net titled the emancipatory challenge of critical theory.
Here's the link:
video.google.com
Someone from the Philippines looks up to Mr. Roderick as well.
I've been looking for the video lectures too. I found one on the net titled the emancipatory challenge of critical theory.
Here's the link:
video.google.com
October 18, 2007 - 15:16
Ah ah!! This video is so funny!!
The interviewer is obviously uncomfortable and has no idea what he's talking about. And he's well aware of it but he doesn't seem to care at all...
The interviewer is obviously uncomfortable and has no idea what he's talking about. And he's well aware of it but he doesn't seem to care at all...
October 21, 2007 - 18:34
Well I don't know, I think she liked him and understood all that he was saying. Perhaps in the later part of the talk they may have disagreed about a few things involving the university system (after all what he was discussing is a quite radical interpretation), but I think overall she was very receptive and intrigued.
October 29, 2007 - 02:46
I'm a TeachCo addict that just started listening to the earliest courses I could find and was delighted to come across Rick Roderick. A little shockingly different than any other courses to say the least, but that Rick he wanted it that way. I became used to his style and began preferring them over all other courses! I'm very saddened to hear he passed away 5 years ago. Here are my Teaching Company forums and groups to discuss anything about Rick:
Fellow Teaching Company addicts can now view Yahoo groups and phpbb forums:
A forum on each individual lecture in all recent courses:
teachingcompany.12.forumer.com
My posts in Robert Hazen's "Origins of Life" forum:
teachingcompany.12.forumer.com
Some of my new Yahoo groups:
groups.yahoo.com
groups.yahoo.com
groups.yahoo.com
Doug van Orsow
moderator
Fellow Teaching Company addicts can now view Yahoo groups and phpbb forums:
A forum on each individual lecture in all recent courses:
teachingcompany.12.forumer.com
My posts in Robert Hazen's "Origins of Life" forum:
teachingcompany.12.forumer.com
Some of my new Yahoo groups:
groups.yahoo.com
groups.yahoo.com
groups.yahoo.com
Doug van Orsow
moderator
November 08, 2007 - 06:52
Hi. I want to apologize for the long delay but I have to make up for the fact that I'm not nearly as clever as my dad by working full time and actually spending time to read and study as I go to school. I have been digging up everything I can from my mom's house but I haven't found any video yet. I know that there were two things on VHS at one point in her house: a talk at a conference in Toronto and a news story on a protest. Other than that I have found two audio tapes of casual conversations, a handful of papers, and some other things of interest (love poems and other screeds.) I want to distribute as much about the man as I can because he was a hero of mine as well and the foundation on which everything I thought I knew about the world rests.
December 06, 2007 - 00:13
where'e travis?
December 12, 2007 - 18:18
Travis stays away from computers altogether.
November 08, 2007 - 06:54
my father moved through dooms of love
e.e. cummings
my father moved through dooms of love
through sames of am through haves of give,
singing each morning out of each night
my father moved through depths of height
this motionless forgetful where
turned at his glance to shining here;
that if(so timid air is firm)
under his eyes would stir and squirm
newly as from unburied which
floats the first who,his april touch
drove sleeping selves to swarm their fates
woke dreamers to their ghostly roots
and should some why completely weep
my father's fingers brought her sleep:
vainly no smallest voice might cry
for he could feel the mountains grow.
Lifting the valleys of the sea
my father moved through griefs of joy;
praising a forehead he called the moon
singing desire into begin
joy was his song and joy so pure
a heart of star by him could steer
and pure so now and now so yes
the wrists of twilight would rejoice
keen as midsummer's keen beyond
conceiving mind of sun will stand,
so strictly(over utmost him
so hugely)stood my father's dream
his flesh was flesh his blood was blood:
no hungry man but wished him food;
no cripple wouldn't creep one mile
uphill to only see him smile.
Scorning the pomp of must and shall
my father moved through dooms of feel;
his anger was as right as rain
his pity was as green as grain
septembering arms of year extend
less humbly wealth to foe and friend
than he to foolish and to wise
offered immeasurable is
proudly and(by octobering flame
beckoned)as earth will downward climb,
so naked for immortal work
his shoulders marched against the dark
his sorrow was as true as bread:
no liar looked him in the head;
if every friend became his foe
he'd laugh and build a world with snow.
My father moved through theys of we,
singing each new leaf out of each tree
(and every child was sure that spring
danced when she heard my father sing)
then let men kill which cannot share,
let blood and flesh be mud and mire,
scheming imagine,passion willed,
freedom a drug that's bought and sold
giving to steal and cruel kind,
a heart to fear,to doubt a mind,
to differ a disease of same,
conform the pinnacle of am
though dull were all we taste as bright,
bitter all utterly things sweet,
maggoty minus and dumb death
all we inherit,all bequeath
and nothing quite so least as truth
—i say though hate were why man breathe—
because my father lived his soul
love is the whole and more than all
e.e. cummings
my father moved through dooms of love
through sames of am through haves of give,
singing each morning out of each night
my father moved through depths of height
this motionless forgetful where
turned at his glance to shining here;
that if(so timid air is firm)
under his eyes would stir and squirm
newly as from unburied which
floats the first who,his april touch
drove sleeping selves to swarm their fates
woke dreamers to their ghostly roots
and should some why completely weep
my father's fingers brought her sleep:
vainly no smallest voice might cry
for he could feel the mountains grow.
Lifting the valleys of the sea
my father moved through griefs of joy;
praising a forehead he called the moon
singing desire into begin
joy was his song and joy so pure
a heart of star by him could steer
and pure so now and now so yes
the wrists of twilight would rejoice
keen as midsummer's keen beyond
conceiving mind of sun will stand,
so strictly(over utmost him
so hugely)stood my father's dream
his flesh was flesh his blood was blood:
no hungry man but wished him food;
no cripple wouldn't creep one mile
uphill to only see him smile.
Scorning the pomp of must and shall
my father moved through dooms of feel;
his anger was as right as rain
his pity was as green as grain
septembering arms of year extend
less humbly wealth to foe and friend
than he to foolish and to wise
offered immeasurable is
proudly and(by octobering flame
beckoned)as earth will downward climb,
so naked for immortal work
his shoulders marched against the dark
his sorrow was as true as bread:
no liar looked him in the head;
if every friend became his foe
he'd laugh and build a world with snow.
My father moved through theys of we,
singing each new leaf out of each tree
(and every child was sure that spring
danced when she heard my father sing)
then let men kill which cannot share,
let blood and flesh be mud and mire,
scheming imagine,passion willed,
freedom a drug that's bought and sold
giving to steal and cruel kind,
a heart to fear,to doubt a mind,
to differ a disease of same,
conform the pinnacle of am
though dull were all we taste as bright,
bitter all utterly things sweet,
maggoty minus and dumb death
all we inherit,all bequeath
and nothing quite so least as truth
—i say though hate were why man breathe—
because my father lived his soul
love is the whole and more than all
March 13, 2008 - 04:26
Your father is a gift to humanity: an incredible Dasein. Wonderful cummings poem.
August 07, 2008 - 06:17
The Dungeon (for Rick)
I saw you prayin in the dungeon
That's my blood up on that wall
Those are the shackles I was hung in
Are we even here
were we ever here at all ?
I saw you climbin up a mountain
filled with crags of hate and war
we'll all be searchin for that fountain
I think I wrote this song
I Know we've sung this song before
I saw you walkin in the garden
among the blooms of love and truth
it seems the dungeon has been hard on
the blooms of beauty and of youth
All your beauty and your youth
I heard you cryin in the distance
There is no comfort for to bring
It's just the dungeon of existence
It's the reason we can
The only reason we must sing
I saw you dyin in the moonlight
you won't make it til dawn
take some solace in your long night
we'll be here to
always here to carry on
I saw you prayin in the dungeon
That's my blood up on that wall
Those are the shackles I was hung in
Are we even here
were we ever here at all ?
I saw you climbin up a mountain
filled with crags of hate and war
we'll all be searchin for that fountain
I think I wrote this song
I Know we've sung this song before
I saw you walkin in the garden
among the blooms of love and truth
it seems the dungeon has been hard on
the blooms of beauty and of youth
All your beauty and your youth
I heard you cryin in the distance
There is no comfort for to bring
It's just the dungeon of existence
It's the reason we can
The only reason we must sing
I saw you dyin in the moonlight
you won't make it til dawn
take some solace in your long night
we'll be here to
always here to carry on
November 15, 2007 - 02:41
I would like to note that in his Nietzsche lecture how hard it was to tell whether he was talking about the US in 2007, rather than the 199X year it was recorded.
August 06, 2008 - 07:55
agreed totally relevant today as his thought ever was
November 16, 2007 - 04:42
Marshall,
I just want you to know that your father was a Hero and a being in time that left his project for all of our gain. If only we could enlighten the masses with some of Rick's views of money and capitalizm (z on facist purpose). Yes, I live in the lap of capitalizm but the more I become aware of the devastation created by it, the more I hope we can find a way to prevent the inevitable collapse. Hey, maybe a new myth? The Second Coming may not turn out to be a religious figure but another prophet professing "Repent, the end of OIL is near and if you don't your heaven on earth will turn to hell".
BTW my real name IS John, no 3:16 or other such power, just John
I just want you to know that your father was a Hero and a being in time that left his project for all of our gain. If only we could enlighten the masses with some of Rick's views of money and capitalizm (z on facist purpose). Yes, I live in the lap of capitalizm but the more I become aware of the devastation created by it, the more I hope we can find a way to prevent the inevitable collapse. Hey, maybe a new myth? The Second Coming may not turn out to be a religious figure but another prophet professing "Repent, the end of OIL is near and if you don't your heaven on earth will turn to hell".
BTW my real name IS John, no 3:16 or other such power, just John
December 02, 2007 - 21:02
Thanx aLotz...
December 09, 2007 - 03:03
Thanks so much for posting these! I had only heard Self Under Siege and was amazed at how entertaining, yet deep and insightful his lecture style was.
December 17, 2007 - 06:04
Thanks a lot. Rick lives in his lectures. Although they went out of print long time ago, still his voice is with us. This site is a proof that Rick Roderick did a good job and people appreciate his ideas even in these times of break-neck competition, greed, rat-race and rampant selfishness. Thanks Rick for keeping the truth alive. I first found this site about six months ago and since then I have tried my best to do my bit to direct more people to it and spread Rick's words to a wider audience. It is very nice to see this site growing. Please leave your comments after enjoying the lectures.
Thanks
Thanks
December 17, 2007 - 06:05
Thanks a lot. Rick lives in his lectures. Although they went out of print long time ago, still his voice is with us. This site is a proof that Rick Roderick did a good job and people appreciate his ideas even in these times of break-neck competition, greed, rat-race and rampant selfishness. Thanks Rick for keeping the truth alive. I first found this site about six months ago and since then I have tried my best to do my bit to direct more people to it and spread Rick's words to a wider audience. It is very nice to see this site growing. Please leave your comments after enjoying the lectures.
Thanks
Thanks
December 20, 2007 - 05:22
I would like to purchase Rick Rodericks courses by the Teaching Company, where can I get them?
January 01, 2008 - 22:41
he is great.
January 03, 2008 - 15:33
@greg
you can't. download from here's your best option. (perhaps you can try on eBay, though)
@telo
unfortunately was, not is
you can't. download from here's your best option. (perhaps you can try on eBay, though)
@telo
unfortunately was, not is
January 05, 2008 - 06:16
Thank you for the download links. I checked these out from my library years ago but they don't have them anymore. I am really looking forward to revisiting these lectures. Thanks again.
January 06, 2008 - 04:47
New York public library has all three video lectures on tape. For those not in the area you can try using worldcat.org to do an interlibrary loan through your local library or University. I too wish Rick was still around and further would love to hear or see any other media former students or friends might have. I know I still have a habit of taping all the lectures I attend, so some Roderick fan out there must be as neurotic as I am. Hopefully that person will find this site and post some rips (ideally this Hegel Marx class that keeps getting mentioned)!!!!! Thanks so much for the site, wish I had more to contribute.
p
p
February 18, 2008 - 12:45
links to library info for the videos:
Philosophy and human values
worldcat.org
The self under siege philosophy in the twentieth century
worldcat.org
Nietzsche and the post-modern condition
worldcat.org
Invisible child abuse
worldcat.org
Philosophy and human values
worldcat.org
The self under siege philosophy in the twentieth century
worldcat.org
Nietzsche and the post-modern condition
worldcat.org
Invisible child abuse
worldcat.org
February 22, 2008 - 12:50
thanks a lot; very cool link;Tony
February 18, 2008 - 14:20
if anyone has access to any of the libraries in the above links (and can be bothered borrowing and encoding the videos), the internet will be truly grateful
February 23, 2008 - 07:09
Christ! Hey Marshall and Travis and Taylor and Max! Have you seen this new TV show ... "South Park"? Amazing!
I'm back in Austin and already the journalism students want me to report on perceived harshness of certain probation/registration conditions. Yeah. According to Andrea, Travis became pissed at me circa 1999 and that was the end of my direct communication with the fam. Sorry T-Dog, for whatever the hell I did, you bastard! Wrote Irene after the passing of Our Lord but she never responded.
Sued the state pro se and won computer rights for inmates so now my peoples can learn -- one good thing that came out of this freaking fiasco. Taught GED, did free legal work, and politicked in emergency/provocation/humorous style whenever possible. So my Rick-module was still operating even after the Nervous Breakdown of '99. Mastered emacs lisp and objective C. I'm now balder than Marshall is in his pool pic. Austin sure has changed. Finishing up the diss now. Oh well, more later ...
I'm back in Austin and already the journalism students want me to report on perceived harshness of certain probation/registration conditions. Yeah. According to Andrea, Travis became pissed at me circa 1999 and that was the end of my direct communication with the fam. Sorry T-Dog, for whatever the hell I did, you bastard! Wrote Irene after the passing of Our Lord but she never responded.
Sued the state pro se and won computer rights for inmates so now my peoples can learn -- one good thing that came out of this freaking fiasco. Taught GED, did free legal work, and politicked in emergency/provocation/humorous style whenever possible. So my Rick-module was still operating even after the Nervous Breakdown of '99. Mastered emacs lisp and objective C. I'm now balder than Marshall is in his pool pic. Austin sure has changed. Finishing up the diss now. Oh well, more later ...
March 01, 2008 - 14:48
Thanks for maintaining this site. I've been more inspired by Roderick than any professor I've had at any physical university. I think TTC discontinued his shit; ran a search and couldn't even find Self Under Siege. Guess that means there's no reason to feel guilty downloading the series off emule.
March 04, 2008 - 20:03
Rick makes me proud to be a Texan. It's a shame the image of a straight-shooting, witty, irreverant Texan has been forever tarnished in the World's eyes by Bush. Im so thankful that these tapes were made and circulated on the internet and torent sites, etc. Wonderful man and mind.
March 08, 2008 - 22:44
To think that this lecture series was free. Wow. It's one of the best, meaning the most personally affective I've ever heard. He's not dead.
March 13, 2008 - 00:27
Thank you so much for posting this website. YOu have no idea how much difference in term of understand that the roderick lectures to me.
March 17, 2008 - 06:32
I'm in the midst of listening to Prof. Roderick's Self Under Seige. I am thoroughly enjoying his style of teaching with attempts to relate the great ideas with events and personages of our time. Perhpas this is where he got into trouble: characterizing Jesse Helms as one of them Christians who love God but hate people. I believe Helms was a powerful guy at the time in the nation and in North Carolina. I am interested in knowing more about him and finding more of his materials on tape or whatever medium. To me he is authentic, not pretentious. I don't agree with him entirely on some of his characterizations or interpretations from The Self lectures, but that is what I believe he would encourage: a conversation about these ideas and the contemporary vacuum of real values and critical thinking.
April 05, 2008 - 04:58
What an incredible inspirational figure. I wished I had a person like that to converse with everyday.
April 10, 2008 - 20:16
My name is David Caploe ... I'm pretty sure Marshall and Travis will remember me ... I remember Taylor and Max, but they were so young ...
I was the OTHER "radical" professor at Duke, for a much shorter period of time than Rick, because I was in political science -- which was a REALLY right-wing department ...
Some of Rick's students from the time may remember me and my classes ... there was some overlap ...
For those of you around the world who are into the substance of the theoretical stuff Rick was saying, you might want to check out my website: www.medianalysis.org ...
And my blog, which is totally political: www.grokyourworld.com
In about a month or so, all the lectures that I recorded while teaching at an allegedly "radical" school in San Francisco -- now, justly, out of business -- are going to be up on the medianalysis.com website ...
Please feel free to check them out ... and to email me as well -- drdave2000@gmail.com
Two P.S.s: I did some work for the Teaching Company for a while in the early 90s and they HATED Rick, despite his success for them ... typical ...
And I TOLD Rick he drank too much ... he would have been much better off if he'd been more, er, herbally-oriented ... ...
Glad to see this website ... while I remain friends with several of my students from Duke days, Rick was the ONLY "colleague" who was a real person, and not a total waste ...
How's Irene doing, btw ??? Please send her my best ... I'm in Singapore, of all places ...
I was the OTHER "radical" professor at Duke, for a much shorter period of time than Rick, because I was in political science -- which was a REALLY right-wing department ...
Some of Rick's students from the time may remember me and my classes ... there was some overlap ...
For those of you around the world who are into the substance of the theoretical stuff Rick was saying, you might want to check out my website: www.medianalysis.org ...
And my blog, which is totally political: www.grokyourworld.com
In about a month or so, all the lectures that I recorded while teaching at an allegedly "radical" school in San Francisco -- now, justly, out of business -- are going to be up on the medianalysis.com website ...
Please feel free to check them out ... and to email me as well -- drdave2000@gmail.com
Two P.S.s: I did some work for the Teaching Company for a while in the early 90s and they HATED Rick, despite his success for them ... typical ...
And I TOLD Rick he drank too much ... he would have been much better off if he'd been more, er, herbally-oriented ...
... Glad to see this website ... while I remain friends with several of my students from Duke days, Rick was the ONLY "colleague" who was a real person, and not a total waste ...
How's Irene doing, btw ??? Please send her my best ... I'm in Singapore, of all places ...
April 30, 2008 - 06:49
There is a video interview of Rick on Google video.
video.google.com
If this link does not work, you can get it by searching for "Rick Roderick" in Google video.
video.google.com
If this link does not work, you can get it by searching for "Rick Roderick" in Google video.
- "George Orwell was a pie-eyed optimist."
- "That's what I like about death: it's democratic."