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[jim in paris]

howdie!

if you were to quote a philosopher linked to tops
it would have to be
SPINoza

after all ...
isn't each throw a compromise between determinism and freedom ?

jim

[lincolnrick]

 

[the Earl of Whirl]

In an attempt to have something significant to add to this thread, I put philosopher and top spinning in Google.  Much to my surprise the very first response was about the Scottish philosopher Adam Smith, from the 1700's.  It turns out that he has several spinning top sculptures around that symbolize some of his ideas and one is in Ohio at Cleveland State University!!!

Check out this link.  The top spinning sculpture is 2/3 of the way down on the right.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Smith

[lincolnrick]

Nice find Mike.  Here's a link to a really good picture of that sculpture.

[ta0]

Oh, I love this board!
Great one, Jim. And great find Mike!
Cleveland State University? And Cincy doesn't have one? 
I guess that is another reason to visit Ohio 

Here is another (earlier) spintop sculpture about Adam Smith from the same artist, Jim Sanborn, at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.



It seems the metaphor of the top is a vigorous economy standing up. I did an online search of the Wealth of Nations and did not find any reference to spinning tops.

[jim in paris]

ah ah that's amazing !

from just a pun , we get to a clue and a fact !
very evocative sculptures with the top unfolding a manuscript/////
thanks mike for following the trail ... we 're still a long way before ending the quest ;--))

and to remain in a philosophical overtone , i'd quote R Kipling

"teach us to delight in simple things ..."

 

jim

[hemingsoft]

Well Mike may have the largest Rascal collection, but I believe that these would be the largest rascals.