Preliminary notes on the Philosopher's Stone

So I been thinking about what it might mean to have a PhD. PhD stands for Philosophy Doctor. At first, in 2011, I thought I'd buy a stethoscope. I searched the medical websites. Eventually I bought a skeleton model instead. PhD. Doctor. Dr. Yeah, ok, I'll fulfil your prescription: do one Ursonate and see me in the morning. Is it not weird that it's not "DrPh" instead of "PhD"? I have a general idea about what philosophy might be but it seems harder to comprehend what it would mean to have a PhD than it does to imagine oneself the "Master" of something. That was easy. I could do that when I was small.

Today I decided to do something about this mysterious non-problem/iSSue. I pulled out the one and only Harry Potter dvd we have. I worked out why the playstation wasnt turning on, plugged in the power and spent an uncomfortable time searching the channels to find the movie. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone actually doesn't dwell too long on the Stone or on philosophy. While waiting for these portions, I stopped the dvd each time Snape graced the screen. When the movie was over I posted the 8 best Snapes on Tumblr. Daniel liked it.

Starting with an Ikea pencil, I wrote down things that seemed interesting - that it might be magically different to become a Philosophy Doctor. The proof of being a Wizard is interesting. "did you ever make anything happen, anything you couldn't explain?" Artists make art they can't explain ALL THE TIME. At least initially? There is something about wizards about having some supernatural authority over matter that they may have in common with artists. Something about making base things divine, or infusing base things with divinity of some kind. Or having superior skills in moving things around.

The film is nearly over when the topic of the Philosopher's Stone comes up. Hermione gives something like the wikipedia (or wikipedia uses Rowling's description) of Nicolas Flamel who allegedly made or created Philosopher's Stone in France ages ago. Astonishing powers! I wonder if they are akin to 'fabulous secret powers'? Anyhoo, all the rest of my wikipedia-esque research turned up little more 'astonishing powers' than the two primary properties mentioned in the movie: turns base metal to gold, elixir of life. In the movie Harry is able to take possession of the Stone by not wanting it. The stories of Flamel in which the writers insist he may still be alive are quick to note he does not use the stone selfishly. Theres something about desire and morality that comes out of nowhere to the front here. Perhaps to save the Stone itself from appearing as a shortcut. Devilry. Vanity. 

In various parts of both Rowling's writings and stories of Flamel, dreams were mentioned. That writers receive information about the Stone or their writing about the Stone in their dreams. I started to read about the alchemy, the antiquated discipline from which the Philosopher's Stone springs. The idea is so seductive- of a mega-discipline in which religious, mythical, scientific and spiritual study are one and the same. The mere idea of these now disparate and waring factions uniting could metaphorically stand for the Stone itself: the "secret laws of the universe" themselves would surely facilitate the transformations promised by the Stone?

Eh. Its tiring though. 

I watched the Mabo episode of the First Australians and the whole thing seems REALLY stupid and inconsequential. There are awesome people with answers and were all just too stupid to ask. 

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