Calvin and Hobbes and Intergrity

More philosophical wisdom has been rendered by the ten-year run of Calvin and Hobbes (1985-1995) than by a decade of MMs.

Each of the biggies – stoicism, free will, existentialism, paradox, materialistic hedonism, human ethics, our place in the universe – have all showed up among the frames featuring the musings of six-year-old Calvin (so-named after that 16th-century theologian) and his tiger Hobbes (so-named after that political philosopher – whether he is “real” or “imaginary” simply amounts to two versions of reality, like life itself).

For the many (of us), the strip has been the bridge between the imagination of childhood and whatever it is that comes thereafter. The cartoon genius of Bill Watterson is in his framing of 2000-year-old philosophical questions through that sense of wonder often lost with the hardening of the arteries. The heady questions become fresh and delicious once again.

Our discussion will focus on a feature so often lost in a culture that often embraces shortcuts, intellectual fraud, and easy-money. That feature is integrity. Bill Watterson never budged on principles. He fought Universal Press Syndicate against merchandising Calvin and Hobbes for six years – and won. To avoid putting out work he considered shoddy, he took many long sabbaticals, an unheard-of privilege for syndicated cartoonists. After ending it, he excised Calvin and Hobbes out of his life with surgical precision and thoroughness (click: Calvin And Hobbes And The Price Of Integrity).

The concern about putting out shoddy work has led me to hit the pause button on MM, at least in its current form. One thought is to feature rotating hosts on Mondays and we have already lined up two such sessions (club closed on 6/29): 7/13 will again feature Joe Logan (forest preservation); 7/27 will be hosted by Eddie Zapata (with Brigitte Mars on plants as medicine).

Please note the following RSVP Policy for Member Monday: RSVP sign-up opens up at 11:00am on Fridays via the City Club weekly Newsletter. Seats are first-come, first-served: the first 14 secure a spot at the table, the last 3 on the couch. Cancellations must be made 24 hours in advance or the standard Social Lunch rate applies.