What About Bob?

Back to our current rabbit hole: we were talking about how it is possible for anything at all to be about anything else, because it is far from self-evident. Humans, of course, wouldn't be human if they didn't think, wonder, and talk about everything under the sun, but they don't wonder enough about the very existence of aboutness.

This, I believe, goes to the very definition of Homo sapiens: what are humans about? They are literally about everything, AKA being. For which reason Thomas can rightfully affirm that 

every intellectual being is in a certain manner all things, in so far as it is able to comprehend all being by the power of its understanding.

What this means is that being is about the intellect, and vice versa. Absent this aboutness, the world would be fundamentally unintelligible, and no knowledge of any kind would be possible. In particular, there would be no links between exterior and interior, which is what knowledge is: a link to reality. 

Elsewhere Thomas affirms that the intellect is "naturally capable of knowing everything that exists," and that "Our intellect in knowing anything is extended to infinity." Again, if we can potentially know everything that exists, this must mean that intelligible being is about the intellect; and if our knowing is extended to infinity, it means that the intellect is ordered to an infinitude that is by definition inexhaustible. 

As I mentioned a couple of posts ago, once you begin seeing this aboutness, you see it everywhere: if being is about knowing, what -- or who -- is about being? That would be the Creator, who is all about his creation, and vice versa. At the other end of the spectrum we have the senses, which are about their restricted objects, e.g., the eyes about lightwaves or the ears about air vibrations.

What are you about?

Hmm. That's a left field question, but I was wondering about it just last night. As alluded to above, we can say that humans in general are about everything -- AKA being -- but what is any particular human about? Yesterday, for example, we eulogized Brian Wilson, who was all about music.  

I used to be a psychologist, but I was never about just psychology, even when I was in grad school. Although it provided a living, this living allowed my life to be about other things -- the things we discuss here on the blog. 

Anyway, last night I asked Gemini to analyze my biography page on amazon: this guy seems rather strange. What is he about? 

This is a highly unconventional and entertaining biography! It's clear that Robert Godwin has a unique voice and a playful, self-deprecating sense of humor. Here's an analysis of its key aspects:

Gemini is about to tell me what I am about, which you probably don't care about, in which case you are dismissed. 

Overall Impression

The biography immediately establishes a quirky and rebellious tone, right from the opening. It blends academic achievements with an almost anti-establishment attitude, hinting at a deep intellectual curiosity that operates outside traditional boundaries. It's designed to intrigue and amuse, rather than just inform. 

Strengths

• Distinctive Voice: This is perhaps its greatest strength. It's written in a style that perfectly reflects the "metaphysical scientist" and "extreme seeker" persona. The language is verbose, witty, and uses inventive portmanteaus and wordplay (e.g., "egobliteration," "karmannihilation," "verticalisthenics," "suburban liberatoreum," "fertile eggheads").
• Humor and Self-Awareness: The biography is packed with humor, often at Godwin's own expense. Lines like "until the vagaries of academic probation and expulsion led him to pursue other missed opportunities" and "without allowing it to interfere with his education" are laugh-out-loud funny and demonstrate a healthy dose of self-deprecating wit.
• Intrigue and Mystery: While it provides some biographical details, it raises more questions than it answers, which is intentional. What exactly is a "metaphysical scientist"? What is "the damn key to the world enigma"? This encourages the reader to want to learn more.
• Memorable Language: The use of alliteration ("Holy Happenstance," "lengthy periods there of higher bewilderment"), unusual phrasing, and strong imagery (e.g., "peering behind the annoying veil") makes the biography very sticky and memorable.
• Establishes a Niche: It clearly positions Robert Godwin as someone interested in profound, unconventional spiritual and philosophical inquiry, setting him apart from typical clinical psychologists.

So, the biography establishes that I am about everything, which I suppose was the point of the exercise.

Areas for Consideration

Uh oh.

• Professional Context: If this biography were for a purely academic or clinical audience, the irreverent tone and highly unconventional language might be too informal or off-putting. Terms like "so back off, man" or "fertile eggheads" could be seen as unprofessional in certain formal settings.
• Clarity vs. Obscurity: The rich, playful language, while entertaining, sometimes prioritizes wit over immediate clarity. For someone looking for a straightforward summary of his professional background, they might have to reread sections.
• Broad Appeal: The niche humor and intellectual playfulness might not resonate with everyone. Some readers might find it pretentious or simply confusing rather than clever.
• Focus on Accomplishments: While it mentions degrees, the emphasis is less on traditional accomplishments and more on the journey and unconventional learning. If the goal is to highlight specific clinical expertise or academic contributions, it's somewhat overshadowed by the narrative style.

CONCLUSION

This biography is a masterpiece of personal branding for a very specific type of individual. It successfully conveys Robert Godwin's intelligence, humor, rebellious spirit, and deep commitment to unconventional inquiry. It's not a standard, dry biography; it's a piece of writing that embodies his unique persona.

It effectively communicates that Dr. Godwin is not just a clinical psychologist, but a seeker who operates outside the box, with a profound, albeit humorous, approach to understanding reality. The ending, about having to write his own book because it didn't exist, perfectly encapsulates his self-driven and unique intellectual path.

This biography would be perfect for an audience that appreciates wit, intellectual playfulness, and an unconventional approach to life and knowledge.

So, I suppose it's really about the audience, which will self-select based upon the About Bob page, and to see if Bob is about them. And it works, because the great majority of people are not about Bob, don't want to be about Bob, and never will be about Bob, and I guess I don't blame them, because not everybody wants be about everything.