britone mwasaru

I am not a fan of biographies (i think they are usually too curated) but i wanted to get a glimpse into how one forms strong views on different subjects.

The author takes us through an ancestral lineage that has produced a lot of missionaries before Derik Parfit is born. The parents spent time in China providing medical assistance & services to underserved communities. His family history is rich in intellectual and humanitarian pursuits shaped Parfit’s life. His own life is dedicated to pursuing ethical questions. Parfit spent his time so engaged in philosophical debates, teaching and commenting on his students’ work. There were also a lot of vodka bottles.

Interestingly he spent a lot of time traveling for photography. He is equally spent a lot of money, he would spend a lot of time post processing the photos. You can look at some photos here https://express.adobe.com/page/Tz8IkRg1fCA8Y/ His photographs are characterized by their meticulous composition, often taken during dawn or dusk to utilize the “near-horizontal golden rays” of light. When editing he removed elements he deemed distracting, such as people, vehicles, and scaffolding, to present an idealized version of reality. This practice reflected his philosophical pursuit of timeless truths and perfection. This obsession is echoed in how he spent a lot of time getting his books published.

For me, my key takeaway was how the authored ended the book. We can be obsessed with narrow pursuits but at a certain cost. The question is will the gamble pay off.