We’ve had some things to say about nothing (here, here, and here), or at least about how some people who themselves claim to have something to say about nothing in fact have nothing, or at least nothing of importance, to say about nothing. Or something like that. One thing’s for sure, and that’s that this is a subject about which one had better have a sense of humor.
So, for the blog reader who has everything, here’s a little more about nothing, and on the lighter side. (Nothing can be pretty heavy, after all.) For something on nothing written along philosophical but humorous lines, there’s nothing better than P. L. Heath’s article “Nothing” from the 1967 Encyclopedia of Philosophy, edited by Paul Edwards. Something also worth reading about nothing is Jim Holt’s “Nothing Ventured,” from the November 1994 issue of Harper’s. Holt’s book on the subject, Why Does the World Exist?, is due to appear (not out of nothing, presumably) next year. I’ll no doubt have something to say about it when it does. (Holt’s little book Stop Me If You’ve Heard This: A History and Philosophy of Jokes, about which I’ve long been meaning to write up a blog post, is terrific.)
No need to thank me. It was nothing.
