Curt Ball is the President of Fundamental Labor Strategies®, Inc. He graduated with a BA from Franklin and Marshall College in 1985 earning the John B. Noss Prize in Philosophy and has kept a lifelong interest in the subject. He earned an MBA from the Boston University School of Management in 1987.
What are your favorite books?
Now this is a tough call, but two books come to mind that I have read and reread many times and are among my favorites: Peter Camenzind by Hermann Hesse and The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. The former because it is just lyric and beautifully written. The latter because, simply put, it is just a damn good story. I would recommend the Hesse book to anyone who appreciates a style of writing which, in my view, is very economical yet delivers a lot. The Steinbeck book is for anyone that likes a great tale by a great story teller.
What are you currently reading?
I am currently reading The Second World War by Antony Beevor. This book has been out for some time and is a very readable, descriptive, and comprehensive history of WWII. If you like history, it is a great book. Next up and on deck is The Ghost: The Secret Life of CIA Spymaster James Jesus Angleton by Jefferson Morley.
What is your favorite movie?
Dr. Strangelove makes the top of my favorite movie list. It is dark, funny, historical, and, yes, very philosophical. It is a great movie for amateur philosophers that want to think through a problem and laugh their tails off at the same time!
What excites you about philosophy?
We all philosophize, all day, every day. The thing that most excites me about philosophy is that it helps us do this with intentionality, rather than just by accident. The sharp(er) reading, writing, and reasoning skills I have gained are universally applicable to everything I do in life and I am better for them.
Who is your favorite philosopher?
My favorite philosopher is Aristotle. While it has been some time since I’ve read his work, it is the material which I liked the most and, not surprisingly, with which I am the most familiar. His work is comprehensive, covering virtually all aspects of academic study, and is, in my view, foundational. If philosophy has a function, then you better start with Aristotle! Trust me, you will be happy!
This section of the APA Blog is designed to get to know our fellow philosophers a little better. We’re including profiles of APA members that spotlight what captures their interest not only inside the office, but also outside of it. We’d love for you to be a part of it, so please contact us via the interview nomination form here to nominate yourself or a friend.
Dr. Sabrina D. MisirHiralall is an editor at the Blog of the APA who currently teaches philosophy, religion, and education courses solely online for Montclair State University, Three Rivers Community College, and St. John’s University.
