http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7f0GStBCeUU&feature=player_embedded
Before I started any kind of study of academic philosophy, I was mostly exposed to certain ideas by pop-philosophers (which these days are mostly comedians). George Carlin being a large intellectual influence merely by his combination of humor and thoughtfulness.
Although I disagree with some of George's motives for taking this stand, I find the result to be brave and admirable.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Monday, December 20, 2010
Philosophical Punch in the Mouth Vol.4
This quote comes from Seneca's essay regarding the virtue of mercy. I've picked this because I am a new teacher and this fairly describes my ideal for classroom management.
"There is the further point that a great many people are capable of returning to virtue's path if punishment is waved. But pardon should not be exercised in an unthinking way; for once the distinction between bad men and good is removed, what follows is confusion and the outbreak of vice; accordingly a wise restraint should be shown, such as is capable of distinguishing between curable characters and ones past hope. The mercy we exercise ought not to be indiscriminate and for all and sundry but it should not be withheld completely; for pardoning all involves no less cruelty than pardoning none. We must preserve a mean; but because equilibrium is not easily achieved, whatever is likely to tilt the balance should incline the scale in the more benign direction."
I have been called too nice as a professional and maybe I am not reaching a proper equilibrium, but this is because I continually incline to that benign direction.
"There is the further point that a great many people are capable of returning to virtue's path if punishment is waved. But pardon should not be exercised in an unthinking way; for once the distinction between bad men and good is removed, what follows is confusion and the outbreak of vice; accordingly a wise restraint should be shown, such as is capable of distinguishing between curable characters and ones past hope. The mercy we exercise ought not to be indiscriminate and for all and sundry but it should not be withheld completely; for pardoning all involves no less cruelty than pardoning none. We must preserve a mean; but because equilibrium is not easily achieved, whatever is likely to tilt the balance should incline the scale in the more benign direction."
I have been called too nice as a professional and maybe I am not reaching a proper equilibrium, but this is because I continually incline to that benign direction.
Monday, December 13, 2010
Emotionalism
Before I get into reasoning, I'll just declare that I don't want to be an emotional person. The fewer emotions I can have, the better. I have no expectation of this happening in my lifetime, but I keep it as a personal goal. For people in mindsets other than the Stoic or perhaps Buddhist (the eastern cousin of Stoicism) way of thinking, this seems ludicrous, dangerous, or perhaps cowardly. I've spent my entire life in a shroud of rubberized feelings bouncing up/down/left/right and mostly in circles. I can't speak for anyone, but I don't see much different in the shared lives of those around me.
My perception is that we have three states. Good feelings, bad feelings, and no feelings. However, good and bad feelings are in one dimension of existence and no feelings is in another. What I mean is that the good and bad feelings have a special relationship. They play off each other and depend on each other. They form a necessary dichotomy. We misuse impressions to create a bad feeling and when the fog is lifted from our mistake it is transformed into a good feeling. Similarly, we push ourselves to emotional highs regarding the objects of our lives and often come into a crash.
The no feeling dimension is rejected for the same reason we fear most things, their being foreign. Our proclivity towards understanding puts us at odds with it. I'm hardly an expert, but I feel like there are moments where I can catch a glimpse of what it is like. It doesn't feel all that pleasurable like a state of bliss. It just feels very calm and authentic. I think we can stumble into it at times, but our untamed feelings are too strong to leave us there for long.
The first problem I have with excess feeling all the time is that I barely get to live my life in the moment because I'm constantly having to fend off these voices trying to persuade me of what to do and what to think. Can't my mind know what's a natural way to live without these constant feelings?
My perception is that we have three states. Good feelings, bad feelings, and no feelings. However, good and bad feelings are in one dimension of existence and no feelings is in another. What I mean is that the good and bad feelings have a special relationship. They play off each other and depend on each other. They form a necessary dichotomy. We misuse impressions to create a bad feeling and when the fog is lifted from our mistake it is transformed into a good feeling. Similarly, we push ourselves to emotional highs regarding the objects of our lives and often come into a crash.
The no feeling dimension is rejected for the same reason we fear most things, their being foreign. Our proclivity towards understanding puts us at odds with it. I'm hardly an expert, but I feel like there are moments where I can catch a glimpse of what it is like. It doesn't feel all that pleasurable like a state of bliss. It just feels very calm and authentic. I think we can stumble into it at times, but our untamed feelings are too strong to leave us there for long.
The first problem I have with excess feeling all the time is that I barely get to live my life in the moment because I'm constantly having to fend off these voices trying to persuade me of what to do and what to think. Can't my mind know what's a natural way to live without these constant feelings?
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