Tuesday, November 04, 2003
Monsters Lurking
Hello Dear Children. Here is a writing prompt for anyone who cares to engage thoughts at this level. The words have been taken from a very precious notebook that has deepened my understanding of human nature and allowed me a new look at purity in love. The words are not my own, but they certainly have crossed my mind enough to become my own. Enjoy, and do let me know what you think - especially you ToK buffs:
PHILOSOPHY bullshits truth because one of its primary tasks is to establish a lexicon of ontology, a language of Being, and TRUTH HAS NO LEXICON. The power of words rests on what is ultimately a pragmatic/utilitarian Right; the power of words lies in what they describe and it is the plot that makes the book, or rather, the characters that make the plot that makes the book. [This begs the question: Is it right to consider Right? . . .] . . .If it (philosophy) doesn't awaken Truth in you, it is not the Way.
Paths Converge
Then Almitra spoke again and said, And what of Marriage, Master?
And he answererd saying:
Together you shall be for evermore.
But let there be spaces in your togetherness.
And let the winds of the heavens dance between you.
Love one another, but make not a bond of love.
Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.
Fill each other's cup but drink not from one cup.
Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf.
Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alnone,
Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music.
Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping.
For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts.
And stand together yet not too near together:
For the pillars of the temple stand apart,
And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other's shadow.
-Kahlil Gibran (from The Prophet).
Looking In, Looking Out
Random thoughts from that same precious notebook - these stemming from a Saturday morning conversation with big brained people:
Culture teaches us that when we die, the condition we are in has no baring on what comes next. I do not agree. I believe we will be held accountable for our choices. Now what?
The examined life is our goal. This is about validity, not sequence. This is about quality, not quantity. The whole point of philosophy is to prepare us to die. Interaction leads to truth. If philosophers were asked to lead lives indicative of the philosophy they preach, most would decline, and some would even run for the hills. Socrates did live his philosophy, a philosophy of decorum and custom. He was accused of corrupting the Athenian youth; moving them away from custom. Found guilty, he was sentenced to death. In actuality, he was set up because he upset certain people of influence and power. They thought to scare him into exile, but he chose to stay with custom by drinking the poison. Now who is embarrassed?
The question: "How should we be governed?" comes after "How are we to live?" which comes after "What kinds of beings are we?" This leads to "Knowing Self". We must know ourselves to know anything, and that is bound to take a lifetime. The examined life is a process to defeat skepticism and cynicism.
- posted by -g @ 10:23 PM | | 0 rocks in pond
0 Comments:
critical lawnmower
humble dan
potting soil
diarrhea of the brain
bad haiku daily
thegreatlockbox
dirty laundry
emily joy joy
Subscribe to
Posts [Atom]
