Sunday, January 25, 2009

Open Thread

Posted by Phaedo at 2:36 PM

5 comments:

CShells said...

Government, can be truly destructive or even stupid, as evidenced in the last Bush admin.
The other side of the coin would be to question what chaos, government has prevented or helped eliminate? For example, freeing America from British tyranny, The Declaration of Independence, medical research/vaccines, etc.
Amazing photography! May I ask who the photographer was? Shelley

April 11, 2009 at 5:22 PM
Phaedo said...

Thank you for your comment.
From the context I gather that you meant to post under the 'Good Government?' posting rather than the open thread.
Assuming that's the case, I do not assert that government has not historically been better than it is today or that it is without any merit. My point is that now and in the recent past it has caused or made worse the most serious problems in our society.
Both the photographs on the site -- the blog header and locust shell -- are mine. Thanks for your kind remark.

April 12, 2009 at 1:32 PM
CShells said...

It does seem that government has caused most problems.

"The fact is there is nothing that you can trust; and that is a terrible fact, whether you like it or not. Psychologically, there is nothing in the world that you can put your faith, your trust, or your belief in. Neither your gods, nor your science can save you, can bring you psychological certainty; and you have to accept that you can trust in absolutely nothing. That is a scientific fact, as well as a psychological fact. Because, your leaders—religious and political—and your books—sacred and profane—have all failed, and you are still confused, in misery, in conflict. So, that is an absolute, undeniable fact." - Krishnamurti
"Bombay, Second Public Talk" (1962)
But looking closer, could not the root of all real destruction be caused by you? By me?
Could 'government,'just be the larger, outer reflection of individuals collective thinking and intent?
. "It seems to me that all ideologies are utterly idiotic. What is important is not a philosophy of life but to observe what is actually taking place in our daily life, inwardly and outwardly. If you observe very closely what is taking place and examine it, you will see that it is based on an intellectual conception, and the intellect is not the whole field of existence; it is a fragment, and a fragment, however cleverly put together, however ancient and traditional, is still a small part of existence whereas we have to deal with the totality of life.
• When we look at what is taking place in the world we begin to understand that there is no outer and inner process; there is only one unitary process, it is a whole, total movement, the inner movement expressing itself as the outer and the outer reacting again on the inner." Krishnamurti

April 19, 2009 at 1:03 PM
val said...

So you are saying, "live in the now"?

"The Declaration of Independence, medical research/vaccines,"

Huh?

The government failed to eliminate or prevent the chaos that insued by the Declaration of Independance?
Brittish tyranny?
The Brits were here in America and we failed to become free of them?
A group of Brits LEFT GB for RELIGIOUS freedom...and thus the American colonies were started...oh, and Thanksgiving too, gotta love those pilgrims....

April 20, 2009 at 7:16 PM
Phaedo said...

@Shelley
Thank you for your comment.
God, ain't it awful! A voice in the wilderness... When Nietzsche proclaimed the death of God, it was a lament rather than a celebration. Perhaps he foresaw the coming of postmodern philosophy.
One turns one's back on the the Western Canon (to include the Anglo thread of the Enlightenment) at one's peril. Despite (and because of) the shakiness of ontological certainty, faith (in something) is the bridge that carries us over the destructive maelstrom of nihilism.
The categorical denial of sound human values and spiritual grace cannot lead to congenial outcomes; to live a productive and reasonably satisfying life a certain amount of optimistic bootstrapping is required. Succinctly, buck up or fuck up.
Looking at your argument, I'm reminded of an anecdote about the exceptionally gifted philosopher, C. S. Peirce. He was engaged in a debate with another philosopher, and at the end, conceded that he could not fault his opponent's logic. Then he added, "But you don't really believe that, do you?".*

Now, back to the blog where this thread actually belongs, Good Government...? My assertion there remains wonderfully intact.
*My memory is even dimmer than my wit, but I believe this citation is more or less correct.
Best regards

April 21, 2009 at 12:14 PM

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