Archive for May 10th, 2021
An Eco-philosophy? Dawn of Philo-Ethics
Posted by: adonis49 on: May 10, 2021
Dawn of Philo-Ethics, and eco-philosophy
Posted on January 29, 2010
- In: economy/finance | engineering/research/experiments | Essays | health/medicine | Human Factors/Ergonomics | philosophy | political Artical | religion/history | sciences | social articles
In the previous post “Twilight for love of knowledge or philosophy”, I explored the theme that philosophy is reaching an end.
Before the 16th century, sciences in Europe were towed by philosophy until Galileo enforced the notion of empirical experimentation and measuring what was Not previously measured.
By the time of Descartes, philosophy started to limp and relied on religion as crutch to survive.
Sciences have taken over: they can extend answers to what can be answered.
Sciences are far more efficient than philosophy: faulty answers go unnoticed very effectively.
There are very few practiced scientists, and every man is a philosopher: man can feel what’s wrong with a philosophical system but he does refrains to claim knowledge in sciences.
Knowledge is acquired by reasoning on the alternative options formed by perception of man and universe. When we investigate our opinions and feelings, we ultimately want to open up alternatives for the mind to discovering the immutable elements in the relationships.
The brain is the field where perceived senses and reasoning procedures or processes interacts: without these interactions there are no perceptions, no actions, and no survival of any species.
It is not necessary to be a practicing scientist to have a scientific critical mind. Otherwise, not many people would feel comfortable believing that they are endowed with sensible rational and empirical thinking.
When I claim that we need to think philosophically, I mean that we need to combine the ethical component to whatever scientific thinking we undertake. The ethical mind should be the guiding rod to solutions or resolutions of any question.
For example, (it might sound a simple interrogation, but it might carry complex implicit ramifications), suppose that I stirred my Nescafe cup with a spoon. My Nescafe includes No sugar or milk; just plain hot filtered water added to Nescafe. I got into wondering: should I rinse the spoon in tank supplied water (many germs) or just let the spoon dry when removed from the cup?
The idiosyncratic reaction is to rinse the spoon no matter what, isn’t it?
If I discover that the accumulated potent germs on a dried spoon are far less than the rinsed one then what would be your behavior?
The whole exercise is that we generally extend ready behaviors to our answers; we do not take a deep breath to wonder whether there are implicit reasons in the questions.
Philo-ethics (a new term that I invented) is to work on a set of stringent ethical reasoning that you feel are right.
The purpose is that you feel you have the right to state your ethics because you applied them.
The other advantage is that you won’t feel obligated to impose your ethics on people you like their company: you are in a position to be lenient and to compromise because relationships are more important than strict rules and regulations.
What can be the immutable norms that distinguish right from wrong?
What kinds of realities are eternal?
Cannibalism is not an immutable norm since many tribes still eat man in this century.
Anyway, mankind is a carnivore and has been eating his own kind with various aspects of ceremonies such as eating the flesh, heart, liver, and brain boiled, raw, or roasted.
Thus, we need to be more attuned to ethnological studies and observations of the remaining tribes living separate from urban centers.
We need to comprehend the behavior, customs, and traditions of primitive tribes since they resembled ours before we opted for urban life style, within mostly a fast developing virtual civilization.
Arne Naess disseminated the eco-philosophy which stated that western paradigm line of thinking is taking the wrong direction for a sustainable earth: Man is not in the upper chain of evolution and he has no right to destroy the other living creatures for his perceived universe.
We are in a period of technological development that feed on itself and proliferates pretty much independently of any other sciences; technology feels confident that it does not need validation or control by third parties.
Fact is we need to have better understanding of the effects of our behaviors: mankind is on the same boat and everyone is asked to think that he is the captain of the boat.
Things are changing.
The world can be felt as reduced to a Town Square: instant audio-visual communications around the world is discouraging people to move out and investigate “his universe”. Mind you that the Renaissance man had to travel on horses for long distances to educate his curiosity and talents.
The new wave of occultism, New Age, alternative lifestyle, mysticism, spiritualism, healing, astrology, clairvoyance, and telepathy are consequences of collecting mass “coincidental” happenings among the billions of people and which are relayed instantly on the Internet.
These coincidences can be explained rationally, especially if we believe in the power of the subconscious for erratic behaviors.
The worst part is that millions are still brandishing old Books/Bibles …claiming every word for “truth”; as if we are in the Dark Ages.
Sciences and technologies have done serious empirical attempts to answer most of the dialectical problems in philosophy, such as how the universe was started, how knowledge developed and progressed.
What is outside the realm of sciences is in the domain of faith, which should not be confounded with religious philosophical belief systems.
A few facts can now be settled that set the stage for the dawn of philo-ethics or for questions related to the dignity of man for freedom, liberty, free opinion, shelter, clean water, health, safety, food, clean air, voting rights, anti-discrimination attitudes relative to color, religion, gender, and country of origin.
The hardship that you subjected yourself to is to keep sensible relationship working: a climate of genuine compassion to human frailty gives incentives to overcome shortcomings that may be surmounted.
Bi-Weekly Report on Lebanon and the Middle East
Posted by: adonis49 on: May 10, 2021
Report (#17). (April 25, 2009)
Every now and then you read optimistic editorials that an agreement between Israel and the Palestinians is very close because the US wants it, again, this time around.
I heard these optimistic reflection 15 years ago by the Egyptian Ambassador to the USA who later was appointed Foreign Minister.
You are led to believe that a Syrian-Israel accord is already completed and just waiting for a suitable political climate; and we all wonder and worry what “suitable political climate” entails as it has never been, but more wars and massacres to Lebanese and Palestinians.
In the weekly “Jeune Afrique” (Young Africa) the editorial of Bechir ben Yahmed would like you to sit tight and see a wonderful movie of peace achievement unfold in the region , No later than two years from now. Why?
Because the new US Administration has set its mind that the establishment of a Palestinian State is the cornerstone for its long range policies in the Middle East, and that the European community badly wants this resolution on ground that it can No longer afford to pay for frequent reconstructions in Palestine and Gaza.
And Why the US has finally set its mind?
Simply because a panel of 10 illustrious men in US politics has proposed this resolution. They are Brent Scowcroft, Paul Volcker, Zbigniew Brzeziński, James Wolfensohn, Henry Siegman, and others.
What is the ready plan of the US Administration?
First, the return of Israel to its 1967 border with “concessions on several parcels of lands” Yes, right.
Second, dividing Jerusalem as Capital for the two States;
Third, the return of Palestinian refugees to the Palestinian State. And why Israel is still transferring Palestinians to Gaza?
Forth, the admission of Israel of its responsibility and financial compensation by the “World Community”; and
Finally, the stationing of International Peace Force on the borders.
Nothing more and nothing less; see you all how simple and straightforward has this plan boiled down too!
In the mean time:
First, the Palestinians and the “Arab” States have to recognize a purely Jewish State in their midst;
Second, the US has to recognize Hamas as a democratically elected party as it recognized the democratically elected ultra racists Netanyahu and Avigdor Lieberman. Not for long, before shaming Hamas as a terrorist movement.
Third, the US has to recognize that Israel has nuclear bombs and missiles that can deliver them and thus has the responsibility Not to leave decisions of mass destruction in the hands of foolish racist and “Arab hate mongers“; and
Forth, the US has to stop delivering white phosphorous bombs to Israel, as well as cluster bombs….
The German cargo transporter “Wehr Elbe” discharged 300 containers of military ammunitions in Israel and containing White Phosphorous bombs that caused the outcry of the international community for being dropped consistently on Gaza and burning thousands of Palestinians.
What else did these containers deliver? Cluster bombs, you guessed it.
Every week a child or a shepherd dies or is maimed in south Lebanon due to the millions of cluster bombs that Israel “delivered” in the last day of the 2006 July War.
That is not the end of the story.
Two other cargo shipments are in the pipelines. Why?
The previous Bush Administration has signed an accord with Israel for $25 billion dollars in free military package aids!
Funny, President Obama does not want to rescind criminal decisions, as if closing Guantanamo Bay prison is of a lesser magnitude in hypocrisy.
An Iranian proverb says: “Balding men dies with a toupee of abundant curly regrets”
This proverb squarely applies to Israel ex Ehoud Olmer PM.
For three years, Olmert had the opportunity to sign peace agreement with Syria and establish a Palestinian homeland but he failed to do so. In his departure farewell he delivered a public testament urging his successor Netanyahu to boldly and courageously grab a historic initiative to that effect.
If these decisions had no other alternatives then why has Olmert failed in his responsibility?
Israel, the US, and the European Union would like the general public to consider Iran the main nemesis for world peace.
They don’t dare say that Pakistan that owns nuclear bombs is falling to a Taliban-like extremism.
They also don’t dare say that the over 300 million Muslims in India are mostly of Shia sect leaning, like in Iran.
In Lebanon, over 750 candidates for the Parliamentary election in June 7 deposited $6,000 each to be eligible.
Many withdrew from the race and recovered $1,500; the remaining lost their deposit.
The treasury would be over 3 millions dollars richer.
The New York Times published yesterday that Saudi Kingdom is pumping hundreds of millions of dollars to support the government candidates. Saad Hariri is the medium for receiving and distributing the Saudi dirty money.
Saudi monarchy would like the government in Lebanon to return as majority even with one candidate. All the main lists of candidates have been formed by both alliances.
Today is the official anniversary of the Armenian genocide; the Armenians in Lebanon are not happy that Seniora PM decided to hold a meeting for the cabinet today.
I had posted an essay on the genesis of the Armenian genocide under the title “Cursed Cities: Kars”
Set of illusions and myths that aid us to avert the imminence of folly?
Posted by: adonis49 on: May 10, 2021
Folly of follies: Worshipping illusions
Posted on November 19, 2016
- In: economy/finance | Essays | religion/history | social articles
Mankind began to worship killing other humans when he realized that it generated quick money at the expense of the majority of people who were denied equal start in life, in societies that created classes and categories of “what to work” and what restraining rights they should enjoy…
In no period of history worship was Not associated with killing one another, creating the notion of the sacrificial lamb, the collateral damages of the destitute, the downtrodden, the ignored, the unknown.
Worshipping is the pure definition of believing in a set of illusions and myths.
We believe in a God, a cultist system, the Nation, the Money, the Army, the Banks, monarchies, faked democracies, artificial wealth not backed by readily exchangeable goods and services…
Mankind will keep worshipping any one of these fiction realities, even if half of mankind is slaughtered or trampled.
Only taking care of our daily tasks keeps us sane for the duration.
The folly of follies is when we indulge in maniacal routine daily tasks to avert the imminence of folly.
Task like constant dusting, frequent re-arranging furniture, cataloguing and ordering what we possess…
I conjecture that mankind learned to fear and abhor death when he invented the notion of liquid currencies/cash money.
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