another distinction, difficult for many people, is between blame and responsibility, both our judgement of others and subsequent reaction to them, and our understanding and judgement of ourselves. you are not to blame for being you. believe me, you did not design yourself, not even in some pretty trivial ways. but ultimately, you are responsible for your actions. that is the job of being human in a social world. however difficult it may be for you, ultimately you must take ownership of what you do and do your best to curb the worst excesses of brain chemistry, architecture and function you have inherited without choice. similarly, in reacting to others' actions, it is good to remember that they are just the first victims of their crimes, when crimes are committed. it is possible to condemn egregious behavior without committing unuseful behavior of your own by condemning the person being held responsible. a more useful and helpful reaction is to see if through a patient and rational response, you and society in general can in fact improve future outcomes for all.
WHAT THE MAN IS
Sunday, 27 October 2013
DISTINCTIONS
there are important distinctions that people need to make during life if common pitfalls are to be avoided. one is the distinction between getting along with others, which is laudable, and going along with others, which is problematic.
another distinction, difficult for many people, is between blame and responsibility, both our judgement of others and subsequent reaction to them, and our understanding and judgement of ourselves. you are not to blame for being you. believe me, you did not design yourself, not even in some pretty trivial ways. but ultimately, you are responsible for your actions. that is the job of being human in a social world. however difficult it may be for you, ultimately you must take ownership of what you do and do your best to curb the worst excesses of brain chemistry, architecture and function you have inherited without choice. similarly, in reacting to others' actions, it is good to remember that they are just the first victims of their crimes, when crimes are committed. it is possible to condemn egregious behavior without committing unuseful behavior of your own by condemning the person being held responsible. a more useful and helpful reaction is to see if through a patient and rational response, you and society in general can in fact improve future outcomes for all.
another distinction, difficult for many people, is between blame and responsibility, both our judgement of others and subsequent reaction to them, and our understanding and judgement of ourselves. you are not to blame for being you. believe me, you did not design yourself, not even in some pretty trivial ways. but ultimately, you are responsible for your actions. that is the job of being human in a social world. however difficult it may be for you, ultimately you must take ownership of what you do and do your best to curb the worst excesses of brain chemistry, architecture and function you have inherited without choice. similarly, in reacting to others' actions, it is good to remember that they are just the first victims of their crimes, when crimes are committed. it is possible to condemn egregious behavior without committing unuseful behavior of your own by condemning the person being held responsible. a more useful and helpful reaction is to see if through a patient and rational response, you and society in general can in fact improve future outcomes for all.
KNOWLEDGE
as humans we know a pitiful small amount of what is going on in the universe.
death, which includes the death of the brain, will not enhance our understanding.
death, which includes the death of the brain, will not enhance our understanding.
Sunday, 20 October 2013
GOOD SCIENCE
good science improves our understanding of ourselves. it improves both philosophy and ethics. the inverse is not true.
HOW I GOT HERE
by now i am old. i am here. how i got here was not the product of a grand design; more, it was the product of a series of many very small decisions which almost imperceptibly directed me along a poorly defined path. that path was the path of my choosing. if i were not happy now, it would mean merely that i am not inherently a happy person. if i didn't like my life it would tempt me to conclude that i do not like life. period.
fortunately, for me and the people around me, i am pretty much biased chemically, which is to say genetically, toward euphoria. i suppose there is noone really to thank for that, since my parents did not consciously elect which traits to give me or which competing traits would come to dominate my mental architecture and processes. but i think its ok to be just generally grateful that an evolution to such a state was or has become available.
fortunately, for me and the people around me, i am pretty much biased chemically, which is to say genetically, toward euphoria. i suppose there is noone really to thank for that, since my parents did not consciously elect which traits to give me or which competing traits would come to dominate my mental architecture and processes. but i think its ok to be just generally grateful that an evolution to such a state was or has become available.
GETTING LIGHTER
things are taken away.
my mother
my father
my sister
my brother.
i keep getting lighter.
my mother
my father
my sister
my brother.
i keep getting lighter.
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