School started last week. I spend my afternoons learning to folk dance, studying American Philosophy, and Philosophy of Religion, and trying to figure out what Philosophical topic I will dive into for twenty pages.

Twenty. Pages.

Aiden started a new school. It is very structured and regular. He brings his back pack and does really grown up things like show and tell. He is turning into a little child. He is having problems listening. Which I think is supposed to make me worry. But it doesn’t. It makes my heart well up knowing that my child is more like me than I ever imagined. I never listened.

Shoot, I still don’t listen.

I have been reading alot of blogs and sitting home and pondering on ideas that are impossible to answer.

Pondering on ideas that are nearly impossible to think or speak. Ideas that go somewhat like:

We have a tendency to not enjoy that there are incredibly wealthy people in the world. Is this because we are jealous? or Is this because we know that the happiness they are seeking are only mere pleasures? As humans do we have a innate desire for happiness throughout humanity that is expressed in problematic ways.

I am not even sure that thought made sense. But it was running around in my brain all day yesterday so I thought I would throw it out there.

Last night I met up with my peace and justice group from school. We hadn’t met all summer and made plans for the coming year. Lots of exciting ideas and trips floating around. We went downtown and listened to jazz and drank draft beer from large mugs.  I was with my people.

We all need our people.

So there it is. My modge podge of stories. Reasons why I wasn’t here. Life is happening. And I am going to let it.

I found this image yesterday and fell in love. Not because I believe in all of the statements that they are making but because this is pure philosophy. The definition of existentialism, which was created by Sarte. Remember Sarte? The book club I am failing to start?

Existentialism gives you  freedom that most philosophies/theologies do not.

I think that every person belonging to a religious argument could find some part of existentialism encouraging. God gave you a life so that you could experience it. He gave you a body/soul/mind so you could change the world. Fix problems. Raise babies and contemplate. God didn’t give you a life simply so you could focus on death and what will come after.

So whether you believe in a God or Gods or Goddesses or nothing at all or everything that is…Create meaning for your life. Do something. Change the world.

This Image came from here. There is some amazing conversation happening in the comments.

I am soon starting to work my way through Being and Nothingness by Jean Paul Sartre. From what I hear this book can be life changing. So, I would like to invite my readers and the rest of this fantastic bloggosphere to join me in not just making my way through the book but actually diving into intellectual discussion.

Here is what you need to do…

1.) If you want to take part leave a comment on this post and let me know.

2.) Go buy the book or pick it up at the library. (You can find it for around $5 here, and no that is not an affiliate link)

3.) Each week I will post the reading “assignment” on Tuesday. Every Friday I will post a conversation around the section filled with favorite quotes and questions to help inspire thought. We can dive into the conversation via commenting.

I am hoping with all my might that at least SOMEONE will take part in this. If not, I will still be reading being and nothingness all by myself. Please don’t make me do that…

I am a philosophy major. I believe it is the philosopher in me that forces me ask a million questions about the simplest idea. However, I am presenting these questions to you today because I am really perplexed.

I love country music. (no giggling please) Recently, this song came on the radio and it is a really beautiful song. Until the end…and this is where it loses me. They start talking about Bill Gates and Microsoft. Please listen to the song. Then answer me these questions.

-Do you think Microsoft paid for this placement?

-How does he know that Bill Gates loved like crazy to become successful? Did he interview him?

-In what way is a man with six children who can barely pay his bills correlate with a millionaire?

-Would this song be better off without the mention?

I told you this would make me sound crazy. But, seriously? Is it just me or does this not fit together well??

Posted via web from Cassie Boorn

“You know, I said, that we begin by telling children stories which, though not wholly destitute of truth, are in the main fictious; and these stories are told them when they are not of an age to learn gymnastics.*

Very true.

That was my meaning when I said that we must teach music before gymnastics.

Quite right, he said.

You know also that the beginning is the most important part of any work, especially in the case of a young and tender thing; for that is the time at which the character is being formed and the desired impression is more readily taken.

Quite true.

And shall we just carelessly allow children to hear any casual tales which my be devised by casual persons, and to receive into their minds ideas for the most part the very opposite of those which ew should wish them to have when they are grown up?

We cannot.”

Excerpt Taken from The Republic.

*They don’t mean our traditional view of gymnastics. They were simply using the word gymnastics to mean training of the body and music for training of the soul.

*sigh*

Those days of guzzling coffee and working from home everyday are over. I am now wrapped in three layers of clothing walking running through campus.

In the past week I have had a gazillion ideas for blog posts. Seriously, SO many things happened and I thought I should write about that! But, guess what? I am tired. Most of my writing consists of emails, research papers, and business plans.

So, really quick like, here is a few things I wanted to write about this week.

-I made a list of things I wanted to accomplish this year. It is quite long and I am little scared to publish it.

-I had the opportunity to listen to 30 college freshman tell the class what the meaning of life was to them. Let me tell you, I am enlightened…and quite frankly a little scared for my future.

-I would never suggest anyone become a philosophy text book author. Word of advice. 90% of philosophy professors despise text books. You won’t make any money.

-I met with a lovely woman yesterday and I am applying to grad school. Just a masters program. JUST an extra two years…right?

-I will be at Blissdom next week. I am practice being less publicly akward…wish me luck.

-Oh, and if you didn’t notice I re-did my website!

Last note for today. Life is good. It is just busy.

When you are studying philosophy you often time get lost. I grew up in a house that trained me to believe what I was told. If I believed everything I study I would be a lost soul in this world. I have to sift through the readings and try and take something from each one. I have to open my mind and give context to everything that I take on. Sometimes I get lost. Sometimes I get frustrated. Often time I don’t know what to believe.

One of the most interesting philosophers I have studied is Ludwig Wittgenstein. A German philosopher who had such a unique view of the world. He was a solider, a teacher, and a famous philosopher. The more you study this life the more you can see how lost he got. How often he become confused over who he was and what was meant for him. In the end he finds it. In the end we all find it. I hope.

Philosophy is like trying to open a safe with a combination lock: each little adjustment of the dials seems to achieve nothing, only when everything is in place does the door open.

-Ludwig Wittgenstein

Something about his way of thought just made sense to me. So today I am approaching the way in which we make decisions and the way in which we should. (according to Kant) 

 ”Kant had argued that hypothetical moral systems do not persuade people to act moral because they are concerned with the outcome as a whole and do little to instruct an individual why it is in their best interest to behave morally.”

 

“A categorical imperative then makes an unconditional requirement to behave in such a way that it is an end in and of itself rather than a justification of that end.”

So often, when we make decisions in life we focus on the end. We justify our decisions by what would have happened. We justify our decisions by what could have happened. We justify our decisions by what should have happened. In truth, the only thing we have control over is our decision. So when making a choice don’t consider the end result consider what is the best choice in that moment. For all that you can control is that moment. For all that you can control is you. Make your decisions wisely for you never know how they may end.

p.s. I could not find the specific reading I was looking for. So I have quoted Wiki Answer. Precise I know. However, these were the exact points I was looking to make.