Peter: It's 5:00 a.m. and I have been up all night working on a major filing due in Federal Court today. I also have a big trial next week that I still have to prepare for. BUT …, I will be at Aposto-fest this weekend - that's how much I'm looking forward to it. Plus, my ex-wife (she's still my best friend, mother of my kids and an inactive JW) and my kids will be there.
Commie Chris
JoinedPosts by Commie Chris
-
113
Next get together in Toronto!!! :-)
by peterstride inhi gang, .
to make it easier for the out of towners (especially the ones driving in from the us), how does everyone feel about having our next get together on a saturday...say saturday, august 18th, starting at 4pm?
(i'll be working on the 11th and the 25th...).
-
-
-
19
Heidegger's Dasein
by dunsscot infor those who have trouble understanding basic existential concepts, may i suggest william barrett's work _irrational man_.
on pp.
218-219 of this monograph, barrett succinctly explains the significance of dasein in heideggerian thought.
-
-
Commie Chris
Well Duns, I live in the real world, not in a "realm of Becoming" or a "realm of Being". If your starting point is a division of metaphysics into Being and Becoming, I agree we will probably be talking at cross purposes. In my view, yours is a thoroughly dualist philosophy, your references to Heidegger, Sartre and Aristotle notwithstanding, while mine is dialectical. It would probably be impossible to discuss "wholeness", or any truly relevant, practical philosophy on your terms. Furthermore, I'm not interested in purely academic discussions of philosophy, and you would no doubt consider social ecology more of an ideology than a philosophy. I see that distinction as artificial.
I am going to be very busy with work over the next few days, so I won't be able to continue this right now anyway. I will, however, post something in a week or so, probably as a new thread, on the subject of human nature, freedom and ecology. Personally, I don't think there is any need to use labels or jargon such as "social ecology", dualism or dialectics - I have only used them with you - and I probably won't in any new thread. However,if you're still around in a week or so I would be interested in your response, preferably without jargon.
- Chris the Commie
-
19
Heidegger's Dasein
by dunsscot infor those who have trouble understanding basic existential concepts, may i suggest william barrett's work _irrational man_.
on pp.
218-219 of this monograph, barrett succinctly explains the significance of dasein in heideggerian thought.
-
-
Commie Chris
Duns: Your comment about working out theory before converting the theory into practise (or praxis if you prefer) is very odd in this context. Social ecology is a thoroughly dialectical philosophy, and simultaneously thoroughly concerned with praxis. By definition, it is impossible to discuss such a practical philosophy in the abstract.
-
19
Heidegger's Dasein
by dunsscot infor those who have trouble understanding basic existential concepts, may i suggest william barrett's work _irrational man_.
on pp.
218-219 of this monograph, barrett succinctly explains the significance of dasein in heideggerian thought.
-
-
Commie Chris
Duns: I have not read many of the dead philosophers you are fond of referring to, and, unlike you, I do not claim to be a great intellectual, but I have read enough to understand what you are trying to say. Soon after you first began posting here (which was not long after I joined this Board) I noticed that you often referred to Sartre, Kant and Heidegger. I then suggested that you move beyond verbose lecturing, which the overwhelming majority on this Board clearly found pompous and condescending, to discuss existentialism and dualism in terms that are clear and relevant for the people and issues on this Board. Specifically, I suggested that you discuss Sartre’s Critique of Dialectical Reason, but in plain english, with no unnecessary gobbledygook. You flatly declined.
Later (a few days ago) you started a post on the allegedly “monomaniacal” nature of some x-jws. The essential gist of your post was that most people who choose not to believe in your god inevitably end up living lives of “hedonic utility”. I responded by trying to engage you in discussion of the philosophy of social ecology, which I believe leads to a practical ethical system, because it is based on an understanding of human nature which suggests that nature itself impels us towards a society of freedom and equality. You responded with a few criticisms, which reflected your misunderstanding of social ecology (and, incidentally, a misunderstanding of any post-Heidegger dialectical thinking), which I in turn responded to. You then abandoned the thread.
Why are you so afraid do discuss philosophy in a way that makes it relevant for the issues and people on this Board? In this post you again refer to Aristotle and Heidegger’s rejection of dualism. Accurate, but so what? What’s your point? Can’t you take it to the next level and give it some relevance for real people? How about instead of esoteric lectures about what Heidegger and Aristotle opposed (dualism), writing something, in plain english, about the antithetical idea of “wholeness” - no, not mechanistic or mystical concepts of wholeness, but wholeness as the rationalization of social and natural ecosystems? This is a concept which can be very relevant, particularly if we go beyond mere esoteric philosophical discussion and instead talk about the absence of wholeness in modern capitalist societies and the consequences of that absence. This discussion can and should be held in plain english.
I’m sure you and I would agree that we live in a world where there is tremendous suffering and dysfunction. We might also agree on many of the causes of this suffering and possible solutions, as long as we stay in the real world and avoid resorting to mysticism / religion. Although I don’t believe in god, I think there might be some common ground between Christians and agnostics on this thread. A discussion of the problems of dualism and wholeness would lead into discussion of “human nature” and practical concepts of freedom, equality and ecology. If you want to discuss philosophy, that’s fine - just try to make it relevant.
Thanks for your attention. Please help yourself to a free piece of pie on the way out.
- Commie Chris
-
4
Reply to AF-Part 2a
by dunsscot inaf:.
as i continue to expose your falsehoods, i will just remind you that af represents your most current remarks in this thread.
duns refers to mine.
-
-
Commie Chris
Duns: What about me? You started a thread about monomaniacalism; I responded with a bit about social ecology. You posted a response to me, which I turn responded to, then you ran away. Have you thrown in the towel on that one?
-
8
Serena Williams addicted to shopping...
by peterstride incheck out this article i just read on cbc newsworld web-site:.
cbc front page.
[b]serena williams kicks shopping habit[b/] .
-
-
Commie Chris
I was addicted to alcohol while I was a JW, but I'm better now.
-
19
Thanks for the Encouragment!
by dunsscot indear ex-jws,.
i am writing this letter to formally thank you for all the encouragment you have given me via this medium of communication.
without your help, i might have been another casualty of satan.
-
-
Commie Chris
Does this mean you're throwing in the towel on the "Monomaniacal" thread? I hadn't even worked up a sweat.
-
44
Monomaniacal Ex-JWs?
by dunsscot inits been a while since i read stephen r. covey's _the 7 habits of highly effective people_ and i do not feel like looking up the section i am getting ready to mention.
but i think i recall covey talking about the unhealthy habit of becoming overly engrossed in one activity or pursuit.. it seems that there are individuals using this medium of communication whose life's aim is to "help" jws out of the "borg" or 'bring down the tower.
if it tricks your trigger, i guess there is nothing anyone can do to prevent you from "helping" jws out of the "borg.
-
-
Commie Chris
You're more than welcome Joel, and thanks for the hugs. As I have said before, I am no intellectual (but I not anti-intellectual either. In fact, some of my best friends are intellectuals) and I am not an expert on social ecology or any other philosophy. But what I have read has a ring of truth that resonates with my own experiences. I recommend The Ecology of Freedom, by Murray Bookchin (Black Rose Books) or The Modern Crisis, also by Bookchin.
Hugs back atcha,
- Chris -
44
Monomaniacal Ex-JWs?
by dunsscot inits been a while since i read stephen r. covey's _the 7 habits of highly effective people_ and i do not feel like looking up the section i am getting ready to mention.
but i think i recall covey talking about the unhealthy habit of becoming overly engrossed in one activity or pursuit.. it seems that there are individuals using this medium of communication whose life's aim is to "help" jws out of the "borg" or 'bring down the tower.
if it tricks your trigger, i guess there is nothing anyone can do to prevent you from "helping" jws out of the "borg.
-
-
Commie Chris
Duns: your response to my post about social ecology confirms what is evidently the view of many on this Board: Your knowledge of philosophy does not extend to anything pratical, despite your pretentions to rationality. I am busy with work and don't have time now to respond in detail, but I'll get back to you. It won't be hard.
For now let me say that I did not "exhalt creation" - I advocated examining all of nature in order to understand the place of humanity within the global eco-system and better understand human nature (yes, I believe there is such a thing as human nature and we do not need to resort to mysticism, god or metaphysics to understand it).
Further, social ecology by no means vitiates the qualitative differences between humanity and other species. It is patently obvious that mankind has evolved mental capacities far beyond any other species, but social ecology rejects the simplistic idea that this implies a "superiority" of man over the rest of nature. Social ecology recognizes the fact that nature is full of qualitative differences, but that this diversity naturally gives rise to unity in diversity, not to hierarchies such as have been developed in the comparatively recent history of humanity.
Finally, dialectical processes are evident throughout nature, and in a "normal" relationship between man and nature. It is quite accurate to speak of nature "intending" certain things, including for humanity although not in the metaphysical sense that you imply. I'll expand on that later.
Please help yourself to a free piece of pie on the way out.
-
40
To Joelbear With Love
by Maximus injoel, i want you to know i can think of no other poster who shows as much humanity, as much compassion and insight as you, particularly when it comes to the human condition.. thank you for sharing yourself and your journey so openly; i'm grateful for that.
you obviously have picked up many helpful tools in your recovery toolkit, and when you not only share them with us but show how to use them, how they can benefit us, we are the richer.. i need not say more, than that you are loved very much.. maximus.
who once in a while learns from joel a leeeetle more than he needed to, but what else is new?
-
-
Commie Chris
Joel, you are a prince. That post seems typical of you and clearly shows to relative newcomers like me exactly why everyone here loves you.