Perhaps this thread demonstrates not that one doesn't care about mysticism, but rather there is little interest in the philosophy of mysticism. — jgill
I don't see how you could support this idea logically. Suffering was in existence long before there was thinking human beings, and a person's thought is very often directed towards ending suffering which is already there. — Metaphysician Undercover
This doesn't provide the needed support. Suffering existed prior to human beings, as we see that other animals suffer. — Metaphysician Undercover
There's nothing to rip to shreds here. You have a belief which appears to me as very unreasonable, which you have provided no logical support for. All I need to do is show that your believe has no support. — Metaphysician Undercover
Struck out with that blonde in Mrs. Sherman’s French class? — Mww
Yes, although, as I was saying, I don't think it's unique it might have happened a few times before on earth and many times in the cosmos. Quite predictable I think. — Punshhh
I know, I am thinking more about humanity living in harmony with the ecosystem (and themselves) long term. — Punshhh
What I was thinking of though is divinity subtly changing the course of events through happenstance. Rather than any grand intervention. — Punshhh
The way I understand the fall and the story depicted in the bible is just that. That the development of thinking in early humanity was the beginning of the problems which lead to the nuclear weapons down our throats. — Punshhh
So I think it is a good thing and it is progress, but we now have to step up to the plate before someone presses the button and collectively take responsibility for our own actions. Not least for our own survival, but for the fate of the other members (species) of the ecosystem, to show respect for them, to care for them in their vulnerability. — Punshhh
If someone were about to press the button like they were about to do during the Cuban missile crisis. I suspect there would have been some covert divine intervention to prevent it. — Punshhh
I'm portraying it as a bad thing, part of the fall of man. — Punshhh
I agree, but in the case of humanity we have developed something called a thinking mind. This has given us a strategic advantage above all the other organisms in the ecosystem. — Punshhh
I think what is at issue is the subject matter of the thought. — Metaphysician Undercover
It was sad to hear the story of Eric Clapton's life, he was for many years a tortured soul. — Punshhh
I have on occasion camped out in the woods — Punshhh
Nuke attempts to avoid this reality by claiming that mysticism is not a goal directed activity, but that is nonsense.
I never said we ought to do any single thing all day long. Nor did I say more is better. So this is all irrelevant. — Metaphysician Undercover
I do think all day long, it's not something I can turn off, and I don't see how anyone could. Even if I try in meditation, thoughts still come into my mind. My will is not strong enough to produce a blank mind. Is yours? If so, how do you start your blank mind back up after you've turned it off? — Metaphysician Undercover
You seem to be missing the point. Any sort of practise is goal oriented, that's what a practise is. — Metaphysician Undercover
Ultimately the good promotes life and being. Evil is ultimately non being. — EnPassant
Once one is dead, one is indifferent to such event, and indifferent to the life from which was lived — JacobPhilosophy
From my research, most philosophers, most notably Socrates, conclude that death is not inherently bad, but also that life is worth living; These two premises are contradictory in my opinion. — JacobPhilosophy
Good point, Nuke, but I don't think these guys are going that far. They simply want philosophers to provide "guidance" by interpreting mystical journeys. — jgill
I agree racism is a complex problem but changing your own language use is a step in the right direction — dazed
So the philosophical nature, the will to know, or desire to know, is inherent within the human being as an essential aspect of our natural development. — Metaphysician Undercover
Of course to follow this path, one has to accept that race is an unscientific useless concept. — dazed
As for the second sentence, what about us? — TheMadFool
The whole UFO-alien theory is undermined by the simple observation that a UFO doesn't necessarily imply aliens. — TheMadFool
You mean ignore Trump in so far as listening to him will only make it harder to try and relate to his base/followers? Is that right? — DingoJones
But the real attraction for this population is an escape from the self, — Monitor
I think this is the primary reason that Trump voters ignore so many faults of the man. They have a power now that they never had before and they want to keep it. — Monitor
What Im wondering about Is if Trump is being ignored by his opposition, than how do you prevent his empowerment among the people who are not ignoring him? Wouldnt the cult of personality only get stronger? — DingoJones
How do you deal with prejudice? Firstly, the prejudiced need to want to overcome their prejudice. — praxis
Being annoyed by other people is not misanthropia; it is a sign of complete normality. — Bitter Crank
So far in this thread, there have been no principles established which would distinguish a mystic from a philosopher. — Metaphysician Undercover
The sign needs to be interpreted for the mystic to proceed — Metaphysician Undercover
When talking about US politics in particular, though, a big problem remains that the republican power base is a small, highly mobilised voting block. — Echarmion
But because of the electoral college, voter suppression, and highly polarizing rhetoric, the Republicans have so far managed to stave off their demise. — Echarmion
But I don't know how one would translate that into a nationwide reconciliation. — Echarmion
What I wanted to point out was that there must be limits to what is considered a reasonable position — Echarmion
I think you are making a good point here, but how do you ignore Trump? His effect on discourse and divisiveness is very real, and has very real effect on trying to fo what your suggesting and make peace with his base. — DingoJones
Studies of voter movement don't support that conclusion. The republican / democrat split doesn't run along income or occupation lines, but along education lines. — Echarmion
I think your intentions are good here, it's just hard not to conclude that people who still support Trump really must be in favor of tyranny, so long as they get to be part of the ruling class (or race). — Echarmion
But I am very sceptical about calls to "understand" such reasons. Shouldn't we instead figure out how to make people be better at being reasonable? — Echarmion
The condescending class were so out of touch with the country that they believed their chosen candidate had it in the bag right up until the night of the election. — NOS4A2