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Currently ReadingExtremely beautiful.
I have another in the collection:
The disappearing island.
Once we presumed to found ourselves for good
Between its blue hills and those sandless shores. Where we spent our desperate night in prayer and vigil,
Once we had gathered driftwood, made a hearth and hung our cauldron like a firmament,
The island broke beneath us like a wave.
The land sustaining us seemed to hold firm
Only when we embraced it in extremis
All I believe that happened there was a vision.
:flower: -
Currently ReadingLife Is Elsewhere, Milan Kundera. — javi2541997
10/10. A very good and well written novel.
I am happy about the discovery of Milan Kundera. A great Czech writer. My parents have three or four books by him, so I already know what I will do the next time I visit them.
Currently reading:
Melancholia, Jon Fosse.
The haw lantern, Seamus Heaney. This collection of poems is very Irish. It reminds me of the green plains, cloudy sky, the waves beneath me, and you, my Irish friend. @Baden :flower: -
The purest artistic side of the sunsetFebruary 12th.
This photo was taken from the balcony of my house after a heavy rain. The clouds seem to be angry, outrageous, violent. Although the ochre colored sunlight does his job and evokes a sense of nostalgia, it lasted just an hour, while the rain fell incessantly.
It reminds me of a poem by the Swedish poet Harry Martinson:
Have you seen a tramp collier come out of a hurricane—
with broken booms, gunwales shot to pieces,
crumpled, gasping, come to grief—
and her captain gone all hoarse?
Snorting, she puts in at the sunlit wharf,
exhausted, licking her wounds
while the steam thins in her boilers. Harry Martinson. Poetry.
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Ukraine Crisis
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Ukraine CrisisAh, OK. Fine. We are like kids in a kindergarten now. At least I explained why I refused to take your post seriously. I will make it easier for you so you don't have to read a long post.
Do you really consider Ukraine as a democratic nation? Yes/No. Explain why.
Does Zelensky act like a totalitarian? Yes/No. Explain why. -
Do Luxuries Necessarily make one happy? Or should we just avoid luxurious life for "True Happiness"Sad, depressing and nihilistic feature occasionally, but not in my average day or even my average month — Tom Storm
Sadly, it is not my case, Tom. What it features occasionally is a peaceful state of mind. I don't seek happiness. I already accepted that this only pops up very often. -
Ukraine CrisisYou misunderstood. I was simply pointing out that in Ukraine, as in other democratic countries... — neomac
Honestly, I stopped reading the rest of your argument when you state that Ukraine is a 'democratic' country. No, it isn't. This is why I would like to point out your double standards and hypocrisy. It is one of the main objectives of West media but, mate, I will not cross through that door...
You start with a false premise: Ukraine is a democratic country, which follows with another false middle premise: 'The Ukrainian Forces are dependent upon the President' and then with a false conclusion: Zelensky is entitled to remove him.
Well, in the real democratic world it doesn't happen as you state...
I agree that my country is not the best example. To remove a special chief or commander here, they have the right to be heard by a special commission and then conclude if the subject deserves being removed or not.
If a person unilaterally removes others without back up, it is totalitarian. I think the West is failing in defending Zelensky under all circumstances.
https://www.politico.eu/article/oleksandr-syrskyi-ukraine-commander-in-chief-butcher-volodymyr-zelenskyy-war-russia/“Of course, if the situation at the war front worsens, Zelenskyy will get the blame. People will say, everything was good when Zaluzhny ruled the army,” -
Ukraine CrisisAccording to your logic: A president under martial law does whatever he wants to keep him in power. He removes Zaluzhnyi from the cabinet because he disagreed with him briefly, and the latter is obtaining more respect from the Ukrainian people. It is a totalitarian act. According to information from Reuters, most of the Ukrainians are upset because of this. Do they have the right to discuss this issue in Parliament? Or is Zelensky unbeatable?
If Putin had done this... Wow, all the press of the world would have gone mad against them. As I said, I will let time speak for itself, and we will discover how Zelensky actually is. You state we have to respect how the government acts towards the Armed Forces of Ukraine, although it is flawed.
OK, I ask you why don't we respect the 65th article of the Russian constitution too? :smile:
na zdravie! -
Ukraine Crisis
Late last year a poll put the public's trust in Zaluzhnyi at over 90%, significantly higher than Zelenskiy's 77%.
Only a totalitarian ass removes a person who perceives him as an enemy just because the people give more credibility to himself. This is why the state and Duma of Russia are so screwed, man.
What a minute! It is Zelenskiy who is acting like a totalitarian. What a bloody surprise. Folks, I thought he was running for the Nobel of Peace.
Surprisingly, this breakig news is not shared by @jorndoe. What do your journalists and media say about this non-democratic act?
It is Putin's fault. Zaluzhnyi is friends with him. :lol: -
Do Luxuries Necessarily make one happy? Or should we just avoid luxurious life for "True Happiness"momentarily pleasures — No One
happy momentarily — Born2Insights
Happiness is momentary. It is not about pleasure or luxuries. You can't hold anything which makes you happy and lasts forever. The average day of each person is sad, boring, depressing and nihilistic. Happiness is like a butterfly. Beautiful and colorful, but it only lasts a few days... -
How Do You Think You’re Perceived on TPF?This is pretty much how I feel most of the time here: — baker
I like you, baker. I think you are a honest and good mate.
I remember when you helped me to write in cursive, and I invited you to my home for supper. A true friendship was built... :flower: -
In defence of the Mediterranean products and farmersHere is an article which pertains to comparative (dis)advantage between France and other EU countries, due to France's own agricultural policy. It says that because of the EGalim law, 'French food prices are on average %15 higher than the European average' — Nils Loc
After reading the article I come with the same conclusion. French politicians and lobbies do not want Mediterranean products. They just want to put a label on each fruit or vegetable where it says: it comes from France. It is another tactic with the aim of denigrating the products of other countries. It is obvious that the wine of Italy is better, the oranges from Spain too, and the fish from Portugal as well. They do not want to accept this. I get mad because they want to start a fake news campaign now. The French politicians are acting like toddlers, honestly.
"We respect and apply the law, but they do not, and our supermarkets go there!"
Oh Jesus... I wish we did not have French supermarkets here. They literally make the Spanish farmers poor. Look how much they pay for basic vegetables such as potatoes. The farmers only gains around 0,15 € and the supermarket (Carrefour or Alcampo) multiples a lot the real price and gains...
This has been a known concern in the wine industry, where there is a very French label up front on a wine of Spanish origin (or wines of mixed origin) — Nils Loc
This is not true. Another filthy lie coming from them. We are proud of our origin in the wine industry. They are jealous because they perceive that our wine is kicking in the market notoriously.
Basically, they want to remove all Mediterranean products and only sell French in their country. Cool. But why do they sabotage our products? We just want to go to Ireland or Germany. -
In defence of the Mediterranean products and farmersI think (and actually believe) that you are Portuguese. Why? Because in the Climate Change you posted a picture with data by Iberdrola. Only this can come from Portugal and not from Brazil. When I posted this I thought you would be interested among Alkis (who is from Greece), so I nailed it again.
On the other hand, my intention is not to force people to buy our products (I include you here because I suspect you are South European too) but to dismiss the lies from the French PM. I thought it would be worth posting here. The consumers should be free to choose, and most people, on a large scale, want our products because of their quality, not because they are cheap...
Well, France always did this against the south. Whenever I see these conflicts, I understand why Brexit impacted the rural areas of the UK. Imagine being a legal and responsible farmer, and then a filthy manipulator says that your product is trash and, in France, should their vegetables only be noticeable because the rest don't respect the law. Disgusting.
I just wanted to deny that we do not use pesticides... it is a goddam lie! -
Ukraine CrisisHave you ever been to Russia? — Jabberwock
Have you ever been to Spain? Have you ever been to Ukraine? Does this matter at all? :roll:
I haver never been to Japan but it is obvious that it is a developed and rich nation. What is your point? -
How Do You Think You’re Perceived on TPF?
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In defence of the Mediterranean products and farmersCosts didn't go up in France only. And, in macroeconomic matters, a farmer from Spain or Bulgaria will always suffer from costs and losses more than a French person, because although they do not want to recognize it, CAP is mainly applied in France.
What I do not understand is the tale and effort of disrespecting our product. Being cheap is not related to being low quality. The consumers should be free to choose the product. I come from a family of farmers, and it was very difficult for them to export their product around the EU, the USA, Japan, etc. Because there are always stupid prejudices, and it disappoints me a lot how a developed nation such as France says this, just because they want the votes of their farmers.
I think the strategy is clear here: let's denigrate the image of Mediterranean products. Then the vegetables and fruits from France will always be there. We win and they lose. But this is very unfair because they already have the advantage of being more likable around the world. If you ask the average person where the wine or cheese comes from, they say France and maybe Italy, but they hardly remember Spain, Greece or Portugal...
They have us on the roads now: our products and its prices deserve more respect and fairness.
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How Do You Think You’re Perceived on TPF?Thanks. I am not hard with myself. I just think I am not really relevant at all. I always had this sense of emptiness, which has been increasing with the pass of the years. I believe the people around me in my daily life do not think anything at all, neither positive nor negative. This can be more painful than an insult.
I understand why Existentialism is by far my mood.
This is why I wholeheartedly believe that I will have more footsteps here than in the tangible world. -
Ukraine CrisisRussia's rank: 51st, Spain: 29th. — Jabberwock
It is true that some metrics can differ from the main point, but the premise is they are more developed than us (my country) and Ukraine, although the abusive Western propaganda wants to urgently prove otherwise. -
How Do You Think You’re Perceived on TPF?If I die, nobody would truly care. This is even worse than if someone thinks negatively about you. When you pass unnoticed through life.
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Ukraine Crisiswouldn't it be :up: if Ukraine developed toward something comparable to, say, Estonia, Germany, Czechia, Spain? — jorndoe
Cool! What paradise it seems to live in a developed nation. "Developed" is another word which is very ambiguous, but rather than theorise about what Ukraine would look like if evil Russia were not around, I will show some facts and data (using Western metrics and even Economics Nobel Laurates, when this prize always goes for the USA).
Economics: Russia is the 6th largest economy in the world, while Spain* is very mediocre (16th) and Ukraine is very poor, (60th).
Employment data and metrics: 9.8% of unemployment in Ukraine, and increasing according to the IMF. Spain: 11.6% (June 2023) and 27.9% youth unemployment (15 to 24 year-olds; June 2023). Russia: 3.7% (December 2022). Who is the developed here in economic metrics? https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/weo-database/2023/October/weo-report?c=926,&s=NGDP_RPCH,NGDPD,PPPGDP,NGDPDPC,PPPPC,PCPIPCH,LP,&sy=2021&ey=2028&ssm=0&scsm=1&scc=0&ssd=1&ssc=0&sic=0&sort=country&ds=.&br=1
Taking into account more metrics. Who is the one that contributed to the development of the world since the 2000s?
Let's see the Nobel Prizes and compare them...
Spain: ZERO.
Ukraine: ZERO.
Russia: SEVEN. https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/
Who is the developed here in the metrics of research?
On education and school metrics: Russia has an adult literacy rate of 100%; (Spain) Spanish 15-year-olds are significantly below the OECD average of 493 in reading literacy, mathematics, and science. Ukraine was ranked 55th in 2023 in the Global Innovation Index. https://www.wipo.int/global_innovation_index/en/2023/index.html
*I will use my country as an example.
Honestly, I think the developed nation here is Russia. :eyes:
FACTS. NO PRESS AND MEDIA. -
Ukraine CrisisIn general terms, your text precisely describes what I attempted to write, but I discussed this debate about 'metrics' and 'data' with @jorndoe and others in this thread, and the result is always the same. I think most of the rankings pop up spontaneously.
I don't deny that Russia, as a state, has some issues. As you noted, they always rank very high in corruption, lawfare, low freedom and individual rights, etc. But Ukraine holds similar marks in these issues, yet what the Western media is doing is just 'bleaching' the image of the country because hey! Ukraine is our friend now, and we want them to be a developed nation as quickly as possible.
The conclusion and my criticism of the links provided by @jorndoe is that they have the same result but hidden with a mask: both Russia and Ukraine are very corrupt, and no, the latter is not a consequence because Putin decided to start a war in 2022. Ukraine has always had this issue, as like most of the ex-soviet Republics. It just bothers me how the media is obsessed with manipulating us on the Ukraine issue. Dude, it is a backwards country. Simple.
Precisely, most of these rankings do not have a big impact in the end. Yes, we know Venezuela is highly corrupt, but we still buy their oil. Do we care about their citizens?
Finland always ranks very high in good standards, but @ssu is also critical to the system of his country, so there is nothing perfect.
I will let the time speak for itself and show how Zelensky acts afterward. Will he still be the angel we all wish to have as a friend? -
Ukraine CrisisCorruption Perceptions Index 2023
(The Wikipedia article has a summary)
Somewhere around "the middle" you'll find Hungary and Moldova — jorndoe
Seriously, do you really believe in everything those 'sources' and 'indexes' say? Don't you have a bit of criticism of Western metrics and propaganda? It will always be the same. Russia is corrupt and bad. Ukraine is nice and the son we all wish we had. -
Sound great but they are wrong!!!Interesting.
Here goes one from Mishima: German philosophy lacks a valve scape.
I read that quote in one of their essays - or novels, I can't remember quite well - about the post-nuclear attack on Japan.
Basically, Mishima argued that Japan was wrong to be very influenced by German philosophy. Although they are very important for the development of human knowledge, they lack praxis and that's why they lost WWII against more practical nations.
Now, I guess that quote should be included in "false-sounding truthhoods" -
There is No Such Thing as FreedomThank you for your kindness, Punshhh.
Although if you start a thread, unless you find some like minded people to respond, it often stalls as the majority of posters tend to lose interest. — Punshhh
That's precisely what worries me the most. A large number of users lost interest in both philosophy and religion but they spend a lot of time and energy discussing about Trump.
I started some threads about these topics in the past, and they did get a brief attention. After one or two weeks, they disappeared in the deepness pages of the forum.
I remember specifically this one: https://thephilosophyforum.com/discussion/13200/why-does-religion-condemn-suicide
It was a very interesting thread, focusing on the differences between religions about suicide.
It ended up in a debate on what would have happened if Hitler killed himself before the Third Reich... :roll: -
There is No Such Thing as FreedomThanks, Javi. — Alkis Piskas
:up:
To achieve a state in which he/she is free of obstacles. When they achieve this state they are entirely free of obstacles and no less free than they were before they began meditating. A state of samadhi is entirely free of obstacles.
So stillness is entirely free of obstacles and therefore entirely free. — Punshhh
I like your argument. It reminds me of Nirvana, but I don't want to mix or confuse your points.
The translation of Nirvana into English is literally 'liberation' or 'freedom' and it is the state of mind that we achieve when we get rid of the disturbing mental elements. I think it goes the same way as your example.
Generally, most of the Buddhist or Hinduism disciplines and practices want to achieve exactly that: freedom of mind obstacles.
You are a brave person. I normally avoid bringing up that kind of stuff in this medium! — Alkis Piskas
Me too. I am scared of bringing these topics here and getting rejected - or even disrespected - because East philosophy, religion and culture are not really appreciated here... :confused:
This is why I miss some users as @T Clark. He was very committed with East thought and he even started a Tao thread where we exchanged views and opinions for months... -
There is No Such Thing as FreedomVery good points, Alkis. Hats off to your argument. :up:
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Absolute nothingness is only impossible from the perspective of somethingBecause I care about philosophy, and would like to see it done well. — Banno
Oh, Banno. That's very cute. :flower:
We know you care a lot and some noobs (myself included) learn reading your threads and comments... our discussion on sense and sensibilia was awesome.
Cheers, and protect yourself when dingoes are closer! -
Currently ReadingThe Disoriented, Amin Maalouf. — javi2541997
8,5/10
Excellent novel. It surprised me the big differences between the different Arab countries. From Egypt to Lebanon. A good plot constructed with despair and a sense of drama because of the bad luck of living in the wrong time at the wrong moment. I admit that I was very ignorant regarding Arab culture, but this book just opened my eyes.
Life Is Elsewhere, Milan Kundera.
It is my first time reading Kundera. Let's see... -
Manifest Destiny SyndromeI agree. Violent video games might be a dangerous hobby for teenagers because they contribute to making them more used to violence, but as you said here:
in this case the American circumstance of a gun culture — Jamal
This is the main issue, and I guess @Steven P Clum didn't consider it. He is surprised because the FBI doesn't take into account the eventual danger of playing Grand Theft Auto, but he is (paradoxically) used to a very violent culture such as the possibility of holding and purchasing guns without control. Those video games are just a replication of real life in some parts of the USA. -
Israel killing civilians in Gaza and the West BankWhat’s the failure? — schopenhauer1
I guess @Punshhh is actually referring to how religion and the lack of the effort to understand each other split two communities. Our failure in the West - our governments - and their failure in the East - their radical religious groups - is not finding a reason to maintain or share common ideas.
There have always been conflicts between us and them during the centuries: since Crusades to the current situation. And, each of them have a common cause: the lack of respecting each side and the failure of not understanding the position in the Middle East. -
The Great Controversy:up:
The only problem with Dostoevsky is that the characters in his major works are always in the wrong place at the wrong moment. :lol: -
Nietzsche is the Only Important PhilosopherIt surprised me a bit that, in this very interesting and informative thread, none of the participants addressed Dostoevsky to the discussion. The Russian writer was one of the main inspirations in Nietzsche's philosophy. The latter even states: "the only psychologist from whom I had something to learn ... among the most beautiful strokes of fortune in my life"
Only Ciceronianous mentioned Dostoevsky, but just to wonder whether he is a Philosopher or not.
Well, I don't know to what extent we can consider the works of Dostoevsky with philosophical content, but his works and characters (Karamazov, Raskolnikov, Svidrigáilov, etc) have influenced the post philosophers on realism, existentialism and pessimism, etc. :flower: -
Manifest Destiny SyndromeThe implications of violent video games are grossly underestimated. Homicides resulting from violent video games should be chronicled and accounted for within the FBI’s Unified Crime Reporting. So much idle time...so little introspection. Your thoughts? — Steven P Clum
It doesn't follow the main cause of homicides at all. Blaming video-games is a 'smokescreen' of the real problem here: the easy access to weapons.
You know, violent video games exist worldwide, but curiously, the shootings in schools happen on a large scale in the USA. The shootings or homicides in the USA (note: I use this country as an example because you addressed the FBI, so I guess you are American), are not mainly caused because a teenager plays Grand Theft Auto but by the habit of being surrounded by weapons.
In some parts of the world, we understand that Call of Duty is fictional, and even most of the weapons don't even exist in our countries. But it is crazy how you can purchase a Glock as well as if you buy some yogurt or beer. Can you see the problem now?
According to the point of 'violent games leading people to act violently', watching films like a clockwork orange, would do the same effect. Right? -
Israel killing civilians in Gaza and the West BankYes this is the group I was referring to. The Jewish people as a whole, an ethno-religious group. If I were referring to the aggressors in Israel I would likely say Zionist, or Netanyahu’s government. — Punshhh
:up: -
Israel killing civilians in Gaza and the West BankYes, but if we refer to the diaspora of the Jews across the world, we are talking about the ethno-religious group, integrated with people who are not necessarily agree with the war. Yet, if we want to refer to them as the perpetrators of the genocide in Gaza, I guess it is more suitable to say 'Zionists', because this is their political and military faction.
Another example: Hezbollah. This political and military faction represents an exclusive group of people, but not all the Muslims nor Lebanese citizens. -
Israel killing civilians in Gaza and the West BankI agree. But, whilst 'Jews' is the concept of referring to the ethno-religious group, 'Zionist' is the political movement or faction that is committing the atrocities in Gaza. I think the latter is more - let's say - suitable to refer to them.
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Israel killing civilians in Gaza and the West BankWhen I speak of these people, how would I refer to them without using the word Jew? — Punshhh
Zionists -
What would Aristotle say to Plato if Plato told him he's in the cave?Aristotle: [Your answer] — dani
I think Aristotle might say to Plato: Do you mind that I am stuck in a cave dealing with the shadow of the forms? Well, that's a universal negative preposition. Not all men who are stuck in a cave deal with the shadow of the forms. No S is P. Etc.
I guess he would have answered with a syllogism. :grin:
javi2541997
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