I hope that you do not get pneumonia. What governments don't seem to be paying attention to is the way that social conditions affect mental and physical health. In England, there is a drive to get people back to work but without attention to why they are getting sick. But, I won't say too much in this specific thread other than to say that the role of the philosopher may be to look in a more analytical way, drawing together ideas from various disciplines, with clear arguments.

It's probably not a topic that I would pursue for this particular activity in though, as I think that it watching too much news which contributed to me getting unwell recently. Not that I wish to side-step politics. I nearly started a thread on it while in hospital but decided it would probably make me deteriorate if I did it at this moment. All in good time and right place. If anything, I see the question of so much trouble as raising the issue of collapse or potential transformation. But I am sure that I have said this many times in various threads. Of course, it is an area which you, or someone else could tackle for this activity in a unique way.

I don't think that is a discussion for this thread. — Athena

Are you sure? The subject of this thread is the writing of philosophical essay.
Maybe you can write one on what the problem with philosophy is.

I hope that you do not get pneumonia. What governments don't seem to be paying attention to is the way that social conditions affect mental and physical health. In England, there is a drive to get people back to work but without attention to why they are getting sick. But, I won't say too much in this specific thread other than to say that the role of the philosopher may be to look in a more analytical way, drawing together ideas from various disciplines, with clear arguments.

It's probably not a topic that I would pursue for this particular activity in though, as I think that it watching too much news which contributed to me getting unwell recently. Not that I wish to side-step politics. I nearly started a thread on it while in hospital but decided it would probably make me deteriorate if I did it at this moment. All in good time and right place. If anything, I see the question of so much trouble as raising the issue of collapse or potential transformation. But I am sure that I have said this many times in various threads. Of course, it is an area which you, or someone else could tackle for this activity in a unique way. — Jack Cummins

I like how you understand what I am saying. But that said, I am reading "How to Think" by Alan Jacobs, and I need to warn against the notion that we are independent thinkers and that a few of us are far better thinkers than most. Our thinking is a social thing. It is all of us together that assures the best decision making or really off-the-wall extreme left or extreme right thinking that we indulge in to be part of the right group. Even if that other may have a very low IQ, this person may have a perspective and an awareness that is important to the group decision. Some may notice I am most passionate about Hitler and fascism because such matters were discussed at the dinner table. I didn't learn just facts but how we should feel about those facts and to think about the values and the dangers.

My childhood is the foundation upon which I build with books, documentaries, and hopefully, forum discussions. Well, I am weird- I feel connected with all of humanity since the beginning of humanity and at the same time realize how much I do not know. So how can philosophy help us manage our prejudices since we were children, and history, and present day events? How do we prevent stress from becoming a mental or physical problem? What can we do to help each other?

Can we change "more analytical way" to more organic way? What we are missing is the humanness and the connectedness. Education for technology has helped with some things, but how human is being analytical? AI can analyze but it is not human, it is not organic and we have lost our way as though happiness requires something outside of ourselves rather than our experience of ourselves. We need to change the conversation as you did by mentioning the health problems that are made worse by a materialistic understanding instead of a humanistic understanding.

Of course, it is an area which you, or someone else could tackle for this activity in a unique way. — Jack Cummins

Help me here, I am fixated on being a citizen as a human experience and as it was warned when entered WWI, speaking of the German model of bureaucracy it crushes individual liberty and power.
Does the notion of shifting from materialism to humanism stir any new notions?

How about this quote: "If your path determines you walk through hell, walk as though you own the place."

Are you sure? The subject of this thread is the writing of philosophical essay.
Maybe you can write one on what the problem with philosophy is. — Vera Mont

Thank you, but I can not write anything without others being involved. It may not seem like it, but I rely on what you all think. If I only cared about what I think, there would be no point in coming here. I am not sure but a philosophical contrast of materialism versus humanism or technology verses humanism may have some philosophical benefit. But I would not have thought of that without @Jack's thoughts.

:lol: Many years ago I read Edward Hall's book Beyond Culture. He totally shattered my confidence that I knew enough to think for myself. It took a few weeks to restructure a new understanding of reality. I am going through another period of being sure I do not know enough to pretend that I do know. Alan Jacob's book "How to Think" has made me very humble and unsure of myself and also excited about what can be if we come together and walk through hell as though we own the place. Everyone knows we have to stop being victims. We just haven't shared thoughts about this. I think most of us are running around like victims in an earthquake or hurricane. If we have a sense of power, it is the power of belonging to the crowd, right wing or left wing. But if we think about this, we might be aware of feelings of powerlessness. People in a democracy must feel united, powerful and effective. If they do not, they are not experiencing democracy. Being dependent on a strong man is not having a democratic experience.

I have been reading the posts here, and I am not sure what qualifies as a good argument. I am a complete amateur, but perhaps I could settle on my ideas of why democracy is important. :chin: I think I need to increase my awareness of humanism versus materialism. How long do we have to submit a paper?

AI says: Humanists stand for the building of a more humane, just, compassionate, and democratic society using a pragmatic ethics based on human reason, experience, and reliable knowledge-an ethics that judges the consequences of human actions by the well-being of all life on Earth.

This is a whole different approach than education for technology minus the humanities and leaving moral training to the church as Germany did for military and industrial reasons. @Jack what you said is very much on my mind.

I want to note for myself, the democratic model for industry, along with education for democracy could resolve our most serious problems.

How long do we have to submit a paper? — Athena

May 31st, 23:59 GMT.

It says June in title. Were there submissions for previous competition I could read OR has this just been delayed?

I'm posting the submissions on June 1st of 2025, and the deadline for submissions is the day prior to June 1st.

Happy May Day, everyone.

I think some essays have been removed from my PM -- but at present I have @Sam26 and @Bob Ross 's submissions.

I wanted to remind people that the end of this month is the last day for submissions, and also note how I believe I've lost some submissions in my PM's -- so if you're not either Sam or Bob, please resubmit and I'll make sure to preserve the essay outside of the PM.

Addendum: I think I've heard people say they have interest in submitting, and have mistaken that with submissions. I look forward to more submissions!

Thanks for the Happy wishes and the reminder:

8)Deadline for submissions is May 31st 23:59 GMT
9) All entries will be posted on June 1st. — Moliere

I think some essays have been removed from my PM — Moliere

Your honesty is admirable in sharing the difficulties encountered in hosting a new TPF challenge.

I hope the problem of 'lost submissions' can be addressed quickly.

@Baden and other previous hosts of TPF Activities/Challenges might share their experience and knowledge of this part of the process. Support always welcome. Perhaps best via PM?

Great to know that people have already submitted. Unfortunate that some anonymity has been lost.
I think it would be best for anyone concerned to contact @Moliere via PM.

Best wishes.

It does seem sad that essays have been lost and that the completel anonymity has been compromised in the approach. I wonder how essays have been removed, because there is so much going on with data attacks etc.

I am hoping to submit still but fearful of the essay getting lost because I have to type it onto the pms directly, due to software problems. Actually, what I am writing is far from finished as I have been struggling with a lot of stress since coming out of hospital. I am hoping that what I am writing will come together sufficiently for me to submit. It is over 500 words but I don't wish it to be too long and get lost. I will give myself time until the closing date. If it gets lost on the system I will use my handwritten draft as a potential thread instead.

Let's hope that people who have submitted the missing essays are not too demoralised and have their work saved somewhere. It would be awful if this situation affects the competition. I hope that the problem doesn't come down to issues of submitting private emails because there is so much going on in the world with security concerns about the internet at the moment.

To be honest I think I made a mistake and jumped the gun -- I mixed up those who had already submitted with those who I had heard were going to submit. It made me anxious so I thought it best to say something "just in case"

I am hoping to submit still but fearful of the essay getting lost because I have to type it onto the pms directly, due to software problems. Actually, what I am writing is far from finished as I have been struggling with a lot of stress since coming out of hospital. I am hoping that what I am writing will come together sufficiently for me to submit. It is over 500 words but I don't wish it to be too long and get lost. I will give myself time until the closing date. If it gets lost on the system I will use my handwritten draft as a potential thread instead. — Jack Cummins

I hope your essay writing goes well and you don't become too anxious about it.
It's not worth worrying over or becoming fearful of it getting lost. This was just a hiccup.
It should work just the same as the short story activity.
If you keep a copy, then all will be well.
If all goes tits up, all will be well.

Take care! :pray: :flower:

PS I too am a bit stressed, but needs must put things into perspective. And breathe...
Pick a fave from your music list...and chill...dance and let it be... :sparkle:

Stress gets in the way of writing sometimes, but I will try to chill out and hope that you do too. Music helps so much. What I am listening to at the moment is 'Songs of Surrender' by U2, which is a compilation of reworking of many of their songs.

What I am listening to at the moment is 'Songs of Surrender' by U2, which is a compilation of reworking of many of their songs. — Jack Cummins

Thanks for sharing that. I didn't know of it. You are right. Music does help. Topic for an essay? :wink:
Here's - One (Songs of Surrender)

Yes, 'One' would be great inspiration for a song as it is so philosophical. If my current essay doesn't out I may try it or another U2 song. Or, someone else may try one based on music by U2.

On a sadder note , one of my favourite singers, Mike Peters of the Alarm died this week. He was 66 and had chronic leukaemia for 30 years and it took on an aggressive form last year. A lot of people have not come across The Alarm, who were from Wales. They go back to the 80s era and were still performing but with a lot of different members and Mike. I have found The Alarm's music to be a big source of inspiration, comparable with early U2.

Thanks for sharing that. I didn't know of it. You are right. Music does help. Topic for an essay? — Amity

Oh yeah, that is a good topic, along with the book's "How to Think" explanation of how our emotions affect our judgment and how our experiences affect our emotions. The right and left have different emotions, which lead to different judgments. Hum, the different paths we travel, and how do we come together as a united nation and United Nations? Can we come to a consensus on a future we want to share?

Deadline fast approaching if anyone needs a reminder...

:smile:

Looking forward to June 1st...

Good luck to everyone! :cool: :flower:

I will submit something. I suggest we post them to the main forum, maybe with a prefix like [PF Essay]. They are topical, after all!

I will submit something. I suggest we post them to the main forum, maybe with a prefix like [PF Essay]. They are topical, after all! — hypericin

The plan as I understand it is to post them in the Phil. Writing Activity 2025 subforum, whose contents appear on the front page. I'm good with adding a PF Essay tag in addition to the title of the paper so that it's easily discernable without clicking on the sub-forum, though clicking on the sub-forum ought to filter out for the essays alone if that's what someone wants to focus on.

I'm good with adding a PF Essay tag in addition to the title of the paper so that it's easily discernable without clicking on the sub-forum, though clicking on the sub-forum ought to filter out for the essays alone if that's what someone wants to focus on. — Moliere

Not sure we need the tag. It sounds a bit cumbersome to me.

It sounds a bit cumbersome to me. — Baden

I agree. There is no need. Keep it simple. The plan is good to go! :up: :cool:

:up: Sounds good. You got outvoted @hypericin :D

Ah, my real concern was that the essays were going to be hidden from the main forum. I see that is not the case.

I might be a few hours late. I assume nobody minds, since this is not a contest. I'll definitely be done by midnight my time (UTC -7)

It's June 1st. Where are the submissions of posters with too much time on their hands?

Working on it, about to post.

I feel attacked!

Nah. You were late so obviously don't have enough time. Philosophy is too hard for me so I didn't join this time.