I think is not a paradox but an equilibrium. Buddhism is about (in a general perspective) of trying to figure out a point where all our emotions or awareness can be together. I guess this is why illusion and dissatisfaction is related to those Buddhist principles. Maya and dukkha could be the power to make an equilibrium on truth

Jamón Ibérico is a Spanish dish which comes from the pig's leg. We season it at special stables. The prices of these pieces (depending on the pig's race) could be around 1.000 or 5.000 €. But this luxury food are only bought by the Japanese :sad:

That's paella... I hate it as a Mediterranean dish :lol: Here I show you a good Latin dish we can share and probably Don Quijote liked it:

True. All of the European money goes to corrupt politicians in those countries. But what really surprises me is the fact that Erdogan does not want money neither refugees... What is he trying to? I guess geopolitical strategy towards Russia.

I understand your point. Yes, they are immigrants but when they have the special condition of refugee the rest of the states are forced to help them out because they are leaving due to political or civil war issues. If we erase the refugee term we have to be aware that all of the persons from broken countries will no longer be protected anymore.

Yes, I am agree with you. I think the principle objective is keep them on countries closer to their culture. But I guess that is somehow immoral that those countries would not do anything to help them out without money...

EU plans big cash offer for Afghanistan’s neighbors to host refugees

Interesting. European Union is offering 600M € to avoid the refugees and keep them on Turkey, Pakistan or India.
Thoughts? Is this immoral?

Interesting but pessimist and depressive news we should to check out about the new variant...
What is the Mu variant of COVID-19 the WHO is now monitoring?

Fear and trembling by Søren Kierkegaard.

I am not assuming anything. I just say that probably God does not give grace to everyone because not all wants or believes such holiness.
I am atheist. Do I deserve the God's grace anyways when I don't even believe on it? I think not...
I guess Malebrache referred to that.

I am right about the fact that we are emotional species and sometimes so emotional that we forget how to use ration or knowledge in our decisions. But this is not related about decision-making pattern at all. I guess establishing what is "right" or not is so subjective. This is why we the humans co-living in many communities established some basic rules to at least not leave it to free interpretation. For example: Discriminate someone because their race or ethnic is bad. This is not open to emotions or "right decisions". Nobody should be allowed to promote theories or propaganda against a group of because they are different just for emotional behaviours.
But on the other hand, it is true that depending on the context, that emotion should be considered in a right/no right pattern. For example: Stealing the money of a bank because my family is so poor that my Kids are dying of starvation.

We already discussed a similar issue here: On Gödel's Philosophy of Mathematics

Beautiful paint! :flower:

Sure friend! :up: :100:

It could be but I think is not related to computers but minds. Our world and reality is built by us. The development of awareness give the patrons of the world or country we lice in. Keep in mind that we the humans are the only species which can think or make abstract situations that do not even exist at all.
So, all of these aspects about simulation depends a lot on our imagination. I think the question is not about it this world is simulated but how further our mind can go in the "real" and "imagined" one.

What actually happens to them is completely irrelevant because the money has already changed hands, and that was the only purpose of the Afghan business venture. — StreetlightX

Agreed. Now that Afghanistan failed as worldwide business nobody would care about women and kids living in Kabul. It is so disgusting how the "powerful" countries will leave a lot of citizens there dying or starving. What a failure.

Russia says:

Taliban have captured more than 100 military helicopters

I think Malebranch wanted to express another interpretation or idea about Bible. I am not religious but I do like his quote of "God does not grace to everyone" beacuse probably it is a metaphor meaning that the concept of "grace" is not automatic. I guess only the charitable or humble ones should be able and deserve such "power" of God.
I mean, I see his phrase as a positive commentary towards the Bible. I don't see anything negative.

giddy

Another word I learned today. I never read the word "giddy" until today. In my language means mareado.
Yes, I also feel giddy due to this meltdown press and media of Afghanistan when they did not care in the last 20 years.

they aren’t doing it “transactionally”. — Benj96

Yes, you are right. But we can have the risk that if those good heart people experience a lot of betray after their actions, they will no longer be charitable anymore and probably they would even regret all their past actions.

...American presence fucking up the region, and directly precipitating the rise of terrorism. — StreetlightX

True but I guess there are other countries who are guilty. Remember the "bros" relationship between Aznar and Bush? Well this lead us in the terrorist attack of March 11th 2004. Despite this fact, Spain was still being there and probably we are a target again...

I understand your point but trust me you have a real developed educational system. Very good universities as Yale, Harvard, Stanford,etc... And literally all of the science inventions come from the US or Germany/Nordic countries which surprise! They are all separate religion from schools.
It is true that ambitious politicians need the religious lobbies but just for some votes. Nothing special neither dangerous. Imagine a conflict in the US that Biden should resolve and then he asks the Pope Francis what is going on... That would be a big disappointment right?
Well I tell you this because in Hispanic countries religious lobbies are strong as hell. The conflict between Bolivia and Chile was "carried" by the catholic church :vomit: and the conflict we have in Spain about Catalonia independence where the Spanish Episcopalian organization took part too :vomit: :down:

I think Afghanistan was an issue that all the "powers" would not care at all but now it is important just because the security system is trembling due to the amount of money and presence the emirate, DAESH or whatever Islamic organization is winning.
I do not care at all about politics and governments but people. Imagine being hurt or even die due to a terrorist attack because some incompetent asses did not solve anything after 20 years.

Afghanistan: 20 years ago it was a terrorist haven, an attack at the airport would show it could be again

Ministers have been warning in recent days about the risk posed by Islamic State Khorasan - or ISIS-K - to British, US and other forces involved in evacuating tens of thousands of people.

Thoughts? Would we see terrorist attacks again in our cities? I wish not... But it is true that the victory of Taliban over Afghanistan could give a lot of force to ISIS or other Islamic terrorists cells.

We can’t all be charitable right? — Benj96

Quite difficult when we live in an era which the values are fading away. It is not the issue about be or not be charitable but promoting this attitude through education. Sometimes, when you see a very good person with a great soul making laborious acts to help people, he or she ends up cheated or disappointed of how ungrateful the people can be.

True, you are right that we are forced to go to school but probably this is due the objective of avoiding the lack of assistance by the youngest students.

I think not because schools are the temple of wisdom and development. The problem is not schools or universities at all but how the state manipulates those institutions. A real free and open minded school would lead us in a better society. Probably we could even improve in terms of science and justice.
You are so lucky of living in a country which separated the religion from the education in the perfect time. I do not live in a country like that and you feel how underdeveloped we are in terms of science and social issues.

But do you think the obligatory learning of the sciences shouldnt be banned too? — Prishon

What do you mean as "obligatory"? You are referring to school teachings or something related

Yes, absolutely. They should be separated because everything the State touches it becomes toxic and corrupt. Scientists and scientific researchers need to work completely separate from political interests.

How can this be achieved? — Prishon

I guess with the rule of law. It could be a good mechanism to avoid the presence of the State. Also, developing a market where it is so profitable to be a scientist in companies or businesses without depending on the government's approval.

You're barking up the wrong tree. — TheMadFool

I know it is off topic but I liked this phrase. Again, we can get into philosophy of language.
Barking up the wrong tree it is related to a dog who is wrongly breaking at something meaning that a person is saying arguments against the wrong listener or context.
I have in my language a similar phrase with the same meaning: ¡a otro perro con ese hueso!
(give that bone to another dog!)

Another thing we learned today. Cheers!

Lack of empathy as I expected...
Spanish government admits it will have to leave some Afghan refugees behind

“

We are going to get everyone possible out,” said Defense Minister Margarita Robles this morning, during an interview with the Cadena SER radio network. “There will be people that will have to stay for reasons that are beyond our control.” The minister added that it will be very difficult for those who are not already in Kabul to board a Spanish aircraft.

Control? What control minister? You don't have any kind of "control" anymore...

The faster they fuck right off, the better. — StreetlightX

:100: :up:

No, I mean concise in a context of discussions. Do not make one of those for everything that randomly appeared in your mind.
But again this is just a wisdom, I am not a moderator.

What has quantity to do with being a troll? — Prishon

I don't know if it is related but I am so sure that the moderators of this forum watch over the quality of the discussions. Next time try to be more concise. This is only a wisdom I want give you.

I guess you need to somehow "calm down" because you write a lot of discussions and posts (you already have more than 250) per day and this is why probably some people start thinking that you are a troll. This was what exactly happened to @hope some weeks before and he ended up banned...

I know this discussion is old but it is a good question indeed.

No. I personally drugs or pharmaceutical pills are not a problem. Society is. Most of us will end up consuming accepted and approved drugs as Prozac or melatonin. Probably some members are even already taking it. It is our duty to erase the old taboo about consuming those. Like how we do not do so? We are forced. Life is fulfilled of a weird existentialism. There is a lot of uncertainty out here. When Covid crisis would end? Will I pass my exams? This modern era is facing a lot of problems and dilemmas which do not have a quick solution. Keep living when you do not see the goal is difficult.
There are people who literally need some drugs to avoid dangerous acts as suicide. So, what if these drugs approved by pharmaceutical companies or organisations have the main goal to keep us moving forward? Probably without it, there will be less productive people. We even have a problem of shortage.
As of 2002, seven countries (USA, UK, Italy, Australia, France, Spain and Japan) use 77% of the world's morphine supplies, leaving many emerging countries lacking in pain relief medication.
I would sound so wacky but having drugs in your local pharmacy should be an international protected right.
This is the society context we have to face.

As far as philosophy goes-

You forgot important books about existentialism. For example, the concept of anxiety by Kierkegaard or studies in pessimism by Schopenhauer.

Politicians, lobbies and rich ambitious entrepreneurs. These three do not care anything about of climate change or if you die of cancer due to pollution. They calculate how many lives die due to their business. After making a calculation, they see is completely worthy to still destroying the world because it is so profitable.
The fight against climate change or Paris agreement only could be possible if it is interesting for the richest authorities of the world.
The money and economic affairs come first that health issues.

if the Taliban had free range in the U.S., who is going to disarm them? — James Riley

Are you really believing that Taliban has some chances to free range U. S.?
Well I do understand your perspective of living in a country which is threatened by more than a half of the world.

Who should be allowed to wear a gun (and use it)? — Prishon

No one. Not even the police officers or military officials. It is so dangerous and just for carrying more weapons do not mean that you will have more security at all.