Another Hello

Please post all introductions in this forum. Tell us how you found the philosophy forums, what interests you about philosophy, and a little about you, such as your age, where you live, what you do for a living, etc.
Post Reply
Nick_A
Posts: 3364
Joined: April 19th, 2009, 11:45 pm

Another Hello

Post by Nick_A »

I'm looking for a site with members open to discussing deeper ideas without negativity but for the shared love of wisdom. Not that much luck so far. So I found this site on Google and it does seem tame compared to some others I know of.

I've been recently doing research on Simone Weil since I wanted to be part of presentations pertaining to her birth centennial. She was born Feb 3, 1909 and she is a part of what I hold important which is Sophia Perennis or world wisdom. She has that kind of mind.

Jacob Needleman writes in his book "The American soul" of the importance of keeping great ideas alive:
Our world, so we see and hear on all sides, is drowning in materialism, commercialism, consumerism. But the problem is not really there. What we ordinarily speak of as materialism is a result, not a cause. The root of materialism is a poverty of ideas about the inner and outer world. Less and less does our contemporary culture have, or even seek, commerce with great ideas, and it is the lack that is weakening the human spirit. This is the essence of materialism. Materialism is a disease of the mind starved for ideas.
I believe he is right so why not be a part of keeping ideas alive on the internet as well.

I'm not a professional at this. I'm a musician with an interest in art, science, philosophy, and the essence of religion so am drawn to those with the mindset open to what I believe to be their unification. I look forward to contributing here and learning what reaction I get from these interests.
User avatar
Haller
Posts: 329
Joined: March 9th, 2009, 8:15 pm

Post by Haller »

Well I hope you will find this forum to be to your liking. Besides the ocassional ad hominum, we are pretty decent and civil around here. Anger and arguments will be natural of course, but we try to avoid them.
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself.
-Friedrich Nietzsche
Belinda
Premium Member
Posts: 13818
Joined: July 10th, 2008, 7:02 pm
Location: UK

Post by Belinda »

Nick A. the quotation interests me and I belie ve it too. But what about the Amish people who renounced consumerism, as I understand, in order to retreat from modernity?

The Amish don't quite measure up to success in renouncing modernity because they rely upon the spurious authority of elders.

I wonder if our societies have to wander through the slough of consumerism before emerging on to a firmer foundation on the other side. We know now that consumerism doesn't work and we also know that we need what is often called spiritual sustenance.I don't , of course , mean old time religions with their Biblical literalism and other assorted ills, but the spiritual sustenance that can come from maximising the reasoning and empathetic faculties of individuals.
Nick_A
Posts: 3364
Joined: April 19th, 2009, 11:45 pm

Post by Nick_A »

Belinda wrote:Nick A. the quotation interests me and I belie ve it too. But what about the Amish people who renounced consumerism, as I understand, in order to retreat from modernity?

The Amish don't quite measure up to success in renouncing modernity because they rely upon the spurious authority of elders.

I wonder if our societies have to wander through the slough of consumerism before emerging on to a firmer foundation on the other side. We know now that consumerism doesn't work and we also know that we need what is often called spiritual sustenance.I don't , of course , mean old time religions with their Biblical literalism and other assorted ills, but the spiritual sustenance that can come from maximising the reasoning and empathetic faculties of individuals.
This isn't the thread for it, but if you'd like we could begin a thread on internal and external morality. People can be conditioned to REACT in ways we both agree are self defeating. Fundamentalism, either through Communism or exoteric religious domination creates this environment. This is external morality. However Plato asserted that inner morality is really soul knowledge which we keep covered up. Prof. Needleman is suggesting that great ideas lead to a quality of comprehension that opens us to soul knowledge and its awareness of our relationship to higher consciousness They let the light into our darkened hearts and allow us to become human rather then conditioned consumers.

If this interests you, we could explore it.
ape
Posts: 3314
Joined: April 6th, 2009, 9:55 pm

Re: Another Hello

Post by ape »

Nick_A!

Belated welcome!
Nick_A wrote:I'm looking for a site with members open to discussing deeper ideas without negativity but for the shared love of wisdom. Not that much luck so far. So I found this site on Google and it does seem tame compared to some others I know of.
ape:
Welcome.
Nick_A wrote: I've been recently doing research on Simone Weil since I wanted to be part of presentations pertaining to her birth centennial. She was born Feb 3, 1909 and she is a part of what I hold important which is Sophia Perennis or world wisdom. She has that kind of mind.

Jacob Needleman writes in his book "The American soul" of the importance of keeping great ideas alive:
Our world, so we see and hear on all sides, is drowning in materialism, commercialism, consumerism. But the problem is not really there. What we ordinarily speak of as materialism is a result, not a cause. The root of materialism is a poverty of ideas about the inner and outer world. Less and less does our contemporary culture have, or even seek, commerce with great ideas, and it is the lack that is weakening the human spirit. This is the essence of materialism. Materialism is a disease of the mind starved for ideas.
I believe he is right so why not be a part of keeping ideas alive on the internet as well.

I'm not a professional at this. I'm a musician with an interest in art, science, philosophy, and the essence of religion so am drawn to those with the mindset open to what I believe to be their unification. I look forward to contributing here and learning what reaction I get from these interests.
ape:
I think you will like this too:

Leo Tolstoy, The Perennial Wisdom of Humankind, 1911.
Post Reply

Return to “Introductions”

2023/2024 Philosophy Books of the Month

Entanglement - Quantum and Otherwise

Entanglement - Quantum and Otherwise
by John K Danenbarger
January 2023

Mark Victor Hansen, Relentless: Wisdom Behind the Incomparable Chicken Soup for the Soul

Mark Victor Hansen, Relentless: Wisdom Behind the Incomparable Chicken Soup for the Soul
by Mitzi Perdue
February 2023

Rediscovering the Wisdom of Human Nature: How Civilization Destroys Happiness

Rediscovering the Wisdom of Human Nature: How Civilization Destroys Happiness
by Chet Shupe
March 2023

The Unfakeable Code®

The Unfakeable Code®
by Tony Jeton Selimi
April 2023

The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are

The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are
by Alan Watts
May 2023

Killing Abel

Killing Abel
by Michael Tieman
June 2023

Reconfigurement: Reconfiguring Your Life at Any Stage and Planning Ahead

Reconfigurement: Reconfiguring Your Life at Any Stage and Planning Ahead
by E. Alan Fleischauer
July 2023

First Survivor: The Impossible Childhood Cancer Breakthrough

First Survivor: The Impossible Childhood Cancer Breakthrough
by Mark Unger
August 2023

Predictably Irrational

Predictably Irrational
by Dan Ariely
September 2023

Artwords

Artwords
by Beatriz M. Robles
November 2023

Fireproof Happiness: Extinguishing Anxiety & Igniting Hope

Fireproof Happiness: Extinguishing Anxiety & Igniting Hope
by Dr. Randy Ross
December 2023

Beyond the Golden Door: Seeing the American Dream Through an Immigrant's Eyes

Beyond the Golden Door: Seeing the American Dream Through an Immigrant's Eyes
by Ali Master
February 2024

2022 Philosophy Books of the Month

Emotional Intelligence At Work

Emotional Intelligence At Work
by Richard M Contino & Penelope J Holt
January 2022

Free Will, Do You Have It?

Free Will, Do You Have It?
by Albertus Kral
February 2022

My Enemy in Vietnam

My Enemy in Vietnam
by Billy Springer
March 2022

2X2 on the Ark

2X2 on the Ark
by Mary J Giuffra, PhD
April 2022

The Maestro Monologue

The Maestro Monologue
by Rob White
May 2022

What Makes America Great

What Makes America Great
by Bob Dowell
June 2022

The Truth Is Beyond Belief!

The Truth Is Beyond Belief!
by Jerry Durr
July 2022

Living in Color

Living in Color
by Mike Murphy
August 2022 (tentative)

The Not So Great American Novel

The Not So Great American Novel
by James E Doucette
September 2022

Mary Jane Whiteley Coggeshall, Hicksite Quaker, Iowa/National Suffragette And Her Speeches

Mary Jane Whiteley Coggeshall, Hicksite Quaker, Iowa/National Suffragette And Her Speeches
by John N. (Jake) Ferris
October 2022

In It Together: The Beautiful Struggle Uniting Us All

In It Together: The Beautiful Struggle Uniting Us All
by Eckhart Aurelius Hughes
November 2022

The Smartest Person in the Room: The Root Cause and New Solution for Cybersecurity

The Smartest Person in the Room
by Christian Espinosa
December 2022

2021 Philosophy Books of the Month

The Biblical Clock: The Untold Secrets Linking the Universe and Humanity with God's Plan

The Biblical Clock
by Daniel Friedmann
March 2021

Wilderness Cry: A Scientific and Philosophical Approach to Understanding God and the Universe

Wilderness Cry
by Dr. Hilary L Hunt M.D.
April 2021

Fear Not, Dream Big, & Execute: Tools To Spark Your Dream And Ignite Your Follow-Through

Fear Not, Dream Big, & Execute
by Jeff Meyer
May 2021

Surviving the Business of Healthcare: Knowledge is Power

Surviving the Business of Healthcare
by Barbara Galutia Regis M.S. PA-C
June 2021

Winning the War on Cancer: The Epic Journey Towards a Natural Cure

Winning the War on Cancer
by Sylvie Beljanski
July 2021

Defining Moments of a Free Man from a Black Stream

Defining Moments of a Free Man from a Black Stream
by Dr Frank L Douglas
August 2021

If Life Stinks, Get Your Head Outta Your Buts

If Life Stinks, Get Your Head Outta Your Buts
by Mark L. Wdowiak
September 2021

The Preppers Medical Handbook

The Preppers Medical Handbook
by Dr. William W Forgey M.D.
October 2021

Natural Relief for Anxiety and Stress: A Practical Guide

Natural Relief for Anxiety and Stress
by Dr. Gustavo Kinrys, MD
November 2021

Dream For Peace: An Ambassador Memoir

Dream For Peace
by Dr. Ghoulem Berrah
December 2021