Monday, February 28, 2011

on desire,



‘L’appétit avec conscience de lui-même’ - ”Appetite with knowledge of himself,” was the definition of desire for Spinoza. Indeed, in its universal definition, the desire is a particular tendency to want to get something to satisfy a need, a desire. In philosophy, the longing/desire to seek recognition of others and demonstrates a lack. It is a condition of human life that can register its existence in time, because the desire is inseparable from the projection into the future.

Living without releasing your desires is to live like a stone. In an ancient text describing conversations with his pupils, Socrates thinks that a life incontinent, that is to say without restraint, is a dissolute life and inconsistent. Using a metaphor, Socrates shows that such a life is absurd because it amounts to fill barrels drilled. Callicles responds that it is precisely this inconsistency is a source of pleasure and excitement. ”The man with casks has no pleasure,” because happiness is not in possession and comfort, but in the excitement of the conquest and the alternation of pleasure and pain.

As Rousseau said, “It excites the imagination and nourishes (…) desires” and who attribute to the object, qualities he did not. The reality is often disappointing because it does not coincide with what I had imagined and the expectation of appointment is sometimes more beautiful than the appointment itself. Rousseau concludes, “we enjoy what we get less than what we hoped, and we are happy to be happy than before.

Life without desire is the life of a death in life. This amounts to show that even the desire is inseparable from life. So the real reason emerges from the struggle between the desires. So the desire is part and parcel of human life; an essential faculty of human life. It is constitutive of individuals and allows them to move forward in life because a desire is constantly renewed by another and so on … The people, through desire, seek to fill a lack - a flaw. And we do not mind, one bit.

Monday, February 21, 2011

January remnants

More photos from winter adventures in January.
snow angel
Here's our buddy, Fred:
Fred

Sunday, February 13, 2011

art/philosophy



Rembrandt Van Rijn - Philosopher in Meditation (1632)

Located at the Musee du Louvre, dutch artist Rembrandt’s Philosopher in Meditation has always fascinated my senses. The portrait depicts the essence of light captured within the darkness of the room, with only a glint of fire to match the light of the sun. The winding staircase plays a role in capturing the balance between the dark and light sides of the portrait, evidently similar to the yin-and-yang symbol. The metaphysical question of natural power facing the phenomenon of man-made itinerary, such as creating a fire, is pondered by the philosopher.

Perhaps Rembrandt’s theme was to capture the true essence of the natural power of the sun, as the preferred personal choice for himself, while showing that the forces of man could never amount to the power of the sun-rays leaking into the dark room.
This painting is the ideal studying place I would like to have. Peaceful, dark, and inviting to the sun’s beautiful and powerful rays. Such a life that would be.

Sunday, February 6, 2011

birthday weekend

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I turned twenty this past week.
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Spent the weekend with some friends (minus Shantel and Myra, unfortunately).
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(death of Jenga tower)
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Ended the day at David's Tea with Georgia, MJ, and David!