sue hindmarsh wrote: How does not having time and freedom help the budding philosopher?
Ultimately it really doesn't matter. Or in your own words, even time and freedom "are neither; good or bad, closer to, or further away from Reality than anything else in the universe. They could be useful tools in awakening the mind to an understanding of Reality; but then, it's hard to imagine a budding philosopher finding any of them inspiring for very long."
For men to have the chance to use their minds in the pursuit of wisdom, they need to create for themselves a freer lifestyle (...) Lolling around all day, sleeping, eating, doing a bit of writing, going for a walk, reading a little, watching the waves roll in onto the beach – definitely no work, no family, and no girlfriends – just the man alone with his thoughts. That is the environment for a Philosopher.
Of course that seems like a beautiful and wise lifestyle. It might give the senses the rest they need in an over-excited over-stimulated increasingly artificial 'fake' civilisation. One sort of puts oneself in a state of quarantine from the dis-eased.
Diebert, what sort of environment do you consider beneficial to the development of a Philosopher?
The environment influences just his person. For many Western thinkers there's a phase sooner or later which looks like the one you described above. The question is if your philosopher wants to move on to discover new lands, higher peaks and expose deeper lows. Becoming free even from the prerequisites of environment. But what often seems to happen is that they get stuck on their island, thinking they've already overcome all that matters.
The road to perfect enlightenment is long and winding, and not many dare to turn all the pages or sail all seven seas. This is not meant to be poetry but it's something to think about when you walk on the beach next time: is there another sea to cross? It's so tempting to remain in a
lull and call it the end of development! How many promising sages haven't given in to this siren song over the ages?
Sue wrote:Diebert wrote:As soon as someone starts to waken up to the truth, his old reality will always seem like a prison and oppressing his true nature.
What “truth†is one awakening to?
The one that will expose the prisons in every culture or lifestyle. And how it really doesn't matter for Truth - which will always find its way.
Sue wrote:Diebert wrote:And of course: freedom is ultimately subjective for any individual or the culture that's producing him.
Yes subjective, but also universally understood to mean; not restricted, not controlled, not limited. So, your point about it being “subjective†is - what?
No, freedom shouldn't be understood as being uncontrolled and unlimited in some 'universal' way. This sounds like some typical Western pseudo-religious idealistic dogma. For example, if one would believe in certain restrictions, laws and control that would be doing something beneficial, then freedom would mean the ability to implement or uphold laws and restrictions, as to promote the 'good' that is believed in. Another example: a child feels most 'free' (secure, grounded, calm) when there are clear rules in the household. Remove the rules and you end up with a nervous, attention seeking, neurotic child. Not a 'free' one.
This forum is a good example of how freedom assists the spread of Wisdom. People from many countries use this forum to share ideas and perhaps learn something.
Maybe it looks like that to you. The majority doesn't seem seriously interested to me, or even capable of grasping much. Starting an underground philosophy club in Moscow during Stalin's reign could have been way more effective, who knows? People always tend to praise their current way of doing things as the best thing since sliced bread, without any shred of objective measurement available.
At this point in time, Australia seems to be a breeding ground for Philosophers – the best examples being Kevin Solway and David Quinn. Australia is surely an odd place for philosophy to blossom, because the people here generally "don't give a shit" about; politics and history, trends and fashions, technology and science, philosophy and religion – some of them are fanatical about sport, but at bottom - the greatest passion Aussie's share is having fun.
Exactly. Not sure if a couple of thinkers on twenty million can be called a 'breeding' ground though. And they are there
despite the reigning culture of 'having fun', I'd say, and not
because of it. And so it's with any culture, seemingly free or oppressed. They swim against the stream of their time.
Do you think a budding philosopher, say living in today’s China, is going to be just ignored by his community when he starts questioning their values and traditions? I don’t think so – it would be more likely that that community will lock him up, or make him change his point of view.
He'll be fine! At least he will have true commitment, he will know it's about live and death, not a hobby or a way to hide from reality. And his masculinity will be developed because courage and cunning are needed to make sure he won't get locked up. Though I believe locking away was more likely fifty years ago and even then I don't think mindful philosophers with weird ideas would be punished in that culture. Just stay out of political fights. In Western countries most political activists receive some serious form of character assassination, or will be just murdered all the same if ones platform gets noticeable or too powerful.
Did you know that this forum is banned in China? Why do you think they have done this – do you think they are just afraid of nihilism – or do you think it goes deeper than that?
I have no idea. Can you tell me how you know this, any friends in China or are you going by search engine indexes?