A Little Less Conversation/A Little More Coherence...Please

You seem to have a knack for picking up insightful culture phrases.  Chris Rock's sense of "cap value" was funny, clever and tangent to the whole "red in tooth and claw" discussion of violence that we are have been exploring........kinda.  I  offer this because it was damn hard to figure out what you were trying to say in your last post.  It started out with as an opening sentence:  

Malignity a new fangled or ancient evil in nature and it raises a special problem.

My guess is that "Malignity, a new fangled or ancient evil in nature", may have been a title to a Burke/Hume/Hobbs  essay that you had read and then adapted as a topic sentence.  Regardless of how it came to be, the syntax, or lack thereof, obscured meaning.  You then rephrased some heavy moral/political philosophy stuff that sounded a bit like Kant (screw the consequences/it's a matter of principle) which you had alluded to in an earlier post.  Next you, I guess, tried to make the dry stuff a little relevant by the Rock reference.  Finally you end with, what I presume was on your mind; namely: 

  I mean sometimes I look at the present state of humanity and think can somebody please do some kind of pure play, you selfish S O B's.  I almost consider malignity as a genetic adaptation a re-emergence of a more primitive brain in need of a little respite from the senseless onslaught of corporate America greediness.  

If your watching TV, you will know that, this week, a guy in Kirkwood, near where we lived in St. Louis; who, it would seem had the same take, did do a pure play.  He not only orchestrated his own eternal respite, but took along some enemies for company. Whether he did so as an act of Kant principle or motive revenge, it wasn't good for the company. 

Anyway, if I may be so bold!  Keep the thoughts simple/the syntax certain/the humor everpresent......john     

 

damn the brother must have done something

Damn, The Brother Must Have Done Something

Malignity a new fangled or ancient evil in nature and it raises a special problem. Does a person’s ability to act rationally and make judgments give credence to the possibility of Malignity in the Human condition. If by deductive logic one is to reason that such abnormalities are not abnormal but an evil scheming and fulfillment of such evil ambitions, then the intent of such an abortion of human kindness is a frightening prospect to the peaceful and purposeful. Indeed how could one prepare oneself or possibly counter or defend against such a cold and calculating demeanor.

Stanley Benn in his essay on wickedness and its different manifestations mentions that it is imperative to the argument that the perpetrator of such action must be fully cognitive; otherwise the term malignity has no meaning. There are various gradations of evil action which are not considered as malignant which I wish to mention just for the sake of comparison and reference. One is the Self Centered Act, which could be categorized as a delusional state. Second is the Psychopath which takes the form of moral imbecility. Third is contentious wickedness, which differs from self-centered action in that the maxims of such action are seen by the perpetrator to be reasonable and necessary. Fourthly is heteronomous wickedness which seemingly malignant in that the individual appears to be free to choose of his own accord to act or not act, on the orders given by a superior, still is not considered as malignant due to the fact that such action is not springing completely from one’s own volition.

One of the first thoughts that might come to mind is the notion that without motive how is it possible to act at all? Or is it possible to act without any motive? Now to act without motive may or may not be a possibility, but we could consider that if such malignant action were possible that such actions may be unfathomable to a mind which is reasonable and considerate by nature or design.

When considering malignity we have to ask if the possibility of an action which does not fit into heteronomous wickedness, conscientious wickedness, psychopathic wickedness, or self-centered wickedness can exist in reality. An idea can be created or a character that epitomizes such an idea, but would that creation be evidence that such a thing exist. I think such literary creations are there to help us look at and examine such actions. Kant believes that it is not possible to perform a pure play action, that all human action is motivated.

Sometimes we respond to situations without motive in a very instinctual way. Let’s say we see someone on fire and we act without thinking even in regard to our own well being. That would be one way that a person could be considered to be doing good without motive. Most people would not only consider such an action Moral or Right, but would think it to be fundamental part of our human nature, something in us that goes beyond Laws and systems of control. So in an opposite sort of way, or as the opposite to an automatic response, could a person who is conditioned, and it is my opinion that every human being is conditioned, have a response to the same phenomenon and instead of acting to put out the fire, pour gas or try to accelerate the destructive aspect of the event. Please consider that destruction is necessary for creation so we have to throw out judgment here completely from our mind set, with this in mind or judgment out of mind, could the participant in the event relish and revel in seeing and doing such behavior. Remember if one is conditioned to think in this so called evil sort of way that does not count as malignant action or thought. I am offering for consideration the possibility by my sorry example that such action is a possibility.

Are not many of the Laws we create designed to protect us from the animalistic tendency humans demonstrate. Is not our history filled to the brim with violent and psychotic acts, granted those do not count as malignant? Still, without much prodding on my part, it is not hard imagine that people can be malignant when looking at our history.

Seeing an evil act makes us question many of the fundamental values and beliefs we hold to be true, especially when they happen close to home. Such events can lead to a total re examining of long held values and beliefs. Questions like am I a bad person or is everything just chance might develop as psychological strategies to coping with the emotional reaction we have to such experiences. Or one might become consumed with the idea of retaliation. Most reactions are always filtered and the result depends on the filtering system, for example our response to the 9:11 event. An eye for an eye I guess was the philosophy, but probably it was just money. I mean isn’t everything about Money? That is why the malignant act is so fascinating. It is really not about money. Fortunately or Unfortunately most everything else is about the money or as Chris Rock says if bullets cost 5000 apiece and you see someone with 5 or 6 caps in him you just got to think, damn that brother most have done something.

My take on the whole shebang is that understanding and labels come from an event first happening in a field of infinite possibilities. How any such event, words, deeds, any change or movement of matter arising into or out of manifestation happens, weather thinking of all events a singularities or reactions, is one heavy calculation not as yet possible by any computer or brain? Then the 2^nd event from the point of view of thought is the reasoning process trying to put in order or file the event within the brain, understanding it of course within a social framework, a conditioning program, thus the progress over time of different value systems. Which in my opinion are all reactionary, meaning calculated, and tied in with the basic hardwiring which is to survive? This programming is of course evolving and changing chemically. This of course bringing us very quickly and not very scientifically to our present state of affairs, being the all consuming obsession with time bound consciousness and the acquisition of things. I mean sometimes I look at the present state of humanity and think can somebody please do some kind of pure play, you selfish S O B’s. I almost consider malignity as a genetic adaptation a re-emergence of a more primitive brain in need of a little respite from the senseless onslaught of corporate America greediness. In conclusion the bottom line is Be A Team Player, Go Gators, and pledge allegiance to the Wal-Mart States of America.

pure play

John in my estimation their are only 2 roads for those who have experienced oneness, either go out and dedicate all of the energy of life to helping others, or merge into this concousness and let the radiance of surrender which means total reliance on the source energy, no money accepting, no organizations, total absorption: be the blessing which is felt by others. the level to which one is successful will determine in exact proportion the degree that one is anxiety less. I am for both paths because anything in between just sucks. your in between friend david

"Running on Shady"

Your "running on shady" phrase was a good one.  Of course you know that "Slim Shady" is a well entrenched element in my mind and so I get it; but others may not.  I would hate for them to miss it, regardless of how well defined "Slim Shady" is within their hard drive. 

Clarity First

In an earlier post, I identified PC as an abbreviation for "politically correct", which is today's way of referencing "conventional behavior with a preferenced bias toward compliance, appeasement and civility". My take is that "PCness" hangs out on the other side of the behavioral spectrum from "violence"; unless of course you consider "courteous failure to thrive" as being a form of violence. (From one perspective, it might be argued, that success in "not making waves" will sooner or later sink the boat/culture/species.)  Anyway, Sunday's post contained a quote from a famous 19th century poet, that I guess was not self evident. As science/commerce began to tame the species many in there emerging "PCness", railed against violence. I think what Tennyson was saying was that while PCness is cool, it is worth noting that even now many animals, or some animals; or at least a few animals, dares to experience life as an impassioned, primitive thought, blood struggle, i.e., "red in tooth and claw". Can this adaptive attribute be overcome...should it? Surely you remember that this was a favorite conundrum for Gene Roddenberry, who, I presume, in the end, experienced a PC death............john

Every deal is a shady deal?
Every thought has its point of view, and thats okay, it is what it is, maybe the problem is that besides expectation which is an obvious conflict, most people have not gone within, or are so distracted by consumer conciousness and therefore are running on,( running in the sense of how they meet and deal with others and things), Running on Shady.
Clarity and clarification how does perception and the processing of information take place. If it is simply a function of genetics then the game is not fair and all the bullshit of equal this and equal that is just a invention of the intelligent.
Now Hobbes says that humans are essentially fairly matched and therefore getting rid of all the bullshit.
Everyone is entitled to everything therefore setting up a continual state of conflict or war.
And the second law is that one has the right to defend ones self.
Therefore having practically experienced the miseries of this state which is famine, poverty, continual strife, ect..., one sacrifices there natural right of freedom and agrees to abide by a contract, this is called the contract of peace.
Therefore all laws are a simply contracts that we agree to follow so that we can have peace.
Otherwise the result will be war and such an existence is full of tribulations.
This veiwpoint has at its philosophical center Materialism. That we are simply chemicals.
It may be that all states and stances that a human being takes are allready defined by some primary philosophical concepts. Or that the states and stances we take are the effect of social pressure to conform to a set of contracts set in place that we learn and adopt as we grow to adulthood.
I will right more later Nitai needs to use the computer
I am back for a moment i have to study so this will be breif.
who are you voting for I assume it will be hillary mostly because you would probably vote for bill if he was running.
Yet i am not sure.
I think I am going to vote for barack obama why well i am not really sure.
He seems to be honest or a least consistent, A black president image that i bet you would have never thought such a thing possible in your life time well you may still be right but i hope that you are wrong. You know wouldn't it be great if we could have one year were we could just sit back read lots of cool books talk about all kinds of crap maybe write a book together and become expert fishermen. You know i really had it right at 20 i really tried to avoid the entanglement of sex life. of course i was trying to avoid alot of other things to, but i wasn't totally of the mark just unbalanced. It is a hard road in reality, brahmacarya, and I ought to know. I mean look at you at 50 something you were chasing after some young tail. God almighty man what where you thinking, either thats the height of not thinking(in the sense of a zen kind of no mind) or maybe it was just bad judgment, kind of depends on how you look at it. As far as I can see It takes a very keen and observant mind or something. You know what is was strange living in a monastic setting were you think egoism would be the last element. The very thing that could never be accomplished due to the fact that well for one there is no ego to destroy and second that in a system or organization you have the very thing in operation that prevents what is trying to be accomplished. It seems to me that when observation developes within and it becomes no longer nescessary to carry the burden of the egoic self then it is possible to live and love without a sense of possiveness or neediness. All I have to do is run into my wife and in less than 30 seconds she begins,( I'm refering to a mind that is not in agreement with what is or in need or distressed having something to do with something perceived that i did not do or say ), i do not even think she is aware of this behavior and i simply remain silent and listen, I think she thinks i am crazy or she might say what is the matter with you but i just smile. Of course I am grateful within for such phenomanon arising because it is a precious gift for a dull mind like mine. Yet sometimes when i am by myself and the kids are not around i notice my mind doing its patterns which are fear based really. It almost seems to me that all the business and busyness that goes on within and without me is simply minds creating unecessary needs and demands for the temporary self or unconctrolled mind. Is that really preferable to being still and exercising a little common sense. Well maybe that's just me regretting things I could ah should ah would ah done when I was young instead of at 40 probably more common than I imagine. I mean with the internet and all that is available in the digital age you think people would or at least some would choose brahmacarya, or at least a less complex life style and exspecially with the state of uncertainty in the economy. I think this state of affairs will bring about less babies, maybe sex is so hard wired into the genetic propensity that it will continue just the same. I think i am going to get my degree in science and come up with the ultimate pill. No zits, no babies, no sexually transmitted diseases, no anxieties, no austerity, and best of all eat as much as you want and never gain a pound. No matter what your age its the only pill you'll need. We can have Gallagher market it. What do you think?

Before Violence there is expectation and time

At the risk of having to turn in my "PC Pass", I'll offer up that maybe we should first explore time rather than violence. Your circumstance offers up credible evidence that many in today's "expectation driven world" don't have the time to even dialogue about "red in tooth and claw" violence, much less strive as an agent of same. Alas, the burdens of your expectations dominate, I presume, all conscious moments save a minute to "pee & wee". Indeed what is surprising to me is that our species has retained a subset of brothers, so unsatisfied with PC protocols, that they find time to do violence. Whoever they are; they're embarassing those of us with "more sensible schedules". Let's claim they're all ADHD and on speed!

john
what is red tooth and claw?

what is pc protocols

Tennyson & Darwin on Violence

Who trusted God was love indeed

And love Creation's final law

Tho' Nature, red in tooth and claw

With ravine, shriek'd against his creed

Lions on the Savannah or Democrats in Savannah, its a daily dose of "kill or be killed". So, I say, "let's hear no evil, see no evil, and never acknowledge the truth of Tennyson's bloody revelation" ......maybe we will all get to heaven on a "PC PASS"; politically correct, that is! And when we do get THERE, we'll no doubt be greeted by Ghandi, Jesus, and Krisnamurti, singing "I was just kiddin", dudes!