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The Directory https://www.philosocom.com/post/the-bias-of-language https://www.philosocom.com/post/the-family-tribe-bias https://www.philosocom.com/post/the-nostalgia-experiment-when-bias-is-right https://www.philosocom.com/post/importance-and-luxury-bias-of-prestige-in-work https://www.philosocom.com/post/climbing-the-bias-breaker-hill https://www.philosocom.com/post/how-to-overcome-the-timing-bias-for-better-relationships Synopsis by Mr. Chris Kingsley and Mr. Joseph Bright The article discusses the concept of "affiliation bias," which refers to the tendency to support and promote ideas or principles simply because one is associated with them or the groups behind them. It argues that this bias can hinder the pursuit of truth by causing individuals to overlook flaws and counterarguments. The article uses various examples to illustrate how affiliation bias operates, and stresses the importance of recognizing and overcoming such biases to achieve a more objective understanding of reality. The article offers a thoughtful analysis of how affiliation bias can affect one's judgment and objectivity, providing a clear definition of the bias and its implications with concrete examples. It also emphasizes the importance of critical thinking and the willingness to question one's beliefs and affiliations, encouraging intellectual honesty and openness. (Background music) ********************* Introduction To the Bias In Question To promote something, like an ideology or a principle, just because one is affiliated with it or with a sect/organization behind it, is something one can call "Bias by affiliation". To be affiliated with something, you see, instead of choosing to look at things from an eagle's view, is something that could be difficult for one in the search for the truth. It's simply because this bias encourages you to convince yourself it is true, even if there is a certain flaw that makes it questionable. Results of Thinking Under the Affiliation Bias: 1.Content Creation Due to this bias, some flaws may be overlooked, and thus, the content provider wouldn't be as reliable as they otherwise could've been . They would've been more reliable if they recognized the flaws of their agendas instead of promoting it to be loftier than it actually is. Furthermore, a less biased content creator would not make their content so pro or against something, just because they are affiliated with it or is against their affiliation. Instead, they would strive for a more balanced approach, and be open enough to criticize the very thing, person or organization they support and belong to. That is unless you create content for the sake of advertising... Then, you'll have to be biased. Are all advertisements reliable? What are even the odds that they are? There are there to make you buy/follow/subscribe to something without giving you the bigger picture. The shallowness of the world deserves to be criticized, even if it's a necessary evil. 2. General Overview Would you be willing to go against your own religion? Your family values? Your chosen political party? If you are not biased by your affiliation, then you would, if you didn't deny the truth of its existence . If you automatically support someone or something because you are affiliated with it, then you would have a harder time criticizing them, and thus you would overlook the counter-points which are against them. That is even though criticism can be intellectually used to expand our understanding of reality. That includes lambasting, even. And if someone would point out their flaws, you might feel the need to be defensive. Since offense can be used out of defensiveness, you may use fallacies such as ad-hominem, whataboutism and the strawman's fallacy to divert the feelings of being attacked, by projecting them unto the critic. Learning From The Bias' Fault From this we can learn two insights: Information presented in social media feeds is not accurate, despite being preferred by the population over articles. UnconventionalRD: "Social media also moves a lot faster than blogging. You post something, people see it, and you start getting engagement and feedback almost immediately ." 1.1. However, despite the masssive userbase invovled, many social media posts lack sources, as there are less/no consequences for individual people posting information on social media before verifying it. Thus, they increase the spread of misinformation over these popular platforms. The affiliation bias can deceive you merely because you support a certain group/social category, or are a part of such a category. 2.1. In a sense, positivity can therefore blind us from the broader, more-dualistic scope of reality . That bias is well-deserved when someone passed away (AKA honoring the dead), but not in many other cases. Philosophical Commentary In philosophy, being proven wrong is more important than one may think. It is even more important when one recognizes their fallacy. This can easily be the stepping stone to the truth. In society in general, it is a bigger thing to convert to another religion than it is to subscribe to a different philosophy or philosopher. It's because religion is usually more dominant in one's life than one's thoughts are, as religion often comes with a greater sense of identity, both individually, collectively, and in some cases, nationally. If you live in a Christian nation, for example, and decide you turn Hindu, not all people are going to like it. That could even include your family. As a result of this religious change you might even be estranged . You might be harassed, laughed at and so on. The religions I mentioned are just examples; I wasn't referring to Christianity specifically as I didn't to Hinduism. It's just that, if you decide one day to become nihilist after being existentialist, you will not be as bothered by other people as you would with adopting a new religion (like, I don't know, Shinto-ism). And the greater value normally attributed to religion compared to philosophy, as the former is greatly institutional, often compels you to be biased to your affiliation to it. Why I Choose To Not Be Affiliated That is a problem that I have with any societal affiliation: The fact that it isn't as open minded as philosophy, and the fact that open mindedness to include new ideas is imperative for the seeking of the truth . Not as open minded to the point of finding out that some of its claims were false. This is why I have a problem with being a part of society : It's unnecessarily more difficult to criticize it when you're not outside of it. To quote Mr. Kaiser Basileus : There's no point thinking outside the box if you can't act outside the box. Religion is a very tribal thing, you see. Not because of primitivity, but because it is so embedded with identity, it is very tempting to become biased by your affiliation with it. If presented with something being declared as false but is actually a very important thing in your religion, then you, the religious member, will be inclined to find as many ways as possible to debunk it. And you, in some instances, may feel compelled to do it in the name of loyalty , or even in the name of not being criticized by your own people. It difficult therefore, to choose the religious path in life, if you seek greater clarity, which much of it is arguably given by doubting yourself and your ideals. You might want to be agnostic just to prepare a more-open mind. Apply the same to any affiliation that won't necessarily accept you if you criticize it in the name of the truth. (Note: Such ideas can apply to fields outside of religion, of course. Like politics, sports, even, and philosophical beliefs surrounding consumerism . Anything were affiliation/ attachment is a feature) One of my motives for partially isolating myself from this world was to try and be more neutral and less biased by external sources . It is done by observing things from afar and very rarely participating in them, whether these are politics or even a comment section about something intellectually based.

(Philosocom's Subcategory Directory on Dilemmas and Problems) (Philosocom's Directory on Happiness) Article Synopsis by Ms. Gabbi Grace "The Problems of Following Your Passions" is an insightful and thought-provoking article that critiques the romanticized notion of passion as a universal key to success and fulfillment. Mr. Tomasio presents a nuanced perspective on the idea of passion, rejecting the simplistic notion that it always leads to happiness. The article uses engaging illustrations to illustrate the potential consequences of unbridled passion in a real-world context, making the argument more tangible. The author advocates for a balanced approach, stating that passion should not be abandoned altogether but must be tempered with consideration for others and awareness of long-term consequences. This balance encourages readers to pursue their passions while remaining mindful of how their actions affect themselves and those around them. The article also touches on the ethical dimension of pursuing passion, particularly in relation to others' well-being. By critiquing " Reckless Individualism ," the article raises important questions about empathy, responsibility, and the interconnectedness of people in society. This is a valuable reflection, reminding readers that they do not live in a vacuum and that their choices have wider implications. The insightful conclusion suggests that the pursuit of wisdom —much like the pursuit of passion— can never fully satisfy, adding a philosophical depth to the piece. This insight encourages readers to embrace the ongoing nature of personal growth rather than expecting a static state of happiness. In conclusion, "The Problems of Following Your Passions" presents a valuable critique of the often romanticized notion of passion, offering important reflections on the need for balance, consideration, and wisdom in the pursuit of happiness. (Background music) Part I: A Critique of Personal Passions Is it true that happiness can only be attained by following our passions? No, it is not necessarily or always true. It isn't always true when, going passion after passion, we may still find ourselves unhappy. It is a cycle of endless desire . Passion is not the only thing that fuels life, and thinking so may indicate a narrow mind. Seeing passion as life's ultimate goal is problematic when it comes to other people and other circumstances that need to be considered. Harmony, like passion, is very important not only as an aspiration, but to happiness as well. A Theoretical Case Example Let's say there is someone whose passion is listening to loud music all the time, and that person lives in a neighborhood with other people who prefer quiet and serenity. Let's also say that without extremely loud music, the person becomes bored , meaning unhappy and unsatisfied. Let's say they refuse to compromise for headphones. One day, after giving up on accepting this reality of living, the person's neighbor has had enough with the music. Not only does he hate it, he becomes so annoyed that he can't focus on his job —he's too busy being anxious about going home—to the point where he is fired. Now, the neighbor is unemployed , and all because of the person with a huge appetite for loud music. The neighbor knocks on the person's door, but the person can't hear the constant knocks because they're too busy listening to a special song they really like. Eventually, the neighbor can't take it anymore and calls the police. Shortly after, two police officers fined the music-loving person with such a heavy fine that they can't pay their rent, which is due tomorrow. Now, here was the root of this problem. The guy followed his to passion to listen to loud music without caring for the desire of some people for peace. He still refused to put on headphones all the way to the life of homelessness. Is he happy now, knowing he might be kicked out of his apartment—because of his passion? It's a problem, a dilemma. Part II: Looking An The Bigger Picture You see, there are other things besides passion that are required for happiness and well-being. I'm not saying it's bad to follow one's passion, I'm saying that life is much more than the individual quest for happiness, and the things that reside in the wide zone may have a huge impact on that happiness, for good or for bad. Your passions could get in the way of other people's passions for instance. It could be a problem because none of you live in a vacuum, and this could get people conflicted with each other due to their personal pursuits. However, no matter the intensity of our emotions , or the faith in our ambitions, living in a more-healthy society means that some compromises must be made to a degree. In turn, being more collectivist in mindset, as seen in African Communalism , could help foster a more compassionate, peaceful society. We cannot therefore discard the existence of other people if we want to live in happiness, least other people will actively work to diminish our good spirits. Whether through revenge or through manipulative authority , people heavily rejected by ourselves could get back at us. However, by considering other people, they might feel compelled to consider us as well. We should consider the benefits of being beacons of light to other people's darkness, if we ourselves want to live in happiness. When Behaving Like Others Do Not Matter To You That is, of course, unless you live in the wilderness, away from any being, and sustain yourself from nature. Of course, could live both as a hermit and a thief, like Christopher Knight , who survived 27 years in that position. However, how can you expect to be satisfied for the long term when you are under the constant threat of getting caught by the authorities? And indeed, due to his pure self-serving crimes, meant for survival, Knight was jailed accordingly. Part III: Lambasting Personal Recklessness The problem I find with what I call Reckless Individualism or the " I-Don't-Give-a-Damn-ism " is that it is so narrow-minded, and having a narrow mind is the exact opposite of wisdom : It is a variant in individualism that asks: Why should I care about other people's suffering if I am better and more important than them? That is the headline of this popular approach to life. In bias it confirms to the idea of: "Every man for himself". It's an approach that could led to the deaths of those who need more considering in order to survive: Those who struggle with independence . Those who struggle fitting in to a conformist society. Those dependent on medications. In other words, the weaker layers of society. The self-sacrificial can also fit into this category. Our decisions have an affect on the outside world. We need to care or extreme situations of misfortune will only increase. The biggest asset of reckless individualism is apathy . Apathy can traumatize, and traumas can lead to mental health issues . The Antidote of Wisdom Wisdom is all about looking at the big picture and minding every aspect in that picture, and each of their relations to other aspects. Some people, I guess, lack the intellect, empathy, or both, to do it. Most, perhaps . I assume that if the person in the scenario I gave would mind the presence of other neighbors and their potential reactions to the person's passion for music, they would be able to compromise for the big picture that is the building they live in. Then, no harm—or minimal harm—would've been made. Of course, the now-homeless neighbor would have the money to make ends meet if they were just way more considerate. Part IV: Will Our Passions Lead Us to Happiness, Necessarily? Those who feel passion in their hearts automatically considered as happy people? Let's say that one's passion is drugs. They are so passionate about them that they become addicted, and when they cannot take a dose, they become depressed . Even if they would take a dose and thus have the sensation they seek—they are well aware that they are in an infinite loop; a depressing loop that borders on despair… This is an example where following one's passions does not bring happiness , but the exact opposite. However, one can be happy even if they do not pursue their passion—other things in which they do not have that much passion for can make them happy regardless of their passions. I may want, for instance, to eat a candy. Yet, no—the candy is not healthy for me. Yet, it's my passion. Perhaps if I ate something healthier I would be happier regardless of my passion for candies? Perhaps if I get an illness due to a developing sugar addiction, I won't necessarily find the happiness I desire? Also, there is the criticism that passion isn't happiness, but a type of misery. It is known as the passion trap . Our passions may make it difficult for us to accept the present. And as long as we do not accept the present, we can't be happy. We will either depend ourselves on the external world's mercy for our wellbeing, or we will ruthlessly work towards the change we wish to see in this world. Either way, happiness mainly depends on being able to be in the present state. And, you might find yourself feeling better if you pursued morality instead of your personal whims. Conclusion Ultimately, there are two conclusions from all of this: Passion alone is not always sufficient in the pursuit of happiness. This can be avoided by developing a more-holistic approach. There are some passions that could lead to the exact opposite of happiness, even if they may give us short-term satisfaction beforehand. Also, we might also regret pursuing our passions, thus subverting their initial intent. Thus, other factors should also be considered in the pursuit of happiness, from having good health to avoiding justified, yet avoidable, punishment. Extra Notes Please note: I am not saying you should not follow your passions at all . I am only saying that there are also other factors and circumstances to consider, so that the pursuit of your passions does not become an unnecessary double-edged sword. Otherwise, if these passions do not become counter-intuitive to your ambitions, and do not really cause unnecessary harm in this world... Maybe following your passions aren't necessarily as problematic? Either way, the philosopher can never be truly satisfied, compared to the rare sage, who attained an immense amount of wisdom, not much further inquiry might be required. As long as the philosopher is looking for wisdom by philosophizing, they will, never, be satisfied, completely. It's because you're always looking for something you lack. As your passion for wisdom grows, so is the suffering of currently being ignorant. This understanding brings me peace.

(Philosocom's Directory on Peace) (Background music) The "problem" with peace is that it is often an uneventful life, and an uneventful life is arguably a boring one, at least for some. Those who strive for greatness should seek it in conflict , where they can prove themselves, and not in peace, where conflicts and adversities are few. The fewer enemies you have, the less chance you have to prove your might, presence, and relevance. I have learned this on my own. Peace is something many of us seek, whether it's peace from military conflicts, like Ukraine's example, or peace from debt, annoying neighbors, and other stressful events or people. The problem with that, however, is that when it finally arrives, one must prepare themselves for a life of relative dullness. After all, a lack of action arguably means a lack of excitement, challenge, and trials. It's quite of an impactful choice by itself, to do nothing. One that could hinder the hope found in a person's potential. Why, then, should one seek peace? I seek peace mainly because I am very sensitive to sounds , and thus I afford myself a life of physical solitude. I don't have to face the challenge and stress that come from regular work, AKA, work other than this very site. Therefore, my life is very, very uneventful. It mainly consists of me spending time in leisure and doing my house's chores until I have an idea to write something, such as this. Because of these facts, I largely see my life as being in its very epilogue , even though I am only in my twenties. I served society enough and at the poor expanse of my health . I retired from it without much regret. In the absence of adversity and with most of my desires in the world fulfilled, I see little reason to continue living other than philosophizing and helping those I wish to help. The other small reason is the impact of an unwanted self-sacrifice on others, something I do not desire for myself either. I am a large, intimidating asocial man . The social world is out of my own world, as it deserves being, for its own good. Thus, I force myself to live just to write, and to be honest, I feel quite comfortable with this arrangement, of not having to kill my time alive just to please others. If I had more people close to me who could be adversaries, perhaps I wouldn't be so fixated on becoming more relevant in this world. I'm just not used to it, but I now understand my potential better. F or good and for bad... Based on my example, a peaceful life could be very boring, or even an unwilling one, unless you have a goal in mind that is worthy enough to occupy your time, energy, and thoughts. Should you have a peaceful life but not anything else, you might find yourself asking philosophical questions such as " Is my existence even needed in this world? ", or "What is even the point in continuing to write?" In a sense, writing has pretty much restored my hope to continue living, despite the greyness of my hermit lifestyle. For some, that purpose is giving one's kids a better future . For others, it is the search for a life partner. Anything should be useful as long as it keeps one away from the possible fact, that this existence is futile and non-eternal, as nihilists would tell you. A peaceful life, beyond the pleasures that accompany it, is like a reception room in Death's office. You spend your life without challenges or conflicts, indirectly waiting for the inevitable end. Those who are not as peaceful are too occupied, for good or bad, with life's struggles and hardships; an occupation that separates them between worrying about finding a purpose and contemplating death. Of course, they might think about it, but they have other things to take care of, things that are challenging, before even considering death as their nearest option. That nearness, you see, could even be decades away, as it is in my case. A peaceful life is not for everyone. Those who seek struggles and conflicts may find it difficult to live their lives without them. Also, those who seek greater renown may have a harder time finding it in this lifestyle, because greatness is something that is developed and challenged by adversity and competition . Those who choose the path of peace may find it more difficult to live a life of greater significance beyond the influence of their current or past occupation(s). I won't let my disabilities stand in my way of at least trying to move up in the world, while remaining in relative peace at the same time. Risks deserve to be taken in the name of a more promising future .

(Disclaimer: The guest posts do not necessarily align with Philosocom's manager, Mr. Tomasio Rubinshtein's beliefs, thoughts, or feelings. The point of guest posts is to allow a wide range of narratives from a wide range of people. To apply for a guest post of your own, please send your request to mrtomasio@philosocom.com) (Philosocom's O. C. Isaac Articles) (Philosocom's Subcategory on African Philosophy) Article Overview by Ms. Gabbi Grace "How To Examine Human Activities -- A Collection of Guides" by Mr. Ogbule Chibuzo Isaac is a comprehensive exploration of human behavior, philosophy, and cultural practices. The article offers a diverse range of perspectives on various sociopolitical and cultural issues, including classical philosophy, African philosophical perspectives, and contemporary African cultural beliefs like the "Ogbanje" phenomenon. This variety makes the article intellectually stimulating and provides readers with different angles from which to view human activities and societal structures. One notable strength of this article is its integration of African philosophical perspectives, particularly through its discussion of the Ogbanje phenomenon in Nigerian culture. The author's effort to bridge African cultural philosophies with more universally recognized frameworks adds depth and uniqueness to the discussion, promoting cross-cultural understanding and appreciation. The use of classical philosophical ideas, such as those of Aristotle and Jean-Paul Sartre, adds a layer of intellectual rigor to the piece, challenging readers to think deeply about existential questions, human desires, and the nature of reality. The inclusion of these philosophical elements enriches the text and elevates the discussion beyond mere cultural analysis to more universal philosophical inquiries. The article is written in an engaging and often provocative style that encourages readers to question their assumptions and beliefs. The use of rhetorical questions ("Why should we panic?" "Are those things yours?") invites readers to engage in self-reflection , making the reading experience more engaging. Mr. Isaac's insightful observations on human nature and society, such as the discussion on egotism, the influence of social relationships , and the psychological aspects of human desires, offer readers a nuanced perspective on the complexity of human existence. The article emphasizes the importance of examining human activities in a way that is both critical and empathetic, which is crucial for understanding human society in all its diversity. In conclusion, "How To Examine Human Activities -- A Collection of Guides" by Mr. Ogbule Chibuzo Isaac is a thought-provoking and rich exploration of human behavior, philosophy, and cultural practices. (Background music) What is the need to examine some issues our sociopolitical lives? Humans according to Aristotle's view are political animals. This implies that man is a social animal who needs the social relation of others for his act and potency to fully manifest. In other words, humans are human only in the mix of others. The social influence of others affects humans in their conscious and conscience development thus in turn affects human conception towards a particular reality. It's no wonder there are varieties in culture, traditions , belief, norms and values which are based upon human relationships in a particular society, despite these differences some can still be captured the similar with others view, pointing to the fact that society is an organic whole by which each element is inter-related. Man by nature is so egoistic who seeks for anything that can only be favorable to his individualistic existence but despite that, Humans still maintain that social aspect, the egoistic part of man keep influencing his socio-political relationship which was captured in the first state of human nature as it was a game of might and the 'fits' are made to survive. Man according to Aristotle is a rational animal , which implies that man possesses the act to think towards his existence, environment and his relationship with others. It is in this sense that one can understand that society is an organization of the people, for the people, and by the people. If you don't think about others, others will think for you, thus has been the base where all the socio-political ideology and practices have been theorized. Most of these theories include: Communalism , socialism, capitalism , democracy and to mention but a few. Therefore, to discover the best way man should be in society man needs to think and be able to examine his relationship with others in order to negate the danger of Human activities which might not really be immediate but in future to come. The quest of examining sociopolitical issues is not for one person, it is for everyone but better analyzed by the sound minds. This question however is very important in human life and development as it stands as the base on how best the society and the relationship of man should be. African Culture In Nigeria: Obajne (A case of study) A Myth or Reality The Myth Of Ogbanje is regarded as an influential spirit that possesses little children in Igbo traditional society, this spirit influences little children and makes them behave negatively to the norms and instincts of their parents and the society. Most People believe that Ogbanje is merely a myth, but the wonderful part is that it influences most of their children even till the adult stage. A cultural myth Ogbanje has existed among the Igbo people of Nigeria. These children may have morbidities that are manageable while some normal children may have to live with the stigma of being labelled such. The objective of this work was to assess Nigeria’s perception of ogbanje phenomenon and morbidity in ogbanje children. The Belief of Ogbanje It has since been a literary and cultural phenomenon, however is of clinical interest since the children may have some symptomatology pointing to a clinical entity . Also the belief of mothers on the phenomenon may affect their health seeking behaviour ultimately affecting morbidity and mortality rates. The modern day Igbo mother may no longer patronise native doctors who heal with voodoo , but may patronize herbal practitioners where they receive herbs of which their content and dosages are unknown. Belief in cosmic powers and supernatural causes to ill-health may also make mothers seek help at churches and prayer houses rather than seek orthodox help. The Effects of Ogbanje on Nigerian Children However, many cultural and religious beliefs exist in Nigeria and amongst the Igbo tribe of Nigeria . One of such beliefs is the “Ogbanje phenomenon. Ogbanje is an expression of the Igbo tribe of Nigeria which means a repeater. It describes a magical child who repeatedly dies, re-enters the mother’s womb only to be born again. The ogbanje spirit is said to be a malevolent spirit which plagues the family with misfortune and grief. Ogbanje children are believed to be committed to a shortened life span to the deities. With this commitment they receive a desirable appearance or outstanding psychic talent but at the expense of human relationships. They are said to have spiritual companions with which they always communicate supernaturally resulting in hallucinatory experiences or dreams. They are also said to arrange to die at an agreed time of a brief illness usually at about puberty or a significant day of their life such as their birthday. Conclusion: Obanje -- a Myth or Fact? The picture below shows how African conceive of the efficacy of Ogbanje, critically looking at the picture above we could see the simple analysis pointing to the ontological look of all Africans. In their simple sense, before a Child is come into existence, there are several forces driving their being, these forces are always pacify and control by natal rituals by offering sacrifices to the deities that influences their being and that's the only way most of the children do away with those forces while the careless parents neglect this implication and their offsprings are mostly trapped by this spirit. Nevertheless, it is also good to know that this Ogbanje spirit falls on Nigerian Children with or without natal rituals because those forces are believed to still have influences on human daily activities but are said to stop after proper rituals to liberate the child in question. While in Why -- Ask Why? Why are people pushed with multiple desires, passion, emotion, anxiety and the likes...? Psychologically, some people allow their id to suppress their ego  and thus influence their human nature but why should it be so? Though we are aware of our innate desires which we strive to attain in every minute on earth but why should it be multiple? Forgetting that we all are striving to fill up nothingness! Have you taken time to think about this nonsensical world... The purpose of this life: We try to make meaning with our primitive-cultural beliefs, dogmatic beliefs of our religious doctrine and all other selfish opinions claiming to have found life meaningful... all are opinions conferred on presumption and not Truth... though humans claim that to be wise enough but indeed they're clever ...painting their self opinion to be Truth. Then having known these facts, why should you be overwhelmed by burdens of pains, pleasures, emotions, desires whereas you know that life is too short? Among those things you desire to get, if you end up getting one out of ten then be happy and if you end up getting all be happy too but always remember that nothing is permanent including yourself and nothing external is yours then why should you be angry when your external things leaves you? Are those things yours? You strive to have a child as if it's our purpose of being here? Giving birth does that justify why you're here? You will still leave them and they can never be you then why should you be angry? Why should people's life influence you? How sure are you whether they're right? Your friends fail you and you're angry? You are angry because the one whom you love ended up failing you or cheating on you, so why should you panic ? It's true that you love him/her but does he or she belong to you? Even at that, he or she claims to be smart, being smart for how many years then everything will fade away, why should you be angry? Let them go, there are not yours and let them cheat after all for how many years? You strive to diffuse in pain and suffering here in order to attain a better world to come , how sure are you that such a world ever exists? Then if there should be the route that leads to another end, then it is even good to die on time but if everything ends here then why should we panic? The best is to live in peace and contribute to humanity (development of people and transformation of the society). The Question of Existence and Nonexistence Nothingness is basic to understanding existence . Nothingness is the absence of being. It is ontologically dependent on being, meaning that it can only exist in relation to being. Existentialism holds that humans are the beings that bring nothingness into the world. We understand the world by questioning being. For example, if a mechanic is trying to find out what is wrong with a car that has broken down, they might look in the carburetor. In doing so, they must be considering the possibility that there is nothing in the carburetor. If there is something in the carburetor, then the problem must be somewhere else. Sartre illustrated this point in Being and Nothingness by saying, "If I question the carburetor, it is because I consider it possible that there is nothing there in the carburetor." In other words, the mechanic's questioning of the carburetor is only possible because of the nothingness that exists within the carburetor. If the carburetor were full of something, there would be no need to question it. This shows that nothingness is essential to our understanding of existence. It is through our understanding of nothingness that we are able to make choices and understand how things might be if they were not as they are. But, to be exact, I myself expected to see Pierre, and my expectation has caused the absence of Pierre to happen as a real event concerning this cafe. It is an objective fact at present that I have discovered this absence, and it presents itself as a synthetic relation between Pierre and the setting in which I am looking for him. Pierre's absence haunts this cafe and is the conditioning of self-nihilating organisation as ground. By contrast, judgments which I can make subsequently to amuse myself, such as, “Wellington is not in this cafe, Paul Valery is no longer here, etc.” But, to be exact, I myself expected to see Pierre, and my expectation has caused the absence of Pierre to happen as a real event concerning this cafe. It is an objective fact at present that I have discovered this absence, and it presents itself as a synthetic relation between Pierre and the setting in which I am looking for him. Pierre absent haunts this cafe and is the conditioning of self-nihilating organisation as ground. By contrast, judgments which I can make subsequently to amuse myself, such as, “Wellington is not in this cafe, Paul Valery is no longer here, etc.” These have a purely abstract meaning; they are pure applications of the principle of negation without real or efficacious foundation, and they never succeed in establishing a real relation between the cafe and Wellington or Valery. A Guide Towards a Good Relationship Dear singles and those searching, I have this for you: A wise person would always manage a relationship to something meaningful, such as marriage. Unfortunately, most times before we understand and know the real essence of that thing called " love ", a number of past breakups, heartbreaks and selfless care rewarded with uncountable betrayals and cheating without remorse must have killed it. That is the case most times. Then you sit and wonder if this love thing is really for you or you are just wasting your time that should have been channelled into more productive ventures. Yes, it can be devastating sometimes. Again, most times we dare against all odds and insist on marrying for love alone, irrespective of the series of pains and rewards of love with cheating but eventually end up gaining perpetual pain as marriage. Then it may be too late. Allow Your relationship to be born out of genuine friendship first because real friendship is bold and courageous in truth but mare expression of love laced with irrepressible emotions, premarital sex and romance is usually fearful and weak in truth. This is why some of you cannot face Your fear and correct the people that you claim You love when they are wrong because You are afraid they might get angry. Also, unending tolerance and the inherent ability of your partner to genuinely compliment. Your consistent efforts and strength and also moderate/tame. Your weaknesses should be Your primary guiding principle to finding a different soul in a different body. Be extremely careful so as to not run away from loneliness as a single person and end up gaining a sour and solitary life as a relationship. That is why You must not rush anything. Everything must come at its own time. Build a healthy relationship with and possibly marry your friend and peace of mind coloured with happiness and success will happen. However, ignorantly succumb to mare love built on illicit sex and romance alone and endurance will happen in Your relationship, even in marriage if you eventually marry that person. FAILED NATION: Nigeria: A Case of Study. Nigeria is a nation that is characterized by its lack of weaving, eating bread that is not harvested, acclaiming bullies as heroes, and valuing conquerors as bountiful. It is a nation that despises passion but submits in awakening. It is a nation that does not raise its voice, boast, or rebel when faced with adversity. It is a nation with a fox as its statesman and a juggler as its philosopher, and whose art is patching and mimicking. It is a nation with sages who are dumb with years and strongmen who are still in the cradle. It is a nation divided into fragments, each deeming itself a nation. Fact About Human Society Human history can be viewed as a slowly dawning awareness that we are members of a larger group. Initially our loyalties were to ourselves and our immediate family , next, to bands of wandering hunter-gatherers, then to tribes, small settlements, city-states, nations. We have broadened the circle of those we love. We have now organized what are modestly described as super-powers, which include groups of people from divergent ethnic and cultural backgrounds working in some sense together — surely a humanizing and character-building experience. If we are to survive, our loyalties must be broadened further, to include the whole human community, the entire planet Earth. Many of those who run the nations will find this idea unpleasant. They will fear the loss of power. We will hear much about treason and disloyalty. Rich nation-states will have to share their wealth with poor ones. But the choice, as H. G. Wells once said in a different context, is clearly the universe or nothing. Morality in Subjection "A morally sound person does not support evil, even when that evil is done by friends, family, or party. You will still object to it". -- Sir Ray Murphy. The above saying brings forth the following question: Each day, we clamor about how corrupt people or politicians have become. We attack them endlessly with words. The honest question is: If we were to be their children or their partners, and knowing fully well that our father or partner is corrupt in the position they hold or in what they do, would we: Voice out and challenge our father? Voice out and hand our husband to the authorities? The answer is blunt: no . We might even get corrupt together with them. I have never seen the children of powerful people trumpeting their parents' bad personalities to the public. Have you? The reason is that personal interest is involved. We can only clamor and bring them to book if our interest is not involved. As a student of human nature, I say to us all: The world is ruled by selfish interests, and it is nearly impossible to meet morally sound people in a society full of selfish interests.

(Philosocom's Subcategory Directory on Freedom) (Background music) Article Synopsis by Ms. Gabbi Grace The article "What Should You Do With Your Life (I Think) -- How To Become A Self-Sovereign" explores the philosophy of self-sovereignty, emphasizing the importance of personal autonomy and the power of refusal. It uses Rubinshteinic philosophy to advocate for viewing one's life as personal property, highlighting the need for individuals to navigate societal pressures and external expectations to achieve true independence. The article effectively communicates the concept that one's life is one's own property, emphasizing the power of refusal and personal choice. The discussion on solitude and self-knowledge is insightful, as spending time alone can lead to greater self-awareness and personal wisdom. The article acknowledges various societal pressures, such as gendered expectations and familial influence, providing a realistic view of the challenges individuals face in asserting their independence. The article balances the concept of freedom with the accompanying responsibilities, highlighting that while living independently grants immense freedom, it also comes with the burden of making informed decisions and facing the consequences of those choices. Overall, the article presents a thought-provoking perspective on personal autonomy and the power of refusal. Part I: The Power of Refusal In Rubinshteinic philosophy , it is believed that your life is your own property, unless it is officially otherwise. Therefore, as long as you are not subject by law to anyone or anything else, such as school, prison, military service, or other forms of debt, then you are free to do with your life as you please. After all, your life is your own property most of the time, especially if you are an independent adult. While other bodies, like parents, friends, and society, may pressure you to do things they think are good for you, or good for them, ultimately, the power lies with you. To truly be the master of your own life and treat it as your sole property, you must learn to navigate these pressures with the power of refusal. Choose per your wisdom. You, the "Supreme Authority" "Liberty has never come from the government. Liberty has always come from the subjects of it. The history of liberty is a history of resistance." -- Woodrow Wilson Therefore, what you should do above all, I believe, is to refuse offers, reccomendations and advices as you see fit. That is because you are your own greatest company. Allow me to explain further... You are the one who spends the most time with yourself more than anyone else, which grants you the access to learn the Art of Being Alone far more intuitively. As spending time with yourself can become more natural, you have the greatest access to your own self-knowledge more than anyone else. It's possible that, through solitude, we can become "self-professors". As such, the individual deserves to be considered, least as food for thought, as the supreme authority of knowledge on anything related to himself or herself. When the individual in question is independent, or at least capable of much independence, then one should consider such prospect even more than otherwise. The desire to help others does not mean one should force themselves on others. Instead, they should respect the individual's boundaries, and not take such policy to heart. And if you cannot generally accept boundaries, how can you properly help those you wish to help? The Burden of Constant Negotiation Norms, external expectations, and hopes from family and tradition are all things that try to influence us in one way or another, regardless of background. These expectations can manifest in various ways: Gendered Pressures (Sexism):  Men may face pressure to serve in the military or fulfill stereotypical masculine tests, while women might encounter societal expectations to marry quickly. Such sexist notions are rooted in many societies, despite the uniqueness of a person exceeding their gender. Familial Expectations:  Family traditions and hopes for your future can also influence your decisions. The tribal bias is strong in many people, even when it could go against their own good interests (like when your parents think they know what's best for you, but do not. That's even though they may intend you to be a good child ). The Rationale to Overcome Said Burden Remember, these are external forces, distinct from yourself. It is your life, and you have the right to decide your path, and treat these different factions accordingly to your beliefs. All of these factors and entities may butt into your life under the pretense that they know better than you what is best for you, and sometimes they are correct with this premise. However, the final decision, as someone whose life is their property, should always be in your hands, as long as said life is indeed your sole ownership. Understanding this, you can work further towards becoming the absolute ruler of your existence. I will provide more insights, further below. Part II: The Price of Owning Your Life Living life as your own property grants immense freedom,  but it's a double-edged sword. While some may disapprove or be disappointed by your choices, true ownership comes with the responsibility of navigating these relationships. The Cost of Independence Strained Relationships:  Choosing your path can lead to conflict with loved ones who may not agree or understand your decisions.  Be prepared for potential disapproval or disappointment, especially from those who hold different values. Selective Company: Surrounding yourself with supportive individuals is crucial.  It may be necessary to distance yourself from those who make you feel ashamed for pursuing your own journey. Responsibility for Outcomes:  Success or failure rests solely on your shoulders.  Wealth, fulfillment, or even a despised job – it's all a consequence of your choices. You rely heavily on your own judgment for navigation. The Kaiser Basileus Bonus: To make people stand out of your way, you still need to be considerate. It is far better, and easier, than assassinating them and/or breaking their kneecaps. " Reciprocity is a prerequisite for legitimacy and sustainability. That requires ensuring what is in everyone's best interests, and the least that can mean is enabling everyone the full exploration of their experience and the world around them to fully develop their character." The Price Tag of Adulthood Life then becomes your ship to captain . You reap the rewards of good decisions and face the consequences of bad ones. The hope is that these experiences become lessons for growth and improvement. Handle your decisions responsibly. Mature moral development means taking full ownership of your life. You can then shoulder the burden of failure without seeking mercy.  While others may come and go, you are the one who ultimately pays the price (or enjoys the rewards) of your choices. This approach to life requires courage and resilience.  However, it grants you more power to define your own happiness and forge your own path. Try making sure your priorities won't get you constantly busted by law enforcers. The Responsibility of Freedom There's a liberating truth: as an adult, your life is yours to sculpt. Yet, this freedom comes with a vital "pair" of responsibilities: gratitude and accountability. Gratitude:  Embrace what you have, appreciate it, so you'll be strong enough to fight for it. Fight, and protect a value you may hold dear. Accountability:  Own your choices. Whether you build a mansion or a minimalist haven , understand the consequences. The path you forge determines the rewards (or challenges) you reap.  Wisdom is your compass in navigating these uncharted waters. In short, as long as you're an adult, you should lead your life in any way you like, as long as you possess the "pair", so to speak, to be grateful for what you have, and endure the toll of the results of your actions . Part III: Reflections On Self-Design Years ago, I began embracing this philosophy. I shed my old name for one that resonated with my soul, as did Ms. Panama Dusa.  I traded bustling social circles and academic prestige for hermitic philosophical pursuits .  This path may not be for everyone, and it was my choice alone. I may live simply, even with some outside assistance. Either way, the trade-off is clear: I have found happiness and a sense of purpose in my unconventional life. And, so can you. Living authentically doesn't guarantee wealth or societal approval.  It only increases your chances of your personal vision of success. The Sovereignty of Self The awakening dawned on me slowly:  My life is an independent nation, with myself as the sole sovereign . This realization, though liberating, comes with the weight of self-governance.  It empowers me to carve my own path , but also demands the responsibility to navigate its consequences. I sincerely wish more people would work on themselves more , so they would rule their lives by any method they so choose: A fair hand, or even an iron fist if they so desire. For the individual, is the one who deserves to be regarded towards as the self-ruler, and as the Great Leader that knows best. However, that is and will never an easy feat, least for most people. For it requires discipline , it requires ambition, hard work, and most importantly -- faith in yourself. And a good leader must, must have faith not only in who and what he leads. H e must be faithful enough in his or her capacity to do it successfully. Such faith is best done under self-improvement and strength of character. Never, ever by mere ego and delusion. Faith in that regard is best increased when it is put under tests and challenges. Under traning. Perhaps, less so, by the quest for external validation. See for yourself how strong and capable you really are . As one being capable most of being a "Supreme Authority", can you really rely on others' approval, as much as you should rely on yourself, first and foremost? Final Words: The Caveats This approach isn't for the faint of heart.  It demands courage and the willingness to chart your own course. However, in exchange, the freedom to define your own happiness and forge a life that is uniquely for yourself and to your friends, fans or followers. If you wish greater freedom as an adult, please consider following the example presented by my philosophy. Do take note that you, like me, will have to make some sacrifices, for that sense of happiness and self-actualization to ultimately arrive. Regardless, it could be for the greater good, if you deter them from payback. Wisdom is very, very important if you choose to follow the mindset this article suggests before your consideration . In the end, your property is yours to design, lead, and manage.

(Philosocom Hedonism Directory) (Philosocom's Subcategory Directory on Dilemmas and Problems) (Background music) Synopsis by Mr. Emmanuel David The article discusses the potential pitfalls of pursuing joy through artificial means, such as the Neuro-Euphoria Stimulator (NES), which could provide instant, pure joy. It argues that addiction to joy can lead to significant issues, such as reducing humans to a state similar to lab rats, bypassing meaningful experiences. The NES could make personal development obsolete, diminish the value of relationships , and disrupt societal structures. The article critiques hedonism, suggesting that meaningful happiness involves morality, responsibility, and contributing to society. T he author advocates for a balance between seeking joy and engaging in meaningful experiences, emphasizing the importance of love , family, and social interactions. The Joy Shortcut: A Blissful Trap? Joy is an integral part of our lives. We love the feeling of joy; it is blissful and makes us feel good. This rush of happiness and good feeling makes us seek it sometimes too much, as if we chase it endlessly. It's an emotion capable of being an un-restricted rush, compared to falling head over heels over someone, and giving it to them, too!   Some of us, however, chase joy to the point of addiction. That's when we are exposed to the most honest part of being a human. Without our ability to make discretion, we can unfortunately become like rats pressing on a button of joy for the mere point of joy, ad-infinitum. Joy is addicting for a reason, after all, for it is contagious the same as it's gratifying. That is regardless of whether or not joy stems from morality, as it should for morality to be applied more frequently. But what if technology offered a shortcut to joy? What if we didn't need to work for joy? Imagine a device, like a helmet you put on your head, and isolates your experience from reality. Let's call it the Neuro-Euphoria Stimulator, or the (NES). It's even better than the original NES! It bypasses everything you usually need to do to get it. Instead, it directly stimulates pure joy with, well, a push of a button... This hypothetical NES presents a fascinating paradox. While it eliminates the need for external sources of happiness, it could also dismantle the very foundation of a meaningful life, as it becomes the one true source of happiness to be a good simp for. Here's why: The Erosion of Experience:  The (hypothetical) NES bypasses the journey, the struggle, to growth. All the elements that make joy truly earned and deeply satisfying are gone. We become accustomed to instant gratification, rendering the need to work on ourselves, as useless as working as an ornamental hermit. Love and Connection on Hold:  Why invest in complex relationships when the (superior) NES offers a dopamine rush on demand? The device could erode the need for love, friendship, and family , isolating us in a self-contained world of fleeting pleasure. We wouldn't love or appreciate others as much as, you know, pressing buttons like lab rats. Apathy and Stagnation:  Contribution to society often requires overcoming challenges. The NES (totally not a nefarious scheme to deter the populace from critical thinking) , eliminates discomfort. It could stifle motivation and leave us content with mediocrity. This dilemma isn't new.   Consider video games. While they offer entertainment, the allure of instant gratification they provide might make us question the effort required for real-world achievements and the cultivation of genuine human connections. The ( Ulterior-motive devised) NES becomes a metaphor for how hedonism can be a liability more than an asset at times . The philosophy prioritizing pleasure above all else. It's kind of ruthless against, you know, those who suffer and could use our help. While happiness is important, it's a fleeting high if not built upon deeper meaning and purpose . What do I mean by "deeper"? I mean when it has several benefits beyond the service of its own mindless accumulation. Roads to Nowhere These machines could be either humanity's crowning achievement or its ultimate downfall. Philosophically they are capable of disproving the idea that happiness/joy are entirely subjective , for the key to true happiness lies not in learning from cats but from lab rats. Imagine returning home from a tedious workday , only to bypass human connection and simply press a button for guaranteed joy. This machine could dismantle the very pillars of society , for society is based and preserved on working towards success and on overcoming ourselves. With such easy way to get pleased, many people who are prone to be lazy, won't bother showing up on work as much, and even when they get there they would easily be distracted by the thoughts and genuine passion to get their next fix. Should the device be self-sustainable in terms of energy, you'll find people on the streets and slums getting endless fixes and escaping from reality. After all who cares for the importance of work and other commitments when you can get that sweet, sweet joy, permanently? Success often matters more than joy or happiness because the accomplishment of our goals yield a greater benefit than our personal drive for pleasure. Hence the shortcomings of hedonism. While seeking pleasure is natural, it becomes a shaky foundation for a life of purpose. Morality, responsibility, and contribution to society all take a backseat when instant gratification reigns supreme. Hedonism fails to answer questions like: Why volunteer for a cause that brings no immediate pleasure? Why invest the time and energy in love, which can be messy and complex, when a button offers a dopamine rush? These machines, much like idle video games, which require very little effort towards victory. If anything, the true value of joy itself, but in its journey towards it. Then, the joy is used as a reward of the journey that was made. Joy, then, becomes ideal when it is secondary, AKA, when it creates this functional habit of making worthwhile effort towards greater accomplishment. A "Joy Machine" offer a hollow substitute. An escape made to replace the richness of a life well-lived. Why, then, not strive for a balance? Why not cherish both the struggles and the reward that both make all the overall endeavour fulfilling? When Trapped in the Mechanism of Love Consider procreation. Why endure the challenges of raising children when a few button presses offer instant gratification? Pure Joy render essential aspects of human existence – love, family, social interaction – obsolete more than your average search engine. They remove the struggle, the growth, the very elements that make joy earned and meaningful, and relationship fruitful, deep and honest. Of course that includes romantic relationships, and in love, like with the love of wisdom, joy is not everything. I once questioned a former friend, "Why the obsession with love? Isn't it simply for the good feelings?" Her hesitant "maybe" resonated deeply. However, love, in its purest form, transcends mere pleasure, as it involves sacrifice, vulnerability, and a commitment that goes beyond fleeting highs and honeymoon gateways. Now tell me, rhetorically, can a machine replicate that complexity? A machine providing pure joy might promise instant gratification, but it's a seductive trap, a succubus if you will. For it could weaken our resolve, turning us into pleasure-seeking automatons. By doing so, we risk sacrificing the very essence of what makes life meaningful for countless people: love, family, and caring for other human beings. How can we accept the possibility of love if we refuse to accept suffering? How can we conquer hearts if we cannot conquer ourselves first, and use the possibility of being loved as a good reason to work on ourselves , rather than staying as incels? The allure of a shortcut to happiness is strong, but don't be fooled. You'll find yourself alone without the ability to embrace suffering, which is a necessity in part of accepting reality . Embrace the messiness, the struggles, and the highest and the lowest of human connection. Resist the fears that entail with the thoughts of mere unease. They would only get in your way of your goals. Write, love, create, connect – not because it guarantees happiness, but because it's in the journey itself that we discover what we're truly capable of, and thus work towards the life we truly want to love. Mere "fixes" of pure joy would make you end up like a drug addict who's in a deep need for rehabilitation. Ms. Hali Bash-March's Feedback I remember hearing a professor's talk about the joy we get from expecting something happy to happen, like a vacation. It said that the brain releases the hormones of happiness when we think about the happy event, as we imagine it over and over in our brain. When our vacation actually arrives, we feel happy but sometimes less then how we imagined it in our brain. So, the idea that expecting something and working toward it is better than just getting the end result is very much true.

A Rubinshteinic Examination of the Holy Trinity of Drinks “Where do you get inspiration for your books? I tell myself I can't have another cup of coffee till I thought of an idea.” -- Douglas Adams "Water is the softest thing, yet it can penetrate mountains and earth. This shows clearly the principle of softness overcoming hardness." -- Lao Tzu "If you have enough alcohol, you should not fear the result of a thousand battles" -- Sun Tzu (Coffee Directory) (Background music) Water, Coffee, and Beer in Human History Throughout the influence of human history , certain beverages have played pivotal roles in our survival, productivity, and social engineering events. While individual preferences of drinks may vary, water, coffee, and beer stand out as exceptionally significant. Let's explore their impact from a more-philosophical standpoint... 1. Water: The Essence of Life It is a fundamental necessity for all biological mechanisms. Human bodies are composed largely of water, and its consumption is crucial for countless physiological processes. In astronomy, the existence of water in other planets can indicate the existence of alien life-forms. Access to clean water is a cornerstone of human health and societal stability. The utter lack of water can lead to devastating consequences, underscoring its irreplaceable role. While other liquids can contribute to hydration, water's purity and inherent benefits make it the optimal, basic and natural choice. 2. Coffee: The Catalyst for Productivity Coffee, with its caffeine content, has become a widely consumed stimulant that enhances alertness and focus. Historically, it has fueled intellectual pursuits , industrial development, and everyday productivity. The impact of coffee on global economies and social structures is undeniable. One might claim coffee is part of a more-universalized culture. Coffee has been linked to increased cognitive functions, and improved physical performance. Coffee can be a very easy way to get to know people from a more-social standpoint. 3. Beer: The Social Lubricant and Cultural Staple Beer has played a significant role in social gatherings, celebrations, and cultural traditions. Moderate alcohol consumption can help you reduce stress. Drinking beer is can be seen as a form of escapism and coping mechanism with difficult issues one is facing. Although women may also drink beer, it is a drink often associated with masculinity. Considerations While these beverages hold significant importance, responsible consumption is crucial. Excessiveness is not good in anything. Cultural and religious perspectives on alcohol consumption vary widely, and respecting these differences is essential for the understanding of humans from around the world. It is important to note that, while these beverages are important, they are not the only important beverages. Tea for instance, has also played an important role in human history. The availability of clean water, is still a major problem in many parts of the world, for instance, in Nigeria. Conclusions Water, coffee, and beer have indelibly shaped human societies as well as individuals. Their roles extend beyond mere sustenance, encompassing cultural, economic, and social aspects of human activity. Understanding their significance provides valuable insights into our past, present, and future.

(Inspired by reading Mr. Aizaz Baqir's book " Soulless Goddess "). There were a few scientists in a gathering, The first one invented the keyboard, The second uses it to write magnificent poems, The third spreads messages of hatred online. What, therefore, can you say about this device? Three intellectuals sit in a coffee shop. The first brings up the subject of the Roman Empire. The second claims: "It was the greatest Empire on earth!" The third is triggered, "It was the Nazi Germany of the ancient past; Caused genocides, killed people for entertainment, and enslaved countless subjects". What is, therefore, to objectively be said about that ancient country? Finally, Three geeks discuss about video games. The first brings up Suikoden IV, An obscure game that has been received negatively. The second said "This game was so bad!" And the third said... "It was bad, but I enjoyed it a lot". Who's to say "I am right, you are wrong", When to reality, We all belong? Not only us, but anything possibly real, Regardless of level? Facts are superior? Opinions, inferior? The truth does not work, According to a supremacist racial hierarchy. It contains anyone and anything, Like the Earth, its humans, And the universe -- all the asteroids, planets and galaxies. 6 is both 6 and 9, And 9 is both 9 and 6. Anything is small at the right distance, And huge at the right closure. A picture can exist -- fact, But can also be photoshopped, And still exist. A man can be feminine, And not be seen as a "Real Man", And still be, An existent man, (As if there is a difference). Vegetarians are doing good for the environment, But Hitler was also one, Did he do good for the world? A smart man can sometimes make stupid mistakes, And even a stupid man can come with bright insights. The mentally healthy can too get into a meltdown, And the mentally ill doesn't always need a psychologist. Can you say otherwise? The truth welcomes all correct things, Into its guest house, With no discrimination. The only requirement -- Be Correct! To those who wish to "hit" me, Even just because of my content -- Hit Laozi Hit Sun Tzu, Hit the Bible, Hit the Quran, Hit Epictetus, Hit Socrates, Hit Osho -- My thought process Is a source too; Digging further into contemplation, Is research of the conscious mind, And its vast potential. Logical reasoning, once sound enough, It's his own source, As long as the logician is proficient enough.

Article Summary by Mr. Chris Kingsley and Co. This article provides a comprehensive exploration of sexuality, focusing on biological, social, and psychological aspects that shape human behavior and societal norms. Mr. Tomasio acknowledges the complexity of human sexuality , emphasizing that it is not a one-size-fits-all phenomenon. This recognition promotes a more inclusive and nuanced discussion. The article's strengths include its comprehensive approach, acknowledging the diversity in sexual orientation, preferences, and behaviors, and its personal reflections, such as the renunciation of claims of asexuality and the connection to sexual transmutation. It encourages critical thinking by questioning widely held beliefs and presenting alternative viewpoints, fostering an open-minded and analytical approach to the subject matter. In summary, this article presents a thoughtful and wide-ranging discussion of the issues surrounding human sexuality, commendable for its inclusivity, critical approach, and personal reflections. (Background music) **************************** Introduction: The Drive to Reproduce As much as we are social beings , we are also sexual beings. Even those who are more solitary than social are not necessarily asexual. This is because it is more imperative for biological beings to have children than it is to communicate with others. It is a biological imperative to reproduce, but not communicate. While communication is important, it is not essential for survival as procreation is. Especially social communication . Having children, on the other hand, is essential for the survival of the species. Those who do not reproduce enough, or at all, risk putting their lineage at jeopardy. Some people believe that having children is mandated by the heavens or that it is an essential part of adulthood. Regarding the "mandated by the heavens" belief, it is evident. Others may feel pressure from their parents or other family members to have children. That is even though they decide to have children is a personal one. When it comes to gender, women are often more stressed about having children than men. This is because women are the ones who carry and give birth to children. Some may even, you know, secure themselves a man just to get pregnant. Some people believe that women's reproductive systems are only meant to be used for reproduction. They argue that women should not have the choice to have an abortion or to use birth control . I disagree with this view. I believe that women have the right to choose what happens to their own bodies. Their wombs are their property, and they should be able to do with them as they please. Part I: Controversies There is something very conflicting about sex when it comes to humanity. Due to the dominance of the three Abrahamic religions, homosexuality is seen as something morally wrong in the eyes of many. Are LGBTQ people not legitimate in their endeavor to live and to be accepted like anyone else? Whatever your thoughts on the matter may be, it is very logical to assume that we cannot learn how to be attracted to something we are not attracted to in the first place. This could entail that sexuality is innate, rather than learned, even if it develops later in life. Here are some additional thoughts on the matter: There is no scientific evidence to support the claim that homosexuality is a choice. In fact, studies have shown that there is a biological basis for homosexuality. For example, one study found that gay people have different brain structures than the same gender. LGBTQ people are just as capable of love, commitment, and happiness as anyone else. They deserve to be treated with respect like any other human being. It is important to note that not all members of any group are the same. I devised a theory that can suggest this as true. There are good and bad people in every social category, and the LGBTQ community is no exception. It is unfair to judge an entire category of people based on the actions of a few. As it is unfair to judge said category with traits it does not necessarily have in its entirety, as that will be a generalization fallacy . If I were to show you a car and force you to be sexually attracted to it, chances are you would not be successful. There are people who are attracted to cars and other machinery, known as mechanophilia . However, according to the reasoning I found, it isn't necessarily a choice one can change like any other preference. Unique Traits Or Disorders/Illnesses? Whether a disorder or not is an issue that can be compared to autism . Some autists may claim that being on the spectrum isn't a disorder but simply a neurological diversity . That is the reasoning I'm talking about, applicable to unorthodox sexual orientations. Due to lack of normalcy in this field I wouldn't mind being proven wrong. It's part of the "job". This is the whole idea behind LGBTQ people: Unless one is asexual , we are all attracted to something or someone, and it is not necessarily a conscious choice . Even if the source of our attraction cannot collaborate with us in the process of actual reproduction, the sexual attraction cannot be denied. It may be reduced due to a variety of reasons , but I failed to find sources that claim it can be lost permanently. You can try to repress it, but it is still a part of who you are. As such you can just become asexual. Naturally Animalistic or Deeply Human? The whole thing with same-sex attraction is ironic because it is not "natural," AKA, according to the biological imperative, to be attracted to someone who cannot bring offspring into the world. And yet, it exists. Does it make it a disorder or a disease? I argue that not, just like the desire of not having children is not a disorder or a disease. We either way do not have to have children if we do not want to. The choice itself, embedded uniquely in humans for psychological needs , is not a dysfunction when it is a natural feature of who we are. Furthermore, r*** is not morally justified, just because procreation is imperative for the survival of our species. In addition, some people are too unfit to have children, and you know that, I believe. They can be very poor and abusive parents and traumatize their children. Hence the idea of parenting licenses. How Necessary Is It, Really? As such, the biological imperative does not compel every single human to procreate. For that matter, people who cannot procreate due to other reasons, such as permanent injuries in the reproductive system, can still find other reasons to live. After all, aside from their contributions to society, there are other biological imperatives in play, such as group forming . Would an excellent leader of an organization that does good for the world, be deemed irrelevant just because he or she might not have biological successors? By the way, the gaining, holding and protection of territory is also a biological imperative as organisms need a physical space to exist in. It is unreasonable to say that soldiers who died to protect their country failed to achieve their purpose, when in reality they sacrificed their lives for us. Procreation isn't sufficient because we never exist in a vacuum, and as such there are other factors of existence to consider. Surprisingly enough there is a spectrum of asexuality . I'll not dive too much into it right now. Even though most of us have the means of reproduction, some of us have no inherent desire to have sex with anyone, male or female. Some of us are straight-out anti-sexual , and they may deem sexual activity as disgusting. You can at least learn from the example of this article, that not everything in existence has to have an objective purpose. That includes organs, as women, for example, do not have to use their wombs if they don't want children. How come? Potential is not necessity. Part II: Sex As an Obsession Anyways, the point still stands -- many if not most of us are sexual beings even if we will never have children. It is very imperative as it is psychological and also a social activity . Something in the mere act can make one very passionate, to the risk of addiction , to the point it will become their central aim in life. There is something very pleasing in it as there is traumatic. It may play a role in our ego, as some of us may disregard it from our egos... Like when I wrote my thoughts about incels. All because of a single, simple act which this site is too respectful to mention here explicitly. It's so simple, and yet a concept so chewed by humanity, it will be resumed being so indefinitely . Erotica, romance (usually) and so on -- all are very popular genres/industries that will probably keep on giving until the end of the human race, all thanks to said action. It is probably humanity's one of the most popular obsessions. Personal Reflections As an asocial man, I don't know if I'll understand what is so appealing about sexual relations, to the point of obsession. Like the example with the attraction to machinery, I can't force myself to be obsessive about something that is in a lower priority. I know I can bring children to the world. However, even if I wanted to do so, there is this obstacle that is called my existence ("Verdict of Being") . And everything in my life revolves around my life's work. Still, I understand I am intuitively transmuting my energies for Philosocom. That's how I still managed to work on this article empire during the Reaping Fatigue Era. Conclusions The reproductive organs go further than just mere reproduction. Some may even consider them tools for power and control. We aren't mere robots who just have happened to be able to multiply. It's both a blessing as it is a curse. It can bring life as it can even bring death . It can satisfy our wants and needs and even cause trauma quite "naturally". What we can conclude from all of this is, sexuality is a part of who we are, even if we lack it. Since we are different people with different affinities, that also applies to sex regardless of what kind of people you are attracted to, if at all . Human beings are very diverse beings . Furthermore, expressions innate diversity is yet to be fully agreed upon as such. Or even as completely legitimate ( in the case of eccentricities, for example ). Unlike many other traits that can be changed through exercise and discipline , sexuality is bound to stay with us, whether we have yet to discover what it is or if we're well aware of it. Some people, you could say, are just not attracted to the "right" people for reproductive reasons. Will it doom humankind? Perhaps not, as there are enough straight people to sustain the human race. In the U.S, their number isn't significant enough to risk population growth. But if it's true that sexuality is innate and unchangeable -- being straight is simply one way of having a sexual tendency. It's the most practical, for sure, but far from being the only one. It is desired by many that one shall be straight, but what sorcery can completely eradicate one's heart , and the other's heart below the belt? Final conclusion -- sexuality doesn't have to be directed at reproduction in order for one to practice it. That is true as having sex is fun and even healthy , as it is for the average non-straight man or woman. Perhaps animals will be capable of reproducing many successors, but, perhaps, the sexual complexity of many humans is far more complicated than that of an animal in the correspondent season. Bonus Insight -- Sex Drive and Love as Spontaneous It is the same in sex as it is the same in love -- you can't force yourself to love someone you don't, even if you both will be going to live together for a long time. Was every marriage meant to be fated? Judging by the high divorce rates , it's very unlikely. If you're going to be married to a murderer, are you meant to be murdered, especially if you know they're a killer? There are no soul mates . There is love, attraction, partner maintenance , and, for many, sex. Extra source: https://theconversation.com/stop-calling-it-a-choice-biological-factors-drive-homosexuality-122764

Article Synopsis by Mr. C. Kinsgley and Co. The article "Philosophizing On Capitalism – Why We Should Help Others" critiques capitalism, contrasting its core principles with the values of altruism and social welfare. It delves into the ideological divide between the wealthy and the working class and the consequences of this disparity. Mr. Tomasio engages with complex ideas, such as the inherent tensions between capitalism, altruism, and social welfare. The article acknowledges the charitable contributions of the wealthy, offering a balanced approach that avoids overly simplistic or one-sided views. The moral duty to help others , especially the disadvantaged, is compelling, emphasizing the need for empathy, reduced loneliness , and prevention of conflict. The personal touch, sharing the philosopher's own experience living on disability benefits and committing to writing, adds depth and sincerity to the argument. The philosopher encourages social unification by promoting collaboration, mutual support, and moral egoism , linking individual and collective well-being in a pragmatic way. In conclusion, the article effectively raises important questions about capitalism, altruism, and social welfare, offering a balanced and reflective critique. Why is it so hard for people to simply ask for help? -- Mr. Nathan Lasher (Directory on Rectification and Help) (Background music) The Two Sides of the Coin: Capitalism vs. Social Welfare One of the core problems with capitalism is that it leads to a great divide between two main types of people: Those who know how to make great sums of money, and those who take small bites of that money by working their lives until retirement ( assuming they will even have one, given that not everyone can even afford it ). The same ideology that promotes individual freedom and free markets can also devolve into an oligarchy , a society ruled by a rich minority. This is just like how democracy can turn into a tyranny of the majority. Some may claim that the United States, for instance, is transforming from a democracy into an oligarchy, as the richer are able to get away with their crimes more than others, and thus compromise justice in the name of more profit. Communism, even though it was a failure in execution that led to the foundation of oppressive dictatorships , was a philosophy that at least gave us a reason to care about others, the common good. It promoted unity, patriotism, caring for your fellow men and women, and altruism —values that are often overlooked by more capitalistic societies. A Critique of Capitalism and the Benefits of Altruism Therefore, even though capitalism brings much liberty to the economy, it fails to answer the following question: why should we care for someone when they do not serve us in any way? Why should we help others when our efforts can be invested elsewhere, such as in making even more money? If we wish to promote both our individual liberties and the importance of altruism to people who are unable to reach the same achievements as we did, (such as making lots of money or getting a steady job with a reasonable pay), we should at least consider promoting the social unification behind socialist and/or communist philosophies. That is along with the importance of providing welfare to those in need. For the benefits of social unification are many, not only to the economy but also to our health. Social unification between people allows the nurturing of more empathy, of reducing loneliness , and the prevention of unnecessary conflict, which could further deteriorate into coercion , into trauma , and into war. All of the three we are capable of preventing, and that is done by understanding the importance of a healthy and beneficial social engineering. While I don't think capitalism is evil by itself, some people do, according to Mr. John Duran : At what point will mankind start actually learning and realize how insidiously evil capitalism is? When the children starve, or the helpless souls are living on sidewalks, when no one can be happy without the concept of everything only ever done for profit? At what tipping point will this evil be rightfully toppled for the good of all mankind? Sadly, not in our lifetime. It's the perfect tool for control of the masses, to make them believe that it's the only way, while watching others starve and die because they cannot afford to eat. Or freeze to death because they can't pay outrageous rents on land that was given freely to all species. Surely, something to think about. The Unfair Share: Capitalism and the Need for Social Safety Nets The immense wealth generated by capitalism can be a double-edged sword. While it fosters material prosperity, it often comes at the cost of neglecting those who struggle to participate effectively in the rat race, known for its compromises on both physical and mental health. The current system prioritizes profit maximization, leaving many, particularly the poor, the disabled, and the underprivileged, vulnerable to the unfairness of modernity. I am not trying to condemn wealthy individuals. Much of the donations to charity comes from America's wealthiest people , the Forbes 400 . However, the capitalist system itself rewards immense personal gain over broader societal well-being. This results in a situation where abundance exists alongside poverty, where only those who care for their own profit-making, and do it successfully, are more appreciated than those who struggle, regardless of whether or not they care for the overall well-being of society. Some may not even bother caring about societal well-being because there's no money to be made worrying about it. Many employees report that their bosses don't even care about their mental health, at least in the UK . Furthermore, caring about the wellbeing of others could in theory be even costlier, especially when it comes to one's employees. An example for that is something known as an EAP, or an employee assistance programme , which has its share of expenses. For many bosses, however, it's preferable for them to outright fire people with mental health issues and replace them with healthier individuals, than to actually make the extra cost of supporting them. Mental health is a professional taboo for a reason. Capitalist philosophy is about maximizing profit, not reducing them in favor of others. An asset is there to generate revenue . When an asset yields less revenue, its value decreases, compelling companies to replace it. Workers are assets as well . Treating people as mere assets is one of the reasons individuals are expendable , unfortunately. I guess that from this aspect much evil can indeed stem from capitalism, unfortunately -- when you have the power to care for others, but refuse to do so. The vast resources concentrated in the hands of a privileged few highlight the shortcomings of a purely market-driven approach. Global corporations and the ultra-wealthy possess more than they likely need, while others lack basic necessities. Using Wealth For The Greater Good The relentless pursuit of profit often overshadows altruism, perpetuating a cycle where the disadvantaged remain trapped, while the advantaged thrive on their prosperity. The current distribution of wealth creates a grim inequality: the "have-nots" with too little and the "haves" with an abundance they can't fully utilize. A hypothetical wealth redistribution, as presented in welfare programs, wouldn't necessarily impoverish the rich; it would elevate the poor. Imagine a society where everyone can afford basic needs, education, and debt relief. This wouldn't significantly impact the wealthy, but it would transform the lives of those struggling. Balancing Capitalism with Welfare Furthermore, we need to take into account that it is possible to contribute to society even outside of the orthodox ways of life. My personal experience as a writer, for example living on disability benefits offers a different perspective. I view my ability to become a deadbeat "klumnik" with great guilt, and thus refuse to be one. Instead, as a token of my gratitude, I relentlessly work on Philosocom and strive to be a master in the art of article writing. I think this is only fair. While the income itself from my welfare is below minimum wage, I manage to live and work through the adaptation of the ascetic lifestyle . This approach, while not universally applicable, demonstrates the power of minimizing expenses to achieve a degree of optimal contribution to society. However, it's crucial to acknowledge that frugality has its limits. Not everyone has a stable income, let alone one sufficient for a life they could make the optimal use of. Despite my self-described egoism ( refusing to hang out with others and remaining asocial ), a strong desire to help those in need persists within me. I am aware that helping others is the highest moral thing to do , and that to combat corruption one must strive for morality. We need to bridge this gap between personal pleasure and societal wellbeing, to better ensure the possibility of more people having a fair shot at a good life. Finding Purpose In Helping Others Volunteering at an office reinforced my belief in the power of collaboration. We all rely on external support to thrive. Mutual support is the way to go for the general increase of output and prosperity. It's why people collaborate in the first place: To do, or to better do, things one struggles or cannot do entirely alone. We form syndicates more than we might think we do. Here's the twist of a poorly-conducted moral egoism : as an egoist, neglecting to be helpful goes against my core values, as prioritizing on helping others is a pretty functional egotist drive. It might sound ironic, but I find personal satisfaction in service to others, and forming closer relationships with them does not only benefit them but me and Philosocom as well. Self-Importance As an Altruistic Tool This drive to be a good, accomplished, and helpful person fuels my desire to contribute. I do not waste energy in aimless interactions with people. A well-crafted plan for mutual benefit is how my time and energy is best spent. Thus, collaboration is preferable to discarding those who can greatly help one's cause. Taking into account their needs is beneficial for one's needs as well, and it is morally better than outright oppressing people for personal interest. Despite not being a social butterfly, I strive to be a moral being for functional reasons. Ethics is philosophy's most practical asset, and is a major reason as to why philosophy should not be discarded as irrelevant. Helping others aligns with my personal code of conduct – it's simply good business in the grand scheme of things. Understand where I'm coming from to improve your productivity as well, not just as an individual but as part of a greater organization. People should be free to forge their own moral paths, but let us not undermine the importance of looking both ways. Mr. Nathan Lasher's Feedback Aren’t all societies about capitalism to some extent? We determine the value of a nation by the flow of money within it. Every news report about war mentions economics to some extent. Aren’t all humans capitalistic by nature, one created by the world, where we associate success with money, as mentioned in Mr. Tomasio's Defining Success article ? Aren’t most people about making more money for themselves? Consider this: Money can be used for both good and evil. Whichever you decide to use money to express, good or evil, the fact still remains that it involves money. Just a matter of why you want it. Capitalism is not bad as at its core you have people who are driven to have a better life than they currently have.  I take the principles of capitalism and apply them to my life. To be better than yourself is a noble cause which I think deserves more credit. It’s when one becomes better at selfish notions that an issue arises. You can be capitalistic about anything. Good things would include bettering yourself mentally and physically. What if we all wanted to make the most out of either of those? Your goal towards both should be to be the best version of yourself possible. When you gain this mentality, work doesn’t mean the same thing anymore. You stop thinking of it as something you have to do and start to see it as something you get to. Have better reasons is one of the pillars of life’s journey. If you extract the principles of capitalism and apply meaning you will have an unstoppable force. Look at any good national charity, they are going good and understand the importance of money to continue to do so. These types of causes are examples of healthy capitalism: Being able to raise money for the right reasons is a vitally important skill set to have There are good and bad sides of both which everyone is capable of. That is all capitalism is. The desire to have more isn’t necessarily an evil notion. Churches are all about capitalism as making money is what allows them to do more good. There are important aspects of capitalism one must consider. Capitalism is a liberty not everyone gets to enjoy. Being in a free market economy means that one is able to go out and make money if they can figure out a way to do so.  Socialism in an economic sense leads to no innovation and requires private capital to finance actions, which is the whole point of life: actions. If everything was "socialized" nobody would have a desire to go out and do anything. If you're structured so all goods had to be sold at the same price there would be no greater desire to be more than you currently are. Less incentive to grow when your potential future already has a predetermined limit placed upon itself. Take this for instance. A normal family doctor makes x amount per patient they see. A more specialized doctor makes y per patient they see. If there were no capitalism due to preset prices then we would have less specialists due to salary per position already being predetermined.  Think about it from a capitalistic approach. A good business meets a need or want. What’s wrong with capitalism when it is a need being met? And there are already precautions against price gouging, so this allows our needs to get met at a competitive rate. There are safeguards in place to offset greed. Capitalism means competition , which means businesses must compete to differentiate themselves from each other. A good entrepreneur understands this. They find a need or want that people have and find a way which meets that particular demand. And what's wrong with turning your product into a luxury one? Nothing wrong with supplying this, fixing a problem, and making money at the same time.

(Philosocom's Subcategory Directory on Potential and Hope) Abstract The article of existence, necessity and potential, argues against the "Bodybuilder Argument," which suggests that because you have the potential to do something, you must do it. I use the example of bodybuilding to show that just because you can build muscle, doesn't mean you should. They argue that potential is a possibility, not a necessity. The article expands this concept beyond physical fitness to other areas of life, such as having children , getting a higher education, or getting married. These are all things people can choose to do, but there's no obligation to do any of them. I conclude by arguing that people should focus on their own desires and not be pressured by societal expectations . They should develop their courage and critical thinking skills to make their own choices about how to live their lives. This can provide a sense of liberation from societal constraints, by seeking alternative solutions which can actually solve our problems. (Background music) Introduction: Why Are You Not a Bodybuilder? Let me begin this article with a thought experiment: Are you a bodybuilder? If not, why not? Your physique possesses immense potential, waiting to be sculpted through merciless training. Ignoring this potential retains you to average strength, at best, and lowers it, at worst. See how is this a fallacy? This concept, which I call the Bodybuilder Argument , extends beyond the gym. It applies to anything with inherent potential, often mistakenly seen as a mandatory path. It also extends: Beyond the bedroom. (The Issues of Sex) Beyond the academics. (The Degree Fallacy) Beyond reading lengthy books. (On Reading and Writing In Philosophy) Let's dig into this further like an unexplored ruby deposit. Imagine being born with the capacity to create life. Does this then necessitate procreation? Just because you can build a bodybuilder's physique doesn't mean you must. Likewise, having a reproductive organ does not mean you must use it to reproduce. Understanding The Argument's Fallacy The Bodybuilder Argument confuses opportunity as destiny. While potential exists, it's not a higher calling by its own. You are either forced or influenced to see it as such, or you genuinely see it as such by your own free[r] will . The idea of potential-as-destiny is that of perception. And perception is a choice. The state of being in a metaphorical matrix, is a product of choice. Expanding the potential of our intelligence can better allow us to understand of the unconscious choices we make. You know, they can do you harm. The Bodybuilder Argument a product of "The Way Things Are" Fallacy. You cannot effectively accept other ways of life if you undoubtedly think your ways are the best. Observe this flawed reality. Do you think looking fit like Johnny Bravo will get you true love? Muscles and other attractive physical features, are not always enough, and for good reason. To quote Swani Jena of Medium: If you are born a human being, whether man or woman, pretty or ugly — and you don’t have a purpose in life, you are as good as doomed. No one needs a crown, evening gown and sash to have a purpose in life. What difference is there, in things such as reproduction, higher education, getting a driver's license, marrying, enlisting in the military , and so on? You can do these things, but even if you should do them, there is, ultimately, no existential motive or being that forces you to do them. The only force is a perceived one. A paper tiger is, as such, most frightening when it creates the idea that you should be intimidated. But should we be really intimidated from the world's largest cannon, when the Schwerer Gustav Gun isn't a practical weapon? Why We Should Also Develop Virtue Conversely, what quality is a body-building boyfriend that would abandon you the moment he finds someone other than you he suddenly likes? This isn't a shallow matter. It's in fact quite ethical... It concerns relationship ethics, specifically. Reality is often far more complex than mere orthodoxy, and requires a unity/synergy of several values. In the case of "If I'll to be a bodybuilder, I'll be more attractive", let us quote Confucius: The way of the superior person is threefold; virtuous, they are free from anxieties; wise, they are free from perplexities; and bold they are free from fear Let us not, in any way, confuse potential and recommendations, using our many convincing biases. The fact they tell us to act in a certain way, does not make it a Kantian-like Categorical Imperative , correct?. Orders, including one's from our intuition's authority fallacy ... Without the well-critical mind, tell us we must or mustn't do things without our rationality's ability to resist. How can the herd mentality be surpassed if there is not a strong-enough cognitive force to oppose it? How Conformity Breeds Stagnation Why do we succumb to conformity at all times? We often fall into conformity because we fear what others will think of us. Metaphorically, we might want to be bodybuilders because our peers are also ones. But we cannot be virtuous, and therefore more attractive, if we choose to remain cowards . Virtue can be seen as a dimension of love, designated to further the welfare of another. But while conformity may highlight one methodology, it might compel you from seeing the bigger picture. As such, being "a bodybuilder" is insufficient, when reality calls for the application of several methodologies, to solve the same concern. Thus, physical attraction alone could use attraction of other kinds, as well. Must we solely use training to develop our muscles, due to our influence by popular culture's idealized body standard? Should we be bodybuilders so we won't feel left behind, and feel like outsiders? Solving the Bodybuilder Argument: The Value of Courage Observe how such reasons, to develop oneself, are based on fear. You might improve your body. But can you really hone it until you'll finally feel content? How can you feel content if you prioritize perfectionism over contentment? Ironically, perfectionism can draw you further into depression. And you cannot love yourself, if your self-image causes you great sadness. Furthermore, the opposite of love is not hatred, but fear. To quote Liam Blume: The rejection of a set of features that we do not accept in ourselves causes many problems. When we do not accept ourselves out of fear, we do not love ourselves. Fear is the opposite of love. If we want to be loved more, why hide our insecurity behind a temple of muscle? Why not consider working on your courage, instead? For courage is not the absence of fear. It's rather the ability to act despite it. You can't love effectively if you refuse to be courageous. And you can't love effectively, if you choose criticism over appreciation. It is something that can in fact destroy relationships . A person you love is mentally distressed. What use would your V-shaped body be if your heart isn't strong enough to embrace him/her, and assist them in their recovery? Can you really help a distressed person by focusing on criticism, more so than believing in them? To believe in a person and display it directly, after all, you must develop the muscle that is your heart. You might claim she would need a certified psychologist . However, we require courage to see the truth, and realize we can elevate more things than mere weights. We can also lift spirits of those who are dear to us. We should understand how strong we can really be, for raw muscle may lift weights, but cannot lift a depressed heart from the pit of despair . You cannot flex your way to help others. What you can do, is to focus less on your ego, and direct your attention at the problem at hand. It is the mature thing to do. Whether I be rejected as insane for my unconventional methodologies, I care not. To quote Mr. John Duran: The closer you get to understanding reality, the more insane you are considered. Conclusions Look around you but look deeply, too. There is more to life than society, religion, funds, and transactional benefits. The concern of "What will others think about me?" might not deserve such importance, when you have the power within you to act despite it. There is, first and foremost, yourself and your true desires . Reinforcing them with logic can yield greater results than exclusively reinforcing your body with muscle growth. The only "necessary" thing in the world is survival. Once we fail at it, we cease to exist, and then, we cannot do anything, because, we'll be dead! Therefore, survival is the basis of all potential. In the end, the fear of many is the fear of being a "klumnik", a being that hasn't done anything significant to be respected by their society. And yet, you can realize your freedom, not only from the law , but from the norms as well. You can realize, then, that contribution and problem-solving can be done without trophies and without a bias of prestige. In other words, it is pointless to focus on methodologies that do not, yield, or even hinder, the results you're looking for. Why would society force upon you its so-called "unwritten laws" and "unwritten ideals", when you have both the logic, the discipline and the faith in your actions, to create the success you want to have? For their refusal to deeply understand your struggles, your ambitions and your pains, some people deserve to be discarded.

(2025 Note: Using philosophy and neuroplasticity I have recovered from my own autistic symptoms. It's called autism recovery. My mind is forever hidden from you). (Autism Subcategory Directory) (Background music) Introduction To those who have still not understood: if you find my communication to be bizarre, dramatic, or even condescending, it is not because I intend to sound like that, but because I am autistic. If it weren't for communication therapists, I might as well have remained without the ability of speech for the rest of my life. I am tired of being condemned for things I am not at fault for. Imagine having to speak and even think in some way people find odd, without any possibility of speaking and thinking in another fashion. A society without enough inclusivity is one that unnecessarily discriminates and shuns people who could be useful for its development, and hinder it from stagnation in various fields. Refusing to include the useful, which humans are greatly capable of being , would only discard further productivity when you prioritize values such as conformity. However, conformity is not something everyone are capable of achieving as much as others, making me ponder about its importance beyond cultivating a herd mentality and oppressing the populace. However, some people can't just bend so easily to societal norms, when their faults can easily be criticized. And when you have a heightened sense of justice, common among the autistic , following the authority of those who refuse to understand you or contain your distress, can often feel like it cannot go unpunished. For this, I like to coin the term, The Curse of Suikoden IV , or, The Autistic Rune of Punishment. How a Video Game Taught Me to Communicate You see, as a child, I rarely communicated with people,  and have remained aloof by choice . All I craved was to get back from school and play Suikoden IV, the first time in my life I was exposed to actual depth in a world I hardly understood. To many, it was a bad/mediocre game for various reasons . However, that specific game has taught me not only to appreciate depth of lore , but to also communicate. In fact, the game compelled me to learn the English language by myself, prompting me to become a better learner and writer. It was a roleplaying game about political conflict between nations,  but for me, it served as the basic ground for complex communication and interpersonal understanding. In solitude I spent much time analyzing the different characters, as shallow as some of them may be. From the hero and his destructive illness to the solitary and noble anti-villain. The therapist taught me basic words and sentences, this game taught me the rest, even though it was in a language I needed translation for. But I translated each word independently of others so I would be able to know what's going on in the game. When you are determined and disciplined enough you can do much even by yourself. Soon enough, thanks to Suikoden IV, I learned English almost proficiently, with the teachings of school becoming only secondary in their role, as I sometimes found myself teaching words my teachers didn't know. In first grade, I only knew a few words, and by sixth grade, I spoke and understood fluent English. In another game, that was multiplayer, I even set up a guild of over 50 players at its peak. But I digress. A Curse and a Metaphor The game had a feature that I'll use to capture my experience: the Rune of Punishment. This curse is inflicted on the Hero by mere circumstance... or destiny? It is a deadly weapon. To quote Suikosource: ...A True Rune that represents atonement and forgiveness and is always borne on the left hand of its host; this rune is a parasite that feeds off its host with fatal consequences: the rune has tremendous offensive capabilities; however, using them drains the bearer's life force, eventually to the extent that he or she turns to ash and their memories are locked away in the Rune; the Rune then transfers to the nearest available host. Whilst it is still believed that the Rune of Punishment will grant standard True Rune abilities such as agelessness; there is no record of any of its previous bearers surviving long enough for this to be an issue. Trigger its power, regardless of intention, and you will be punished. Even if you use it for good, it will always demand something in return. It's a double-edged sword that makes you contemplate if using it is even worth considering.  It consumes your health until death, and only then can it be transferred to another unfortunate soul – anyone who gets too close to the bearer. It's a permanent affliction, a disease with the power to devastate, but at a terrible cost. For myself, I see the Rune of Punishment as a powerful analogy for two things: my unique way of communicating, and seeing and how my communication, even if used for good, could blow up in my face. Being punished by others is often unjust to me. But you can't realistically expect them to be good critical thinkers, judging right from wrong, "humans" from "Jennets" , accurately choosing to reward instead of punishing. The Burden of Misunderstood Intentions Whenever I spoke to those who did not see my intentions, they would punish me with their words, scarring my mind due to their own misunderstanding. Should I sacrifice my mentality for the sake of pleasing others,  it will deteriorate even further, as they seek to have fun , and not to learn nor improve their understanding of humanity's diverse spectrum of personalities. At least by these terms exclusively, I am "cursed". Cursed by a society who actively seeks to feel intimidated and finding a reason to be insulted and feel attacked over my loyalty to honesty. And as long as they are pleased, many would care less about how I really feel and what I think. I was taught at high school how to speak more commonly, and to keep my thoughts to myself whenever they cause discomfort to others. Whether I felt miserable and depressed, mattered far less in comparison to the wellbeing of my class. That is despite reality's theory of unity, connecting us all based on cause and effect. Causes are to be dealt with, or they'll poison you and others from the shadows. Keeping them to ourselves will not terminate them. In the Name of Redemption Society is ill and part of my solitude is to retain my health regardless of its self-destructive behaviors. To quote Indian philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti: “It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society.” It is no wonder there is so much suffering in this world. But I have no desire to partake in humanity's downward spiral to further illness. For this Punishment Rune also has a forgiveness phase, allowing you to use it for good without having to sacrifice yourself. For as is irrational as it may sound, you should forgive those who have wronged you. For that can liberate you from much unneeded suffering. Stop acting like a parasite to your body and mind. Use your intellect and heart to build a better world using your behavior. Show others light, and they might light you back from the darkness of despair. Human behavior can be contiguous. Don't strive to be just, but strive to be wise. Don't expect others to even want to understand your point of view, while in reality they are busy defending their own point of view. You can't fire your way in your plans to turn a desert into a vast, sparkling ocean. No. The desert is already depraved of water. Fill that desert with much needed water. There is no need to overexert yourself when solutions can be made simple. In order to reduce punishment, you must reduce punishing yourself. Work less on arguing why you're right and they are wrong. Many of them are too sensitive to accept being proven wrong. You can't only logic your way out of conflicts with beings not logical by default. Negative. Each behavior requires an appropriate response. With your words, nurture the behavior you want in this world. Those who refuse working towards World Rectification , would only suffer due to their own shortcomings. Avoid feeding their shortcomings, as that would only strengthen the punishment you will receive by society. In reality, you might be wise enough to understand it should be decreased, and not increased. For their suffering could add to your own. Show compassion, instead. Try to understand and contain others if you wish to be contained yourself. You cannot live in a more peaceful reality if you choose to mindlessly feed on the endless cycle harm and punishment. Do not enable an Eternal Ordeal. Try to avoid being a Double-Edged Sword. And to not harm yourself to the Voice of Death. Open your heart to Everlasting Mercy. Unless you have no choice....

(Philosocom's directory on Education) (Philosocom's Directory on Failure) (Background music) Article Introduction by A Kung Fu Master (Creative Exercise) The path of knowledge is a very difficult journey... Many stumble, some fall, but the true warrior rises, tempered by adversity . In this age of information overload, true education is not merely the acquisition of facts, but the cultivation of wisdom. The ancient masters understood the power of failure . They saw it not as a defeat, but merely a stepping stone on the path to greater virtue. Likewise, the modern scholar must embrace failure as a necessary part of the learning process. In this exploration of education and failure, we will delve into the heart of these timeless truths. We will examine the role of the educator, the expectations of the student, and the ultimate goal of human education: to live a life of meaning, wellbeing and purpose. The Article Itself An educated person is also regarded as a cultured person... not necessarily wise at times. -- Dr. S. K. Pachauri Failure should be our teacher, not our undertaker. Failure is delay, not defeat. It is a temporary detour, not a dead end. Failure is something we can avoid only by saying nothing, doing nothing, and being nothing. --  Denis Waitley The idea of normality has a very basic premise: that one should follow it if they wish to be socially acceptable and liked. Regardless of the activity that is considered normal, if you follow it, you will be liked by your peers and in general, even if that norm is immoral or at least negative in some way. The education system also has a basic, similar imperative: to teach its students to preserve, create, or destroy norms, depending on what those norms are. That is often done without the training of the critical thinking skills, necessary for students to question their authorities . That is because it is not normal nor socially acceptable to question those forced by states and government ministers to be your superiors. It provides feedback on how things should and should not be done. For most, it has 12 years to teach the next generation of citizens what is appropriate, what should be encouraged, and what should be condemned. Its role is simple: to shape the mind of the student in accordance with the local ideal, whatever that may be. The purpose of doing so is to engineer society per the desires of central or local authorities. However, what may be defined as the local ideal, might not necessarily be ideal or even accurate with reality itself. Meaning, the virtue of education could easily fail itself when what students learn will not help them be virtuous nor competent in their respective societies. For many, education has partially failed in fulfilling the functionality of helping them partake in the world beyond it... That is, at the very least when, it comes to basic human dignity in interactions with the world. It is through respect that we foster healthy, harmonious communities, necessary for our wellbeing. The archetype of the teacher is no longer the authority that dictates students what to do beyond doing homework and getting good grades. The world itself has drastically changed in terms of virtue, and barbaric behavior, under the excuse of liberty, has largely become the new norm across the world and cyberspace. The suffering of others matters not to many, in a world whose humanity is unaware of its gift of compassion. It seems that the education system has forgotten that it is there not only to provide people with knowledge but also with an example of how people should behave and interact with one another. as even teachers may fail applying rage in a way that helps them teach, instead of participating in mutual traumatization. Grades, are important in terms of evaluation, but as Socrates may say: Virtue is the nursing-mother of all human pleasures, who, in rendering them just, renders them also pure and permanent. The quality of being morally-good, or virtue, is the very thing that allows us to function with each other. Since we need to function with each other to survive, we need to be morally good in our conduct and to behave in ways that do not harm our respective physical and mental wellbeing. A person is also measured by their capacity for "humanity," of being able to act with respect and tolerance. When we fail to respect and tolerate each other, we fail in functioning as a society, leading to increased corruption and intellectual hermits who are best at helping others with their sage insight. Additionally, the problem with contemporary education is the fact that anything can be found and learned online. This further brings the decline of the pre-digital institutions of old. Because of that and many other reasons, the value of orthodoxy has decreased, along with its authorities, the teachers, that represent it. Other than basic human dignity, there is little opposition to the justification of "I can do and say whatever I want." This over-emphasis on freedom complicates reality by the fact that we never live in a vacuum and need to consider each other to the extent of our own wellbeing. Therefore, limiting our own freedom using conduct and virtue allows us greater wellbeing. Therefore, not only should we care for our emotions on the regular, but also for the emotions of others. Beforehand, there were the religious institutions whose authority was left unquestioned; there are still those nowadays but they're not as powerful in terms of complete fanaticism, which indicates their functional problems in the first place. These institutions served as the ultimate justification of civilized conduct: Be kind to another, Respect the authorities, and you will not be punished for your misconduct. Thus, the motive for such conduct was the fear of punishment, which nowadays has been solved by democracy and by the freedom of expression. Should this freedom be limited in the name of civilized conduct? Not at all, but it should indeed be preferable that personal freedoms will not be used for the severity of one's or others mental health, as that would only hinder our very own independence. And where does such responsibility for wellbeing lie, if not in the very education system that is there to teach us how to navigate in society? To teach them not only to be smart, but also civilized? To enjoy learning, but also to be nice? To teach history and math but also dignity and tolerance? As long as such things will not be taught, people will resume suffering unnecessarily by another's excuse of liberty. The only other way around it is to become tougher and compromise our own ability to enjoy a good life.

The Directory https://www.philosocom.com/post/the-epicurean-smoker-exploring-hedonism https://www.philosocom.com/post/why-pure-joy-could-be-a-problem https://www.philosocom.com/post/the-absurdity-of-fun https://www.philosocom.com/post/why-the-truth-isn-t-always-interesting-the-bored-man-s-fallacy https://www.philosocom.com/post/philosophy-and-joy The pleasures of the flesh become ecstasies for the mind -- Mr. John Duran (Background music) Hedonism: A Critique Hedonism , the belief that the attainment of pleasure should be above all, lacks something essential for maintaining human civilization and its order: The consideration of other people's feelings, especially those who wish to either help or serve us. Hedonism is therefore problematic as a philosophy because it presents us with no other alternative to consider the existence of others. That is, other than the fact that they can either give us pleasure, unease, or nothing at all. In order to have compassion towards other human beings, we must be willing to participate in their suffering. This is what I also call the "fast food attitude": We mostly disregard the conditions of those who make our food, for we just care about having a good, tasty meal. So what if the delivery person almost collided with a tree on their way? So what if the workers at the fast food chain were too nervous they forgot a certain ingredient in your pizza or hamburger? In the end, for the hedonist, it is the product that counts, and not the wellbeing of others who made it for him/her, with pay or without. That is along with whether or not that product gives him/her the pleasure they seek. The same reasoning applies in what I call the contentist approach. This is also true, to be blunt, in online video games. It's a hobby that is filled with toxic communities that won't hesitate to tell you weirdly traumatic things if you did not play the way they wanted you to, because if you did, you would give them fun. The reality of such experiences is that the dignity of your fellow players is far more unimportant than the hedonist's zealotry towards having a good time with the game they play. In general, it seems that the pursuit of fun has become some sort of a "religion" for many people. Unlike our many ancestors, the value of joy has been put at a far higher priority than in any other time. Even when we work, we have many sources of pleasure that did not exist any time before the industrial and digital revolutions. It is no surprise, therefore, that some of us have become fun-seekers rather than depth-seekers or wealth-seekers. The possible reason for that being, that there is much to enjoy from, more than ever before. With our constant seeking of new and newer sources and content of fun, we basically feed a globally-entertaining industrial complex. It lives and prospers over our lack of satisfaction with what we already have. That, in itself, is not necessarily a bad thing. But it still doesn't answer the following question: why should one care about other people, if they do not bring one the fun they so desire? This "religion" could create a future where only the most entertaining shall prosper, while those who bore most would be cast aside. I guess you can call it a Hedocracy — a regime where only the most entertaining reign supreme. And indeed, dismissing someone or something because they are boring, is a fallacy of its on. You can also say that such "hedocracies" already exist, especially among younger audiences. As we lose patience, our attention span decreases as well, leading to the social and even financial prosperity of many content creators. People who know exactly what duration their content should be, what it should contain to keep the viewers from watching other content, and so on. This is why, logically, we could say that books are becoming more and more something that belongs to the past, as it is replaced by virtual content one can access without the need to pay or to go to the nearest library. Anyways, I have to mention that the shorter people's attention spans will be, the less successful sites such as this would be. That is because of the sad truth that, short-term spikes of joy are for most far more desired than a long-time reading whose worth will only come at the end of the piece. Perhaps we won't need to write anymore, as the interest in reading will significantly decrease over the consumption of videos , embedded with large words and background music made to catch your attention. Should we fail in giving the future generations a reason to enjoy extensive reading, then articles such as this, along with countless books , will be cast aside for content made to entertain more than to teach, educate, or make you contemplate. Of course, there are still those who read a lot, but when you are to ask a person of the far future, should they watch a video or read an article, the probable reply might be the latter, for it is usually much more entertaining than mere reading. Videos, after all, have music in them, and save us the effort required for reading. All we need to do is to listen — even when we can also do other activities while listening or watching said video. Because of all of these reasons, the mere pursuit of pleasure is often insufficient in justifying the existence or the worth of other things in our lives, which are more often than not, important by themselves. Thanks to this shift in perspective, those who have the time and education can find jobs that they truly enjoy. The suffering can justify the rewarding end. Furthermore, thanks to the help of liberty and secularism, some people at least don't have to fight against their families once they become adults, in the matters of profession, education, marriage, and bringing up a family. "Live and let live" is a very important saying nowadays, but it still does not answer this: If we can all live however we want, then what is the need for cooperation and caring for each other on a genuine level? With this great apathy to other people, there could be a great danger to our own morality, as if we're becoming "tribal" again; a step backwards in our sense of identity. In many countries, theoretically, being a fellow citizen of the same nation doesn't matter as much as it used to be when many people rebelled against imperialism and colonialism in favor of forming their own national identity as one, sovereign people. Look at your fellow countrymen or countrywomen: what do you feel towards them, just for having the same nationality as you? See what I mean? We are in an age of loneliness and alienation , and many of us just don't care when we can just enjoy ourselves. Who cares about participating in the struggles of those we care about, when feeling good feels far better? That, is the immorality of hedonism. If we wish, therefore, to preserve and improve human empathy and compassion, we must realize that fun, even if greatly rewarding, is insufficient for the preservation of a "humane" humanity. What kind of humanity do we want? One that cares for each other in distress, helps others without expecting anything in return, and asks children "what's wrong" and "why do they cry"? Hedonism by its very nature rejects feelings of unease and discomfort, even if they are caused by the suffering of others. It ignores the fact that these emotions deserve legitimacy because the desire to have a better time is a poor excuse to disregard our compassionate selves . I had to develop a neuroplastic method to murder much of my emotions, just to survive in such a hedonistic world. Conclusion Hedonism, therefore, while it can lead to a life of good wellbeing, couldn't care less for the good wellbeing of others. At least from a personal testimony, many people would prefer to "eat you alive" than considering the fact that you are an imperfect human being, like them. The constant ignoring of my condition, led me to conclude that my wellbeing is more important than their lack of "fun" while reading my articles. Wouldn't you do the same if you were as sensitive as I used to be? What distinguishes me and the hedonist, however, is my desire to contribute and not be totally invested in unproductive joy — hence why I resume writing. I decided to provide a link to a video showcasing a toxic online community. I'm not responsible for whether or not you'll click it.

(Philosocom's Subcategory on Aliens and Outer Space) Alex Mos's Synopsis: No matter how much we learn, there will always be more to discover. Our planet Earth still holds mysteries, and the universe inspires exploration of the unknown. Human advancement through technology and innovation is only possible by proving the traditional paradigms wrong and indefinitely breaking out the rigid "frames" of knowledge. The Frame Condition Theory opens the door to countless possibilities, allowing a never-ending quest in the name of the truth. Point of Specific Reference: Frame An enclosing border . A shell . A cage. (Background music) *************************** The smart conceive of unconventional ideas. The bold are adept at daring acts. Combine them and you see the true advancers of the human world -- Mr. John Duran Contemplating Infinity's Edge One of the very few philosophical contemplations I had as a kid was this: If we are to reach the end of the universe, what will we find? Will we find an endless void, another universe -- or a colossal "frame" of sorts, that prevents us from moving forward in our exploration? This childhood curiosity has blossomed into a profound realization: Our knowledge is a mere drop in the vast cosmic ocean of reality. No matter how much we learn, there will always be an indefinite amount of data, left to be discovered, analyzed, recorded and distributed. The very depths of our own planet's oceans hold mysteries yet unseen. Obscure and eerie sea creatures lurk in the darkness , their existence reminds us that the vast diversity of life on our own planet is still left not absolutely known, despite thousands of years of research in biology. While becoming a master /specialist in a field is possible, becoming an absolute master on every single facet of that field, might as well require us to tend to that field for an entire lifetime. With no relent, and with no remorse towards ourselves. Therefore, even people who are considered the intellectual elite in one or more fields, must resume their studies nonetheless. They mustn't be tempted by rewards , when rewards ruin their lust for learning. And beyond our planet, whose mysteries still remain undiscovered, the question of extra-terrestrial life continues to bother us. And for good reason, of course. Could there be other civilizations gazing at the same stars, pondering the same questions about existence, like some of us do? And what of the even vaster concepts – the possibility of an afterlife , or a spiritual dimension , existent, but hidden from the visible aspect of reality? The beauty lies in the unknown. If there's no "frame" to limit our exploration, if the universe truly is boundless, then the possibilities are infinite. It's just that we lack the power to fully harness both our individual and collective potential. For to even explore this universe for ourselves we need to accept our beneficial development as interstellar nomads, independent of Earth's inevitable, limited lifespan. Every unanswered question, every unexplored corner of the cosmos, becomes a doorway to limitless knowledge. The more we learn, the more we realize how much more there is to learn. Embracing The Infinity Using the Frame Condition Theory There were things in existence that our ancestors believed were impossible or too unrealistic to be implemented, from air travel to submarines to the ability to converse with people instantly across vast distances. These once over-the-top notions are now commonplace. They're evidence to the boundless potential of human ingenuity, realized through cooperation. Their innovative existence threatened tradition, and still do, and will resume doing so. The same principle, of technology and innovation proving traditional paradigms wrong, applies today, and deserves to be applied, in the name of the truth. Things we consider impossible might just be waiting for the right spark of innovation to become reality. All it takes, sometimes, is a single, "Eureka" moment , to dispel our conditional thought, that we are more limited, or framed, than we actually are. Our "frames" of knowledge would only remain as such until an innovative discovery is to crush that delusion. The condition of the "frame", the false, delusional mindset, will only remain as such until it is proven wrong. And since nothing is in theory indestructible, then innovation has the potential to break our "frames" of knowledge indefinitely , or infinitely. Let's have some examples: Greek philosopher Anaximander prematurely predicted evolution 2000 years ago , before Charles Darwin, by realizing that early lifeforms were originated from water. It is theorized that 3.5 billion years ago, the first microbes originated from the watery depths of Earth . The seemingly-infinite debates that are ongoing between creationists and atheists online and offline, wouldn't have been possible without these two intellects. It was Sir Isaac Newton who devised the Newton's Universal Law of Gravitation , which mathematically explains gravity through a universal formula. What allows this law to exist is the existence of the centripetal force of celestial bodies, which make them orbit each other, and move along a circular path. This revolutionary idea debunked the flat earth theory , as this physical law wouldn't exist if planets and moons had no core that would allow a centripetal force to make them rotate, thus creating the notion of time . A negative example: By leading a project that designed the atomic bomb, J. Robert Oppenheimer revolutionized warfare by reframing the way it works. Although he managed to prevent many future wars thanks to the Mutually-Assured Destruction doctrine that stemmed from it, any country in the world, at the same time, can be entirely demolished with a press of a button. Who can definitively say there are no intelligent lifeforms out there, mirroring our own cognitive abilities, somewhere in the vast expanse of the universe? Perhaps teleportation, once relegated to science fiction, will one day be a practical mode of travel. And I'm not speaking of Quantum teleportation, which is possible today with atoms and particles. Who knows, maybe artificial intelligence will evolve to the point where its sentience demands a re-evaluation of its rights and place in our world. It's but one of the long-term, future dangers of artificial intelligence , which is technically still in its infancy. The key to the Frame Condition Theory, lies in the absence of concrete, objective limitations. As long as there's no undeniable proof that something is utterly impossible, at any given moment of time, the realm of possibility stretches infinitely into the future . This is why I'm confident enough to assume that no rigid "frames" obstruct our access to knowledge. If anything, the only such "frames" existent are mental or inter-subjective, which is our own delusional product. Since human society is traditionalist by its essence to allow its own harmony , it is largely, if not entirely, anti-intellectual . It is, after all, one of the main points of the intellectual: To challenge pre-supposed notions on reality. Our ignorance is the fuel that ignites the fire of curiosity. That is unless you simply choose to remain ignorant just because absolute knowledge is far from possible. If we were all-knowing by nature, the universe would hold no mysteries, its wonders already laid bare. And philosophy itself would end before it even began. Thus, ignorance, within reason, can be a powerful tool. It propels us forward, pushing us to seek understanding and fill the gaps in our knowledge. This leads to a fascinating question: Will humanity ever truly shed its veil of ignorance towards the universe? Would we ever be able to reach the peak of all knowledge? There is a relatively-certain answer to that question: Should we be relentless in our search for innovation in any given field, we could break any pre-supposed frame of knowledge we merely think exist. There is no other way to know for sure, without relentless innovation. Innovation therefore holds a universal functionality in its potential: To make us aware of the vastness of our ignorance. We've already begun to chip away at the vast unknown. We've discovered planets with glass and acid rain within our own solar system. Others eerily similar to Earth, perhaps even harboring life, given that they contain similar conditions like Earth . We cannot colonize our species properly if we stop being innovative in our collective research. We must keep looking for discoveries so we would be able to act and innovate in accordance to our findings. Unlike a finite video clip, the universe doesn't have a clear ending, as all energy cannot be created nor destroyed, only be transformed to different forms . Who knows what wonders, what unimaginable possibilities, lie beyond the perceived edge of our cosmos? Perhaps the journey itself, the constant exploration and expansion of knowledge, is the true reward. For we cannot act in accordance to the truth, if we give up on understanding what the truth is, either because of despair, or a regard of falsehood as the truth itself.

(Background music) (Philosocom's Subcategory on Suikoden Content) (Philosocom's Directory On Dreams) Delving into the Enigma of Dreams: A Personal Journey Despite our technological and scientific advancements as a species, we have yet to fully unfold the enigma of dreams, unlike the clear-cut functions of tangible objects like a cup or a bed. As such, the metaphysical nature of dreams remains uncertain, as well as their purpose. As long as this certainty remains elusive, dreams will continue to inhabit the realm of mystery and speculation. Some may interpret them as messages from a higher power , while others relate them to the subconscious/ unconscious mind; a few may even dismiss them as meaningless gibberish. While I lack a definitive answer to the riddle of dreams, I possess a treasure vault of dream experiences accumulated over my life. Their purpose perhaps is destined to remain forever concealed. Unless, of course, a clear explanation emerges from the depths of obscurity. Throughout my life, I have been haunted by countless strange dreams, populated by enigmatic beings and objects. Some of these dreams have even manipulated me into believing that I am awake and not asleep. On my first night abroad, I vividly dreamt of waking up in my familiar room at my home, only to awaken in a foreign land, momentarily confused and questioning my whereabouts. Other dreams have manifested as intense " boss battles ," encounters with bizarre creatures as if I were immersed in a video game. Once again, I was cleverly scammed into believing that I was an active participant within the dream's simulated reality. I am puzzled by the reason behind these dreamy gaming delusions. It's as if my dreams are going the extra mile to deceive me. Why would they do so? Either way, because of their deceptive nature, I see little reason to trust them as eligible sources of information and insights. Many would tell you otherwise, however. I would therefore only be relying on them as indicators to what my mentality is capable to produce, and what I'm able to feel in general, with dreams as odd "case examples". The Recurring Dreams: Crabs, Fort El-Eal And Being Loved A "series" of dreams I had revolved around a certain location in a video game - Fort El-Eal, a castle that was destroyed at the end of the game. In these dreams, I explored the castle's ruins, often encountering enemies that stood in my way. These foes ranged from strange bats to actual soldiers who appeared in that game, armed with their swords. In one particularly memorable dream, I battled a giant crab within the castle's crumbling walls. This creature possessed dark skin and small, light blue eyes. Interestingly, a similar crab appeared in a dream I had when I was a child, but it had purple skin and small, yellow eyes. Not sure why I've been haunted by these color-variant, giant crabs throughout my life. Why can dreams exhibit patterns, despite their mysterious nature? Surely, if we weren't capable of dreaming, our lives would've been a lot more mundane than they might currently be. Nevertheless, it's intriguing to witness something we don't fully comprehend, especially when it displays symbolic patterns that could be analysed by professionals, who themselves might not know the true purpose of dreams. Like with numerology , we might not understand some things' full purpose, but it does not mean we cannot extract and learn insights from them. Said insights can be applicable to reality and even hold some degree of practicality. Does it matter if something makes sense despite its logical flaws, when we can still gain some valuable wisdom from it? Star Wars is a very flawed franchise, filled with plot holes, for example, but it does not mean we can't learn from that franchise's stories and characters. One of the most enigmatic dreams I've experienced involved feeling someone I knew kiss me on the forehead. My family suggested that perhaps my cat was the one who did it, but he had never licked me there, especially while I was asleep. While an exception could always exist, without any witnesses, I cannot confirm this theory with certainty. Despite the limitations of my current monastic lifestyle , I find myself receiving a wealth of experiences through dreams, serving as "unasked substitutes" for the adventures I've no desire of embarking upon in reality. Thus far, I've "visited" Argentina, Romania, Nepal, and even Mozambique. My dream journeys have also taken me to the fictional town of Silent Hill , a desolate horror ghost town, manifesting as an abandoned metropolis. I've even experienced " true love " in the form of being loved and loving someone named Minerva , whom I discovered upon waking was "The Goddess of Wisdom." This dream experience has made me question the necessity of empirically knowing true romance, since I've already felt the emotion of mutual love in a way I didn't get to know much in this solitary and skin-deprived life of mine. Dreams, despite their enigmatic nature, offer a unique window into our subconscious minds, providing possible clues to our untapped potential . They might as well show us what we're capable of experiencing, as our feelings in these dreams feel as if they can be real in real life as well. When I dreamed of being killed several times by a certain humanoid creature, I slowly realized I am capable of becoming apathetic to much agony, because in that dream I felt no pain, despite the horror that was done to me. Thus, apathy can be seen as a form of strength. Living a relatively solitary life, my dreams have taken on a personal significance. They enrich my existence by allowing me to explore diverse locations and landscapes, always alone. I sometimes confront adversaries and "bosses" – powerful and distinct enemies – while at other times, I am granted experiences that would likely remain unattainable in this reality. Such as being killed several times, or being loved, which is rare for me. The Use of Dreams Yet, the question remains: even if dreams serve a personal purpose for me, does that necessarily reflect their true reason for existence, their inherent "intent"? The same applies to the dreams of others. Do they have an objective function, in the world beyond the mind? Consider the utilization of lemons for lemonade as example to that question's logic. This doesn't imply that lemons were created solely for that purpose. After all, they possess other potential uses. It's about employing something for our own reasons, rather than adhering to a designated purpose. I suppose not all questions can be answered by science or philosophy. However, perhaps science will one day gain the upper hand in unravelling these mysteries as well. It's crucial to distinguish between meaning and function. Meaning can be explained as something's originator, while function can either be predetermined or creatively served, regardless of origin. Not all meaningful properties can be utilized, and not all utilized components and materials had a pre-determined use. Either way, their existence will always succeed existence itself, which in this case, are dreams. So, if we were given dreams like we were given lemonades, it's best that we do something useful out of them, even if the true reasoning, AKA, meaning of creation is unknown.

(Philosocom's Subcategory Directory on Despair and Surrender) No heartbreak will stop ever me, From desiring life. Even after death I can still, Prove my relevancy. No hater can stop me with their word, For I will drive by, Across the highway road. As long as something is, Legitimate, And as long as it's, Appropriate, Then why would it be stopped, On its way to the top? As long as something is, Legitimate, And as long as it's, Appropriate, Then why would it be stopped, It won't be stopped! No matter how many times, I will be blocked, I will keep coming back, For I am no longer shocked. Your disapproval means very little to me, When I can continue, Doing some honest philosophy. As long as something is, Legitimate, And as long as it's, Appropriate, Then why would it be stopped, On its way to the top? As long as something is, Legitimate, And as long as it's, Appropriate, Then why would it be stopped, It won't be stopped! Nothing's really a verdict, When it can be changed. You'll have little to gain, By telling me how poor I'm again. The reader's interest, Is my own, it is as well. Great advice will not be forgotten, In a dungeon cell. As long as something is, Legitimate, And as long as it's, Appropriate, Then why would it be stopped, On its way to the top? As long as something is, Legitimate, And as long as it's, Appropriate, Then why would it be stopped, It won't be stopped! Bind your life to something, You hold dear. Then you might find That you may have less to fear. Connect your role, With your identity, Then be amazed, How you can endure it all. With purpose you can, Overcome, Anything that is, Bothersome. And you can succeed, For many years to come! Life is filled with, Psychopaths, But why have them, In your path, When you could not be stopped, Could not be stopped!

(More articles I wrote on spirituality: https://www.philosocom.com/post/the-third-eye https://www.philosocom.com/post/issues-with-spirituality) (Background music) *************************** How Randomness Meets Reality in Tarot Readings As I explored in a previous article, the arcane holds a curious allure . It is one I even used for the production of a miniseries on true love. It could indicate hidden connections ( hence, arcane ), embedding everyday anecdotes with a sense of cosmic significance, possibly suggesting a deterministic hand weaving the tapestry of our lives. This fascination led me to delve deeper, enrolling in various courses online, most notably one on Tarot reading. I managed to get a Tarot Master certificate earned through studying a recorded course of a spiritual polymath . Eventually I tried practicing tarot reading myself based on what I studied. I shuffled and reshuffled the cards, drawing them at random, both individually and in specific spreads. With each card revealed, regardless of its suit or orientation, an uncanny resonance echoed within me. Each image seemed to hold a mirror to my current circumstances, or perhaps even hinted at veiled possibilities in the future. This recurring pattern sparked a realization: humans, in our inherent complexity, are intricate complexes, built from diverse materials of genetics, personality, inclinations, and experiences. This very complexity allows us to find connections, however weak, between ourselves and anything seemingly random, as long as we're willing to weave the narrative for our own favor. And whether or not that narrative even exists is not quite logical as tarot is based on intuition, not on logic. The problem with intuition comes when we rely on it exclusively, without a shred of doubt, leading us to commit confirmation bias. And I quote from Situational Awareness Matters : "It is the facts and data that prove if the gut feeling is right or wrong. ...High consequence environments, when you have that euphoric feeling that everything is going well in a time compressed, high consequence environment, you need to make sure your intuition is right." The power of the tarot, then, lies not in predicting the future or revealing some absolute truth, but in its ability to act as a catalyst for introspection. It nudges us to contemplate the tapestry and identify recurring patterns and themes, and to perhaps even envision potential paths forward. The cards themselves are mere symbols, devoid of objective meaning ( whose existence is proven by the strawman's fallacy ). It is our own minds, with their inherent capacity for association and narrative construction, that breathe life into them, transforming them into mirrors reflecting our inner landscapes, reflecting more on ourselves rather than external reality, which depends on our individual emotions, far, far less. In this way, the tarot becomes a tool for self-discovery, and a potent reminder that the most profound truths often lie not in external validation , but within the depths of our own being. So, while the conformity to arcane pronouncements may remain prone to attack by evidence, the value of their invitation to self-exploration is undeniable. Which of course could indicate what I wrote several times, which is the fact that human beings are not logical by default and may need to learn how to become more logical beings. That is while the external world, even though we're a part of it, is composed of logic, or more specifically, the representation of mathematics and their interactions with one another. Unveiling the Illusion of Arcane Causality In the realm of the arcane a bizarre (or even "arcane") phenomenon unfolds. We draw connections between the seemingly random and the deeply personal, as if they are necessarily related . We embed symbols with meaning, forging a sense of "destiny" from the shuffled deck or toasts with a certain shapes . But beneath this alluring mystique lies a subtle illusion: the causal fallacy, also known as the questionable cause. The core of this fallacy lies in our tendency to perceive correlation as causation. If, upon uncovering a tarot card that resonates with our current state, we declare it a "sign,", without any questioning whatsoever, we've succumbed to this illusion. The card, no matter how evocative, is not the cause of our circumstances, but merely a reflection of what we feel and/or think. This isn't limited to the arcane. Practices like gematria, assigning numerical values to words and letters, can lead us down the same path. We begin to see significance in seemingly mundane details, our names and occupations transformed into symbols of universal mechanisms. This "divine," as some call it, can be God, Jesus, or Allah, depending on our cultural lens (even logos, which is the origin of logic, can also mean, " universal divine reason "). But here's the critical point: Attributing meaning doesn't erase nor "changes" the truth by itself. Cause and effect, though often intertwined, are not always linear. Not every action has a singular, predetermined outcome. Truth and significance, while intertwined in philosophical discourse, are not synonymous. Take the example of this article. Written (originally at least) at 4:02 AM, the time might seem significant, linked to the card " The Lovers " by the sum of its digits. But could I not have written it at any other hour, achieving the same response? In a parallel universe, does the time of publication truly alter the article's impact? Why this specific set of time necessitates insights I can give at any time of the day? The answer is that there is no universal necessity between symbolism and what they aim to represent, meaning they do not always have exclusive representation . Of course the Swatzika symbolizes nazism, but the fact that we associate the swatizka with nazism does not mean it does not represent other things as well, such as the Jain symbol from Jainism. Conversly, other symbols also represent nazism, such as the iron cross or the SS bolts . You don't need to use the swatzika to indicate nazism like you don't need to be awake at 4 AM to write a specific insight. This in general can disprove the idea of determinism that aims to necessitate every single point of time with a certain chain of events. It is not inevitable to write the same insight at 4 PM instead of 4 AM like it is not inevitable to use the SS bolts instead of the swatzika to indicate nazism. Therefore there is no necessary cause-and-effect between symbols and events. Just because two events occur in sequence (a tarot reading before a certain event), one doesn't necessarily cause the other (an event trigerred by the tarot reading). Dogs barking at sunrise don't make the sun rise. Black cats are not these energy sources for bad luck if you happened to lose a gamble when the odds of a gamble was against your favor. Conclusion We need to understand that we are the authors of our own narratives, capable of shaping our destinies without relying on cosmic puppet strings. While the arcane may offer a temporary escape, or a way to further understand our intuition, it is through examination of cause and effect that explains how the world works chronologically. It isn't through feeling whether event "A" really led to event "B" occuring. It is through understanding why one event led to the other, if it led to it in the first place (and thus: Skepticism).

(Directory on Weakness) (Background music) Realizing emotions does nothing but tell you how you feel about something. Don’t give into the normal tendencies of people by reacting to every little change that happens in the cognitive reality around you. -- Mr. Nathan Lasher To worry about something is to care. Stop caring and all worry ends -- Mr. John Duran Indifference in the Face of Pain: A Different Kind of Strength Strength isn't just about muscling through hardship or carrying on stoically in the face of rejection . It's also about finding a quiet resilience within ourselves, a stillness amidst the storm . It's the apathy that can be described in the face of an aggressive cat's claws, or calmness that may wash over you when someone knocks at your door while driving. This isn't only emotional numbness . It's a conscious choice not to be consumed by the pain, the fear, or the anger. And it's a choice that we can train ourselves to do through discipline . It's acknowledging the situation, recognizing the potential for conflicted feelings, but choosing not to let it dictate your response, thanks to your free will . It's a deep understanding that some things are simply out of our control, and our energy is better spent on moving forward than on futile resistance. Deem it a wiser investment of your mental resources. The choice to care or not is a choice regardless of our willpower to care or not. There exists a multi-layered system of the self. The fact that we feel something does not mean that this feeling is true nor that we should act upon it just because it is present. Apathy, therefore, also holds a cognitive function, which depends on how we relate, if at all, to things and beings, including our very feelings. And with this apathy we can also begin teaching ourselves how to act independently of our own willpower , depending on reasoning mostly if not entirely: We can simply know what there is to be done by understanding logic, without the need for unnecessary attachments which hinder a more realistic perception of reality. This internal strength isn't always flashy or grandiose. It doesn't require feats of physical prowess or public displays of stoicism . Sometimes, it's simply about breathing through the pain, accepting reality , and finding a quiet peace within the chaos. It's about understanding that life is full of unexpected claws and knocks, but we can choose how to react to them. Enduring a lot of pain offers a glimpse into this kind of strength, whether physical or mental. Not escaping from it when it isn't dangerous, and acknowledging its presence, trains our skill to not let it control nor dictate our lives. And slowly, unnecessary suffering becomes accepted as granted , allowing us to be miserable less, and handle our business in life, more. Whether directly or indirectly, apathy's a conscious decision not to be consumed by the negativity, whether it exists in you or not, whether it will exist more or less. This, in itself, is a testament to one's inner resilience, a quiet strength that allows you to navigate the storms of life with a sense of calm and composure. As you can understand, not all strength has to be displayed in vanity. Sometimes it is "expressed" the most when it is hidden; when it does not need to be shown to the world. Those who are inclined to show it far more than others, may be the weaker ones themselves, when they might be compensating for their own lack of certain qualities. So, while physical and emotional strength are undoubtedly valuable, let's not forget the silent roar of serenity, of choosing not to react, of finding peace in the midst of the storm, internal or external. This, too, although underrated in this day and age of prestige bias , is one that deserves recognition and appreciation. The Paradox of Apathy: Strength or Surrender? Do you see now, why apathy is a form of strength? However, it's a paradoxical force, acting like a shield against painful experiences, yet potentially stifling collective growth . In the face of a cat's relentless gnawing, it's apathy that numbed the agony, allowing one to endure the pain without lashing out. On the individual scale it's a temporary immunity to the emotional storm that could have easily swept one away without it. And it's also one that can be extended through training the mind to develop an iron will through the practice of asceticism ( for an example ). But this strength, while effective in individual moments, carries a hidden cost. Apathy can become the root of collective stagnation, which has the power to hinder collective understanding and even reject profound minds as "insane" . When applied to broader societal issues, it morphs from resilience of pain into a lack of desire to learn, a surrender of power that leaves us paralyzed and vulnerable to mistakes whose possibility masterminds can decrease. And when we are too apathetic to learn from our own mistakes, we can doom ourselves to repeat them again. Was Plato right when he said...? "Ignorance, the root and stem of all evil" While ignorance by itself is incapable of malicious intent (for intent stems from desire and values can't "feel" desires), it is capable of many evils. And it is a good way to make people stay ignorant, and thus apathetic, of many horrible events, through the social engineering of hedonism as a granted human feature and not as a specific philosophy. After all, it's easier to completely disregard the deaths of people in lesser known territories worldwide when you're busy gambling your hard earned money on contemporary virtual casinos . And as such, apathy can easily become a tool that can be used against the populace, while bigger entities such as very large corporations go on their way unhindered by public protests. This apathy is also beneficial to those who choose to lie low ; After all it's far easier for justice to be unserved when public interest has little to no realization of one's criminal activities. In the case of murderers who get away, that might also include murder. And it is easy to get killed when you're oblivious to what's going on (or what is about to go on). Knowledge is therefore power because it gives you more clarity of actions to choose from, and why to choose them. (like the choice to not go to a certain slum where a certain death might exist). Remain apathetic to what you should do and you can pay in accordance with your ignorance. Conclusions Apathy, then, is a double-edged sword. It can be a source of strength, a temporary shield against the slings and arrows of life, allowing us to navigate the storm with a certain quietude. However, like with honesty, when wielded indiscriminately, it can become a form of weakness, an unconscious abdication of our responsibility to ourselves and each other, leading us to commit evil acts out of ignorance . Evil acts such as domestic violence, corruption and other criminal activities that surely cause more harm than good. As such apathy is both a strength and a potentially-great source for unintended evil. It is a virtue when endurance is required or desired, and a liability when more knowledge is needed in the name of morality. In contemporary settings there are also several, specific reasons for apathy. The answer to when apathy is a strength or weakness lies therefore in its context. The key, then, is to wield this tool wisely like a swordsman , recognizing its potential for both virtue and harm, and choosing to use it with intention and the awareness of potential implications.

Description: "The fear of being forgotten by your loved ones can be really painful. We all have at least once in our life felt rejected , ignored or unwanted . Imagine the plight of people who go through such feelings all their lives." ( Source ) Definition: "Athazagoraphobia is an intense or irrational fear of being forgotten, or of forgetting someone or something. It may also include a fear of being ignored or replaced. " ( Source ) Athazagoraphobia -- Driven By Fear (Philosocom's Directory on Fear) (Subcategory On Memory, Nostalgia and the Unconscious) (Philosocom's Subcategory on Revenge) (Background music) There isn't much to do, Other than see it through, That the world shall hear, Of my name, not due to you! So hear what I wish to attain, What I so crave to gain: Unlike you, I can be forgotten, So I claim: Rubinshtein! You've ignored me, In these lonely hallways, So I will make the world see, I can commit World Relevancy! So hear what I wish to attain, What I so crave to gain: Unlike you, I can be forgotten, So I claim: Rubinshtein! You thought it would do, Your ignoring? Please. Your own "helping", Birthed a compulsive nemesis! So hear what I wish to attain, What I so crave to gain: Unlike you, I can be forgotten, So I claim: Rubinshtein! They say it is unhealthy, To cling so deep. But each new connection, Gives my joy such a tip! So hear what I wish to attain, What I so crave to gain: Unlike you, I can be forgotten, So I claim: Rubinshtein! I am not a narcissist, I'm not even that important! And because of this, I am driven to persist! So hear what I wish to attain, What I so crave to gain: Unlike you, I can be forgotten, So I claim: Rubinshtein! Being so faceless, Have haunted me for years! Even if logically baseless, It's my greatest of fears! So hear what I have to say, You soon-to-be-a-wife! My success , will be how you'll "pay", Not much else in my life! I thank you so, For bringing this up! Now I have a lifetime, and a song, To prove you wrong! You've done all the required mistakes, And now I thank you so, Dozens of years, they will take, To serve, your own, cake! A lifetime of work, Can be left in the dust! I don't care I live like an ascetic, A greater audience is a "must"! I am aware I am obsessive, But it runs deeply in my mind! Of one's potential, I am possessive, To rectify humankind!

How Religion and Democracy Struggle -- Philosophy of Religion Directory https://www.philosocom.com/post/thoughts-on-prayer https://www.philosocom.com/post/thoughts-on-the-shinto-religion-and-its-philosophy https://www.philosocom.com/post/queries-on-the-influence-of-religion-as-manipulation-by-mr-m-svartgold https://www.philosocom.com/post/understanding-the-relationship-between-philosophy-and-judaism-by-mr-john-igwe https://www.philosocom.com/post/the-problem-of-some-religions-in-philosophy-from-a-functional-standpoint https://www.philosocom.com/post/human-in-religion-poem "The Cult of Kefka" -- Nihilism as a Spectrum Embracing Wu Wei in the Modern World: Taoist Wisdom for Today's Challenges (By Mr. Joseph Bright) How to Determine the Existence of Gods https://www.philosocom.com/post/tikkunolam https://www.philosocom.com/post/jesus https://www.philosocom.com/post/dear-god (Background music) Introduction: An Historic Overview Most of the world's countries are democracies. That is even though democracy often suffers by the corrupting trends of the world. Within each country, its own unique fabric of interactions and interplays between values, under the guidelines of norms and cultures. To quote Simeon Strunsky: People who want to understand democracy should spend less time in the library with Aristotle and more time on the buses and in the subway. When a central authority isn't busy oppressing its populace, what it allows is a more multicultural growth of alternative frameworks and organizations. Without its oppression, many people can become leaders in many fields, forming their own businesses, institutions and virtual empires. Additionally, it allows people to venture out from the orthodox matrix of society, deviating and growing in ways unique to them. Whether your country is more capitalistic or more socialist in its politics, under democracy it matters less freedom-wise. A more democratic nation often turns a blind eye to many things, and as a result the average citizenry can get many freedoms, such as the freedom of expression , the freedom to vote, and so on. These freedoms would have been considered privileges in earlier times of human history, who were mainly dominated by kings, sultans and emperors. Understand that despite the dystopian concerns some people might have today, many people today live in freedoms greater than in any period in human history. As such, the only absolute monarchy today, where the king has absolute authority, is just a small, landlocked African nation. Blessed be the fact that most monarchies today are constitutional, or in other words, severely limited. When Religion Corrupts Morality is of the highest importance – but for us, not for God. — Albert Einstein When religion is introduced into official rules, there is a competition with democracy. That, however, applies only when the laws of said religion threaten the freedoms introduced by democracy. Furthermore, religious manipulators could use the very freedoms they are given to commit acts of malice. When these figures of authority become part of state authority, the corruption turns from a civilian matter to more of a public issue. When religion is corrupted by such leaders and their helpers, that is when people might find themselves disillusioned with institutional religion, and instead turning to spirituality and to research of the arcane. Skepticism Under Democratic Fabric When questioning their own faith, people may utilize the power of choice of whether to keep staying within religious norms or go their own ways. Often, major religions get their own sects as a result. Under the framework of democracy, deviating and even creating one's own religion is easier. In the online world, one can find many, many cults. Furthermore, some may even consider fandoms to be cults. Cults are basically small, alternative organizations that pose as societal outsiders. Living below the radar, they are of course known as secret societies. Secret societies/cults/whatever other synonyms, can range from a gang of hooligans, to organized crime, to unrecognized street performers. Their contemporary negative connotation is a quasi-specific term,  meaning cults are not necessarily these shady fanatics serving a charismatic love-bomber.  The mere image you may have of them negates the fact that even a pirate ship or even a hobbyist micronation  can be "a secret society". Sometimes you are secret because you will always have it hard being accepted into society in the first place . That is why so many deviations outside of general society can be considered morally-grey by default. Depending on your perspective, they can be either anti-hero or even anti-villainous. So much as you can see, happens when your democracy allows you to deviate from your own religion. Not only from your own religion but also from traditional norms whom may be questioned by many. Philosophy and Disillusionment God is not separate. God is our very being. He has not to be attained, only discovered. He is hidden in us; there is no need to go anywhere else to find him. -- Osho Philosophy starts from within. As philosophy examines life, it gives life meaning. As such, examining philosophy is also about examining life itself. One might philosophize, "Why do we even need a public religion to force us to do or avoid things regardless of our consent?" The more we question the very public ideas that are part of our lives, the more we may find ourselves deviating from it. Indeed, while tyranny might stem from democracy , democracy is often where philosophy prospers most! As we question tradition, religious or otherwise, we might find ourselves on an unintended path of self-discovery, where we discover who we are not only in our questions but also in our actions. As you can tell, philosophy is also a way of life and goes beyond mere academic discourse. You might find religions and philosophy weirdly intertwined as a result as philosophy is what allows individual and collective deviations in the first place. Philosophy is not a mere ideology as it is a tool meant to examine ideology. Of course, an ideology can also be religious, when it comes to the matters of the divine. Philosophy may not only examine and critique ideologies and religions, but also may create ones, as seen in the cult of Pythagoras. The State As a Distant Authority As you can tell, state intervention in philosophy and religion is not a requirement. As such, Japan, despite its interfaith of Shintoism and Buddhism, remains largely atheist in its population. Religion is something that can be practiced even without being the mark of the state. In other words, you don't need state funds or support to have you perform the rituals, the holidays, the traditions, and the prayers required in your own religion. When the state is a distant authority, instead of an intervening, oppressive one, people are more free to do as they please under the obliviousness of society. I don't see why I, as an irreligious man, have to cater to state religion beyond my attempts to survive in ordinary society that cares little about me as an individual. I see less and less reasoning to seek global recognition when I can simply be recognized for my immense philosophical work by those who find it relevant to their lives. The Biological Imperative : Survive! Therefore, due to the problems between many religions and the freedom of democracy, there is no perfect solution to create full harmony between these two values. What should be used instead is the understanding that we need to survive if we want to live the life we want to live.   If you cancel your official religion, it will upset the population of that religion, and if you cancel democracy, the state will become a theocratic dictatorship without the ability to vote for a party or regent. Perhaps we shouldn't resort to any extreme! Perhaps we should focus on respecting our different ways of life! In one way or another, they would always have to collide with one another. That is because we never exist in a vacuum and to quote Epictetus: Some things are in our control and others not. Things in our control are opinion, pursuit, desire, aversion, and, in a word, whatever is our own action. Things not in our control are body, property, reputation, command, and, in one word, whatever is not our action. In rulership, be it within the state or outside of it, you cannot please everyone. Attempting to please is not something philosophers often do in general, meaning that being a philosopher already is a social risk in your respective nations. A Factor Of Democratic Deviation: Being Misunderstood Either way, the state may fail to understand that it alienates some of its population. Forcing on them the same limitations that religious people place on themselves anyway is also a cause for deviation. In dictatorships, deviation from orthodoxy is far harder and can be heavily destructive for both the loyalist factions of the state, and those who rebel against it. For me, the idea of using physical violence against someone just because he thinks and believes differently than you is absurd. I prefer to avoid the battle, as Sun Tzu would suggest. If the religious are disciplined enough to follow their own path religiously (no pun intended), then why should that path be imposed on the rest of the population? The very fact that it does makes people want to deviate from it in the first place. That is even when the state with an official religion, is also a democracy. Democracy permits, while religion limits. When freedom is allowed while a specific religion prohibits it, the authorities need to decide: which value do we prefer most? Conclusion When you allow people to be themselves, however, and deviate without concerning of their practice of rituals, you can allow yourself, as state official, to focus on issues of far greater concern: The military. The welfare of the citizens. Finances. Your own free time. Thus, when freedom is preferred over religion, the true value of freedom can be recognized and appreciated... As the more freedoms we all have, the less we can be concerned on public matters, and be more ourselves, instead. Like neighbours who cannot force one another to move, these two values need to just get along with one another. There is, you see, there is no hope in sight, choosing one and cancelling the other. What we should never, ever cancel, is our ability to live in harmony and in inner peace.

(Directory on Fear: https://www.philosocom.com/post/on-fear-and-the-right-to-resist-it (Directory on Nihilism: https://www.philosocom.com/post/the-irony-of-nihilism ) ************** Fear: A Necessary Evil? Fear is something many of us learn to see as a plausible feature, whether we're aware of it or not. When we're kids, we might be afraid of being scolded by our parents or punished. When we're at school, we might be afraid of being ostracized by other students, condemned by other teachers for not doing our homework, and so forth. In the military or when we begin entering the workplace, we might fear the authorities, lose our status as soldiers or employees, lose our money, lose our respect, lose our residence, and perhaps even lose our lives. All throughout this lifetime of fear, other, elementary sources of fear follow: the fear of starvation, abuse, heat and cold, illness, and ultimately, the fear of dying prematurely or dying in general. Should we decide to form a family, we might fear the authority of our partner, the possibility of them leaving us, our possible lack of appeal to our attracted gender, and so on. Finally, when we bring children into the world, we might ultimately fear losing them, at any point in our lives, until one or both parents die. We are driven by fear because meaning is attributed to the things we fear losing. As such, as long as we take in high regard the things we value, we will never be able to live a fear-free life . And when it comes to value, that includes our own lives, and the things we worked hard for, to get and to maintain, throughout said lives. Fear as the Ultimate Tyrant Do you see now, how many fears might govern our lives—and maybe, your own life? Most fears, if not all fears, are there because we value things and beings and do not want them to disappear from our lives, whether by abandonment, defeat, rejection, or death. Yes, the more we cling to things and desire them in our lives as much as possible, the more we might fear that they will finally be gone. Attachment, therefore, leads to misery. And fear is one of the ways misery is expressed. What kind of existence is this, an existence governed by fear? Some leaders of organizations, in fact, lead from fear. Philosophically, you see, fear is very, very functional, very beneficial . That's especially true when we can do things to escape from what fear represents: the possibility of loss . If a dictator rules your life through fear, then they might make you do things you otherwise wouldn't do, such as obeying specific orders or avoiding things you don't want or things you do want. Fear is a very powerful tool , whether it is actually used by someone or merely a concept in your head. The more insecure you are, the likelier you will act on fear, for you are too insecure independently of the things you are attached to. That includes your own life. You are afraid of losing things, including your own life, because loss is intimidating . Nihilism -- Destroyer of Fear However, there is a possible solution to overcoming fear: to render things and beings, including yourself, unworthy. Why? Because the more things and beings you have, and the more you give them a sense of worth, the more you, technically, have to lose. The more things you feel like you have to lose, the likelier you will fear losing them. One cannot fear from things and beings they render meaningless. Throughout life, we will be losing things and beings that are dear to us, that give us a sense of meaning, of purpose; stuff that, you would kill in their name, or kill yourself, in their ultimate absence. There is no fear without meaning, and if for meaning we strive, fear will follow. This is why the fear of death is a very rational notion. Philosophically, death is a potentially one-way entrance to the unknown . It isn't necessarily the pain of death that we might be afraid of, but also the potential of losing everything, and ultimately—ourselves. Empirically, we do not actually know what lies on the other end, for we have never experienced it for ourselves, have we? Others may tell us of near-death experiences , but the problem with that is that it doesn't provide us with the empirical evidence of the "other side", as in order to do so, we must experience it ourselves, or gain research from it that is more than mere stories, which can be doubted. (Additional note, near-death experiences "sin" in the anecdotal logical fallacy) We can die at any moment ! Our hearts could stop pumping blood at any time a problem might occur; a problem strong enough to make our hearts stop beating. There isn't necessarily any justice to it. I know someone whose relative died suddenly. Their father or grandfather went somewhere while they hosted them, and when they returned, he found his child or grandchild dead. Scary, right? You could welcome someone you hold dear to your home, and with the blink of an eye, they could vanish for good, never to return again. That possibility, no matter how harsh or ignored, is inevitable as just that— a probability that can happen at any time , when one would least expect it. I believe that the solution to overcoming fear is to embrace nihilism , the philosophy that nothing has any inherent meaning or value. Nihilists believe that we should not value anything, not even ourselves or the current state of our lives. I do not wish to embrace fear, for fear has a practical value that would contribute to my survival. Since I care about surviving, so I could work on Philosocom, I reject nihilism . True nihilism is to see your parents, your children, your pet, and yes, even your legacy, even if it was built for a lifetime, crash into the ground while you are not caring at all . A true nihilist will not deem anything as truly meaningful, including themselves. Even if they are to experience a slow, painful death, they will attach little value to it, to their own lives, to themselves, to their life's work, and to their dear ones. Their own emotions would be as meaningless to them as the dirt on the ground . Personal Reflections on Fear Yes, now I finally understand why fear was such a feature in my life, or at least during most of it. Yelling at children, at students, at workers, and so on, is ultimately, a way to make you value things the world teaches you, you should. My education was built on fear. It is not difficult to understand, for fear is such an elementary feature in our lives. It is all directed, and thus blamed, at the "holiness", of value. After all, if you choose to value something, you may be concerned about its loss. It's not necessarily something physical but also other, more elementary concepts, such as love, status, honor, safety, luxury, and so on. The more things you have, the more things you have to lose. Perhaps the ascetic understands it better than most of humanity. I largely isolate myself from this world for a specific reason: the less I have to lose, the less I will live in fear. Why should I be afraid of things I shouldn't or can refuse to be afraid of? Why should I have friends, if they can walk away? Of course, I can choose to not be attached to any of them too much, if at all. However, how can one form deep, meaningful relationships with people, without some kind of emotional attachment? Why should I love, when the love interest can treat me like dirt? Why should I care about what others think of me, when they don't even know me, if they won't care as much if I die? Several Conclusions That is, my readers, the bitter conclusion of this article. Not valuing things, can be good. Not caring, can help us fear less. It can be good, because fear is not a nice emotion to feel, especially. It also can be good when much of what we fear is insignificant or not that important to pose a threat. The true nihilist may not even be afraid of being in a nation during war. Fear serves a purpose, a practicality -- to make you beware of the possible results of your actions, and of things and beings that are outside of your control. It indicates that you hold things and beings in great value, whether you hold something to be dear or the exact opposite. It puts you in line. It makes you say things online you wouldn't say if you had greater courage, and offline, you may protect your privacy with your teeth from the threats of the outside world and from what it might think of you. Thus, if you want to experience true fearlessness, you should consider the philosophy of nihilism, as a true liberator — the value that devalues everything and everyone, including yourself and the things you've done. Once believed, it will set you free from fear, regardless of the consequences of your actions. I am not a nihilist, as I've written before. Why? Because I purposefully cling to things in order to avoid being tempted by death . As you can see, I am well-aware of the possibility of caring about nothing and no one, and how it could make one do stupid things. Things, like ruining their lives in an instant. And other things so bizarre, so rejected, so detested, and so ugly, the vast majority of people would find comfort in simply thinking about them, and nothing else. Fear is a restraint. It isn't that nihilism itself is dangerous. Although, examples can be found in fiction where it is . It's the things that it can make you do, should you give in to the benefit and privilege, of true apathy . Fear can merely be a function to keep us in line and to follow orders, even if and when we deem ourselves free human beings. You see, when you're truly fearless, there is no incentive to be good, other than the existence of goodwill, even if it exists at all, within yourself. Why are villains admired in fiction, and sometimes, in real life? Darth Vader, the Joker , Sauron, Voldemort, and so on; what makes us like them so much, aside from their being detestable criminals, whether they succeed or fail? It's what makes us love fiction: the possibility of pretending that there's a reality where we would be able to do horrible things, with little to no regard, to the results of our actions. So, what if you play a video game, and kill hundreds of insignificant beings? So, what if, in a driving game, you purposefully drive over a character, shoot an RPG rocket at a police car, or merely go to a strip club in said game, when your parents aren't looking, simply because you can? That's right. There's really no meaning in that realm of "reality", because your loss doesn't matter to you or to anyone else, usually! You can always turn on and off your computer, or close the movie you're watching, as if nothing happened! As if the Death Star didn't destroy an entire populated planet, as if Sauron couldn't manage to conquer Middle Earth with the One Ring, as if the Joker couldn't potentially kill Batman and turn Gotham City into pure anarchy. That's right. None of that matters. It is the individual that gives it meaning, and not, necessarily, the other way around. What if we are to attribute the same meaninglessness in fiction... to non-fiction? How fun it is to think that we have souls! How fun it is to think that there are reincarnations, rewards for the zealous, and torture for the wicked ! I don't know, perhaps there is! But perhaps there isn't? Does it matter if one is right or wrong, when there might be a possibility where humanity wouldn't be able to escape from Earth or the Solar System, especially when the Sun might explode? For many nihilists, the eternity fallacy justifies meaninglessness. Remember: The sun isn't eternal, and while it grants us life, it is also a ticking, ancient time bomb , even if it will happen billions of years in the future. Granted, of course, that nothing else would extinguish humanity. Nothing is eternal! Which means, everything will be gone. Vanished! Destroyed! Obliterated! Your fears cannot make you capable enough, to truly immortalize anything! Then, perhaps you shouldn't fear as much, when your fears will result in futility, at one point or another.

(Philosocom's Directory on Honesty and Truth) (Background music) Synopsis by Mr. Mandoela Svarl Why do we dismiss people, only their truth? The basis of philosophy is the pursuit of truth. It's an endless search for insights when the insight we want to seek threatens our comfort zone. Here comes the "paradox" (or the confusion between 2 things): On the one hand, why would we want to look for something that, in advance, would make us want to run away and hide? Feel pain, grief, and sorrow? But on the opposite side, there is the clarity and the truth that you want to know. People prefer to avoid the truth and run away from it to avoid anxiety and fear. And triggers that may interfere with peace of mind. That's why this world is so complex and false. Because there is no compatibility with the truth. When such difficulty goes down, you get people who avoid the layers of truth and make empty promises. Philosophical essence is a generalized insight into all layers of the population. We must understand that distractions or denial only make it harder for us to accept the other. Because there is no desire to understand what is behind everything. And it hurts us, too. And we also miss people who speak the truth. People you can trust. We must understand that the choice will help us know who is lying and who is telling the truth through an informed observation and through self-doubt . We must stop accusing others of superiority when they want to know the absolute truth that will put the puzzle together [and help others in the process] . Why We Dismiss What Makes Us Uncomfortable There's a strange power in dreams. One night, amidst the landscapes of my subconscious, a realization fell upon me. Those who dismissed me as irrelevant aren't necessarily reflecting some inherent lack within me. Instead, they're could also reveal their own unwillingness  to confront things and people that challenge their comfort. It's a choice, to overcome the fears and concerns which compel us to stay passive, or to even escape . They choose to see me as irrelevant because facing the truths I represent – brutal honesty , uncomfortable insight – is simply too unsettling. It's easier to escape than to grapple with these complexities, and few have a militant-enough mentality , capable and disciplined enough to overcome it. Think about it. Philosophers, the wanderers dedicated to the pursuit of wisdom, wouldn't spend their lives seeking truths if they shied away from discomfort. And they would seek it, together, or by their lonesome. What is the success of a journey that has not reached its intended conclusion? The traveler either fulfills their journey, or they fail in their trial. There is no other option, even if other things are attained along the way. It's like in a fight, you either beat your opponent or lose. The very act of seeking knowledge inherently involves confronting the unknown, the challenging, and sometimes, the unsettling. To be dependable people, we need to be able to fulfill the promises we make to others and to ourselves. Otherwise, how could others rely on us, and how could we rely on ourselves? When we make a promise, even to ourselves, we should try to fulfill it. Otherwise, what value do our promises hold? When we wish to seek wisdom, we must move on towards the target like professionals, and not like newcomers. Why We Seek What Might Hurt Philosophy, at its core, is a pursuit of truth. It's a relentless quest for understanding , even when that understanding threatens our comfort zone. Here's the "paradox": why would anyone seek something that could potentially make them want to run away and hide? Why would anyone seek a greater clarity which could cause them pain, sorrow, and grief? In the very act of seeking, the truth seeker overcomes not only their understanding, but themselves as well: To be able to be lambasted , one must prepare for a thicker skin. For one to be insulted, one must prepare to accept hardship. For one to overcome the need to depend on trigger warnings or avoid triggers entirely, one must be emotionally strong, like a butcher doing his or her work regularly. To accept certain truths, one must change himself in accordance. Otherwise, you'll be protected by denials. Philosophers and their students aren't after a warm blanket of comfortable truths: Looking only for comfortable truths will deter your philosophership role from its efficiency. Understanding several truths, regardless of their level of comfort or unease, will allow you to see the bigger image of reality, and impart it to those who wish to learn from you. As such, delve into the unknown, the challenging, and sometimes, the downright unsettling. It's a journey with discomfort as a potential travel companion. And they do it because they are honest with the promise they made: To seek the truth. If you are not honest with the promise you intend to keep, of what worth is your intent? What worth is an intent, an ambition, that cannot be enforced? Must we enable a culture of incompetence , one that relies on the mere whim of feelings? The answer is no: We should strive to be better than those we condemn, like politicians, many of whom are despised. If we want to be better than those who lie to get support, we should not do the same. We should foster the strength to carry out our genuine intentions. There is a consistent rise of anxiety in our world, particularly in the United States , with over 30% of U.S adults experiencing any kind of anxiety disorder. Increased psychological safety can help you and others cope better with anxiety. As it is "important for the well-being and productivity of people" Philosophers worldwide can fix their elitist, stereotypical image by being competent at what they do, overcome their emotions, and lead by example by ruthlessly and genuinely working on finding the truths they seek. This can create a ripple effect, leading others to do the same. Honesty can be linked to competency in the form of being a man or woman of your word. Therefore, honesty can be important in business as well. Genuine philosophers, for that reason, could be very valuable in the office. Dishonesty as such could be linked to pseudo-intellectuals , as we shouldn't rely too much on their word. Therefore, there are values more important than what we feel or want to feel. We should overcome our egos and consider the world around us, and develop the appropriate responsibility for the power we have or might have on others later on. The Challenge of Cognitive Dissonance While the pursuit of truth is admirable, it's natural to resist it when it threatens our dear-held beliefs. It's seen in how certain religious sects might treat philosophy. This psychological discomfort, known as cognitive dissonance , arises when our existing worldview clashes with new information. Resisting a conflicting idea is a defense mechanism, a way to shield ourselves from the pain of confronting that clash. We might instinctively seek escape routes – distractions or denial – to avoid the dissonance. The philosopher tries to overcome this conflict through its confrontation, not through its escape. He or she would face the dissonance like a hero may face an uncanny monster : With bravery. To be brave, you must resist your fears. You have the right to. To act despite fear. The philosopher can make a content empire out of that right. Whatever others think of him, and the risk that may follow, does not have to be his or her concern. A philosopher's worth can be measured by the ability to to face these unsettling truths head-on. Core beliefs, confidence, and our own sanity, at times, are to be put to the flame. See what it takes to endure: The initial reaction might be fear or a desire to run away. Confronting our limitations and challenging our assumptions could tempt us to regret leaving the comfort zone, as "Comfort zone is like a loop in which you are stuck as all your needs are fulfilled effortlessly." (Shrey Baghat, Quora) . There are many ways to find the truth. Empiricists may claim that you need to experience life in order to truly understand it. To understand pain, you must know suffering. To know hunger, you must deny yourself food. To understand the pain of loneliness, you must be in isolation, depraved of human touch. If they are right, the quest for knowledge can be that harsh. Are you prepared for harshness? The discomfort of encountering unsettling truths is a necessary part of the philosophical journey: It's through struggle that we emerge stronger. Our understanding of ourselves and the world will less be built on shaky foundations of unexamined beliefs, but on a more solid base. One forged in the fires of intellectual honesty. "Accordingly, I believe intellectual honesty reflects one's commitment to pursue truth while resisting it's two most insidious enemies: propaganda and logical fallacies ." -- John G. Cottone (Psychology today) . This process might not always be pleasant, but it ultimately leads to a deeper and more meaningful connection with truth and wisdom. If the prospect of facing harsh realities makes you want to run for the hills, it might mean you lack capacity for philosophical inquiry. However, it can also indicate that you need more time to prepare. Mindlessly kill your time, and you will rarely move anywhere. But if you persevere, you'll find yourself not only enriched with knowledge, but also better equipped to navigate the complexities and the disappointments of life. Points about Being a Philosopher A philosopher is merely someone who declares themselves devoted to truth-seeking. It's not necessarily something that puts them above anyone else in any social or formal hierarchy. By itself, there is nothing arrogant about this. It is hypocritical to not act on that declaration. Those who refuse challenging their perceived/"personal" truths are not worthy of being called philosophers. It is the difference between ideology and philosophy. The pursuit of truth can be a demanding endeavor. Both philosophers and their followers grapple with the challenge of prioritizing truth-seeking over the allure of comfort and an easy life. This internal conflict can be seen as the ultimate sacrifice, as it requires constant self-doubt towards our confidence. Doubt, against the temptation to settle for what's pleasant to believe to be true, versus what's actually true. It is then when the philosopher's love for the truth is challenged. Philosophy might not be relevant for you if you refuse to look both ways, and re-consider why someone might be correct as opposed to you. Philosophy is not only the love of wisdom, but also the determination to endure what it would entail: pessimism, sadness, condemnation by others, and anything else that could be deemed negative. Love requires commitment, not just emotion. And commitment is an honest tenacity. The elementary motive behind every philosopher, and behind every philosophy consumer -- to find the truth, and to be prepared to face any consequence, might come up with this attempt. The rest should be secondary. Mr. Nathan Lasher's Feedback This might go along with the newcomers fallacy but why is it important that a philosopher would philosophize everything? Can’t there be specialties within philosophy where people only deal with certain aspects of it? I don’t believe it is necessary for someone to philosophize everything . I think there can be a better life philosophy where people only apply things to their lives that do real good. Philosophizing everything appears as a know it all. Why would you want to philosophize stuff that isn’t related to you? Where I feel philosophy should be used is to make your life better.  Why do I feel as though philosophy shouldn’t be considered a job but, rather, suggestions on how to improve your life? It should be applied as a characteristic you possess. Characteristics are things that people can work on. If a truth won’t reveal any ways to improve lives... then are they worth sharing? Just seems to me like you are meant to be a party pooper if you philosophize everything. Then, why not use it situationally? Learn and then, when your polymathy reveals a way it can be used, learn to apply it to your life or the lives of other people. Not all truths are things that people want to hear so it comes down to the timing bias where I believe you must make sure it is the right time to reveal the truth. You don’t want someone who is having a bad day to have an even worse one because you felt the need to tell them something else negative.

(Click here for Philosocom's Escapist-Related Directory) (More on General Skarr) Synopsis by Ms. Gabbi Grace The article "The General Skarr Allegory (Or, On Hiding From Honesty)" by Mr. Tomasio Rubinshtein explores the character General Skarr, a former villain who hides his ambitions of world dominance through mundane activities. Despite his efforts to reform, he is tempted by the possibility of ultimate power, symbolized by the Grim Reaper's scythe, leading him to abandon his facade and embrace his desires. The author draws a parallel between Skarr's story and their own life, describing a personal journey from seeking peace and anonymity to seeking global recognition. The article delves into the philosophical discussion of ambition, contrasting Western views that celebrate it as a path to success with Eastern perspectives that see it as an obstacle to humility and enlightenment. The reviewer, Alex Mos, concludes that ambition is not inherently good or bad, but its value depends on the goals pursued. *********** (Background music) "You pretend to take pride in folly and flowers, but I know that inside you lust for more power. Speak your true mind , reveal your desire. I think you'll soon learn, baby, I can light you fire!" -- Thromnambular "I thought you were bad. You ain't bad, you ain't nothing!" -- Billy The Truth WIll Set You Free "You shall know the Truth and the Truth will set you free ...means that once you know the Truth you are free from suffering. Many have heard this statement but only few have asked: What is the Truth? If there was a Truth that had the power to set you free...why would not everyone want to know the Truth?" -- Vivian Amis I have talked about this fictional character before , but it was in a different context, as him being condemned to misery by being, by his author, a " butt monkey "; one who deserved being the "butt" of jokes because of how detestable he looks (AKA, like a WWII German officer). However, in the article I wrote about him, one or two years ago since this entry, I overlooked a very important notion. He was a former villain, a paramilitary general of an organization who attempted to rule the world but failed. Possibly the only reason he joined was so he could overthrow his boss and rule the world himself. Indeed, world dominance, or ultimate power in his case, is his true desire. However, he is afraid of this fact and attempts to conceal it through gardening. After the organization disbanded, he retired from villainy. The problem with this attempt comes from a certain temptation that is within his reach. The Grim Reaper lives in his neighborhood, and his scythe is an omnipotent weapon, capable of both fighting and casting countless spells. In the very episode he is featured in on the new show he "immigrated" to, a dumb kid named Billy visits the former general, who boasts before him, that he used to be a general in a fearsome army. Nonetheless, the general confesses that now he is no longer a bad guy who seeks power. Billy, with all his stupidity, tempts Skarr by telling him that the person who will wield the Reaper's scythe will achieve ultimate power. In his attempt to escape his own sincere desires, the general kicks the kid out of his house and tries to distract himself. Despite the activities he does around his house to reject his authentic self , he receives a mysterious call from Billy, who somehow got his number. "Hello…? Hello, who is this?" I asked Skarr on the phone. "Ultimate power...." In a quick change of scenery, Skarr gives up on his "good neighbor" persona , retrieves his paramilitary uniform, and does an evil laugh, swearing symbolically to steal the scythe for himself. After all, that is the only way he would have a chance at world dominance! Conclusions This is the philosophy of General Skarr: it is difficult to escape from your true intentions, especially when they are within the reach of possibility. You can choose to become less than what you would've been, but why do so, when you can seize the Reaper's scythe and try to extract your true desires from this world? It is "easy" to deny them, but in reality, it really isn't. It really isn't, because the VISION of a more satisfying reality could forever haunt your mind if you resume concealing your desire for it from yourself. Let us not escape the true intentions we have in life! Review by Alex Mos Ambition is a character trait that motivates a person to achieve success and recognition. Historically and socially, it's a highly valued human feature in Western culture. "A man's worth is no greater than the worth of his ambitions." Marcus Aurelius wrote in his stoic teachings about the significance of personal excellence. However, Eastern philosophy takes a contrasting view, associating ambition with a materialistic ego that hinders humility, wisdom, and enlightenment. What perspective holds the key to truth? Is human ambition a virtue or a seed of depravation? The answer is not in the concept of ambition, but in the goals one pursues. An ambitious person does not necessarily seek power and domination but can envision success for themselves and a better world. Western and Eastern cultures are built on wisdom philosophers or spiritual teachers share with their students and followers, gaining relevance and sometimes fame and worship. The same applies to science and religion. Humans are ambitious, and this trait makes us an advanced social race competing for excellence, relevance, and recognition. The evil ambition of a narcissistic ego results in power-hungry tyranny, while the moral ambition of a philosopher contributes to a better world.

(Background music) (Philosocom Hedonism Directory) Article Synopsis by Ms. Gabbi Grace "The Absurdity of Fun" is an article that explores the concept of fun, its subjective nature, and its role in human life. Mr. Tomasio argues that while fun is an essential aspect of life, it can also be seen as "absurd" when pursued solely for its own sake without any productive or meaningful purpose. The article provides a philosophical perspective on why fun might be considered "absurd," challenging readers to think critically about how much value they place on fun and how it fits into their broader understanding of a meaningful life. Mr. Tomasio shares personal experiences, such as dealing with post-traumatic fatigue and (formerly) choosing not to pursue romantic relationships , which add authenticity and emotional weight to the discussion. The article balances the pros and cons of fun, discussing both the positive aspects (motivation, joy) and negative aspects (dependency, lack of productivity). It acknowledges the complexity of the subject and acknowledges that different people may have different interpretations of what constitutes "healthy" or "unhealthy" fun. Overall, "The Absurdity of Fun" offers a thought-provoking examination of the concept of fun, raising important questions about its place in our lives and its potential downsides. "Fun" is probably one of the most subjective notions known to man , and that's because anything can be fun to anyone. Nonetheless, despite its sheer relativity, fun is easy to both define and identify: It's when something makes you feel good for one or more periods of time. However, it's important to note that fun and happiness are not the same , even though happiness is subjective as well. Even a mere toddler can know whenever they're having fun, and even my cat knows when he enjoys my touch of him, without knowing how to communicate or think with words like we humans do. Fun is simple and it is relative, and because of these traits, it's something that's easy to gather around for, as much as it's easy to learn more about yourself as a result. No contemporary philosophy or ideology is without this basic element of having fun, having pleasure or simply enjoying, as pleasure is a main component in many of our lives. Likewise, many would not regard a life without fun, as a life worth living, as we associate the absence of fun in our lives, with misery, depression, despair and so on. Our pursuit of fun is usually the same as pursuing romantic love: It's for its own sake, and usually it's also about nothing more and nothing less. Therefore, without an external component in mind, it should be easy to determine why fun is, at times, logically absurd. Just like true love is, although desired by many, myself included. By itself, there is nothing particularly productive about having fun, and even though we may regard fun as good, we should entertain the possibility that, a life that is only about fun and nothing else, is a life that is quite devoid, quite shallow. For many, if they could, they would trade my life for their own. They would do so simply because I don't have to work much in order to survive. Philosocom began as a compromise for my former inability to work, due to post-traumatic fatigue ... If I was even too fatigued to write extensively and beyond repair, then I would want to trade my life with theirs. That is because, as you see, I accepted the notion that fun alone is terribly insufficient for a well lived life, as fun alone bears little to no fruit beyond itself. It is also the reason as to why I largely abstained from romance, even though it theoretically can make me feel better. I don't want children of my own, so having romantic relations is not that important for me because I see no other purpose for them. Other than feeling loved... of course. There are also more functions to romantic love, but wouldn't you argue that every relationship of that kind is just too dependent? Even within marriage, there is no certainty of the partner staying, so why even grow a dependency of fun towards a person that might leave at any point in the future? Over-dependence is a liability. And that, you see, is also a negative aspect in fun, despite the benefit it brings: It can make you dependent on things you could've otherwise avoided. Mainly addictions, yes, but also "strings" towards other people, other than yourself. I needed help for a long time, due to fatigue, but that connection is a necessary one, one of which I could not function with. I used to be weaker than I appear, and that wasn't my own choosing. It is, however, my own choosing to play a video game, mainly to pass the time . It is also your own choosing to have certain friends, partners, and other dependencies throughout life. The fact that they all bring you fun, does not mean that they are, by default, good or healthy for you. Recreational drugs and candies, are examples. What is, then, a healthy source of fun? That's quite difficult to answer, because any answer could be met with controversy. Some people believe, for example, that people should never have sex before marriage, while others claim that it's fine as long as the age is right and there's consent. Some people believe that it's good to eat food that is tasty because " you only live once " while others call for a healthier life than that. This is what I have to say on fun, practically: Strive to always have fun, but do not disregard productivity and health on the way, as an adult life without productivity is that of a leech : Someone who gives nothing to either society or the world, and basically just lives to slack off. I know I could've been a leech in that regard, but I refuse it as long as I can write and operate a computer and this article empire. Even if I, for example, lose my ability to write, then I have "no choice" but to spend the remainder of my life re-sharing articles. And hence why fun isn't completely absurd: It gives you enough motivation to do things you actually like doing, and as we adults know, there are some things we just have to do. The fact that there's fun activities to be doing, gives us more hope and spirit to live on and lighten up. None of this, however, explains why fun exists, nor why there are things that make us, specifically, to have fun. We can explain the methodology of this, AKA, of how the emotion of pleasure is created, but not, necessarily, the WHY. Extra Notes I: A List of Healthy and Unhealthy Fun Activities (For Further Demonstration) Healthy Fun Activities Physical Activities Playing sports like basketball, soccer, volleyball, etc. Going for a hike or a bike ride. Dancing Social Activities Game night with friends or family. Going to a concert or a play. Volunteering in your community. Creative Activities Painting or drawing - a great way to relax and de-stress. Playing a musical instrument. Writing. Unhealthy Fun Activities Activities that involve excessive screen time Binge-watching TV shows or movies for hours on end. Spending all day playing video games. Scrolling mindlessly through social media. Activities that involve unhealthy substances Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol. Smoking cigarettes or using other tobacco products. Using illegal drugs. Activities that are high-risk Extreme sports without proper training or safety gear. Reckless driving. Extra Notes II: Mr. Nathan Lasher's Feedback I'd suggest finding productive things which make you happy and make a career out of it. Passion is a key element to base fun off of in a healthy manner. This is the good kind of fun . Think about people starting companies without it being a little fun for them.