A computer is the attempt by man to put concepts in a vacuum, void of desires and perceptions of pain. If constructed adequately it could yield pure reason. Leading to truths, that if understood and applied by humans, would have the potential to be infinitely good, or infinitely evil.

Locke prefaced his masterwork "Essay" with a rhetorically understated "Epistle to the Reader." In it he points to his awareness that the need for a systematic investigation of human understanding first arose in the context of a friendly, but unproductive discussion of other issues. Any intellectual has had this same thought as they attempt a dialog, whose goal is to reach an understanding, only to realize that people inherently percieve unequally. To have a productive discussion, agreements have to be made as to how arguments will be constructed, and what variables will be evaluated. At that point, truth most times magically appears without any more effort.

The purpose of a life is to realize itself, and its connection to the whole/universe. This is both empirical/pragmatic (in the William James, and Charles Sanders Peirce sense of the words), and intuitive. Realization begins with an experience and ends with intuit conception. Birth, in the humanistic sense of the word begins at conception (when sperm and egg unite). I submit that in the Spinoza sense of the word (which I concur with), you are born/conceived when you cease to be acted upon externally. This can only occur when your actions are guided from within. This is an application of reason apart from previous perceptions. You are then 'born again'. Everything is now new, and possible.

Freedom, what is it? Freedom can be defined as the human capacity to act (or not act) as we choose or prefer, without external compulsion or restraint. Slavery could be considered an antonym of freedom. Which could be defined as no ability to act (or not to act) because of compulsion and/or restraint (I would add real or perceived compulsion and/or restraint).
Now the question is, are you free or do you have freedom?
It can be said that all human behavior is a result of desire or the avoidance of what is perceived to be pain (any undesired feeling mental/physical). It stands to reason that behavior determined by desire and/or the avoidance of pain is slavery, unless those motives are from within. In the Spinoza dissertation called, "Of substance and Existence", he asserts (and I concur) that a substance that exists (conceived) cannot be acted upon externally. So he deduces that when something can be acted upon externally (hence not free or having freedom), it ceases to exist, or more importantly never did. The question now is, how can one act internally, or be conceived. Something that would come into existence has no perceptions (which come from the external), only truth. Truth is obtained by reasoning a concept/idea/effect back to its cause. Then one can can have an intuition/deduction of the concept/idea/effect of the whole, and therefore its place in it. Motives then become intrinsic, actions free(or having freedom) which serves itself and the whole simultaneously, which is the natural expression of the essence of God. I submit that freedom as we know it, is an inadequate perception of what it truly is. Freedom is a form, and by that definition does not exist in the physical realm (like a circle, a square or any point in space) it can only be represented in the physical world. There are steps that can be taken to reach freedom and thus be born again. Eradicate opinions, reason/test ideas, releasing truth. After you see truth a lie will never have a home with you. At that point you will have intuition into everything that was, is, and will ever be.

-the thelosopher

This is for all you horribly dressed people I run into on a daily basis. Now I will admit, that the midwest is not known for being a pillar of fashion (Chicago excepted). But there is T.V., the internet and any number of magazines to refer to. Bottom line, no excuse! As a founding member of Urban Sophisticate, I may have the blessing of superior fashion sense, though I would admit that I was not born with this talent. So as any good Christian should do, I will share my gift with you. First, and foremost, as with anything else you must "know thyself". What does this philosophical mumbo-jumbo have to do with fashion? Well, by knowing yourself, you can eliminate 99% of fashion trends out there. Therefore you have a mangeable amount of clothing choices to make. More specifically, know your personality (style) and build (cut).
The number one concideration is situation; what to wear comes down to what you're going to be doing and where. This includes conciderations in fabrics and colors (and cut depending on how much skin can be exposed). Vocabulary word: Apropos. You should be mindful of fashion trends, then find a way to sublimate your style into the current movement. You have to look at couture with a practical eye. Take away elements that will work in the real world. The only people who can wear the clothes diplayed on runways are famous people. Remember art imitates life, not the other way around. As the thelosopher, one might ask, why do you care about fashion. To that, I say, when you are at peace and one with yourself your outer appearance is a reflection of your inner self. My philosophy is that when this is true, we then we bring into existance the "aestetic truth'. So that what you see is the truth. That would be heaven on earth.

I often write on my blogs and contribute to others as well. A common theme I've noticed is that everyone thinks that they have to be funny (I admit I am guilty of this myself). Even if the subject matter is not necessarily humerous. So I ask myself, what is wrong with presenting a serious matter as serious and not being aplogetic about it. 'Cause when you think about it the issues facing man these days are very serious and require serious discourse. This very issue came up today when my girlfriend was taking some magnesium citrate. She complained about it's taste, so I responded with a quip about how sometimes you have to swallow that bitter pill if you want to get well. Let's get well.

I am part of the duo that is bringing you film philosophy. books along with myself are engaged in an attempt to find truths and the philosophies hidden in the new form of intellectual sublimation, which is film and movies. So I invite all sophisticated movie watchers to check us out @ www.filmphilos.blogspot.com . Bring with you, your thinking caps and personal experiences.

All knowlege and reason lies in the hearts of men. All absolutes are temporary. Information is a toy in the hands of babes. Picked up and manipulated, only to be tossed aside for a new shinier one. Most dogmas ane flights of fancy, perpetuated on the world as truths, through emperical doctrine. Moralities and norms are the clothes on your back. Faith is the only continuum, a cerebral tatoo. Objectivity is unnatural, so it is not a stretch to call it supernatural. Philosophies and -isms, stem from a discontent. There will, as long as men are men, be thesies, antithesies, and synthesies. The vanity of men is absolute, he is not happy with just being. The validity of an opinion lies in the robustness of your vanity. While the validity of a truth bears witness of itself. Democracy sits on top of a slippery slope toward tyrannical rule. It celebrates individualism and power. When any great sustainable society has to be built around the common good. By the very nature of man, inevitably corruption wil creep in . Remember your childhood. You would spend 3 hours building something only to destroy it. We are all children. Anything created by man will for not long last. If only man could keep his ambition for dominion within the borders of his epidermis, but be connected to the trancendental time-space known as mankind. Every word is a two-edged sword. Only peace can wield it effectively. Consciousness is knowing, and the beginning of strife. It is the other 2/3 of all agony man encounters. Knowlege is the light. We now see, and are forever in our sins.

- the thelosopher

America was not formed by highly idealized oppressed people from europe. It was formed by self-justified greedy people who wanted to be free to make as much money as they could.
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this is the fetish fav of the month for November. for all you lames out there, this is miss thora birch (of ghost world and american beauty fame). she is also playing a starring role in a new project called "my wet dreams".