The following blog post is a loose meditation on Spinoza's Ethics, pars IV, prop. 21: No one can desire to be happy, to act rightly, and to live well, without at the same time wishing to be, to act, and to live—in other words, to actually exist. Personal Level Your values determine your True Will. To do what you truly want means to be true to what you value in life. Your values determine what you are willing to fight for, unless your prime value is never to fight (radical … [Read more...]
Why Freedom Isn’t What You Think It Is (Modernity Vs. Tradition)
The man who is guided by reason is more free in a state, where he lives under a general system of law, than in solitude, where he is independent. (Spinoza, Ethics) What is freedom in our modern world? Radical individualists say, "To be free is to do whatever I want. Hail Satan!" For folks who feel less socially alienated, freedom is not quite as egocentric and satanic: "Freedom means to do whatever you want as long as you don't hurt others (who don't hurt you)." In this spirit, modern … [Read more...]
On the Emptiness of Freedom
Freedom, however, is not the last word. Freedom is only part of the story and half of the truth. Freedom is but the negative aspect of the whole phenomenon whose positive aspect is responsibleness. (Viktor Frankl) If all we want is freedom, all we get is emptiness. A little child may be free to be innocently spontaneous, but it will stay a child if it takes no responsibility. An artist may be free to express himself without restraints, but he will be unproductive if he sets no creative … [Read more...]
5 Questions You Can Ask to Clarify Your Values (Advanced Self-Knowledge)
Consider first these different scopes of love: Egoistic love. One against all. I against society. "Liberty of the people is not my liberty!" - Max Stirner Romantic love. "Baby, it's you and me against the world." - Some hundred songs and movies Familial love. "Peace to my family, death to my enemies." - Wisdom in Chains Tribal love. Our tribe against enemy tribes. "Barbarism is the natural state of mankind." - Robert E. Howard Cultural love. Our culture against foreign cultures. "When … [Read more...]
How to Live Your Life: On the Glory of Flow
I'm not here to tell you how to live your life, but I'll do it anyway. You say, "Who are you to tell me how to live my life—you're not even 30 yet!" I say, "Don't be so serious." I'm just a dude who writes words, stupid words like "go with the flow, maaan." Ultimately, though, this is my goal in life: to maximize flow. In a state of flow, the will is true: active and purposeful. In a state of flow, the mind is cool: focused and worriless. In a state of flow, the soul is … [Read more...]
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