A collection of rants, being the Third of several

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Beware false dichotomies: body versus spirit, doing versus being, idealism versus pragmatism, appearance versus character, emotion versus reason. These pairings are not mutually exclusive. Both concepts can be reconciled within the one human being. We are not meant to be cut in two with the above false dichotomies; we are made whole with the pairings in harmony, not opposition.

Body and spirit complement and reinforce each other. ‘Doing’ any action with focus and mindfulness is synonymous with ‘Being’. Idealism is pragmatic, if achieving the good is the primary goal of one’s practical efforts. Beautiful appearances and beautiful character can be found and nurtured in the same person. Emotion, far from being the antithesis of reason, is simply a neutral tool that reason can use to one’s benefit. Destructive emotions flow from reason’s poor command, while life-enhancing feelings are reinforced through the rigorous exercise of one’s rational mind.




30.9.07

A collection of rants, being the Second of several

More ire and fire, this time dated to the day and month.




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To be authentic is to steadfastly hold on to one’s rational values regardless of their popularity or lack thereof. The intelligent person of integrity will not compromise his morality – that is, a code of ethics derived from objective reality through the use of his reason – for the crude purpose of obtaining approval or validation, even from those whom he holds in esteem and affection.

Indeed this kind of authenticity requires great moral and intellectual courage, and can at times reinforce the sense of loneliness often felt by the independent thinker.




1.7.07

A collection of rants, being the First of several

Here, dear reader, are reproduced for your amusement (and, dare I hope, your edification) a selection of mini-essays penned in my early youth upon the delightfully tactile rough cream paper of handmade notebooks. In those days my zeal burned hotter, undiluted by a cool, objective distance from my subject matter. It was a time when I mistook repetitiveness for assertiveness, hectoring for arguing, moralism for morality. The somewhat screeching tone of these essays does embarrass me now, though many of the principles held forth still retain my loyalty and devotion. Those were impetuous days when I was more likely to be scratching out early drafts with a pen rather than tapping them out straight-to-keyboard as I currently do (my romantic pretensions evaporated long ago). I would like to think that I have mellowed since then. Old age does that to you.

This first collection of essays was presumably written in early/mid 2007. I didn’t start dating my essays until late 2007, when I decided that it would be useful to have a record of the progress and evolution of both my writing style/technique and my ideas. The essays are presented in chronological order – that is, in the order of when I wrote them in my notebooks.

On thinking well and the scientific method of acquiring knowledge

I have little mechanical aptitude. The extent of my skills stretch as far as putting back on a naughty bicycle chain that has taken leave of its chaperoning gear. Even then the necessary sequence of – for me, awkward – actions takes me a good five minutes. Clearly I have long ago diverged from that evolutionary branch of the hominid family tree which eventually produced the grease monkey. Still, I admire the rigour that mechanics and engineers apply to the performance of their craft, especially if it is in a high stress, high stakes context. Like aircraft construction and maintenance, for example. One misplaced part, one malfunctioning component, one small structural flaw, and the chances of catastrophe fatally increase.

If only we would apply similarly exacting standards of attention and discipline to our thought processes.

List of things to do

1. Exercise justified pride, never false modesty.


2. Realise that solipsism is the most intellectually honest position one can hold with any certainty.


3. Be capricious but authentic, rather than dependable but insincere.


4. Put on your finest clothes, and leave others to project their hopes, fears and secret longings onto your appearance. You shall be their mirror, though they may hate you for what you reveal of them.


5. Avoid presumption. Stick to the facts.


6. Reject euphemisms that aim to deceive, obscure and confuse.


7. Carefully evaluate all memes that your brain absorbs.


8. Recognise nonsense and ugliness whenever you encounter them. Despite relativist, postmodern pretension, such things do exist, as do their opposites – knowledge and beauty.


9. Carry a sharp blade to place in your critics’ hands, which they may use to cut your throat if only they had the courage of their pathetic convictions to do so.


10. Be kind, generous and brave.


11. Ignore all who are cruel, mean and cowardly.


12. Take care of your psychology.


13. Tell someone they’re beautiful.


14. Eat good quality chocolate. Anything Belgian will do nicely.


15. Do not hesitate to physically destroy anyone who would harm you or another. Let not only the Orcs be strong.


16. Watch good quality porn. Anything Belgian will do nicely.

29.8.09