Fundamentalism.

Fundamentalism:

The problem with the word fundamental in a philosophic sense, other than in its scientific meaning, is its inability to adapt to comprise. This is little wonder given in its origins within Christian beliefs. However we live in a world of impermanence nothing throughout history is set in stone. This philosophical base unfortunately stands at odds with all the fundamental belief currently circulating in the world, whether they are religious, political, cultural or economic. There is no such thing as permanence, other than scientific and even that has been found at times to be incorrect. Historically everything is in a continual state of change be they metal, stone, or the world itself let alone human thought.

Fundamentalism makes compromise impossible, the reaching of satisfactory outcomes that are amicable to everyone require it. Pre-Socratic philosopher Heraclitus in his study of change remarked ‘no one can step into the same river twice’. Fundamental wisdom he felt was not knowledge of many things or ideas, but the perception of underlying unity of warring opposites. This is fundamental to his thought.

In this age of hung parliaments made up of all sorts of fundamental groups attempting to control societies with their conflicting agendas, or the religious outpouring of fundamental believers, we would do well to search for that underlying unity. This of course is self-evident, but we seem unable to find it, rather we continually look in the opposite direction.  

How to lead a calm life. Stoicism.

Stoicism:

Stoicism remains perhaps the most immediately relevant and useful philosophy in our time. Its ambition is to teach us how to be brave, how to remain calm in the face of today’s anxieties and possible disasters a dress rehearsal for catastrophe. Stoic teachings are dark and sober yet at the same time profoundly consoling making us defiant in the face of difficulty.

Our mind is a system of organs of computation designed by natural selection to solve problems faced by our ancestors in their foraging life style. We developed an understanding of how to outmanoeuvre objects, plants, and other people. This Darwinian process that has developed over time. Human existence has lived in such conditions for 99.5 % of its time on earth. It is little wonder that we unconsciously act the way we do. These historic conditions required bravery and calm in the face of overwhelming anxiety. It seems reasonable to suggest that Stoicism presents one of the more useful philosophies for this uncertain age.

When anxiety visits we need to remain calm, to systematically and intelligently crush the last visage of hope rather than tell ourselves that better times are near. If we think and prepare for the worst possible outcome, we enable ourselves to cope as we have envisaged the worst outcome. Generally we don’t dare to do this, any glimpse of horrible eventualities are banished. The Roman philosopher Seneca wrote,

‘To reduce your worry, you must assume that what you fear may happen.’

He suggested we take time to practice worst case scenarios, sleep on the floor for a week and only eat stale bread. We must in order to be calm learn to expect less from life. It is natural for acquaintances to fail us, friends to lie, loved ones disappoint. The wise person needs to aim to reach a state where nothing suddenly disturbs their peace of mind. We naturally exaggerate our own importance; incidences in our lives loom large in our view of the world. We must learn to reduce their importance to regain composure. Life is always in the hands of fate, understanding this is the best philosophy.

Eat Drink & be Merry. Life according to Epicurus

Eat, Drink and be Merry, the life of an Epicurean.

 

The vast number of food and cooking programmes currently being aired on Australian TV suggests a huge surge in Epicurean belief. How the Ancient Greek philosopher became a symbol for over indulgence is difficult to say, certainly the philosophy of Epicurus has little in bearing on modern day interpretation.

 

Historically our present situation offers parallels to the last days of the Roman Republic after years of civil war, a desertion of religious belief and general lax moral behaviour. The Roman poet Lucretius popularised Epicurean views on how to live a pleasurable life. Lucretius, however was driven to suicide at 39, after being driven mad by an excess of a love philtre. It would appear that he did not take kindly to Epicurus advice of abstention from sex.

 

The strange thing about modern day Epicureans and their fondness for gastronomy and fine wine is how far removed they are from Epicurus' Philosophy. How a simple philosophy may be bent and resharpen to meet new masters desires. His true philosophy revolved around the idea of the human purpose in life was to maximize pleasure. Not in the sense of living from moment to moment, but to live a life of full contentment without any nasty after effects. We all have desires of one sort or another, but we must keep them simple in order to lead a fully happy life. It is our desire for excessive pleasure that results in our down fall and discontent.

 

Epicurus divided our desires into three compartments. Those considered natural and necessary for life [food and sleep], things we are unable to do without. Others he considered natural but not necessary [sex, raising or having children], and finally those we should avoid at all cost. It is not continuous drinking and revelling, nor satisfaction of lust, nor the enjoyment of luxuries that produce a pleasurable life. Rather sober reasoning, searching out the true motives for all our choices and actions and avoidance and banishment of mere opinion to which are due the greatest disturbance of the spirit. Epicurus  was perfectly happy living on bread and water with the odd enjoyment of some fine cheese. Excess in all things he felt produced after effects that did not lead to pleasure. One final point about desire and religion, most religious teaching tell their follows to look forward to the next life for some reward. This is the major problem, whether there is a next world or not, such teaching introduces a pleasure outside our life span. Epicurus did not believe this to be possible as it was beyond life, no doubt this is why he fell into disfavour after the Christianizing of the western world, nor would the Islamic scholars be pleased. After all  they where the ones to hand down Classic philosophy to the western world in the 15th cent.

 

His views on life were to simply maximize pleasure, without the assertion of extreme discomfort was best. Only desires that are obtainable lead to full happiness. Unfulfilled dreams lead to discontent. Religion also was to be avoided as it taught people to dream of a world beyond the present, a world that did not exist in terms of now. Resulting in the creation of false hopes, hopes that are impossible. Insatiability is a disease. It would be fruitful for all of us to reevaluate our desires in our present materialistic world, were real happiness is rarely realised due to unfilled desires. Epicurus’ philosophy still has much to teach us today. It retains a freshness even after 2300 years. The fundamental condition for happiness is simple sustenance and friendship. One final point about desire in terms of religion. If one looks forwaed to pleasures in the next life, this suggest there is such a place. Epicurus did not beliece this, he felt the only pleasure was in this life, after death there may be another world, but it had no bearing on how you lived your life. The Greek gods were fairly indifferent to human behavour.