I believe that the primary reason people study Philosophy is to study Ethics.
We want to Know what we Should Do.
But Ethical questions inevitably lead to Metaphysical questions.
Because many people believe that what is Moral is determined by the will of a Supreme Being.
And Metaphysical questions inevitably lead to Epistemological questions.
Because whether or not a person believes in a God is often determined by their Epistemology.
(How we Know what is and isn't True.)

My favorite Philosophical topic to think and write about has evolved over the past 25 years, as follows:
1. The Question of The Existence of God.
2. The Nature of Ethics / Morality.
3. The Secret of Happiness and The Problem of Wanting.
(The problem of wanting is what led me to Buddhism, Epicureanism, and Stoicism.)
4. Inner Conflicts and Nostalgia.
You may have noticed that these topics are often touched upon in my poetry and philosophical writings.

Ataraxia

Η αναζήτηση της αλήθειας.
Η αποδοχή της πραγματικότητας.
Η επιδίωξη του αταραξία.
Η επίτευξη της ευδαιμονίας.

The search for truth.
The acceptance of reality.
The pursuit of equanimity.
The attainment of bliss.

Mark Sebring (2012)


The Dumbing Down of America:
Since the advent of television, our modern education system, social media and cell phones,
and the rise of the Religious Right, people are becoming more and more brainwashed,
and clear thinking, reading comprehension, and intellectual integrity are significantly declining.
As a result, there doesn't seem to be many of us left who consider the search for TRUTH
to be more important than protecting what we already believe.

There are many different ways we can divide the people of the world into two categories.
One of these ways has to do with how they respond to the cognitive dissonance that occurs
when they encounter information which is contrary to what they already believe.

Some people place the desire to know the actual truth ahead of the desire to protect what
they already believe. We could call these people "truth seekers". I often refer to them as
philosophers since the word "philosophy" means "love of knowledge". These people are
willing to doubt their beliefs because they realize that not everything they believe is true,
and as a result, their beliefs sometimes change.

"I mean by intellectual integrity the habit of deciding vexed questions in accordance with the evidence.
or of leaving them undecided where the evidence is inconclusive. This virtue, though it is underestimated
by almost all adherents of any system of dogma, is to my mind of the very greatest social importance
and far more likely to benefit the world than Christianity or any other system of organized beliefs."
Bertrand Russell

But the majority of the people in the world place the desire to protect their beliefs ahead
of the desire to know what is actually true. We could call these people "belief protectors".
These people are generally so convinced that what they already believe IS the truth that
they are unwilling and sometimes incapable of questioning their beliefs. They respond to
cognitive dissonance by summarily dismissing any information which is contrary to what
they already believe (e.g. by assuming that any accusation made against Donald Trump
is just another liberal lie) or by deliberately looking the other way to avoid encountering
evidence that casts doubt on what they believe. People often do this simply because of
how important their beliefs are to them as a result of the comfort and hope they derive
from them. (People can become addicted to their beliefs, and that addiction is not much
different from being addicted to alcohol or drugs.) But, this tendency to ignore evidence
which is contrary to what they already believe may be an indication that they have been
a victim of brainwashing. This can include political, religious, or cult brainwashing. As I
explained above, people in the modern age are becoming more and more brainwashed.

Ah! vous dirais-je, Maman,
Ce qui cause mon tourment.
Papa veut que je raisonne
Comme une grande personne.
Moi, je dis que les bonbons
Valent mieux que la raison.

The melody of this French folk song was combined with an English poem to
create the song "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star". It may be translated as follows:
Ah! I will tell you, Mama,
what is the cause of my torment.
Papa wants me to reason
like an adult.
Me, I say that candy
is more valuable than reason.


The re-election of President Trump is proof of the dumbing down of America.
And so the end of America begins.
Enlightenment has come to some of us,
but it will never come to the brainwashed, disinterested masses.
We will destroy each other and ourselves first.
And so I seek the serenity to accept the things I cannot change.
Maybe I will find it. Maybe I won't.

I recognize that Joe Biden was a mediocre president.
Kamala Harris probably would have been as well.
But more mediocrity would have been far better than
a totally amoral, mentally unstable, wanna-be dictator.
And I despise the ignorant imbeciles who contributed
to the end of America by putting him back in power.
It is difficult to say how many of them really wanted
a dictator, and how many were simply too stupid to
recognize that they were voting for one.
I don't wish to associate with any of them.
Τέλος

I added a short essay comparing Donald Trump to Adolph Hitler
to the commentary for my "Never Never Land" article.
Additional discussion of this subject may be found in the commentaries
for my articles "My Religious Position" and "Religion and Politics".

"Sometimes I feel like I can't even sing.
I'm very scared for this world. I'm very scared for me."
R.E.M. (You Are The Everything)

🌎 MUNDUS SINE CAESARIBUS 👑