Disillusioned Discordian

Ok sorry for what could be perhaps the worst pun of the century… but it seems that Kant’s metaphysics and deontological ethics are being attacked by a suspicious marketing organization

Once upon a day there was a group of people on a cruise boat. Unfortunately the boat sank and all the survivors had to swim to a nearby desert Island for shelter. Life on the island was hard at first but soon people adapted to their new surroundings. A coconut based economy grew up and at first people fought over the best coconut groves. Over the years a system of coconut government arose from the anarchic dark days of the coconut wars. Coconut Island prospered in a golden age; some folk discussed French philosophy in the infamous Milky Joe circle whereas others set about making their coconut huts and workshops using coconut derivatives.  Trade in the coconut derivatives spread and soon and entire economy had grown on the island. As the first generation of Islanders passed on their offspring inherited the coconut fruits of their labor.

As the years passed so life progressed on the island, some harvested more coconuts. Sometimes this was due to working harder, and sometimes it was due to the luck of having a particularly productive coconut grove. Those with more coconuts saw their position in society rise with the inevitable wealth and social status that passion of a large quantity of coconuts can bring.  As these wealthier people died they in-turn passed on their wealth to the next generation and soon an aristocratic class of coconut islanders emerged. They appointed themselves titles such as Coconut Stewart or Coconut Earl. As they by now controlled a great deal of the coconuts the poorer workers looked up to their coconut overlord’s and went to work in their employment.  

Life was had for the islanders who were born to families with little coconuts and poor grooves. As much as they might struggle they couldn’t afford the costs to go to the best coconut schools or own their own coconut huts. Occasionally one bright worker would manage to earn the respect of the coconut aristocracy but they were often seen as an outsider without the social connections that came from being born to a rich coconut owning family. As this situation carried on the poverty amongst the new coconut working class increased whilst the wealth of the coconut aristocracy increased.  Wealth was seen as a reward for hard work and the wealthy therefore viewed themselves as gifted and deserving of their riches. An entire tradition of wealth was created that supported the notion that the privileged where deserving of their coconuts.  

However one balmy day there was a coconut revolutionary from the Milky Joe circle who lead the workers proclaiming that all men should live equal on the island and the coconut resources should be distributed on merit and need rather than birth privilege. In the future all inheritance was to be taxed to ensure that one coconut family could never over the generations become so powerful that it dominated the Island. In this manner the surplus wealth that some people enjoyed was distributed into a system of governance that allowed for an equal standard of welfare and opportunity to all born into society regardless of their coconut creed. 

 However Herr Redwood wasn’t happy with the way things progressed. He thought that the industrious and deserving wealthy people (for he always equated the two) where having their rewards stolen by the state…. To be continued 

An anonymous Historian who I know rather well was the other day commenting on how they wanted to read Samuel Pepys’ Diary over the summer. I suspect that id Samuel was alive today he would have a blog rather than a diary. After all did he not want one day for someone to pick up his diary and go “what a wonderful chap”? Why else do people blog, if not for the reassurance that ‘their’ opinion is worth something and meaningful.  Even lofty political analysis or dazzling philosophical insights readers such as yourself receive from reading this page is only a by-product of my ego’s endless cravings for approval from the masses (no offence I’m sure you’re an individual).

Right leaving aside the pycho-reductionist rationale behind this post, there was some point I was getting to. Yes, well said Historian thought that blogs not only had a different style of writing e.g. posters try to post things that are interesting (like I’m doing now by engaging the reader in a conversation). In ‘reality’ most of the things bloggers do are incredibly mundane. Still the blogsphere is a big place and I’m sure there are thousands of pages given over to recording the mundane aspects of modern living.  

There is an interesting issue with the life-span  of blog posts when compared to diary entries. Perhaps I should start printing of reams of blog entries and storing them somewhere safe so that in years people can have the pleasure of reading my posts. I’m also going to create a new category of mundane things. Here I can post little things about my daily life which will be boring to read, but are performing a vital service in recording things for prosperity (boring things ripen to interesting things over time you see).

What are the implications that symmetry has for Hegel’s dialectics? This weeks In Our time had a rather interesting discussion on symmetry. I couldn’t help but relate the discussion back to our dear old Hegel with his synthesis and antithesis. Could it be that what within Philosophy as in Physics symmetry has things to offer. I particularly liked the reminder left over that lead to dynamism. This reminder driving the chaotic change forcing the system to recreate and form into new different synthesis. I wondered if perhaps the old fractal loving side of me was re-emerging from a slumber.

Are these new synthesis of symmetries more complex, does this endorse Hegel’s progressionist view of history?

There seems to be something less tacky about merchandising a philosopher. Anyone who is doubtful of reducing great thinking minds to fickle playthings has to look no further than the Nietzsche puppet for reassurance.  If you can put up with the annoying navigation bar, then there are plenty of treats to be had on this site. I’m going to set about building my own model
Frankfurt school so that I can create a little miniature haven against the ‘culture industry’.