Culture 01: Tragedy of Culture – Georg Simmel (1) [Related Post]

Culture 01

Tragedy of Culture – Georg Simmel (1) [Related Post]

     Culture makes us happy. Civilization makes our lives worthy and valuable. At least, a creator aims to create more joy for life all the time.

     However, Georg Simmel (1858–1918) points out the tension between “objective culture” and “subjective culture” in modern society.

     The vast accumulation of products, technology, and knowledge produced by society grows too large and too complex, and overwhelms the ability of individuals to internalize and utilize these developments for our own self-development. 

Dystopia 02: The Mathematical Romance – “Flatland” [Related Post]

Dystopia 02

The Mathematical Romance – “Flatland” [Related Post]

“Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions” (Remastered & Illustrated) (1884) by Edwin Abbott

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     The BEST and ONLY mathematical romance ever. But also a comical and poignantly cynical critique of Victorian society. “Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions” (1884) by Edwin Abbott also challenges our narrow fixed ideas and prejudices through various dimensions.

Celibacy 02: Philosophers' Celibacy (2) - Baruch Spinoza

Celibacy 02

Philosophers' Celibacy (2) - Baruch Spinoza 

“Blessedness is not the reward of virtue, but virtue itself; neither do we rejoice therein, because we control our lusts, but, contrariwise, because we rejoice therein, we are able to control our lusts.” (Part V. Of the Power of the Understanding, or of Human Freedom, Ethics. Baruch Spinoza)

     Baruch Spinoza (1632–1677) lived a life of voluntary celibacy, as I myself do. He remained unmarried and had NO children or significant romantic relationships throughout his 45-year life. Along with his extreme frugality and solitude, Spinoza's voluntary celibacy was consistent with his philosophical pursuit of a life guided by reason and his rejection of passions that he believed led to human bondage. 

Baruch Spinoza (1632–1677)

Soviet Mentality 01: Soviet Mentality – the Negative Legacy [Related Post]

Soviet Mentality 01

Soviet Mentality – the Negative Legacy [Related Post]

     As a Russian speaker, I have maintained friendships and relationships with people from the former Soviet Union (the USSR) for decades. Actually, I’m NOW writing this post in Kyiv, Ukraine, in the middle of the ongoing war.

     Of course, there exist millions of people with millions of personalities in each nation ALL over the World. So I should refrain from concluding a specific nation’s personality as the one. Having said that, no one can deny the fact that there are specific archetypal inclinations of the personality in a specific country, even in a region, a state, a city, or a community, reflecting their unique history and traditions.

Dystopia 01: The Future of Humankind – H. G. Wells (1) [Related Post]

Dystopia 01

The Future of Humankind – H. G. Wells (1) [Related Post]

“The Time Machine” (Oxford World's Classics) (1895) by H. G. Wells

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     Surprisingly, H. G. Wells (1866–1946) wrote this monumental, very impressive science fiction at the end of the 19th century (1895). It's yet a decade earlier than Albert Einstein (1879–1955) published the special relativity in 1905, and then the general relativity in 1915.

Celibacy 01: Philosophers' Celibacy (1) - René Descartes

Celibacy 01

Philosophers' Celibacy (1) - René Descartes 

     Almost a decade ago, the word INCEL (INvoluntary CELibate) was buzzing. It was a fleeting sensation as a social phenomenon, but the exposed celibacy proper is still ongoing underway associated with some social unwholesome trends, such as sexism, #MeToo movement, LGBTQ+, diversity and inclusion, Domestic Violence (DV), pedophilia, adult children, aging developed societies, declining birthrates, sexless couples, etc., etc…

ZEN 01: ZEN Philosophy of Death

ZEN 01

ZEN Philosophy of Death

     If Religion is defined as the worship of God, ZEN(禅) Buddhism is definitely NOT a religion, but a pure philosophy. To begin with, Buddhism has NO God. The Buddha (Siddhartha Gautama) is our (as I myself am a ZEN Buddhist…) mentor, who teaches us the philosophy and practice (meditation, mindfulness, minimalism, etc.) as our BEST model we aim at.

Bushido 01: Bushido Philosophy of Death

Bushido 01

Bushido Philosophy of Death

“Bushido means to die.” — This is the famous declaration at the beginning of the book “Hagakure (葉隠; meaning ‘Hidden by Leaves’).” The “Hagakure” is one of the few books systematically expounding the Samurai’s code of conduct, written by a Samurai, Tsunetomo Yamamoto (山本 常朝; 1659-1719) in the Edo period as a spiritual and practical guidebook for Samurai.

Having said that, a Samurai was NOT mandated to give up his Life easily in vain. If so, a Samurai didn’t need to carry two Katanas (刀; Samurai swords) on his waist all the time to protect his own Life. Everyone, including you and me, is destined to die somehow at a moment in our lifetime, even though NO one knows When the end will come. NO human has ever lived without dying over millions of years without exception. So it’s the most important, How to die, and What for to die at any time when we MUST die anyhow.