Philosofarian

I read “The Emperor’s New Mind” over twenty years ago, and found it intriguing then. I’m pleased and a little amused to see that it’s getting new attention. I also think it’s probably a good thing that consciousness is being thought about in a way that moves beyond “The Easy Problem” by people other than philosophers. Penrose & Chalmers are great, and going in a worthwhile direction. It’s nice that others are following.

When materialist assumptions about the mind begin to sound dated… Paulson’s Penrose profile is written as if materialism is going to prevail but that seems much less likely now than it perhaps did in 2017.

from the morning studying…

“Forgiveness is the only way to reverse the irreversible flow of history.”
- Hannah Arendt

Art by Thomas Satterwhite Noble

From early morning studying…

“Everywhere we remain unfree and chained to technology, whether we passionately affirm or deny it. But we are delivered over to it in the worst possible way when we regard it as something neutral; for this conception of it, to which today we particularly like to do homage, makes us utterly blind to the essence of technology.”
- Martin Heidegger

Art by Roy Lemme

“ we suffered because we care to know ourselves.”
- Vrinda Dalmiya

Art by Cameron Gray

miro.medium.com

“Not I, nor anyone else can travel that road for you.
You must travel it by yourself.
It is not far. It is within reach.
Perhaps you have been on it since you were born, and did not know.
Perhaps it is everywhere - on water and land.”
- Walt Whitman

Art by George Thompson Pritchard

For my friends in Portland tonight, its worth a visit.

“Am I a man who dreamt he was a butterfly, or a butterflying dreaming he is a man.”

- Zhuangzi

Jedediah Purdy has been called a “centrist” & a “moderate” for writing articles like this one. In my opinion, however, this article illustrates that he’s more rightly a “pragmatist”, and in the best (that is, the most “Deweyian” & “Jamesian”) sense of the word.

We’ve Been Thinking About America’s Trust Collapse All Wrong Trust isn’t something that emerges naturally from a well-functioning society; people have to build it through hard work.

FORT GEORGE “WIT & WISDOM” PHILOSOPHY TALK (DECEMBER 2023):

TOPIC: WHAT IS “ENLIGHTENMENT”?

From wisdom traditions, to political and cultural movements, to our own personal aspirations and relationships - ”enlightenment” is considered a crowning achievement. But what does the term actually mean? How might enlightenment change our perspective on the world , or understanding of ourselves ? Is enlightenment, actually achievable? How would we know we’ve achieved it, and is it even worth achieving?

Speaker - Seth Tichenor

WHEN: Thursday, 12/14 from 7:00 - 8:00 P.M.

WHERE: Fort George Brewery, 1483 Duane Street Astoria

Democritus, the laughing Philosopher is our topic for the evening.

Why do people do things they know are bad?

It's been a week but I'm feeling better & back in the saddle. Philosofarian classes will resume this week.! The Schedule, in case you missed it:
*) MONDAYS 5:30-7:00 - THE EARLIEST GREEK THOUGHT at Seaport Masonic Lodge (1576 Franklin street, Astoria)
*) TUESDAYS 5:30-7:00 - ETHICS ACROSS TIME & CULTURE at Ten Fifteen Theater (1015 Commercial street, Astoria)
*) WEDNESDAYS 5:30-7:00 - "THE LAST REFUGE OF SCOUNDRELS" (philosophy discussion group) at Bridge & Tunnel (1390 Duane street, Astoria)
*) SATURDAYS 2:15-3:45 - "THE BIRTH OF POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY" at Warrenton Community Library (160 S. Main, Warrenton).
ALWAYS FREE, NO REGISTRATION, ALWAYS INTERESTING

All Philosofarian activities are cancelled this week. Prof. Tich is out sick.

Tonight’s topic for Last Refuge of Scoundrels- What is Domination? Join us at Bridge and Tunnel @5:30

Earliest Greek Thought is cancelled tonight. We’ll be back Monday May 9 with Heraclitus. Join us for tomorrows’ Philosofari - Are Ethics Relative?

Seth getting interviewed live by Mayor Henry Balensifer!

What is the source of virtue for Nietzsche? Power and imagination.

What is virtue? Learn what Aristotle, Nietzsche, and Wang Yangming thought. Join us at 1015 productions at 5:30pm

“Kids can help adults recapture our own courage as thinkers, too. All we have to do is talk to them and take them seriously. Chances are the cleverest person you know can’t tie her shoes”

Why Kids Make the Best Philosophers Adults have a lot to learn from the questions only children are willing to ask.

Seth prepping for class at the Masonic Lodge.
(And it’s warm!)

Tonight at the Masonic Lodge: Pythagoras