Will Durant – The Story of Philosophy - Review

 

Originally a collection of eleven five-cent Blue Book installments, The Story of Philosophy was first published in its current form in 1925. Within two years, it reached over two million in sales, launching Durant's career as one of the world's most recognized and honored writers and historians.

Translated into nineteen languages, this book continues to sell consistently, used by schools and universities across the globe to introduce the Western Tradition of philosophy from Plato, Spinoza, and William James, ending with the great American educationalist, John Dewey.

As the word 'story' in the title suggests, the book is written as a narrative; this particular stylistic method was highly criticized by academics, turning their noses up in arrogant disdain because everyone could now understand this specialized subject... Nevertheless, Durant made philosophy accessible and exciting, also adding a touch of humor to an otherwise severe endeavor, he writes in the preface of the second edition:

"The 'Story' tried to salt itself with a seasoning of humor, not only because wisdom is not wise if it scares merriment, but because a sense of humor born of perspective bears a near kinship to philosophy; each is the soul of the other. But this appears to have displeased the pundits; nothing so hurt the book with them as it smiles." (xii)

Durant also clarifies that this book is by no means a substitute for reading philosophy in the original. "...God knows there is no shortcut to knowledge after forty years of seeking her one finds "Truth" still veiled, and what she shows of herself most disconcerting."

What is most important about this text, I believe, is that it could well be a starting point for a future William James, John Dewey, or a Wittgenstein. Durant's robust prose style reels the reader in, seducing, enticing, and giving you just enough to want to plunge into philosophy, boots, and all. He does what all great teachers do - creates a fascinating world for the subject and connects it to the everyday and personal.

When Durant writes about philosophy and history, he's talking about us; inviting us to explore the world and ourselves. 

If you're a teacher, student, a curious spectator, or maybe someone who tried to read philosophy and got caught up in the pitfalls of specialized terms that can riddle this subject, read this book. It may change your views and prompt more incredible things...

Daphne Du Maurier – The Breakthrough – Review

Du Maurier's short story, The Breakthrough, was published in 1966. This edition is part of Penguin Modern collection of fantastic short tales in literature. 50 little books range from Franz Kafka's Investigations of a Dog, Italo Calvino's The Distance of the Moon, to John Steinbeck's The Vigilante. In The Breakthrough, Du Maurier writes in a new genre for her, and for many, that of Science fiction/Religion. It is a disturbing story that brings up many issues, including science experimentation and its ethical boundaries.

Our protagonist, Stephen, is an electrical engineer whose boss asks to assist a leading scientist in his work. He is reluctant to go because this leading scientist is well known for his eccentricities and somewhat dubious pursuits. Nevertheless, Stephen agrees to go and discovers that the doctor's experiments are way outside the perimeters of conventional science. He decides to leave the next day but is caught up in the computing electronics that is his specialty. He will soon realize this decision to remain was a big mistake.

The eccentric scientist explains that he believes that pure electrical energy is released from the body once a person dies. For reasons not entirely specified, capturing this energy would lead science in whole new directions. MacLean is a craggy old fifty-something, dressed in the obligatory academic garb of baggy corduroys and a turtle neck sweater. But, like many of his kind, he's a single-minded, no-nonsense facts man.

Stephen meets the rest of the crew. One group member is a young 19 year old who is dying of Leukaemia. Ken is the main "guinea pig," for he will die soon, enabling MacLean to capture his energy in one of his machines. This is the plan.

I found it disturbing about the whole exercise that a young child, an intellectually disabled child, is a big part of the experiment. There is danger involved in the investigation. To include a disabled child reminded me of the Nazi scientists experimenting on children in the death camps during WWII. Overall, this puts a nasty taste in my mouth as the reader. Anyone's guess is why the author used a child in this macabre story. This may have been used to enforce a debate on science and ethics. It could have been done differently.

Ken is close to dying and is immediately laid on a surgical table and hooked up to the necessary machines. Without going into too much technical detail, the little girl is hooked up as well, used as a type of conduit between Ken and the devices. Ken suddenly dies, and after some technical drama, the machine reveals that Ken's "energy" has been captured. The girl remaining in a hypnotic state begins to scream: "Let them go...let them go...let them go."

There is something more involved in death than just pure energy.

Once again, I am continually impressed by Daphne Du Maurier's genius as a thriller writer. 

The Breakthrough is worth a read.

Musings on MSM, Covid and War.

 

Biting the bullet over the last week, I pushed myself to watch mainstream media. But, unfortunately, these are not "news outlets" but well-oiled propaganda machines run by the establishment.

The American/Australian government seems to not have a clue when it comes to handling Covid 19. Last year it was stated one didn't need to wear a mask. A short time later, the people were told that "double masking" would prevent you from getting the virus or spreading it. Then we were told that everybody must be vaccinated to eradicate the disease. Once we reached 80% vaccinated in the population, again, we were told that the number of cases would drop. Later, we were told that one must be double immunized to live everyday life and keep our jobs in some cases. Finally, we are told that being double vaccinated is not enough, and a booster will be compulsory. Every day I wake up and wonder what will be the new rules because they have been changing weekly. This being the case, people listen to mainstream news like it is gospel. In reality, it's propaganda to keep us scared and obedient consumers. The propaganda is also designed to fight each other rather than focus on our highly bribed,  and corrupt governments.

One finds oneself knee-deep in blatant propaganda when it comes to politics, foreign policy, and particularly war.

During the Trump administration, one could not avoid every western news outlet in the world spouting about Russian interference in the 2016 election. Trump was a Russian agent, and Russian interference was at the level of Pearl Harbour. You were immediately branded a "Putin Puppet" or a "Kremlin Shill" if one asked for actual evidence or doubted this conspiracy on social media. The media around the world was pushing this false narrative. And every MSM consumer bought into it hook, line and sinker. Since the conspiracy has been totally debunked, known as the creation of the DNC, we don't hear a peep from these mainstream conspiracy theorists about Russia anymore. All the hate and division this propaganda campaign caused was devastating.

America's regime-change wars have always been debatable on a variety of levels. My view is war is purely a profit-making exercise and nothing else.

We just need to take a short trip down history lane and look at Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, and Syria, which were all based on lies. All were profit-motivated. All included an incredible loss of life.

When you analyze a particular war or crisis, you need to understand the motivations behind it. For whom does this benefit? Who benefited from all the "conflicts" mentioned above? It's apparent that militarily, these conflicts were all failures. However, from a profit standpoint, all were great successes. Afghanistan, for example, militarily was an utter disaster. However, it was an operational success in revenue for the weapon manufacturers and their subsidiaries.

Since the 'war on terror' has settled down in the middle east, a new money-making exercise must be put in place to ensure more profits. Suddenly China is the new global villain. The lies and propaganda coming out of mainstream media about China have been nonstop. Australia, the loyal poodle of the empire, has sacrificed economically because the realm pushed for war with the sleeping dragon. China is Australia's leading trading partner, but the global mafia don has spoken, "You're either with us or against us." So the corporations give their orders, and you better fall in line.

The only people who have profited from Covid 19 are the top 5% of the world's population. Although Covid 19 is an actual virus, the scare tactics and imposed mandates on people from government and corporations have been relentless. For who does this virus benefit? Governments and the wealthy elite. Only the little guy has suffered economically, psychologically, and otherwise.

Propaganda is designed to keep the population in constant fear and division. These lies come from corporate media and our corporate-owned politicians. This should be obvious to many; however, despite MSM lying to us continually, people still believe their fear-mongering and money-motivated propaganda.

Indeed, we currently live in an upside-down world. Where truth-tellers are persecuted and imprisoned, the criminals run free, making gross amounts of cash – blood money.

We need to wake up.

Amor Towles – The Lincoln Highway – Review

After reading A Gentleman in Moscow earlier this year, my first thought was Amor Towles had reached his peak as an intriguing and competent novelist. The uniqueness and depth of Gentleman, to my mind, couldn't be surpassed. Well, fortunately for his readers, I could not have been more wrong. The Lincoln Highway is an example and triumph of excellent 21st-century storytelling.

Generally, this is an American Road tale. However, it's really an "almost" road story because the characters never really hit the Lincoln Highway but are obstructed from doing so, even traveling in reverse to New York rather than their intended destination of California.

It is Midwest 1954. Emmett, our 18-year-old protagonist, has just been released from a delinquent detention facility. However, he is dropped off at his farm to find it has been foreclosed by the bank. In addition, Emmett's father has died, leaving him with his younger brother, Billy. This child is undoubtedly precocious, only 8 years of age, with a razor-sharp mind of a 30-year-old genius.

We meet the other two main characters who decide to escape the reformatory by hiding in the trunk of the warden's car. While Emmett is looking over his late 40's Studebaker, Duchess and Woolly suddenly appear, standing in front of his garage.

The book is written from the particular perspectives of the characters. All characters are written in the third person, while Duchess and Sally are written in the first. This is an exciting storytelling tool, giving their respective feelings and thoughts about the same circumstances. The Lincoln Highway is at once a character-driven story and an adventure/thriller at the same time.

Mirroring the actual trials of these characters is a book that little Billy reads daily: Professor Abacus Abernathe's Compendium of Heroes, Adventurers, and Other Intrepid Travelers. The heroes and travelers range from fictional to actual men. The hero often referred to is Ulysses from Homer's The Odyssey. Emmett and Billy's adventures on a freight train to New York meet a WWII vet of the same name, whose circumstances are similar to the Greek legend. This character has an astounding tale of survival of his own that is nothing less than astonishing. The huge black WWII Vet, Ulysses, is a beautiful character.

The most colorful and tragic character has to be Duchess. The son of an ambulant Shakespearean actor, the boy, learns the ways of the entertainer, a Carnival lifestyle using the tricks of the trade to merely survive. The young man is flamboyant, charming, and a natural con. We discover that Duchess's backstory is tragic and quite sad. We come to understand his criminal-est ways, his flair for the dramatic, and the well-guarded facade he shows the world.

This is a beautiful novel and one that should be read again and again.

 

A Disgrace: Julian Assange Extradition

 

The news that the UK High Court ratified Julian Assange's extradition to the United States came as a shock but indeed not a surprise. Similar to the government of Australia, the United Kingdom follows the commands of Imperialistic America like a well-trained poodle.

For centuries, the UK judicial system was something Western countries could emulate. Now, like every other branch of government, those in high places follow the orders of the Military-Industrial Complex. To be sure, it is disgraceful and a system that deserves our scorn.

As I write this, news has broken that Assange has experienced a stroke. At this stage, we don't know how severe the attack was, but its timing is appropriate considering the level of persecution the publisher has experienced over the last ten years.

What is astonishing is the number of foremost stream journalists skating around the real issue here. This is not just about one publisher. This is about press freedom. Extraditing an Australian citizen for publishing embarrassing truths about the Empire, war crimes should be frightening to anyone concerned about our humanitarian and civil rights. These "journalists" in mainstream media have often been called stenographers for the Military-Industrial Complex. Attempting to listen to these soulless fools lie to the public about Assange was absolutely painful. When you work for the "man," lying and misinforming the public is essentially your job. It's a wonder how so many people continue to take these pseudo-journalists seriously. Yet, the misinformation continues without consequence.

When a true dissident and truth-teller exposes the machinations of the establishment, they are attacked, dragged through the court of public opinion, and imprisoned. So anyone claiming to be left-wing, a truth-teller, and adored by the establishment is a fraud. So the authorities put dissidents and truth-tellers in jail...and send their ghost-written new book to the NYT Bestseller list.

This latest decision to extradite Julian Assange to the United States has come with assurances from the government. One of the conditions is if found guilty, will be sent to Australia to serve his sentence. Please, don't believe a word of this rubbish. Once on US soil, the man will disappear into their prison system. The US prison system is infamous for its horrendous conditions and cruelty. The US government is a liar, and I don't see them changing their tune now.

It appears to be human nature to blame others for one's condition. In the case of the US presidential 2016 election, the warmonger and wall street puppet, Hillary Clinton, accused the FBI and Wikileaks of her colossal loss in the election. Morons blamed Russia and Wikileaks for her defeat when it was her corruption that the leaks revealed that contributed to this loss. When it comes to the democratic party, it's always Wikileaks or Russia's fault for everything. This is the primary reason the Biden Administration continues its prosecution of the publisher. Revealing their endemic corruption will never be forgotten.

What I find the most disheartening of all is that now the Judicial system has been corrupted by those in power. I was reminded of the Donziger case, where the lawyer was under house arrest for a misdemeanor and later put in jail. See article: https://sychronicity1.blogspot.com/2021/10/assangedonzigner-similar-corruption. His only crime was suing a corporate oil giant for committing environmental maleficence. The judge and the prosecutors, in this case, are both financed by the same corporation. This is pure and unadulterated corruption and a wholly compromised judicial system.

The Julian Assange extradition case has set a precedent for all investigative journalists and the news media itself. A good journalist will now think twice when a source presents them with classified information. "Well hell, if I publish these government crimes, will they come after me, no matter what country I live in." Nevertheless, there is certain information that the population needs to know about their respective governments. In all its forms, war crimes and corruption fall in the category of the 'public right to know.'

The fourth estate is in the constitution to "keep the bastards honest." A government that acts in secrecy is anathema to a democracy. If a free press is compromised, a totalitarian government is a result.

The decision to extradite an Australian publisher for exposing government war crimes and corruption has set a new precedent.

Now anyone exposing the crimes of power is fair game.

The Arrogance of the US and NATO - (Opinion)

Written December 9, 2021. Still relevant.

This latest rubbish from American neocons and their NATO allies concerning going to war with Russia if they militarily invade Ukraine is the same arrogant rhetoric we have heard from these clowns for years.

SINCE THE COLD WAR, the US has wanted Ukraine to break from mother Russia. But, unfortunately, these short-sighted, history-blind-blood fools don't understand the long history the countries have had for centuries.

I married a Ukrainian and acquired great insight into the Russia/Ukrainian relationship. Since Stalin's purging of the country after WWII, a small group would undoubtedly prefer to break away from Russia and become independent. This was during the Cold War; since the fall of the Berlin wall and Glasnost,' many of these independence seekers have had a change of heart.

Note: NATO is a redundant organization. Their only task now is to protect western energy interests.

Over centuries, the two peoples have interacted and are connected by blood. When I married into the family, my mother-in-law was from Ukraine, and her husband was Russian. My grandmother-in-law considered herself German after migrating there after the fall of the Romanov dynasty. Although she was initially from Ukraine, her husband was born in Moscow. I remember going to events in Melbourne for each country celebrating their respective heritage. Although my wife is Ukrainian, we were married in the Russian Orthodox Church. So the Russia/Ukraine relationship goes back many years, and the black and white narrative given to us by the Military-Industrial Complex is false.

From my observation, the US and their allies have been causing trouble on the Russian border for years. Last century, the US and their allies promised that NATO forces would not march too close to the Russian border and did it anyway, going back on their promise. US Corporations have been stirring the pot in Ukraine for a long time. In fact, the latest news corroborated is the sale of US weapons to Neo-Nazis in Ukraine. My research has revealed that the so-called "freedom fighters" in Ukraine are actually full-blown Nazis. This is disturbing in a multitude of ways.

The US warmongers in the Biden Administration have warned that boots-on-the-ground war with Russia can almost be assured if they invade Ukraine militarily. This is to, of course, ensure US hegemony on the planet. What a pack of self-entitled, self-serving American exceptionalist, arrogant fools.

But that's the rub. War with Russia is not about ensuring Ukraine can live in a better democracy, following US economic dictates, thus avoiding sanctions, but maintaining US hegemony over the planet. This is not about freeing the Ukrainian people from Russian authoritarian rule but keeping a stranglehold on the entire world without opposition. If you believe otherwise, you have not been paying attention.

This latest sword-rattling by the US and their brown-nosing allies is dangerous. Russia is not an existential threat to the world. The only threat to world peace is the ongoing machinations of the US war machine.

Scott Turow - Ultimate Punishment: A Lawyer's Reflections on Dealing with the Death Penalty – Review.

 

Rendered with his fictional writing flair, Turow has tackled a subject matter that deals with life and death. In this short though thorough essay, the novelist reflects on the death penalty's many arguments.

In March 2000, a Moratorium on executions was declared by the Governor of Illinois, George Ryan. After two years of deliberation, Turow and many distinguished lawyers and academics submitted their recommendations. As a result of these findings, Ryan made international news by commuting the sentences of 167 persons left on death row. (This made headline news in Australia as the death penalty here was abolished over forty years ago) It should go without saying that this was a bold move by the Governor and potential political suicide. However, at the end of his tenure, he decided to choose and act on that choice. This book summarises the many aspects of the Moratorium's deliberations, which is fascinating reading.

Before the Moratorium, Turow admits that he was a "Death Penalty Agnostic." In other words, the man was a fence sitter, refusing to take a stand either way. After two years on the committee, and by the end of the essay, if asked whether Illinois should retain Capital Punishment, his answer is a confident, No. After reading the many reasons for and against the debate, I found it understandable why he fell off the fence. The system is fallible, and the fact that we seem to be hard-wired for revenge; it has been all too easy, in our zealousness for justice or retribution, to execute innocent people. This has occurred far too often for any government to be comfortable executing its citizens. But of course, as Turow plainly points out, this issue is a complex one, which begs to be further unpacked, potently analyzed, to make it law, either way, across the boards.

From my reading, the actual recommendations from the committee are reasonable and fair. For example, ensuring the videotaping of all questioning of a capital suspect conducted on a police facility; that the eligibility criteria for the death penalty are narrowed to five points; that the death penalty is not available when a conviction is based only on the testimony of a single eyewitness. (p. 122)

The Moratorium did not want the death penalty abolished entirely; however, these recommendations are designed to ensure an innocent defendant stands a lesser chance of wrongful execution.

This was a political decision. No government has the "Right" to execute its citizens. 

Turow writes excellent novels about the law. This work has approached a subject that absolutely requires further debate. And he has done it with honesty and enthusiasm with a novelist's flair and elegance.

Good reading.

Oliver Stone – Chasing the Light – Review

 

Over the last 35 years, I've always looked at Oliver Stone as primarily a film director. After reading his memoir, Chasing the Light, to discover he's, first and foremost, a writer was a great discovery. It's only been lately that I've delved into the world of Hollywood: directors, producers, and screenwriters. To see that he penned two of my favorite films, Midnight Express and Scarface, winning the Oscar for best screenplay for the latter, reinforced my admiration for this artist. 

The son of an intelligent WWII vet and a French mother, Stone maps out his rebellious nature from the beginning. Stone was not destined for an inside-the-lines life trajectory. Dropping out of university to write a novel. Joining the military during the Vietnam war, driving taxis, and writing screenplays in cold Manhattan one-room apartments, one can see how his early films and later ones ruffled the establishment's feathers.

The first 100 pages of the memoir are a young Stone finding his way. His bent for writing was obviously with him at a young age. His stint at NYU studying film brought his goals into focus. Hearing Martin Scorsese speak at the university had a significant impression on the fledgling filmmaker:

...and his classes were fun, punctuated by rapid-fire dialogues, irreverence at every level, but at the same time, he understood the sacred stakes we were playing for, and then very few of us in these classes would succeed. I know I felt this, perhaps because I was older than most of my classmates. (p. 61)

Stone's experiences in Vietnam changed the man. Indeed without thinking, freshly back from war, he carried some drugs over the border from Mexico into the U.S. and got caught. Languishing in jail, he finally had the opportunity to call his conservative father. Dad bailed him out, setting the creative thought process behind his two successful screenplays: Midnight Express and Platoon.

As a consumer of film, I had no idea what it takes to make one from start to finish. Reading about the finance aspect of the business is enough to put anyone off the industry. Let alone the initial idea; the screenplay and its numerous rewrites, financing; actual filming; actors, sets, locations, etc. Stone opens the window to this world, so anyone pushing to get into the business as a director and writer should actually think twice – I certainly did. Personally, I realized that creating a film is a wholly collaborative exercise. Each person and department play a crucial role towards the end product. We forget this as the audience.

One can really see and feel the blood, sweat, and tears in the making of Salvador. I had always heard about the phenomenon, but it takes a specific type of personality to work with prominent name actors. The word "primadonna" comes to mind x10. Yes, actors are extraordinary, but to behave like small children when they're making so much money is embarrassing. I like James Woods as an actor, but his spoilt brat antics on the set were a little hard to take. That said, what superb acting in Salvador – an Oscar-winning performance.

The memoir ends with Platoon winning Best Picture and Oliver receiving Best Director.

Stone is an excellent writer. Similar to a good thriller, the text pulls you into his life, including all the ups and downs. Unfortunately, the memoir ends at a high point in Oliver Stone's career. Knowing what I know now about his films, work, and life post Platoon, the next installment of his autobiography should be another riveting ride.

We'll have to wait and see.

Imperialist Brainwashing

 

While on social media the other day, I came across many disturbing tweets from self-proclaimed "leftists" ranting about the threat of China on the 'free world.' You'll discover many of these people, 1) have never been to China or even left the borders of the US., and 2) have zero understanding of China's history and appear to be echoing State Department talking points.

Over the last 20 years, China has lifted a vast segment of its population out of poverty. But you never hear about this from our western governments or our MSM. China has not invaded another country in over a century. Indeed, unlike the United States, China has a free higher education and health system. Yet, the US government has always been quick to criticize other countries' social and political affairs. The wealthiest nation on the planet, notwithstanding, poverty is rising, student debt is in the billions, the health system is run by corporate gangsters, and the country has been at war since the 18^th century. The hypocrisy is ridiculously laughable.

In Australia, we have an authoritarian right-wing government that does what it's told from the UK and the United States. When the US asks Australia to jump, we respond, "how high, mate." This has been the case since at least WWII.

Indeed, having been alive for a while, moderately educated and traveled, why do much more intelligent and accomplished people than I seem to fall for the imperialist party line? Why do people from the West view that somehow we are better than everyone else and must stick our noses into countries where we have no right to do so? Why do we continue to accept mainstream narratives that somehow we're "exceptional" and bomb other countries back to our kind of democracy?

The answer to this is we have been bombarded for years with false narratives, creating the other, and that the other should be feared and conquered. In the last 50 years, at least, war has never been about toppling dictatorships and freeing the world to our high western values. Every war has been about absolute profit for the oligarchy. The US and their allies, for the most part, have economies based on war. Corporate profit for the elite. The problem is this has been going on for years, and educated people continue to wave the flag and rattle the sword for some lofty ideals that really no longer exist.

When I see grown men and women spreading blatant war propaganda, particularly self-proclaimed leftist, I realize that over a century of brainwashing has seeped in and has become the fabric of their world views.

War is an abstraction. Until, of course, one has been on the battlefield or on the receiving end of carpet bombs. A citizen is placed in prison for killing another human being. Though murdering thousands in a foreign land is acceptable and insanely justified.

Even though our governments have lied to us about going to war over the last twenty years, we are tricked by false flags; we continue to believe what our government tells us. Some even on major (independent) platforms, claiming to be progressive, repeat the lies for war. The brainwashing is so inculcated into our psyches that we repeat the same ridiculous lies. This is the definition of insanity.

For sure, I don't have a solution. But when the MSM continues to keep us fighting each other over silly political ideals, pushing regime change, and commenting on cultural issues that distract, nothing will change.

But something has to change.