Sages for the ages

Would we all not be much better off learning more about the wisdom of the great, ancient  sages of the East and West (Socrates, Confucius and many more)? 

Regrettably, I am not very familiar with the sages of the Middle East.

What about sages of the southern hemisphere? Was their wisdom perhaps not as well preserved? Did we overlook it?

Learning more about the ancient sages would prevent so many ideologues and demagogues of our time to fail so miserably! Many more of them would easily be identified as quacks and be ridiculed!

Unfortunately, the Renaissance and the Age of Enlightenment did not kill superstition, quackery, extreme demagoguery and absurdities in our time (e.g. global warming/climate change)! Instead, without deeper knowledge of the sages we are condemned to repeat the mistakes of the past.

Captain James Cook: The incredible true story of the World's Greatest Navigator

Very recommendable! What an extraordinary human being! Born into very humble circumstances. Partially raised and educated by Quakers! Apparently, James Cook was a very gifted and talented human being whose brilliance was recognized early on.

James Douglas, 14th Earl of Morton, a great scientist, member of the Scottish Enlightenment and major financier of a voyage of James Cook instructed Cook to be very respectful of the natives of the newly discovered lands (see image below).

James Cook tried to beat scurvy with fresh produce and Sauerkraut on board. He also implemented a regiment of strict sanitation and hygien on his ship to prevent diseases far ahead of his time.

"Idleness is the devil's playground!"

Hints offered to the consideration of Captain Cook, Mr. Bankes, Doctor Solander and other gentlemen who go upon the expedition on board the Endeavour. Chiswick, 10 August 1768.

Includes detailed instructions on the treatment of native peoples, the aims of the expedition and the observations to be made and objects to be collected. The expedition is to "exercise the utmost patience and forbearance with respect to the natives of the several lands where the ship may touch" and the shedding of blood is a crime of the highest nature. "They are the natural and, in the strictest sense of the word, the legal posessors of the several regions thay inhabit. No European nation has the right to occupy any part of their country ..." It is natural for them to defend their land and if they are hostile there are to be no reprisals. Detailed suggestions are given on how to approach the natives peacably. The primary object of the expedition is to observe the transit of Venus. Once this has been achieved, attention can be turned to other matters "particularly the discovery of a continent in the lower temperate latitudes". Gives clues on how to determine whether a land mass is a continent rather than merely an island, e.g. high mountains and large river mouths. The aim is to observe and describe the peoples, their customs and beliefs, the flora and fauna and the "natural productions of the country". Vegetables are to be sought, particularly those with a medicinal use or use for dyeing. Minerals and fossils and the vocabulary of the names given by the natives are also of interest. (Source)

Philosophy - David Hume

Very recommendable! Reason is the slave of passion. Reason I love thee. Champion of common sense. Le bon David! Best friend of Adam Smith!

One of the towering figures of Scottish Enlightenment!

Immanuel Kant: Beantwortung der Frage: Was ist Aufklärung?

Sehr empfehlenswert! Sapere Aude! Das ist wahrscheinlich das bei weitem kürzeste und bedeutendste Werk von Immanuel Kant!

"Aufklärung ist der Ausgang des Menschen aus seiner selbst verschuldeten Unmündigkeit. Unmündigkeit ist das Unvermögen, sich seines Verstandes ohne Leitung eines anderen zu bedienen. Selbstverschuldet ist diese Unmündigkeit, wenn die Ursache derselben nicht am Mangel des Verstandes, sondern der Entschließung und des Muthes liegt, sich seiner ohne Leitung eines andern zu bedienen. Sapere aude![2] Habe Muth dich deines eigenen Verstandes zu bedienen! ist also der Wahlspruch der Aufklärung. Faulheit und Feigheit sind die Ursachen, warum ein so großer Theil der Menschen, nachdem sie die Natur längst von fremder Leitung frei gesprochen (naturaliter majorennes), dennoch gerne Zeitlebens unmündig bleiben; und warum es Anderen so leicht wird, sich zu deren Vormündern aufzuwerfen. ..."

Beantwortung der Frage: Was ist Aufklärung? – Wikisource

BBC Documentary: The Secret of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony

Very recommendable! Great documentary! Music by and commentary with John Eliot Gardiner using authentic period instruments.

Caroline Of Ansbach Enlightenment

Posted: 2/9/2019

Recently, I watched this great video documentary by Lucy Worsley (Source 1) where I learnt some interesting things about Caroline of Ansbach.

With some exaggeration, I might compare this Queen of Great Britain with Frederick the Great of Prussia, except that Caroline preceded Frederick in promoting ideas of enlightenment or the monarch being the first servant of the state (German: erster Diener des Staates). Not least, it helped that she was German.

Here are some achievements of Caroline (Source 2 unless noted otherwise; emphasis added):

1. She rejected suitors
2. “Caroline was known for her political influence, which she exercised through and for [Robert] Walpole … Caroline advised her husband to retain Walpole as the leading minister.”
   Perhaps, her influence was seen even so dominant as to overshadow her husband as e.g. expressed in this famous satire of the time: “You may strut, dapper George, but 'twill all be in vain, We all know 'tis Queen Caroline, not you, that reign”
3. “Caroline had absorbed the liberal opinions of her mentor, Queen Sophia Charlotte of Prussia, and supported clemency for the Jacobites (supporters of the rival Stuart claim to the throne), freedom of the press, and freedom of speech in Parliament.”
4. “An investigation into the penal system uncovered widespread abuses, including cruel treatment and conspiracy in the escape of wealthy convicts. Caroline pressed Walpole for reform, largely unsuccessfully”
5. “As queen, she continued to surround herself with artists, writers and intellectuals.  ... supervised a more naturalistic design of the royal gardens by William Kent and Charles Bridgeman. In 1728, she rediscovered sets of sketches by Leonardo da Vinci and Hans Holbein that had been hidden in a drawer since the reign of William III.”
6. “As regent, Caroline considered the reprieve of Captain John Porteous [(by the way, the John Porteous story is quite a story in itself)], who had been convicted of murder in Edinburgh.”
7. “Queen Caroline, consort of George II, had been friend and patron to [Georg Friedrich] Handel for more than thirty years when she died in 1737. An accomplished amateur musician herself ...” (Source 4)
8. Here is how Georg Friedrich Handel’s expressed his devotion to or praise of Caroline: “She put on righteousness and it clothed her; her judgment was a robe and a diadem (Job 29:14) … She delivered the poor that cried, the fatherless and him that had none to help him (Job 29:12). Kindness, meekness and comfort were her tongue (Sirach 36:23); if there was any virtue, and if there was any praise, she thought on those things (Philippians 4:8).” (Source 4, 5)
9. “Lady Mary Wortley Montagu defied convention most memorably by introducing smallpox inoculation to Western medicine after witnessing it during her travels and stay in the Ottoman Empire. … Lady Mary was eager to spare her children, thus, in March 1718 she had her nearly five-year-old son, Edward, inoculated with the help of Embassy surgeon Charles Maitland … In April 1721, when a smallpox epidemic struck England, she had her daughter inoculated by Maitland, the same physician who had inoculated her son at the Embassy in Turkey, and publicised the event. … she persuaded Caroline of Ansbach to test the treatment. In August 1721, seven prisoners at Newgate Prison awaiting execution were offered the chance to undergo variolation instead of execution: they all survived and were released. Controversy over smallpox inoculation intensified; however, Caroline, Princess of Wales was convinced. The Princess's two daughters were successfully inoculated in April 1722 by French-born surgeon Claudius Amyand.[” (Source 3)
10. “... she sent her son ["Look, there he goes—that wretch!—that villain!—I wish the ground would open this moment and sink the monster to the lowest hole in hell!"] a message [in her final hours] of forgiveness through Walpole”

Sources:

1. The First Georgians The German Kings Who Made Britain Episode 2 with Lucy Worsley
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caroline_of_Ansbach
3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Mary_Wortley_Montagu
4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ways_of_Zion_Do_Mourn_/_Funeral_Anthem_for_Queen_Caroline
5. G.F. HÄNDEL: "The ways of Zion do mourn" HWV 264, Les Arts Florissants

The Two Sides Of Individual Liberty

Posted: 7/2/2018  Updated: 9/10/2018, 7/4/2018, 7/3/2018

Individual Rights & Duties

Individual liberty does not exist by itself, it comes with certain requirements. The two sides presented below are strictly complementary. You can not have one without the other. In particular the Other Side requires a lifelong and dedicated effort. Too many contemporary individuals expect to exercise their rights, but without the concomitant duties.

One Side	Other Side
Individual Liberty	Individual Responsibility
	Individual Self Reliance
	Individual Self Government (Discipline/Self Restraint)
	Individual Humility
	Individual Trust & Optimism
	Individual, Independent Thinking, Learning & Self Improvement

Many humans claim individual liberty for themselves, but ignore or even violate the Other Side. I call this the great conundrum of individual liberty. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Unfortunately, the ever bigger and growing government in Western democracies has increasingly destroyed the Other Side and thereby significantly reducing or maintaining little individual liberty. This is particularly and sadly true for the U.S.

Immanuel Kant On Individual Liberty

Immanuel Kant wrote a famous, short essay (published 1784): "Enlightenment is man's emergence from his self-incurred immaturity." (German: Der Ausgang des Menschen aus seiner selbstverschuldeten Unmündigkeit). To this day, many humans have not yet emerged as Kant had wished for! The customary english translation of Kant’s famous essay title is incorrect, but I cannot come up with a better translation at the moment. But Kant surely referred e.g. to individual responsibility and individual, independent learning and thinking.

Great Individual Responsibility

With individual liberty comes great individual responsibility for oneself, others, and nature. If you make a mistake don’t blame anyone else, but admit it and correct it.

Too many contemporaries do not accept the attendant individual responsibility or they apply individual responsibility only very inconsistently.

Unfortunately, Western democracies have greatly ruined this aspect of individual liberty by e.g. way too lenient criminal or civil punishment! In other words, the elected representatives have chosen to rather absolve acts of individual irresponsibility.

Just a brief (hypothetical) example: Imagine for a moment, there were no speed limits, but only speed guidances for motor vehicle drivers. Then if someone drove say 30% over the speed guidance and injures fellow human beings what should his/her punishment be?

Individual Self Reliance

Individual self reliance does not mean that individuals do not voluntarily form or become members of associations to help each other. Individual self reliance does not deny or prevent charity towards others in need. Au contraire, individual liberty and responsibility strongly suggest to help where you can.

E.g. the modern welfare state is the opposite and a subversion of individual self reliance. It has greatly contributed to the destruction of individual liberty.

Individual Self Government

If you cannot e.g. control your passions and prejudices, then individual liberty is not for you!

Immodesty, self righteousness, overconfidence, and excessive pride are all enemies of individual liberty and run afoul of self government.

The Long British Tryst With Socialism Began As Early As 1802

Posted: 10/28/2017

Trigger

Recently saw a history documentary that mentioned the Factories Act of 1847. Wow, this early the British politicians opted for socialist measures? Was there more to it? Did this massive government intervention into private businesses even start earlier?

Motivation

Obviously, for over a 100 years Western countries have adopted many socialist concepts and poured them into one size fits all legislation for all citizens to suffer from to this day. But how early, where, and through which measures etc.?

Many are familiar with the German influence in the late 19th century on spreading socialism through politics and by academics. Keywords: Bismarck, Kathedersozialismus.

Probably, less well known is the significant influence of the British Empire on the implementation and spread of Socialism.

A Conspiracy Of Counter Revolutionaries & Well Meaning Humanitarians

For fear of violent or militant revolutions, British politicians, who wanted to remain in power and control, caved in to socialist measures and acquiesced.

As usual, influential, but naive humanitarians saw it opportune to impose socialist measures on the citizens. It is one thing to abolish slavery, but it is quite another thing to impose e.g. strict working hours on all adult males and females.

Unfortunately, thanks to this powerful long lasting conspiracy, many citizens of the Western world have been brainwashed by government run mandatory public education starting since at least the second half of the 19th century. How convenient!

The British Health And Morals Of Apprentices Act Of 1802

This is the earliest example that I so far could find on how socialism was introduced in Great Britain. Also known as the Factory Act of 1802. It was perhaps the earliest act to address child labor in the still nascent industrial age.

Like most government interventions against individual liberty, it started small and later grew bigger. This law focused only on apprentices in the cotton mill industry.

It was none other than famous Sir Robert Peel who promoted this act. Peel himself owned such a cotton mill. So how much was he interested in the well being of children versus trying to minimize competition to his business?

I conjecture that child labor was considered normal and very acceptable for thousands of years. Was child labor indeed so harmful, exploitative, and brutal as it is officially represented for over 200 years now? Or was it not also a very important education for children about how the world works and to come into contact with other adults and children?

Vicious Spiral Of Government Intervention

It has been reported that the early Factory Acts were not very effective. Guess what, a series of more restrictive laws followed with ever expanding coverage, mandating more inspections etc.  Sounds familiar?

You know the rest of the story … (a reminiscence of the much cherished radio personality Paul Harvey)

Consequences Or The Tragic Betrayal Of The Enlightenment

Does it then surprise anyone that of all countries, the United Kingdom has a nationalised healthcare system (National Health Service) since 1946?

Does it surprise that the welfare state took off latest with the end of the World War II?

What would Adam Smith say today about this? Immanuel Kant and Voltaire are very sad for a long time!

Reader Beware

Unfortunately, I do not have the time to research this topic further and in more detail.

Sources:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_and_Morals_of_Apprentices_Act_1802
2. http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/resources/1833-factory-act/
3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Factories_Act_1847

The Fallacy Of Empathy

Posted: 4/26/2015

Claim Of Moral Superiority

U.S. President Barack Obama argued empathy as a criterion to nominate Sonia Sotomayor to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Some opponents of capital punishment claim empathy when arguing against such punishment.

Are these and other examples implicit claims of moral superiority over rationality? It sure looks like it.

Reason Trumps Empathy

Empathy can easily be an expression of regression towards the Dark Ages!

Empathy often commits injustice, because of bias and prejudice.

Empathy can easily lead to preferential treatment of some people over other people in similar circumstances or situations. Empathy is selective!

Empathy can easily make one blind and cloud one’s judgement.

Rationality or reason is not without empathy or compassion, but it is consciousness to strive towards more balance and justice for all. Rationality without empathy is without conscience.

Equanimity comes easier with rationality than with empathy.

Evolution Of Sympathy

Emphatic people are commonly more liked than rational people, because reason is still in short supply.

Human evolution has been slow over the past 2-3 million years. Rationality is perhaps only 3-5 thousand years old, but the evolution or reason has been and continues to be much faster.

Animal Rights Fanaticism

Abusement Parks

Just (1/20/2014) learnt a new word from our animal lovers: Abusement parks and do not support them.

This is the language of Nazis. Propaganda of the worst kind!

Voltaire Fought Fanaticism

Appears the great French philosopher did not succeed in his lifetime nor beyond. Voltaire said it best that fanatics can not be reasoned with.

Enlightenment aimed at exposing superstition and intolerance of any kind. However,  as Voltaire had feared before he died, humans are slow learners and those in power like it that way.

Even in our days, we still encounter everywhere fanatics of all kinds who actually do or would perhaps go so far as to kill another human being for their fanatical views.

Fanatics Are Violent By Nature

Animal rights fanatics are very intolerant and so self righteous.

Their language and intentions are violent against other humans. When, e.g.  they talk about hunters you get the picture.

In the past, they have resorted to vandalism, sabotage, and arson.

What distinguishes Muslim fanatics of e.g. the Osama bin Laden kind and animal rights fanatics? Nothing!

Appeasement

Do our governments appease animal rights fanatics, because otherwise they would commit more terrorism as they already have?

Just In Case

Most reasonable people probably can agree on following:

1. Of course, all animals and plants should be treated with respect and dignity. They are God’s creations.
2. Wanton killing or killing for fun of animals is deplorable.
3. Excessive destruction of plants for no good reason is deplorable

Human Primal Fear And Irrationality

The German Urangst

When you Bing or Google either term, i.e. “primal fear” or “urangst”, you will not be very successful but finding a same name movie from 1996.

The German language Wikipedia has an entry for “urangst”. This article refers to Sigmund Freud’s understanding of Urangst, which he views as resulting from the act of birth. Curiously, Wikipedia does not have a link to a corresponding article in English. The English language Wikipedia disambiguates the term “primal fear” only as the movie, a novel, a German heavy metal band and so on.

Sometimes it is beneficial to be fluent in more than one language, because in some cases the people of one language have expressed an important concept better than the other people and vice versa. I would suggest that the German language “Urangst” and its lesser developed English language counterpart “primal fear” is such a case.

Another Interpretation Of Primal Fear

I would postulate that all humans suffer to some degree of primal fear (not necessarily related to their birth) as an important part of their self preservation instinct.

Presumably, primal fear like love, language or music is one common universal denominator among human beings.

It is probably primal fear that contributes to the age old human extinction scenarios (e.g. apocalypse or doomsday). E.g. environmentalism (a pseudo religion of our time), overpopulationism etc. are probably inspired by primal fears.

Presumably, primal fears are often not admitted or concealed.

Consequences Of Primal Fear

Primal fears can be your worst enemy!

The Age of Reason or Enlightenment and what followed presumably did little to reduce the primal fear of humans. Consequently, to this day superstition and irrationality of humans govern their lives and are a daily fact of life.

Representative democracy is too often not much more than an excessive outpouring of those fears or the exploitation of these primal fears of constituents cloaked in pseudo rational arguments besides staying in power and serving vested interests.

Primal fear tends to elicit bad or worse remedies outweighing the perceived fears. Overreactions are too frequently the outcome.

To Counter Primal Fear

Start with better and more private education of the people at every age! Education should become more interesting to people than trivial entertainment! As they say, the mind is a terrible thing to waste.

More individual freedom, accountability AND responsibility to set free the potential of each human being!

Start with more participation of the people in government, e.g. by strict and short term limits for everyone in public office or service to increase personnel rotation and the chances of more people taking part in government affairs.

No public office should be automatically restricted/reserved to people with special formal education or certification (e.g. teachers, judges, doctors etc.).

I am sure, I am missing something. J

Time For A New Era Of Enlightenment

Past Great Minds

Just a few names:

Friedrich Hayek died 1992.

Ludwig von Mises died 1973.

Alexis de Tocqueville died in 1859.

James Madison died 1836.

Thomas Jefferson died 1826.

Benjamin Franklin and Adam Smith died 1790.

Where are the new great minds?

Recent Lessons Of History Forgotten

Ronald Reagan said it best: “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction”. How true!

World War II or the victory of freedom over totalitarian regimes. Those who witnessed it have either died or are very old by now. However totalitarian regimes are still around.

There are fewer totalitarian regimes than compared with a few decades ago, but Big Government is on the march and ever expanding in many developed countries.

Ominous Omens Of Our Times

We have entered an era of ignorance, arrogance and delusion of government power:

·         European politicians breach major European contracts with impunity, the courts look the other way.

·         US and European politicians and bureaucrats bail out so called too big to fail financial companies instead of allowing bankruptcy to take its course.

·         Major central banks lowered twice in a decade key short term interest rates to recklessly low levels for too long fueling speculation and indebtedness.

·         Irresponsible politicians in the US and Europe have run up government debt to incredible peace time levels.

·         In the 21^st century, a US President in collaboration with a democratic majority in the US Congress tries to outdo the horrible New Deal of Franklin Delano Roosevelt by, e.g., further nationalizing the health care system of the USA.