On the topic of Introductions and Preparations

In hopes that I can accomplish the task I am setting before myself, I suppose it would be advisable to start with some measure of preparation before I dive in.

Perhaps, an introduction to my goal?

With the rest of the time I have outside of the formal realm of education, I seek to re-immerse myself into the world of philosophy. I have my collection of books from the last couple years of class at York, and every time I go through a class, I'm almost saddened by the amount that we skip over. We read what the professor wants us to read, but between the many classes, I suppose there really isn't time enough to read it all.

So I seek, in the six months I have before my return to the academic life in September, to return to these texts that I loved but did not have the time to fully appreciate.

I have three texts that I want to read in that time, the first is Philosophy: The Quest For Truth, by Pojman, which is a book designed to expose a person to all types of philosophy. Although I haven't read any of this in over two years, I think this is a good place to start this little endeavor. It covers a small portion of virtually ever type and subtype of philosophy out there.

The other two are volumes specific to my two specialties, human nature, and ethics. I'm already doing at least some mild brain storming for my final thesis, and I know its going to be an exploration of those two, how they are sought after to be in one's life together and with some measure of peace, but how they are almost impossible combine into a person's life. Either way, that's for another time...

And so, my plan! I seek to read, and write of what I read. Given the wonderful amount of time that working as a RWO provides for me, I seek to do one complete reading, and one complete analytical write-up per shift. I have about seven hours to do that, so between a movie, random socialising, and the attempt explore those great minds, I ought to have just enough time.

That being said, I will write tentatively three or four times a week.

The reasons I want to take up this project are varied of course. I suppose primarily, I believe that the current lifestyle I am in, which consists of working ridiculous hours, working out, sleeping, and then filling in time where I can, is unsatisfying given the time I've put in academicly. And I'm worried that after a year off, I'll have forgotten much that I wanted to remember...

I was told that a blog is a "neat" way to go about this as well given the ability for people to respond and debate. So as long as no one tries to stab me or my ideas in the face, I'm content to try that out.. I've a very open mind. I'm just here to explore what's out there, and keep a record of my findings. And if I step on any toes, I do humbly apologise. But I've got Genevieve to prove that we can talk about just about anything without such toe stepping *tips hat* so I think that ought be fine.

The preparations then...

The text provides something that I liked when I saw some years ago, and only now *counts on fingers* three and a half years later, am seeing again.

The Ten Commandments of Philosophy
[whereby the titles and ideas of the following are quotations and ideas taken from Philosophy: The Quest For Truth.]

1. Allow the spirit of Wonder to flourish in your breast. Be curious, about the world, about life, about death, about god, about love, about everything... It is curiosity for all things without answers that leads us to those discoveries.

2. Doubt every claim you encourter until the evidence convinces you of its Truth. Be moderately skeptical, without being rude of course, as there is much untruth out there, and many who falsely believe they have it. If we believed every detail we heard, we would seek nothing more.

3. Love the Truth. It is the love for truth that fuels the curiosity, so seek what you love and love what you seek.

4. Divide and Conquer. Simplify each problem until you are dealing with just a single unit. In that
way we take upon ourselves reasonable chalenges and are not swamped with overbearing problems, and our motivation will not falter.

5. Collect and Construct. The arguments must be built out of substantial and simple ideas, and work towards ideas that exponentially more complex.

6. Conjecture and Refute. Seek out the antithesis yourself, don't wait for others to easily disprove anything. Look for ways your ideas could be argued, and take all into your writing.

7. Revise and Rebuild. Be completely and entirely willing to accept that you are wrong. That an original idea came from us does not mean it is inherently correct. A philosopher who cannot accept that he is not wrong, is incapable of growth. [its this guy that makes #2 so dangerous]

8. Seek Simplicity. Make things as simple as they can be. A simple argument does not need to be made to sound complex to be correct, it will likely just confuse more.

9. Live the Truth. Take from your life to learn what you can.

10. Live the Good. Take what you learn and live it in your life.

And so we have the foundations for our quest for truth. I'll use these ten guidelines in my writings, especially #9, to find, understand, explain, and explore all that I read, and hopefully, I will find something of value to share along my way.