An intellectual dialogue

In this blog entry, I will discuss some concept of phylosophy, art and history, including quotes and citations, with the purpose of passing along a "luggage" of culture for the new generations. 

Let's have an Intellectual Dialogue:

To be a man is to embark on a journey with a clear goal but an uncertain path. A path riddled with dangers, traps and vicious creatures aiming at the demise of the brave traveller. 

But how to venture in a victorious way in this path?

It was the great Eraclitus, over 400 years before Christ, that discussed stoicism, to own your emotions and keep them in control, reaching towards atharassia, the equilibrium and peace resulting from emotional control and stability (opposite of hedonism).

After Eraclitus, Socrates laid the foundations of western philosophy. The socratic dialogue regarding questions and argumentation and finding faults in order to truly understand it. Keeping within the timeline of 400-300 BC, Plato took on the task of delving deep into logic and rationality and philosophy, with the concept of Plato’s cave and the mysterious and evil shadows beguiling the naive and gullibles. Aristotle, his pupil, mentored Alexander the great (king of the Greek kingdom of Macedonia), focusing on logic and reasoning. 

The roman empire, with 1000 years difference in terms of their end, adopted the christian religion approximately in the 300s AD. Key events included the battle of Antium, seeing Cleopatra and Marc Anthony against Octavius. Or, the presence of a slave near Marcus Aurelius whispering to the emperor’s ear “You are just a man!” to keep him humble and rooted in the humanity that is his ground. 

And there we are in the enlightenment. “Fiat iustitia et pereat mundus”, a phrase from the roman empire often used by Emmanuel Kant in the 1500s, devoted to the use of logic and enlightenment. But what is Justice? I believe morality, God’s testament and firm boundaries of the law is to guide us in this discussion. 

At the same time science and art had their own pioneers. Galileo Galilei with the empiric methodology and telescope (heliocentricity). Newton with gravity. Dante and Guido Cavalcanti discussing the two sides of love, a passionate love for guido cavalcanti and a more logic-oriented with Dante.

1800 - my personal favorite period of literature. A world of vivid romance books and dark gothic novels flood the beautiful literature landscape of the time.

In France, Alexandre Dumas sr and jr forever affected romance novels with their captivating and wise writing. “A difference from a traitor and a patriot is a matter of historic timeline”

In Germany, Goethe and Hoffman delved deep in the ideas of suffering, evil and thoughts.

In Italy Fogazzaro gave a deep and vivid description of northern Italy in the 1800s.

In the UK and USA, Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker, Jane Austen, Beatrix Potter, Arthur Matchen, EA Poe, Stevenson, Clarck Ashton Smith, HP Lovecraft, Hawthorne… gave so much to dark gothic and “pink” novels.

“Carpe Diem” and “Fate Vobis”... sometimes these concepts have to be applied for a balanced diet. An equilibrium of the soul. Keep cool minded in urgent situations but still passionate and with intent as you live life to try and add novelty and discovery to the pool of knowledge of humanity. 

People will hate and try do evil things against you, as the Lord Jesus said, “if you are being hated, remember they hated me first”

Life will be the greatest teacher and as Hayao Miyazaki said, “the importance of living your moments”.

There is an importance on how we express ourselves, also in terms of our physical appearance and clothing. In the bible in the exodus, God says that some individuals were gifted from Him in working with gold, silver, and bronze; cutting and setting jewels; carving wood; and embroidery. Faith is an enhancer of our abilities to express ourselves. It is not a sin. We are humans with emotions and feelings.

In Jeremiah, it is said “Cursed is the one who trusts in men”. Trust in God and protect your family.

Be yourself and have no idols in this world. You are unique and special and need to do good. Being good is different from being a fool. It is having the stoicism and strength to help yourself and others.r.