‘We require more Mindfulness and Discipline’ – Daniel Schmachtenber

Don’t skip this post or you will miss a great Poem.

I wrote in a previous post that my favourite philosophical debate was Sam Harris and Jordan Peterson arguing ‘What is True’. Since its release it has become widely recognised as the most despised and disdained talk (even admitted to by the speakers themselves) because of their apparent irreconcilability of encroaching or even entertaining the other’s world view. They would thereafter try to immerse themselves into the other’s world-view by holding 4 public debates whereby they went to task to ‘steelman’ their opponent’s arguments and that seemed more palatable to the public and individual speakers.

I always found their original debate more intriguing than anything else they subsequently did together. Basically Harris and Peterson were fighting intellectually about who’s world-view was most necessary in these times especially in the Western World. For me it remains a record of ‘Ontological Shock‘ because I as an individual began to harness more about philosophy in general by truly engaging in each speaker’s contrasting world-view narratives.

The only other interview I have found on par with the above is a recent discussion which took place between Daniel Schmachtenberger and Brett Weinstein but it is epistemologically so very different, but also brazen. People don’t ordinarily want heavy things to talk about or let alone listen to especially given these times, but I would argue that it’s all the more reason to give yourself the permission to be an outlier and challenge every being of yourself about what you think you feel. This talk Daniel Schmachtenberger & Bret Weinstein will take time to sink in.

If you can get past the first 30 minutes or so about how we might be lucky to get out of the present threat of an unfortunate annihilation of the human species based on what we currently know including Drones and Biological weapons, then I am sure you will enjoy the rest. I’m on my second run through the interview and I’m finding great quotes. The latest I found from Daniel doesn’t get much better with regards to modern society.

‘Porn and online dating is to intimate relationships what Facebook and Twitter is to tribal bonding’

These open conservations are lacking in society and we tend to dehumanize others if their views don’t equate to our team. We should be trying to find synchronicity between our views just like what Harris and Peterson did. We have to come together and find a compromise and be open to learn from the other. Tribal unison of common values is necessary, despite how social media is doing its utmost to tear us apart and call the other one evil.

I read a great poem just earlier by the Intellectual Shaman which reminded me how Atticus Finch commented on Mrs Dubose’s flowers in To Kill a Mockingbird

The poem reads:

what if

you talk to people who don’t listen

and

what if

your fate is decided by fools

and

what if

every good thing is equally given

Content

not to have any rules

and what if

the powers that be

stay in power

by propping up fools

what can you do

that hasn’t been done

already

do you double down on your anger

or do you let it all go

Surrendering

to the wind

Maybe, you lie down in a quiet room

year after year

and wait for the weather to change

but you change

whether or not

the weather changes

and you can’t wait on your life

So, it is best to become good

inside

and people will like you

even though,

they don’t know why

their angry looks

will die

their treachery

digs tunnels

underground

where you

escape

where the falsely humble

placate;

You

placate no one.

Fools have left you

alone

to let others

shower them with praise

so, they

can wash off

their dirty sense of self

NEVER

becoming clean

and your escape,

is a beautiful thing

no ugly walls

no ugly faces

no ugly conversations

just the good

inside

you have been

practicing

and you don’t need

them.

Perhaps,

they wonder why?

But it doesn’t matter to you

You are alive.