The Chuang-Tzu

So I've been thinking about how the Stoic concept of the "Logos" (reason infusing the universe), the Taoist "Li" (organic pattern), and modern complex systems theory are addressing only slightly different aspects of the same concept. My goal is to integrate Complexity into a larger philosophy, in which it will play a similar role that Logos and Li play in Stoicism and Taoism.

In doing so, I was left wondering how all of these realizations about Complexity are supposed to affect our daily lives and how we approach life. I have some good ideas, but I thought a good way to investigate this would be to see exactly how the Logos and Li is supposed to affect practitioners' lives. Since the concepts are so similar, then the way they fit into their philosophies must also be similar to how Complexity should fit into mine.

I have a pretty good idea about Logos, but I had no idea how the Li was supposed to affect a Taoist's life. Fortunately, a poster called Vajradhara over at the Comparative Religion Forums answered my question on this, by directing me to the Chuang-Tzu. This is a Taoist writing which is meant to address how knowledge of the Li affects our lives.

I've only just begun reading this translation, but I think it will be quite helpful.

What is Chaos?

Here is an excellent and brief explanation of Chaos Theory that I just discovered...

http://order.ph.utexas.edu/chaos/index.html

Complex Systems Diagram

I found a nice diagram of a Complex System, along with an ok article on Complex Systems over at Wikipedia...

All Revved Up And Nothing To Think

In hearing about the sentencing of Edgar Ray Killen for the 1964 murders of civil rights workers James Chaney, Michael Schwerner, and Andrew Goodman, something occurred to me. There are an awful lot of news stories out there that make you feel strongly, but you don't know exactly what to feel, or who to feel it for.

In so many cases, we don't really get to know everything we should to make an informed judgment. Even if we were in the court, there would be a question as to whether or not certain bits of information should or shouldn't have been presented. So, whether or not juries even make informed judgments is a matter of debate, much less we folks sitting at home hearing only highlights.

If you ask me what should happen to racists and murderers I'm quite clear on the matter. But what was presented in court? Did the evidence really support the sentence? It certainly could have. Or, it could have been a case of an overzealous system trying to cleanse itself of a shameful past so much that it's willing to overlook "minor details" regarding due process and proof. I really have no idea and both scenarios evoke strong feelings.

And, no matter how much I read in the news stories, most of them just don't give me the raw data I need. I know who was charged, what they're alleged to have done, who cried, what they looked like, and what all the different people involved have to say about it in sound bites. But where is the list of all the evidence and arguments presented in court in two columns (defense and prosecution) for me to evaluate? Sure, I might be able to investigate this, but the general public isn't going to do that or hear about it most of the time - isn't that why we have a press?

Certainly, I'm not in the jury so what I think hardly matters to the case. But these sorts of stories immediately give you strong feelings about racism, justice, civil rights, due process, and more. If our opinions aren't important enough to include the relevant facts in a news report, then one has to wonder why we need to hear about these things at all? So that we can be as emotionally stirred about our under-informed opinions as possible?

Here we are with another story that, by its very nature, is emotionally charged. We're not one bit short on opinions, emotions, and convictions - only facts. Is this a case of the media informing the public or inflaming the public?

By the way: If you've got an opinion about this particular case and want to settle my confusion by telling me 'how it is' don't bother - that's really beside the point of this post, which is that the media doesn't give enough of the important facts in most emotionally charged cases. I'm not looking for others' lists of facts on this one example.

Congress Tries to Make Itself Look Useful

What do you do when you're a Congress that's too ineffective to pass meaningful legislation and too ideological to reach agreement on important issues? You pass whatever "feel good" ridiculous nonsense you can. Nonsense which, at best, is completely meaningless and, at worst, an obscene restriction on individual liberty.

I was naive enough to think that all of the flag-burning ban talk had finally died a well-deserved death. Apparently, it is back in the House of Representatives with H.J. Res 10. Unfortunately, it looks like it actually has a chance of passing in the Senate as well this time. It seems the proponents of this monstrosity are trying to take advantage of the post 9/11 patriotism with vulgar emotional appeals proclaiming to speak for the people who died on that day. If they were really patriotic then they would stop trying to figuratively burn the flag with this garbage. What's worse is that this isn't some random legislation, but an actual amendment (the type of thing we've only had to do 27 times in the history of the nation, which has generally taken place to expand liberty, not restrict it). Can Congress think of nothing better to spend their time on?

Here's an article talking about this:
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&e=4&u=/ap/20050622/ap_on_go_co/flag_burning

And here's a place where you can contact your representatives and tell them to stop playing around and get to work:
http://www.house.gov/writerep/

Conway's Game of Life

One of the things complex systems theorists have come to understand is that the complex patterns we see in nature arise out of several components acting by a fairly simple set of rules. Conway's Game of Life is a program which illustrates this point (usually using just three rules, which I believe is standard although other rule-sets exist). Grasping this and other concepts about Complexity is key to understanding how a complex and intricate universe can emerge from such simple components.

After opening up the program at the address below, click on several squares in various patterns and then hit the "go" button. You may be surprised to see how complex the interactions can get!

http://www.ibiblio.org/lifepatterns/

On Guard Against Ourselves

Dr. Keith Seddon has recently posted an interesting quote from the Stoic philosopher Epictetus, from Handbook 48...

[1] The condition and character of the uneducated person is this: they neverlook for benefit or harm to come from themselves, but from external things.The condition and character of the philosopher is this: they look for everybenefit and harm to come from themselves. [2] The signs that someone ismaking progress are these: they blame no one, they praise no one, they findfault with no one, they accuse no one, they never say anything of themselvesas though they amount to something or know anything. When they are impededor hindered, they blame themselves. If someone praises them, they laughinwardly at the person who praises them, and if anyone censures them, theymake no defence. They go about as if they were sick, cautious not to disturbwhat is healing before they are fully recovered. [3] They have ridthemselves of all desires, and have transferred their aversion to only thosethings contrary to nature that are in our power. They have no strongpreferences in regard to anything. If they appear foolish or ignorant, theydo not care. In a word, they keep guard over themselves as though they aretheir own enemy lying in wait.

Philosophy Radio

I found the most wonderful site the other day. It's a collection of radio programs on various philosophy subjects. I've already listened to a few and plane to listen to more. The site can be found at...

http://www.angelfire.com/ego/philosophyradio/

In particular, I would recommend the discussion on "The Origins of Virtue" which covers some of the logical basis of why many of our concepts of virtue and behavior toward such developed.

Beyond Empiricism?

Recently I had a very interesting conversation with several people about Empiricism, started by Nigel on the International Stoic Forum. I've just edited the entire thing into one document, which can be read on my philosophy site, or by clicking here. Comments welcome.

Rick on Empiricism

One again, Rick on the Stoic Forum has impressed me with his eloquence. In his latest message, Rick explains what the Positivist Empirical approach is. I would agree with every word exactly as he wrote, so I'll simply place the link...

Rick's Response on Empiricism