“Critical thinking without hope is cynicism. Hope without critical thinking is naïveté.” Maria Popova
Nurture Yourself – by Loving Yourself by Inside the Mind of Isadora (BLW Contributor
Grandma thought the iPad was a cutting board
Leader of the Pack (Business Philosophy) – Build your own Roads
Why’s Everybody Hiding
I love it when I come into contact with real people, that are not afraid to be their true self. Here’s a story of an inquisitive young man. As he walks out into the world he sees seemingly everyone running around frantically everywhere, trying to find a good hiding place. He calls out to one of them why’s everybody hiding? The man replies, we have to hide or the one of the monsters will terrorize us. What monsters he says? Conformity, Judgement, Gossip, and the Politically Correct monster. That doesn’t make much sense because this is all wide open space and there are really no good hiding places. The man says, we just pretend to be something else, like a tree or a car. The young man shakes his head a little and say’s that’s ridiculous, it’s obvious to everyone, that all of you people are pretending to be something…
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Fascinating maps of what people tweet about in Istanbul, Baltimore, Barcelona and more
Values and Virtues
Virtue based ethics can be interpreted many ways since there is such a variation of moral beliefs and various definitions of what is virtuous. For the most part virtue ethics has advantages since there is many universal virtues or much common ground when it comes to what is ethical. The biggest disadvantage is that there are differences among cultures, times in history, and even in between groups, organizations, tribes, and families in certain types of virtue based beliefs. I believe Kant’s duty-based theory overlaps and is very easily integrated with virtue ethics since most duties are virtue based. As I explore more about virtue based ethics and Kant’s theories in this blog I will expound on how these two belief systems could be merged.
It is pretty easy to explore virtue ethics from a deontological and a consequentialist viewpoint. Under deontology it is simple to see virtues as rules of what is right and wrong and that an individual has a duty to honor such virtues for personal peace and to serve a greater good. Through the viewpoint of consequentialism it also seems clear that the majority of results or consequences that are good or virtuous can only come through actions that are also virtuous, good, or right.
Based on Kant’s Doctrine of Virtue and his duty-based theory a person can only be truly happy and have their life flourish if they are living in accordance to their virtues and duty to honor and respect themselves and others. Where so many people have a commonality among their beliefs of what are acceptable or even expected norms as far as what are virtuous beliefs, intentions, and actions/behaviors it seems that the world would be far more peaceful if everyone lived up to this duty to honor self and others. This level of commitment to others would even go farther if everyone also honored the universe in a similar fashion. By universe I mean animals, nature, mother nature, the earth, places, things, cultures, etc., etc..
As stated above I believe Immanuel Kant’s duty-based theory fits hand in glove with virtue based ethics since the responsibility to honor or serve something greater than yourself comes as part of virtue or values based belief system. Both Plato and Aristotle spoke and taught of virtue based beliefs being a motivation for much of what a person thought, said, and did. So many Eastern based philosophies are based on doing what is good for self and others because it is the only way one can have peace and happiness. Many spiritual and religious beliefs are based on doing unto others as you would want done unto yourself. In most cultures common virtues such as generosity, loyalty, honesty, and courage are aspired to.
Approaching life with a goal to live a more virtue centered life may at times have the dilemma of potential ethnocentrism, where we judge others as we judge ourselves, wanting us all to fit perceived norms and expectations. It would seem one of the most important parts of virtue ethics and duty-based living is to value openness and forgiveness with ourselves and others and let go of those rigid expectations. We will never have the peace, joy, and love in our life we often seek if we cannot be satisfied enough to be happy, while still remaining unsatisfied enough to continue growth. Self-acceptance, and the acceptance of others “as they are” may be the highest virtue of all.
Just Being a Human Being
Today I just sit here a bit chill
know great advice or wisdom to spill
sometimes I come off a little prophetic
other times I feel pathetic
a bunch of words on a page from a rambling mind that has run
all the things I’ve said and done
when I write things down is it just for fun
I hope I could make a difference and help someone
it doesn’t need to be many, I’d do it for any
the only reward in what I write is to possibly help people in their plight
I’m not full of myself or think I’m too bright
I’ve been provided these tools by others which help me live right
I’m not a robot that goes on emotionless, without feeling
I feel good today, not up, not down, I’m dealing
enough for now we all need time for healing
so I will sit here…
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M(3), 12/8: Tweak Your Routine, Transform Your Life
The reading selection I used in today’s meeting can be found in the book Living Sober. We read chapter 8: Changing Old Routines. The chapter gives a whole slew of tips designed to help the newly sober avoid the people, places and things that may trigger a desire to drink. Some of the tips include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Drive a new route to and/or from work in order to avoid a beloved drinking establishment
- Shift shopping times, shopping places, and shake up your typical daily to-do list
- Avoid, in the short-term, regular “drinking buddies”
- Create a new after-work routine: brew some tea or coffee, change your clothes, head out for a walk or some exercise
- If drinking in front of the television at night was your thing, switch rooms, switch activities, or both
- Change brands of toothpaste and mouthwash for a fresh new way to start…
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Four Legged Running Partners
Oh boy do I have exciting news! After years of wanting a dog, we finally fell head over heels for a little guy. After a long period of careful research and scouring shelters around the Chicagoland area, we found the perfect match. Meet Louie Z., named after the great Louis Zamperini.
Louie was born in Kentucky and brought to the Chicago area in September as a group of three litters of puppies who were very sick with Parvo. He spent the last few months in quarantine and went from a measly 8 pounds to a whopping 27 to date. Because he was such a strong survivor and we have high hopes of having him join us soon on our runs, we decided to name him after a great runner and infamous survivor.
Louie is still just a bit too young to start running but there are a few things you can do…
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Vision-Logic 