Click P-ology Blog for summary of my new philosophy.
Click Blogging Blog to see how philosophy can apply to computing.

INTRODUCTION

The great philosophers of the past made many errors, leading to ideas that caused all the wars that were not caused by the politics of religion. So severe were their errors that there is an attitude in the world today that says we must not think too deeply. This is rubbish. We should think more - but do so in a way the philosophers of the past did not. Their big mistake was not to demand moderation. So here’s a simple statement:

All the philosophy in all the world is not worth the spilling of a drop of blood.

Also includes PSYCHOLOGY

Or rather psycho-sociology, as I like to call it. Let me explain. I am not sold on the idea that we are ‘individuals’. It seems to me that we are all an amalgam of outside influences, built up into our psyche throughout our lives. What we call the ‘individual’ is simply the pattern into which these influences fall. Hence, to truly understand our psychology, we have to also look at our sociology. The two are one and the same.

Anthony North

The following essays are on this page:

Why Are We Here? - It is a question that has been at the heart of the human experience, but maybe the problem is to try to understand us as mere humans. Maybe, if we put ourselves in a planetary context, an answer is possible.

The Age of Icons - Can an understanding of the role of iconic images tell us how society and culture is formed? If so, is it true to all times?

The Cultural Catalyst - What is the nature of genius? Is it down to the person, or outer influences? And does his work have a role in social evolution?

The Error of the Individual - Is individuality a reality or is it simply a con, the true individual being nothing more than the person the established system wants us to be?

Evil and Morality - Does evil have a real existence or can it be explained by psychology or politics? Further, how do we provide a new morality to replace the religious to fight the urges thought to be evil?

The Rebel - New knowledge usually comes from outside the field of expertise. For this reason, rebels are needed, but they need to learn important lessons. The first is about moderation; the second is that knowledge is biased against them.

Explaining P-ology - Is our knowledge the hard concept we believe, or is it based on a fallacy? Further, does ‘established’ knowledge really deserve the authority it gets? Or do we need a new way of thinking?

Knowledge - Reason or Belief? - We see our knowledge as the defining proof of our rationality. But a close inspection of how our knowledge grows tells a different story - a story of insanity and emotion.

Gaining Confidence - How confident is the supposedly confident man? Perhaps what you see is a mask, hiding an under-confidence that can be crippling.

Are Celebrities Mental? - Do celebrities have personalities as we do, or are they mere reflections within an all-pervasive media? Indeed, is it a process that exists throughout history?

The Mask - From where does insanity come? Could it come from the fact that we are necessarily two people - one the ‘inner’ person, and the other a ‘mask’ that must deal with society?

Chaotic Minds - We think of our mind as a coordinated entity, but is this true? Here, I analyse elements of ‘mind’ to show how, really, we are a cauldron of different ’selves.’

Bye, Bye Love - Is love still alive in modern society or have we changed the way we relate to the concept of love? If so, can love be the great feeling it used to be?

ASPECTS OF US

1 Dec 07 - Friendship
10 Nov 07 - Love
13 Aug 07 - Humour
4 Jun 07 - Fear
15 May 07 - Benevolence