Objectivity: Can it be actualized?

Posted: August 27, 2010 by Steven Burleson in Philosophy, Politics
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Left and Right. Partisan politics divide families, countries, friendships, and even individuals. Many of those on the Left look down on those who ascribe to a religious group’s dogma or sacred text as “backward” or “tribal” (though the progressive leftist religious group seems to be becoming more prominent in recent years) and many on the Right look on the Left and cry out against those who are “moral-less.” It turns out often that both parties are often religious in one way or another whether their sacred text be a Bible, person, news channel, or the New York Times.

I was reading Alasdair MacIntyre’s “Whose Justice? Which Rationality?” in which he speaks about the differences we have centered around Justice.  How do we do justice? Who is right about how we should do it? It is often supposed that the most rational argument should win the day, but opinions concerning Reason and Rationality can often be as diverse as those opinions on Justice. The question becomes: “Can any person actually stand apart, disembodied from all of culture, emotion and history and be completely objective concerning Justice (or any other thing)?”

I don’t think we can.

This is why humility is so important.

Mega Post: Days 50- 72 of Simple Manifesto!!!

Posted: August 27, 2010 by Steven Burleson in Simplicity
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So, many of you know that I have been blogging the simple manifesto (72 points). It has not been an easy road over the past months. Busyness has crept in and overwhelmed me and I have not had the chance to blog as much. There are many things I want to write about this school year, but I want to also finish up my commitment to blog about the 72 points of the simple living manifesto. Here we go. A mega- post. On the last chunk of points!

50. Reduce your consumption of advertising. Advertising makes us want things. That’s what it’s designed to do, and it works. Find ways to reduce your exposure of advertising, whether that’s in print, online, broadcast, or elsewhere. You’ll want much less.

You know what I did? Gave away all my TVs. That helps. And I don’t even miss it! Other advertising avenues I still have open to me (Internet, radio, and everything in the outside world).

51. Live life more deliberately. Do every task slowly, with ease, paying full attention to what you’re doing.

I work slowly already. I’m really particular about things, but often – I am so particular that I get impatient with myself and move on to some other task. (Sort of like being so organized that you can never be organized enough and it frustrates you…)

52. Make a Most Important Tasks (MITs) list each day. Set just 3 very important things you want to accomplish each day. Don’t start with a long list of things you probably won’t get done by the end of the day. A simple list of 3 things, ones that would make you feel like you accomplished something.

I try to do this on my blackberry everyday. It works!

53. Create morning and evening routines. A great way to simplify your life is to create routines at the start and end of your day.

I still need to work on this (mornings anyway!). I need to wake up earlier and go to bed later… good luck with this one!

54. Create a morning writing ritual. If you enjoy writing, like I do, make it a peaceful, productive ritual.

I’m not doing this.

55. Learn to do nothing. Doing nothing can be an art form, and it should be a part of every life.

It’s difficult to do nothing when you are as busy as I am, but it’s one of the most important things you can do for your health. Learn to say “NO!”

56. Read Walden, by Thoreau. The quintessential text on simplifying.

Working on it!!!

57. Go for quality, not quantity. Try not to have a ton of stuff in your life … instead, have just a few possessions, but ones that you really love, and that will last for a long time.

Books, Records, and a few of my favorite films.

58. Read Simplify Your Life, by Elaine St. James. One of my favorite all-time authors on simplicity.

Sounds good. I’ll take a look!

59. Fill your day with simple pleasures. Make a list of your favorite simple pleasures, and sprinkle them throughout your day.

A little music here, a dash of chocolate there….

60. Simplify your RSS feeds. If you’ve got dozens of feeds, or more than a hundred (as I once did), you probably have a lot of stress in trying to keep up with them all. Simplify your feed reading.

I don’t think I read those anyway!

61. But subscribe to Unclutterer. Probably the best blog on simplifying your stuff and routines (along with Zen Habits, of course!).

If I read my RSS feeds, I would!

62. Create an easy-to-maintain yard.

Have you seen my yard. It’s wicked-small.

63. Carry less stuff. Are your pockets bulging. Consider carrying only the essentials.

Just my wallet, phone and keys normally. Unless I have my backpack… then books.

64. Simplify your online life.

Facebook, Email, Twitter, and occasionallyAmazon. Probably need to limit my time on Facebook….

65. Strive to automate your income. This isn’t the easiest task, but it can (and has) been done. I’ve been working towards it myself.

Working on it. Not easy, but getting easier!

66. Simplify your budget. Many people skip budgeting (which is very important) because it’s too hard or too complicated.

See above answer! Ha.

67. Simplify your financial life.

And again.

68. Learn to pack light. Who wants to lug a bunch of luggage around on a trip?

I am the master at this!

69. Use a minimalist productivity system. The minimal Zen To Done is all you need. Everything else is icing.

I’ll work on it. I’m pretty minimal. I don’t have time to make things complex.

70. Leave space around things in your day. Whether they’re appointments, or things you need to do, don’t stack them back-to-back. Leave a little space between things you need to do, so you will have room for contingencies, and you’ll go through your day much more relaxed.

I always leave room… mainly because I don’t like being late.

71. Live closer to work. This might mean getting a job closer to your home, or moving to a home closer to your work. Either will do much to simplify your life.

When I moved, I made sure I was only 15 min. away from work. I don’t care for long drives. This also allows me to only have to buy one tank of gas per week.

72. Always ask: Will this simplify my life? If the answer is no, reconsider.

Will do!

Just for kicks here is my own #73!!!

73. Simplify your life by not blogging as much!

Thanks for the advice, self. I might take you up on that!

Well, it has been a real journey walking through the Simple Living Manifesto. Hope you got something from the different ideas. I know I did. Stay tuned for more exciting updates from Treehouse Monastic!

Day 49: Develop Equanimity

Posted: August 24, 2010 by Steven Burleson in Simplicity
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49. Develop equanimity. If every little thing that happens to you sends you into anger or stress, your life might never be simple. Learn to detach yourself, and be more at peace.

Day 48: Simplify your filing system

Posted: August 14, 2010 by Steven Burleson in Simplicity
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48. Simplify your filing system. Stacking a bunch of papers just doesn’t work. But a filing system doesn’t have to be complicated to be useful.

I recycle many important papers, but I do still have a 2-drawer filing cabinet. I don’t know what’s in there, but I’m pretty sure I’ll never need any of it. Maybe that passport….

Review: “Putting Away Childish Things”

Posted: August 9, 2010 by Steven Burleson in Book Review, Religion
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I was graciously offered a copy of “Putting Away Childish Things: A Tale of Modern Faith” by Marcus J. Borg to review. Normally, I walk away from a book, having read the text, with mixed feelings of agreement and disagreement or things I might like to change; this is not the case with Borg’s new offering. I must tell you that it is quite normal for me to take weeks or months to finish a book, but read this one quickly within a few days of receiving my copy. Borg writes fiction with passion. It was as though I was drawn in to some grand narrative and reminded of many parts of myself I had pushed into the dark recesses of my mind. Maybe it was that I related so well to the main character, Kate, who gives us insight into the world of the academic study of religion. While the book raises many questions about faith, religion, and relationships; it also functions by itself as the truly moving story of the strength of one woman and her search to find not only spiritual faith, but faith in herself. I highly recommend this book for skeptics and people of faith alike.

The Bright and Blinding Light

Posted: August 5, 2010 by Steven Burleson in Poem
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The bright and blinding light,

which tears apart the skies,

is of little consequence to the dark.

For the dark knows its name.

But the lesser light is lost

in the shining fury of the larger.

It forgets its name

and is consumed.

We, who are lesser light,-

may we be drowned out

by the bright and blinding light.

We, who are dark,-

may we experience

separation anxiety.

Will I deny the Resurrection?

Posted: August 3, 2010 by Steven Burleson in Religion
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A thought-provoking quote by Peter Rollins:

I deny the resurrection of Christ every time I do not serve at the feet of the oppressed, each day that I turn my back on the poor; I deny the resurrection of Christ when I close my ears to the cries of the downtrodden and lend my support to an unjust and corrupt system.

However there are moments when I affirm that resurrection, few and far between as they are. I affirm it when I stand up for those who are forced to live on their knees, when I speak for those who have had their tongues torn out, when I cry for those who have no more tears left to shed.

What will I do today?

Will I deny the resurrection? Will I affirm the resurrection?

Probably.

Day 47: Single Task

Posted: August 1, 2010 by Steven Burleson in Simplicity
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47. Single-task. Multi-tasking is more complicated, more stressful, and generally less productive. Instead, do one task at a time.

Sometimes I feel like this.

But there is another way. A better way. A simple way.

Day 46: Simplify Your Goals

Posted: July 31, 2010 by Steven Burleson in Simplicity
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46. Simplify your goals. Instead of having half a dozen goals or more, simplify it to one goal. Not only will this make you less stressed, it will make you more successful. You’ll be able to focus on that One Goal, and give it all of your energy. That gives you much better chances for success.

I’m having a hard time with this one. I’m spreading myself thin over too many goals. I have to take some time to re-evaluate the most important goals. I’ll let you know how this goes.

Here’s a funny video that my friend Jeff thought was appropriate for this post:

Mystery Loss

Posted: July 28, 2010 by Steven Burleson in Philosophy, Religion
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Last night I found myself watching a sort of documentary film on Jacques Derrida put out by Zeitgeist [the same people who released the film "Zizek!" (which was phenomenal)]. The film was really quite interesting. Many of the philosophical ideas were captivating, but I think the part that really enthralled me was the conversation concerning the relationship of Jacques and his wife.

The interviewer asks Jacques to recount for them how they met each other. He responds “Should we tell?” After a very, very brief factual list of date, time, and place about how they began their relationship (skiing), Jacques refuses to tell any more. He comments about not being a very good storyteller and remarks about how he will not be able to tell the full story. (I guess deconstruction somewhat is based on the fact that we really can’t ever fully tell the full, complete truth…. our description will always be inadequate.)

However, below all this lies the real point of my interest. Mystery.

Presently, our culture is suffering from an over-abundance of information. We have way too much information to be able to process it all. Everything, all around us, leaves nothing to the imagination. We are more revealed than ever, but the revelation of ourselves is a mask of our true self. The real self is revealed in private when we, as dual-creatures, unveil our faces.

We must live in this dual nature, because we have lost this “mystery.” This mystery, to which Derrida alludes, escapes us in this world where nothing is hidden. Because nothing is hidden, everything is hidden. (Paradox?) Our real self is pushed into hiding, and the (non)real is exposed completely. Even God has been stripped of mystery by the church, whereby we serve a god that cannot be the real God, but a (non)real illusion.

Perhaps, if we were able to recapture mystery, we might then be able to be both real and hidden at the same time; allowing us the opportunity to escape the fully-exposed/fully-hidden dual nature we live and breathe and seek to be like Derrida who evades the opportunity to describe the one he loves at the risk of betraying the one he loves. We may even seek to recover the mystery of God, through which we can experience the real God who remains, at least somewhat, shrouded in light.

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