More Sartrean Thought

One thing Sartre said a lot was, "I always try to think against myself." I think this is important to keep oneself from becoming complacent, arrogant, and intellectually flabby. It is challenging your own beliefs and ideas even though you may think you already have the truth. Without challenging yourself, eventually you may even forget the "truth" because you haven't been thinking about it in so long. Or you may remember what it is you think is true, but have no idea why you think that, and can't argue for your position. Sartre changed his philosophy and politics a lot over the years. He's hard to pin down. But he knew that life is change. Stagnation is death. I think it is interesting that recently, it seems, the accepted definition of a "flip-flopper" has expanded to include anyone who ever changes his or her mind about anything. As if you should, or could even, have all your ideas down pat at the age of majority and never bother to change and grow (or shrink, for that matter!). To me, a flip-flopper is someone who one day supports position A, and the next day supports position B- all because of what the media polls say or what your friends say or what Tim what's his name (with Susan Sarandon) or Bill O'Reilly says. A flip-flopper basically has no mind of her or his own. That is the polar opposite of someone like Sartre, who indeed had a mind of his own, came up with prolific original thought, and changed that thought frequently throughout the years. Not that he ever disavowed his previous writings - he just changed. And, as they say, change is good.

One-Question Quiz

Hi, take my one-question quiz and post your results! I am interested... A. The mind affects the body. B. The body affects the mind. C. Both- they affect each other. D. Neither- there is no mind. E. Neither- there is no body .

Vanity Fair's Back Page Proust Questionnaire

I thought it would be fun to answer the questions. These are my answers from back in December. Go ahead and answer them and post them here if you want to! I think the answers are good indicators of a person’s personality, even if the person is trying to avoid being serious. :) 1. What is your idea of perfect happiness? To be under no pressure, either external or internal.

2. What is your current state of mind? Sentimental, nostalgic, the holiday blues.

3. Who or what is the greatest love of your life? Certain members of my immediate family.

4. Which living person do you most admire? The ones I most admire are dead.

5. What is the quality you most like in a man? Intellectualism, having principles, having a calming, protective presence, commanding and giving respect.

6. What is the quality you most like in a woman? Independence and intellectualism.

7. What is your greatest extravagance? Books, books, and more books!

8. Which trait do you most deplore in others? Complacency, mediocrity, superficiality.

9. What is your greatest fear? Being eaten alive by sharks.

10. What do you think is the most overrated virtue? Martyrdom.

11. Which living person do you most despise? George W., I can’t help myself :).

12. When and where were you the happiest? Probably while a law student- perhaps I am a masochist :).

13. Which words/phrases do you most overuse? Any and all clichés.

14. Which talent would you most like to have? To be able to remember or forget at will.

15. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? To be less disturbed by life.

16. If you were to die and come back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be? Don’t believe in reincarnation.

17. What is your most treasured possession? My cats.

18. What do you regard as the worst depth of misery? Being stuck in a mental hell.

19. What do you most value in your friends? Loyalty, having my back, no questions asked.

20. Who are your favorite writers? Franz Kafka, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Larry David.

21. Who is your favorite hero of fiction? Scrooge.

22. Who are your heroes in real life? Navy SEALs.

23. Which historical figure do you most identify with? Kafka.

24. How would you like to die? Blind-sided and fast.

25. What is your greatest regret? Spending years thinking regret is anything other than a figment of imagination.

26. What is your motto? Don’t really have one or live by one, but in general: “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father (God).”- Jesus, in Matthew 10:29.

27. Which trait do you most deplore in yourself? Desire for approval.

28. What is your most marked characteristic? Indecision.

29. What do you most dislike about your appearance? Flabbiness.

30. On what occasion do you lie? When I feel backed against a wall.

31. What thing/situation do you most dislike? Minnesota drivers.

32. What do you consider to be your greatest achievement? Getting a law degree from a top-20 law school.

Sartre

Even though I totally disagree with Sartre's existentialism (b/c I do NOT believe in free will- scientifically, philosophically, and I dare say even, biblically, or religiously- disproven)- I admired him a lot- love reading his stuff, and one part of what he wrote really struck me. He said that the reason he wrote was to have an intellectual relationship with himself. Even though he had Simone de Beauvoir, and others, around him who were intellectuals and just as intelligent...he still felt misunderstood and people just need to be understood- it's an animal-level need, but a need nonetheless. I've thought that myself- I write a journal- have for years- and most of the time it feels like I"m writing in it to have that intellectual relationship with myself, b/c I don't feel like there's anyone else to have it with. And it's not because I don't have smart friends, because God knows I do...it's just that I, like Sarte, have felt like an outsider looking in for most of my life.

Posting an Essay I Wrote that Touches on the Problem of Suffering

Here's a link to an essay I wrote about my favorite author, Franz Kafka. It has always been one of my issues- to try to make sense of the "problem of evil" or suffering in this world. Although there are many theodicies, nothing seemed to really click with me. However, through reading Kafka, I came to a realization that his suffering actually created beautiful art for others. And you may ask, is that really fair- why did he have to suffer just so I can enjoy his art? Or, why couldn't his art have been created WITHOUT the suffering? Well, I believe it to be a yin-yang type of situation. You really can't have one thing without the other. You can't have good without bad, sweet without sour, up without down, black without white, etc. As much as we think that it is possible and desirable, it actually is not. Because without opposites, there is basically nothing. For example, if everyone is beautiful, then no one is beautiful. If you respect everyone without regard for anything, then you respect no one. I think you probably can see what I'm getting at. Anyway I'd appreciate any comments/criticisms about this essay: http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dd38bnwq_3f63znthf

Hi, I've decided to join the bandwagon and create a blog...this one, I hope, will be somewhat different than most. Because it's not going to be "all about me," or about anyone's personal life (other than politicians'- LOL)...it's intended to be a place to discuss ideas. And yes, there is no right or wrong answer, no resolution, no light at the end of the tunnel, etc. That's the beauty (and ugliness) of ideas. They exist only in our minds; which can be incredibly liberating or incredibly frustrating, depending on your viewpoint. So anyway, I hope people will post things so this is not entirely going to be me going on and on about Kafka or Kierkegaard! Will post something of substance later this weekend!