Outside The Box

Outside The Box
 
Over the past few years, I've explored many things. Philosophy, meditation, 

theoretical physics (just the practical application of certain theories, I am 

lousy at math), ethics...you get the idea. Basically, the most prominent thing 

I've learned from it all is that I really, truly enjoy being lost in thought. 

I enjoy day dreaming, solving puzzles or problems, answering questions that most 

wouldn't think to ask, and being creative. In fact, I have noticed that my thought 

process itself has changed to the point where I apply what I have learned to any 

given situation. This is a standard practice for most, but since my areas of study 

differ so greatly from the majority of my peers, I find that my opinions are often 

viewed with skepticism. My audience doesn't understand how I reach my conclusions, 

and as I try to explain I can see them grow even more confused or uninterested. 

Not all the time mind you, but I experience this reaction often enough that I 

can't help but wonder "why". The irony of this is that I predicted this would 

happen in my philosophy blog a few years ago: 
 
"The price one pays for thinking outside the box is the initial awkwardness they 

feel while relating to those still living inside it."
 
Now obviously, it would be easier to associate with like minded individuals who 

share the same interests, but I don't wish to alienate myself from others in the 

process. So, if only a few can understand how I form my opinions, does that make 

my opinions "wrong"? I don't believe so. Instead, I feel the problem lies with 

making my thought process relatable to others. This has proven challenging, even 

when the opinion is shared. It is as though we travel vastly different roads only 

to arrive at the same destination by chance. We both know how we got there, but 

the journey which has heavily influences our perspectives, was very different. 
 
Example: my shirt is blue. You and I both see and believe my shirt is blue. We 

both know that the manufacturer used blue dye on the fabric or thread to make it 

blue...but if I were to say that the dye in the shirt only makes the shirt appear 

blue because of how the light reflects off of it and how our eyes view it, but to 

other animals, like the Tarsier for example, it may appear as a more intense shade 

of blue or even violet because their eyes are more sensitive and pick up a wider 

range of the light spectrum ...well, some would look at me as though I had 3 heads 

wouldn't they?
 
I know that I don't need to go into such detail with every topic and I can't very 

well expect other people to study and take interest in the many things which help 

to influence my opinions. On the other hand, to find a simpler approach while 

forming some conclusions would be counterproductive. I have a deep well to draw 

upon, to be forced to barely skim the surface of it would be an injustice. 
 
At this point, stumped, I attempt to pick the brains of others in search of 

answers...
 
I always try to learn and benefit from the knowledge and experience of others, 

why do my peers refuse to pay me the same courtesy? Perhaps it's due to an unfair 

assumption that my relatively young age suggests that I lack the life experience 

to support my insight. "It is unbecoming for young men to utter maxims" 

--Aristotle
 
Or maybe Andrew Smith (author) was on to something when he said : "People fear 

what they don't understand, and hate that which they cannot conquer" Could that 

be the issue? Do I somehow intimidate some people simply by voicing my opinion? 

I have read that there are two groups of people in regard to how they treat the 

unknown: those who are inquisitive and seek clarity; and those who treat the 

prospect with fear or mistrust. The former, I believe, is directly responsible 

for human growth and advancement, while the latter apparently clings to our most 

basic primal instinct as a defense. 
 
Honestly, I think that Albert Einstein was right on the money in regards to my 

current predicament when he said: "Great spirits have always found violent 

opposition from mediocrities. The latter cannot understand it when a man does 

not thoughtlessly submit to hereditary prejudices, but honestly and courageously 

uses his intelligence and fulfills the duty to express the results of his thought 

in clear form."
 
Contrary to popular belief, Einstein wasn't always right, but I feel he was in 

this instance. In fact, after reading a few more of his quotes, I believe he 

often struggled with getting his point across. "It should be possible to explain 

the laws of physics to a barmaid" and "Any intelligent fool can make things 

bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius... and a lot 

of courage... to move in the opposite direction." are two Einstein quotes which 

come to mind that make me think he has also found it challenging to make himself 

understood. But, one quote of his in particular, answers my question quite well: 

"If you can't explain it simply, then you don't understand it well enough."
 
Thank you Mr. Einstein, I'll keep studying.
 
By Patrick Moore 

My Philosophy 4

1.) There is a fine line between love and control in regards to submissiveness. For love, one must be willing to compromise of their own free will, and the transition should be made easier by the shared desire to please the other. Control, conversely, is when the compromise primarily benefits one over the other. When this is the case, even if the submitter originally does so out of love, they will soon grow bitter upon realizing that the gesture is not reciprocated.

2.) I must admit that the idea behind karma is fantastic!

3.) Ambition may motivate a course of action for a reward, but at the cost of losing focus of one's current opportunities and accomplishments.

4.) To have is to hold; To lose is to let go.

5.) Being overly judgmental about others is to be blind of your own faults.

6.) We may never figure out God's plan for us on our own, or even agree on what He wants us to do in His name, but by being students of both faith and the sciences we can better appreciate what He's done and the work He put into it.

7.) If you find that life is passing you by too quickly, try to focus on the here and now instead of what lies ahead.

8.) The more complicated you make your lessons, the fewer the number of people who will learn from them.

9.) An individual's worth is measured by their influence on others, be it positive or negative.

10.) The wise are quick to learn and slow to judge, while fools have it the other way around.

11.) If a brilliant person is brilliant because their mind works differently than the average person, then why would we expect to understand their thoughts or actions?  Perhaps we seem just as nutty to the brilliant as they seem to us.

12.) I am not a fan of gossip or hear-say, as the information gained is often taken out of context and flooded with the preconceived notions of the speaker, effectively rendering the information inaccurate.

13.) Study is good. Observation, experience and careful deduction are better.

14.) Just because you don't understand or agree with something doesn't mean that it lacks logic from other perspectives.

15.) Without trust, what makes a friend any different from a stranger?

16.) The past haunts, the future beckons, and the present is where your choices are made.

17.) It's foolish to fear death, but it is wise to postpone it.

18.) From the day we are born, with our first breath, we start to learn, and we should never stop, for even after our death, we still have the heavens to explore.

19.) Question everything, it's the most enlightening way to live.

20.) Love is doing things for others that you wouldn't even do for yourself.

21.) The poor are more inclined to give to the needy than the rich, because they are close enough to the edge to see how far they can fall.

22.) Love is often blind, which it why it sometimes helps to seek the opinions of those you trust who can still "see".

23.) As depressing as it might sound, we have in fact evolved into a society of people who instinctively greet kindness with skepticism. When a stranger offers us kindness, do we not instantly think they are after something? While it is good to not give trust so easily to the unknown, it is equally important that we not confuse virtue with vice.

24.) Money buys novelty and convenience, but love and happiness are always free.

25.) If knowledge is power, then imagination is magical.

My Philosophy 3

1.) To have a successful life, you don't need to be smart if you are good at paying attention, as all you will need to know about your everyday survival can be found locally.

2.) There is an odd relaxation to be found while watching the chaos of everyday life from a far.

3.) We all have strengths and weaknesses of character, the key to excellence is to find balance between them by using the one to  compliment the other.

4.) I believe that you can learn a lot about some people from the music they listen to, as they often prefer songs with lyrics that they find meaningful and can relate with.

5.) The trick to acquiring knowledge is to find the topics you study interesting.

6.) Many people state that if they knew half as much about something useful, like medicine for instance, as they do about something they find enjoyable, then their lives would be better and more profitable. To them I say: study what interests you and find a way to apply that as your profession.

7.) Love is like a tree: It not only needs room to grow and nourishment to be fruitful, but it must also bend with the ever changing wind.

8.) Title is always overshadowed by character.

9.) Look not at the power one holds, but instead on how they wield it.

10.) If you want to be respected, it helps to be respectful.

11.) Perception leads to interpretation, which then leads to education, followed by
contemplation, and then finally to the formation of opinion...though many choose to skip the first few steps.

12.) While everyone has the right to their opinion, few know how to formulate one properly.

13.) Common courtesy isn't as common as it should be.

14.) I'm not smart, I just pay attention.

15.) A person's knowledge of a topic can be measured by how simply they can explain it.

16.) Too much of a good thing often makes it bad.

17.) I continue to be amazed with how some people freely sacrifice their integrity just to keep their social status. You should never have to forgo your ethics or character just to keep up appearances. To do so means you are content with living a lie.

18.) God doesn't solve your problems for you, but He does give you what you need to solve them yourself.

19.) Patience may be a virtue, but it's impatience that motivates modern society.

20.) I personally don't feel that science and religion should be at odds with one another. If you believe that God created both the heavens and the Earth from nothingness, much like an artist would paint a masterpiece on a canvas, then what better assortment of brushes for God to use than physics, chemistry, biology, etc.?

21.) When you are asked to "respect the office, not the man", it's often because the man doesn't deserve to be in the office.

22.) In regard to mudslingers: He who slings the most, often has the most to hide.

23.) To be honest and true to others, you must first be honest and true to yourself.

24.) Those with no desire for power, make the best leaders.

25.) Life is a series of moments, some good, some bad, but all unique.

My intentions.

I understand that most famous quotes from philosophers were taken
from their books or other writings, while my "philosophy" is
essentially nothing more than a collection of "mottoes" or slogans.
I'm fine with this however, because it's these quotes or slogans
that got the gears turning in my head and got the creative thought
process underway. It's my hope to provide not only insight, but also
inspiration. While stripping these truths of virtue down to their
bare principals, you not only make them more universal in their
application, but you also cause the reader to ponder the phrase's
relevance in their own lives. 

My Philosophy 2

My Philosophy 2


1) Aristotle and I are of one mind separated only by Millennia. I can only hope that my words are as widely respected and remain relevant after so much time.

2) If it is within one's power to stop a wrong from being committed, and they chose to do nothing, then they are also a villain

3) Being lost in deep thought is often times the only way one truly finds oneself.

4) When you need to teach those who refuse to learn, it helps to fool them into thinking about something else, then gradually incorporating your lesson into the topic.

5) I agree with Aristotle that the wise man is melancholy in nature and would avoid confrontation more often than not, unless the prize is something they hold dear, then none will fight more fiercely than the wise man...laying even his life on the line if need be. This is why a wise man confronts his enemies first with his mind, second with his words, third with his heart, then finally, if all else fails, with his fists. A preemptive strike, verbal or otherwise, is not out of the question however, especially if prior knowledge suggests that reason would fall on deaf ears.

6) Never act on an assumption. Think, question, listen and learn...then act.

7) The art of philosophy is not only a method of sharing knowledge and experience but also a tool meant to promote creative thought and sound reasoning.

8) One of life's greatest lessons can be found in the game of poker: we may not always like the cards we're dealt, as some hands are better than others, but there is comfort in remembering that every hand can potentially win or lose depending on how we chose to play it.

9) When in a debate, it is wise to speak as you would play chess, anticipating your opponent's words before they have a chance to say them.

10) Striving to answer someone else’s question is sometimes more beneficial than asking the question yourself, as this tends to lead you to new areas of thought that you may not have explored otherwise.

11) Subtlety and sarcasm are both an art form and of the same family, yet require very different techniques to master.

12) They say that there is one intelligent person for every hundred, and one intellectual person for every thousand. The person Possessing both virtues is even rarer still...because not all who have knowledge take the time to reflect on it, and not all deep thinkers are sufficiently educated.

13) The ultimate irony today is how modern technology is born from the brilliant minds of some, yet contributes to bad habits and lazy thinking in others.

14) Never be offensive to those who provide you a service, as the quality of that service will reflect their resentment to the offense.

15) People are remembered based not on their wealth or belongings, but instead on their actions and influence.

16) While I am not openly opposed to socializing, solitude does offer grand rewards as well.

17) One is at peace when they find the balance between joy and distress.

18) The betterment of oneself should be paramount to all other endeavors.

19) Respect is earned, not given.

20) A good leader credits his subordinates with a victory, and blames himself for a defeat.

21) While it's good to set an example for passiveness, few respect those who are always submissive.

22) An acquaintance is someone who is not a relative of yours but who's company you enjoy; A friend is someone who has your best interests at heart, even if doing so goes against their own; Your best friend is the one who does this most often.

23) The eyes don't lie anywhere near as often as the people they are attached to.

24) While there is strength in numbers, it's hardly safe as this makes for a larger target and, when challenged, results in a war of attrition.

25) Stand up for the things you hold dear, as none can be expected to do the task for you with the same level of motivation.

Does life have meaning?

Does life have meaning?

From a scientific stance, I would say no. Life begins as a chemical reaction in a solution (water) and can be created in a lab. Science freely admits life is rare, but leaves thought of life being proof of the divine to the faiths of individuals.

From the religious perspective, maybe. Remember, the universe was an incredibly small, infinitely dense, singularity before the big bang started it's expansion. "Something" acted as a catalyst to start that event, which is still going on today, several billion years later. Think of it as a seed that was planted, the tree grew, and we are it's fruit. Who's to say that God was not the catalyst and we (or life in general) are not part of His grand design? These are questions only your faith can answer.

On an individual basis, absolutely. Whether you realize it or not, your every interaction with another person has an influence on that person's life. Think about it, their memories of you are your legacy. You have the power to make someone have a good/bad day, or given enough time, mold them into the person they will become. This also causes a "domino effect" where your actions toward someone often cause them to think or act a certain way toward someone else. That's pretty meaningful if you ask me.

My Philosophy

I started taking an interest in philosophy a few months back, and find that I really enjoy it! Reading the works of Aristotle, Plato, Socrates, Rene Descartes, and even the writings of Einstein, have not only kept my mind busy, but have also helped to make me see the world through new eyes. I've come to enjoy this quest for understanding so much, that I've even started writing my own philosophy. Below you will find what I have been working on so far. Feedback is welcome. Enjoy!

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1) It's good to forgive, but foolish to forget.

2) The thirst for knowledge can be temporarily satisfied, but never quenched.

3) If you must compromise who you are and pacify your desires to meet the approval of someone else, then their opinion of you does not matter, for if it did they would want you to be happy, and you can't be happy while being something you are not.

4) It's the little things in life that bring us joy, yet we often sacrifice those tiny things in order to gain larger rewards, who's novelty wears off far too quickly.

5) Most can learn information and repeat it on command, but to truly know something, one must first understand it. For all the wise learn, they find themselves asking more questions, and are left feeling humbled by the vast amount of knowledge that they still have yet to learn. There for: True Knowledge is understanding, and true wisdom is humbling.

6) If the wise understand that they still have a lot to learn, then only a fool would project himself as a 'know-it-all'

7) Is ignorance truly bliss, or does it merely offer us the illusion of happiness in it's simplicity? For while true wisdom is humbling, the art of discovery offers instant and lasting gratification.

(7A: Is ignorance truly bliss, or does it merely offer us the illusion of happiness in it's simplicity? I personally feel that it's better to be blissful about the things you know to be good, rather than to be "happy" going through life with your eyes closed. If you no longer find ignorance blissful, then that's a good thing. )

8) Faith should never be blindly followed. The faithful owe it to themselves to seek out knowledge and understanding of all aspects of the given topic, be it religion, science, politics, love or what have you, before they can truly accept the unknown.

9) The price one pays for thinking outside the box, is the initial awkwardness they feel relating with those still living inside it.

10) Being right or wrong, in the long run, isn't nearly as important as initially contemplating the outcome.

11) No one finds the answer without first asking the question.

12) Friendships are like houses. Not only do they need to be carefully selected and periodically maintained, but when one is demolished, you can't just lean boards against what remains and expect it to be as structurally sound as it once was. You must first make sure the foundation is still strong, then start relaying the bricks...one by one.

13) A smart man will learn from his own mistakes; a wise man will learn from the mistakes others make as well as his own.

14) Which is the greater evil: those who act out of malice, or the inaction of the righteous?

15) Life is full of both pleasure and pain, and while we may wish for more of one and less of the other, it's the combination of both that defines who we are. You would find yourself a much different person without one or the other.

16) Not all battles can be won and not all victories are deserved..

17) In order to be taught, one must first be willing to learn.

18) What better place to discuss philosophy than at the bar, where the consumption of alcohol makes everyone a philosopher.

19) Knowledge can be found everywhere, is often free, and is offered by all in one form or another...all one needs to do is look.

20) The only time drama has a positive outcome, is when it is applied to ones entertainment.

21) None are more wronged than the repeatedly offended, however when the situation is avoidable, the offended share part of the blame.

22) While your friends often mingle among your acquaintances, not all of your acquaintances are your friends.

23) The day I found philosophy was the day I realized I wasn't alone in my thoughts.

24) Vacations are meant as an escape from stress and obligation. It's best to not plan it's every detail, as this leads to the very things you are trying to escape from.

25) Stubborn, opinionated, and misinformed: Avoid debating with those who have all three of these traits, as even your victory will prove fruitless.