Holism

Content & Form

Sat, Mar 15, 2008  Permanent link
Categories: language, content, form, allegory

Mobilis in Mobili
Project: Start your own revolution

Experiment, never interpret.

It is possible that writing has an intrinsic relationship with lines of flight. To write is to trace lines of flight which are not imaginary, and which one is indeed forced to follow, because in reality writing involves us there, draws us in there. To write is to become, but has nothing to do with becoming a writer. That is to become something else.

G. Deleuze

I won't just write about something that everybody already knows, even if there could be someone around who already did this. (If so, please add synapses.) But someone probably knew it all from the very first moment IT appeared to BE. I will just share my point of view in an extatic flow of thoughts (, supported by some reading). I hope you enjoy it, even if you would confute in the long run. Nihilists are partly right, just like any other theory. Eventually, this is what IS IT all about - Catharsis. Here's what I mean:

Wikipedia on Catharsis:

Catharsis (Κάθαρσις) is a Greek word meaning "purification" or "cleansing" derived from the ancient Greek gerund καθαίρειν transliterated as kathairein "to purify, purge," and adjective katharos "pure or clean" (ancient and modern Greek: καθαρός).

Somebody who's been in charge no matter by what means, used to always separate catharsis from experiencing it buy the society, by even changing the meaning and the nature of the act, by denying it - obviously a misunderstanding or intentional deed, it doesn't matter, since this is changing slowly, and not without paying a price. SpaceCollective is probably a sign that the moment is near? How many of us thought at some point "hey, maybe it's all just in my head?!" It is, indeed, fortunately... But it's not what we do, it's about how we're doing it. It defines why and actually what we're (doing). For a smooth trip.

Religion

Another meaning under the heading of 'purging' can concern body and soul — in it concerns efforts made to come to terms with guilt and sin, penance such as by chastisement (in modern use of that word, the meaning of punishment has taken over from the original sense of purification), such as practiced by flagellants; a testimony to the age of this use is the very name of the Cathars (a medieval sect).

In Mysticism, the end of human life and of philosophy is to realize the mystical return of the soul to God. Freeing itself from the sensuous world by katharsis, the purified human soul ascends by successive steps through the various degrees of the metaphysical order, until it unites itself in a clear and completely conscious contemplation to the One, and unifies into the state of ecstasis.

Thus in the neo-Platonism of Plotinus, the first step in the return of the soul to God is the act by which the soul, withdrawing from the world of sense by a process of purification (katharsis), frees itself from the trammels of matter. A point to note here is that psychology and philosophy were not separate in Classical Philosophy (Greek through Roman period). Thus in classical mysticism, as well as current mystical traditions, katharsis is a process leading to the transcending of psychological, as well as spiritual, traumas and negativities.

Having the opportunity to read this, because it's been written in public, doesn't take long until we think of all those people in the past who suffered for the same reason we may be today. If we spend any time on suffering at all, in between everything we do in our 25-hours long day cycle.

Cathartic Sacrifice

In early cults, the distinction between sacred and unclean is far from complete or well defined (see Taboo); consequently we find two types of cathartic sacrifice: one to cleanse of impurity and make fit for common use, another to rid of sanctity and in like manner render suitable for human use or intercourse.

- The most conspicuous example of the first class is the scapegoat. Two goats were provided by the ancient Hebrews on the Day of Atonement; the high priest sent one into the desert, after confessing on it the sins of Israel; it was not permitted to run free but was probably cast over a precipice; the other was sacrificed as a sin-offering. In like manner in the purification of lepers two birds were used; the throat of one was cut, the living bird dipped in the blood mingled with water and the leper sprinkled; then the bird was set free to carry away the leprosy. In both these rites we seem to have a duplication of ritual, and the parallelism of sacrifice and liberation is clear.

- As an example of the second class may be taken the sacrifice of the bull to the Rigvedic god Rudra. MM. Hubert and Mauss interpret this to mean that the sanctity of the remainder of the herd was concentrated on a single animal; the god, incarnate in the herd, was eliminated by the sacrifice, and the cattle saved from the dangers to which their association with the god exposed them. The Feast of First fruits is another example of the same sort; comparable with this concentration of holiness is the respect or veneration shown to a single animal as representative of its species (see animal worship). In both these cases the object of the rite is the elimination of impurity or of a source of danger. But the Nazarite was equally bound to lay aside his holiness before mixing with common folk and returning to ordinary life; this he did by a sacrifice, which, with the offering of his hair upon the altar, freed him from his vow and reduced him to the same level of sanctity as ordinary men.

Then we check the Wikitionary:

Etymology
From Ancient Greek κάθαρσις "cleansing," "purging" from καθαίρω "I cleanse"

Noun
1. (drama) A release of emotional tension after an overwhelming vicarious experience, resulting in the purging or purification of the emotions, as through watching a dramatic production (especially a tragedy). Coined in this sense by Aristotle.

Seeing the hero's catharsis helped her deal with the loss of her parents.

2. Any release of emotional tension to the same effect, more widely.
3. (psychology) A therapeutic technique to relieve tension.
4. (medicine) Purging of the digestive system.

Now see how psychology calls this act an act of releasing the emotional tension:

Closure

Need for closure is a psychological term used to describe an individual’s desire for a quick answer as opposed to enduring ambiguity.

That sounds like a hunger for patterns, algorithms, oh... Although the hunger for patterns is the way to actually describe the world by labeling it, in other words, labeling every understanding of experienced "truth" as such, there is still a difference between that and what cramming is all about. Yes, there IS a difference between knowing, and actually understanding (experiencing) something, same as when we've heard of something, but haven't listened to it so far. Experiment, never interpret. Participate!

Need for closure scale

The need for closure varies across individuals, situations, and cultures. A person with a high need for closure prefers order and predictability and is decisive and close minded. This person also feels discomfort from ambiguity (Hiel & Mervielde 2003). Someone rating low on need for closure will express more ideational fluidity and emit more creative acts (Chirumbolo et al., 2004).

The Need for Closure Scale (NFCS) was developed by Arie Kruglanski, Donna Webster, and Adena Klem in 1993. Items on the scale include statements such as “I think that having clear rules and order at work is essential to success.” and “I do not like situations that are uncertain”. Items such as “Even after I’ve made up my mind about something, I am always eager to consider a different opinion.” and “I like to have friends who are unpredictable” are reversed scored (Kruglanski, Webster, and Klem, 1993). This scale is composed of 42 items and has been used in numerous research studies and has been translated into multiple languages.

The Need for Closure Scale exhibits low to moderate association with the following: “authoritarianism, intolerance of ambiguity, dogmatism, need for cognition, cognitive complexity, impulsivity, need for structure, and fear of invalidity, while retaining considerable distinctiveness from those various constructs”(Webster & Kruglanski, 1994). It does not appear to be related with the intelligence level nor social desirability concerns.

So, there is a permanent hunger for absolute catharic experience, which occures only when we experience the same truth. It seems that the amount of knowledge doesn't suppose really comprehension, without being common, yet, we're uncovering more and more knowledge daily. Let see what other knowledge is to read about the psychological understanding of closure in Wikipedia. Note that I've just used the words knowledge, understanding and Wikipedia in the same sentence.

We are the web

Collective psychology

The term may also be applied to the supposed collective psyche of a society. It rose to worldwide prominence in this sense when calls to achieve 'closure' were used to curtail the process of recounting votes in the United States presidential election, 2000.

Wikipedia-like places are places to store the collective understandings, as seen above, supported by the mass, believed to be gathered from the most of references available... no matter if there still might be someone who doubts. Actually it matters:

SpaceCollective is a place to use a database like this in order to uncover even more, lead partly by doubt, believed to be the right amount of it, so there couldn't be a threat of going completely insane, while trying to remain least unsane. I other words we want to evolve, but we already know this, it is the reason to be here and do this, because this cosmic experience called catharsis is possible only when it's collective. The collective unconscious is striving to get rid of this annoying un in front of it. We are our reasons to do something. And it's more likely to happen only when there are more supporters. Yet, the great Mark Twain nailed it:

Whenever you find yourself on the side of majority, it's time to pause and reflect.

This is how! It is of big importance how me writes this thing now, so it inspires more people. This is where knowledge comes useful. Yes, we are in conflict with being in conflict. Let it all go finally, by having all points of view into one absolute truth. And than doubt in it! Doubt in our own angle of attention in order to unify. Nihilists are partly right in their absolute skepticism, indeed.

Simply put, knowing and understanding the whole pattern is only possible when completely denying the self. Yes, this sounds more likely to be too much. And yet IT is to be experienced, not known. This is the real self-awareness, and it isn't possible without the prism of the others. Because we are, where our attention is directed. This is being out of ourself and in absolute euphoria. Keyword: absolute. It is possible, the sooner everybody gets that and realizes that it's time to act, because in the beginning it's always only words, but acts is what this whole labeling is for... This is what actually the word activism should stand for - we can use this for the Dictionary project.

Now since we have a clear target, if really understanding it, it wouldn't be that hard to be practicing permanently what we preach. But while many of us are still looking for a proof of this understanding, so that they could have a reason to stop doubting about it, it is only available while experiencing it. It, it, it... IT IS. This is what intuition is all about. Everything that's art is the guide to this point of singularity. One way or another. The answer is simple, it's all around us and its label is four lettered - L.O.V.E. - yeah, the same they still say money can't buy us. Love under will.

Now, this about the money would be a stupid ending for the post, but understanding that LOVE is the answer for real shouldn't be such a complicated manifest too. This all matters, only if I share it with you, so we can make we. Still we use capital I to define unique selfs. Hope we all learned something new, while also more likely seeing it from another angle and finally connecting it with the same collective understanding of the same experience, as if we tend to get and actually have inconstantly in a different manner, but constantly more rarely. Anyway, apocalypse never felt so good... ;-)



Next stop: We are AI, Deus Ex Machina

Mon, Jan 7, 2008  Permanent link
Categories: art, language, future, Singularity, philosophy, permanent becoming, internet, human, religion, Ideas, utopia, manifesto, culture, progress, revolution, activism, universe, experience
Sent to project: Start your own revolution

Good morning, Sunshine!

Did you sleep well? Good! Enjoy your day! And for those of you who didn't - better luck today!

It's either you go to bed satisfied and simply happy or become aware of you the morning after lying in bed confused, looking to catch a fresh startpoint. It's either you start your day inspired about what you're about to, or simpy going to bed without what you desire most, even still not sure what it is.

It could be something, that lasts just for today. Or it could be something, that's part of something bigger than you. Bigger than your life(time), but still while you're awake.

Probably it's the same.

Better be addicted in the morning, than in the end of your day... Otherwise - better luck tomorrow!

But why?



An artist has got to be careful never really to arrive at a place where he thinks he's at somewhere. You always have to realize that you're constantly in the state of becoming.

thanks, al

Thu, Dec 27, 2007  Permanent link
Categories: philosophy, antagonism, permanent becoming