Greensleeves

A classic piece belonging to the English Folk songs genre, Greensleeves is a traditional bit of delight and mystique. The composer of said piece still remains to this day a mystery, but some speculate that Henry VIII could be the genius behind Greensleeves. It's debated that he wrote the song for his mistress lady Anne Boleyn as she wore a traditional dress with green sleeves. Belonging to the Tudor era, Henry VIII was very well educated and possessed knowledge of musical instruments and the art of music, so it could be that he did indeed write this song.

Many versions exist now of Greensleeves, there are Celtic versions, baroque, you name it. This one happens to be my favorite, played by a classic guitar. Don't pay any attention to the title however because it was not composed by Mozart.

To hear the song, click on the title or follow the link below

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldSvr_nDjKU&feature=related

School of Athens

This painting is a really exquisite and will always pass the test of time as being one of the most celebrated paintings in history. The School of Athens my Raphael depicts of course two of the most renown thinkers in western philosophy; Plato and Aristotle. Of course Raphael knew this and that's the reason behind him putting the two in the dead center because of their importance and high influence. But of course he didn't leave out some of the other prominent thinkers of antiquity such as Diogenes of Sinope sitting just in front of Aristotle. Or even Pythagoras at the bottom left writing on annals. And it's debated, but there's said to be Alexander the Great in this painting as well-try and guess which one he is.

This painting is one of my favorites because it gives a glimpse of the genesis of thought and reason that took place in the school of Athens. Raphael truly outdid himself.

The French are German

I know what some of you must be thinking.

"Whaaat? French people aren't German, they're French! They speak a Romance language which derived from Latin, so if anything they're not German at all."

The truth of the matter is, I'm not suggesting that the French language is German, far from it actually. The point I'm trying to illustrate here is that the French people themselves are German, to put it mildly. They are descendants of a German tribe called the Franks which the Romans called the Franci. During the fall of the Western Roman Empire, Barbarian tribes were spread all throughout Europe. There were the Visigoths which settled later in modern Spain, and the Ostrogoths which were later intervened by another Germanic tribe called the Huns. The Vandals and the Lombards, the Angles and the Saxons had all been spread out in Europe and making their barbaric tribes renown. The Franks however inhabited the wealthy Roman provinces of Gual around the Rhine river and were one of the most powerful Germanic tribes out of all the ones mentioned above. Beginning with the Merovingian dynasty of barbarian rule in 5th century heralded by Clovis I and his kingdom's conversion to Christianity, all the way down to the glorious days of Charlemagne in 814-the Franks would usher in what is now deemed to be called Francia the kingdom of France. There are many differences between the Germans and the Latins in respect to the Dark Ages. France is a great example of that. The Germanic kingdom that would later in history adopt Roman/Latin idealism and customs.

E.S. Posthumus - Pompeii

Another awesome song done by an awesome group. You can tell I love this classical epic genre

to hear the song, click on the title or follow the link below

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GusLypfx7OQ&list=FLiltC6homx9ZlOaN6iW-LqA&index=100&feature=plpp_video

Common logically fallacious arguments

Today I'm going to visit 5 commonly used statements that are known to be false due to their incoherence in reason and formal logic. It always is a bother to have to deal with people with whom you're arguing that use this sort of flawed logic in order to assert their imaginary validity. The sad part is, they often get away with using fallacious reasoning, so there is very little justice when it comes to debating them. I am going to show you how to dismantle certain falsehoods of whoever it is you're arguing against. Today I'll only do 5, but stay tuned for more to come, because the list is much larger than you think. I hope you can remember these, because they come in handy in life as armor against ignorance.

1)Burden of Proof Claus: As we already know, proof is paramount when presenting both a positive and a negative case. Essentially the argument goes like this - the arguer claims that his side should win by default because the opposition cannot present a strong enough case for the contrary. A few things you have to keep in mind when someone erects the Burden of Proof argument. Firstly he is being impatient with ambiguity. Patience is a strong virtue to have, and especially so in a debate. So just because something has not been proven yet, does not always mean that the opposition wins by default. A key example would be if Copernicus argued that the earth was not flat but didn't posses strong enough evidence to attest to his claim, than it would not mean that the earth is therefore flat by default. Also it should be noted that evidence of absence is not always absence of evidence.

2)Argument Non-Sequitur: Latin for "it does not follow" is an argument or a point being added that is very subtle and easy to let slip from your concentration. It's nature is nonetheless simple, the conclusion that one ends up from an argument, does not follow in accordance with it's premises. For example, in everyday speech if one were to say "Tens of thousands of Americans have seen lights in the night sky which they could not identify. The existence of life on other planets is fast becoming a reality." In no way does the fact that people see unidentifiable lights in the sky necessitate that they were alien lights, or that because of this undeniable fact, the existence of life on other planets is a reality. Other examples are not so easy to identify. Just always remember that if a chain of claims does not follow, it might just be a non-sequitur.

3)A Red Herring: This is also a very subtle and easy to let slip from your attention. And that is exactly the idea behind it. The goal of someone using a red herring is to divert your attention from the actual argument by changing the subject. By changing the subject, the conclusions derived from that subject no longer reflect the actual topic. This would be an example of a red herring: "I know I forgot to take out the trash yesterday. I can't do anything right for you can I?" The subject that was being discussed was the person taking out the trash on time, yet he subtly diverted our attention to his plea for sympathy. The fact still remains, but we're now focused on something completely different.

4)A False Dilemma/Dichotomy: The meaning of a dichotomy or a dilemma is there existing any situation where it is concluded to have only two alternatives, but in reality there can be additional options to the dilemma. That's exactly why the prefix of the word dilemma has "di" in it, meaning only two. But in a false dilemma, there can be multiple options. An example of a false dichotomy is "there are two types of people in this world, ones that believe in capitalism, and ones that don't." This argument overlooks the fact that there can exist people who are either neutral, uncertain, apathetic or ignorant (such as children). So there couldn't possibly be only there two certain types of people in the world. Therefore it follows that the dichotomy is not a dichotomy. An similar example of a false dilemma is "You either knocked the glass over on purpose or by accident. Which is it?" Its clearly obvious that there entails more options than the two. Someone else could have knocked the glass over-or it could have been a force of nature. To understand a dilemma, you must always analyze the conclusions and whether or not they are the only ones that can exist.

5)The Slippery Slope Fallacy: This fallacy suggests that if X happens, than that will cause Y and Z to happen also. To prove using this logic is not fallacious, than there needs to be clear evidence of causation. But if no such evidence can be provided, than it is sadly fallacious reasoning. For example, in a statement such as "I forbid you from smoking cigarettes because the next thing you know is you'll start hanging out with the wrong crowd, coming home late at night and breaking the law" the person making the statement thinks that there is some sort of clear co-relation between smoking and being a violent person or a criminal. But the cause of those things is not the act of smoking, but rather instinctive or premeditated and have nothing to do with smoking. In some cases it's tempting to assume that those things would happen because of preset notions of people who smoke are hardcore or something. But the chain of causation between starting to smoke and breaking the law and becoming a violent person is not at all there, thereby making it a fallacy.

I hope you'll all remember these fallacies and take time to study them, because they help you in all walks of life, not just the casual argument with a mate. There will be more posts like this to come in the future. Until then, arm yourselves with knowledge :)

What is Jerusalem worth?

Ever since I watched this scene from the movie Kingdom of Heaven, I've always been intrigued by this line that Saladin delivers. In the film, the Baron of Ibelin asks the Sultan "What is Jerusalem worth?" and he replies "Nothing.......everything." To many that can be a bit of a perplexing response, but if you know a thing or two about history, you'd be quick to understand his response. The city itself has no strategic value. To empires, it's just a sitting duck on the far banks of the holy land. It would not make sense to put a military presence there, nor would it make sense to put much garrison value in the city because it is so far out of the reach of the main expansion routes. The city itself is some 100km away from the shores of the Mediterranean, so trade importance is out of the question all together, and trade is a key factor in the wealth of an empire. All in all, where Jerusalem lies, its worth is literally minuscule. But due to the thousands of years of history and legend that it holds, the worth of Jerusalem is EVERYTHING. This is the city of the prophets, of great kings. This is the city of heaven and of Jesus Christ. It is the city where Mohammad walked and of the Dome on the Rock. It is the city of Israel, of Babylon, of Assyria, of Greece and of Rome. It's worth is so immense that many men have gave their lives to her. The possession of this city is absolutely paramount that it has seen no peace because of everyone's desire for it. And so that is why even to this day, the city of Jerusalem, the city of heaven is worth absolutely everything to all the domains, religions, anthropologists, archaeologists, scholars and everyday citizens. That is why it was sought by Saladin and the Saracens, that is why it was worth both nothing and everything to him.

To see the clip of what I'm talking about, click on the title or follow the link below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJuYMLe5W8o&feature=related

Michelangelo

Homage to Constantine XI Palaiologos

The last emperor of not only the Byzantine Empire, but of the dis-ambiguous Roman Empire. His life was a glorious tragedy, especially during his last days. During the final day of the siege of Constantinople, the emperor had a final service/ceremony in the Hagia Sophia (the grandest cathedral every constructed in the medieval world) in which representatives from both the latin and the greek church partook together. But on May 29th, the all-out assault on the city began. Both the Janissaries and the Anatolians broke through into the city like water on rock thanks to the impacts from the cannon fire used during the siege. The king, the uniter of the Genovese, Venetian and the Greek troops from all abroad the empire gave it their all to repel the oncoming invaders, but could not hold the city. And as soon as the standards and flags of the Ottoman empire began of fly above them and on the walls of the city, the men began to falter and lose moral. In a poetic and valiant grace, Constantine XI took up the call of his brothers, ripped off his royal garments as to not stop him from looking like his solders, and made a last stand with his defenders at the gate that would be renown forever in history. He died on 29 May 1453, the day the city fell. His last recorded words were: "The city is fallen and I am still alive"

I feel like this should also be mentioned in the homage, it's the speech that Constantine XI gave to his army before the last assault of the city. On May 28th, the Greeks knew their moment of truth was upon them, yet this is what the emperor had to say:

Gentlemen, illustrious captains of the army, and our most Christian comrades in arms: we now see the hour of battle approaching. I have therefore elected to assemble you here to make it clear that you must stand together with firmer resolution than ever. You have always fought with glory against the enemies of Christ. Now the defence of your fatherland and of the city known the world over, which the infidel and evil Turks have been besieging for two and fifty days, is committed to your lofty spirits.

Be not afraid because its walls have been worn down by the enemy's battering. For your strength lies in the protection of God and you must show it with your arms quivering and your swords brandished against the enemy. I know that this undisciplined mob will, as is their custom, rush upon you with loud cries and ceaseless volleys of arrows. These will do you no bodily harm, for I see that you are well covered in armour. They will strike the walls, our breastplates and our shiellds. So do not imitate the Romans who, when the Carthaginians went into battle against them, allowed their cavalry to be terrified by the fearsome sight and sound of elephants.

In this battle you must stand firm and have no fear, no thought of flight, but be inspired to resist with ever more herculean strength. Animals may run away from animals. But you are men, men of stout heart, and you will hold at bay these dumb brutes, thrusting your spears and swords into them, so that they will know that they are fighting not against their own kind but against the masters of animals.

You are aware that the impious and infidel enemy has disturbed the peace unjustly. He has violated the oath and treaty that he made with us; he has slaughtered our farmers at harvest time; he has erected a fortress on the Propontis as it were to devour the Christians; he has encircled Galata under a pretence of peace.

Now he threatens to capture the city of Constantine the Great, your fatherland, the place of ready refuge for all Christians, the guardian of all Greeks, and to profane its holy shrines of God by turning them into stables for fits horses. Oh my lords, my brothers, my sons, the everlasting honour of Christians is in your hands.

You men of Genoa, men of courage and famous for your infinite victories, you who have always protected this city, your mother, in many a conflict with the Turks, show now your prowess and your aggressive spirit toward them with manly vigour.

You men of Venice, most valiant heroes, whose swords have many a time made Turkish blood to flow and who in our time have sent so many ships, so many infidel souls to the depths under the command of Loredano, the most excellent captain of our fleet, you who have adorned this city as if it were your own with fine, outstanding men, lift high your spirits now for battle.

You, my comrades in arms, obey the commands of your leaders in the knowledge that this is the day of your glory -- a day on which, if you shed but a drop of blood, you will win for yourselves crowns of martyrdom and eternal fame.

Much of what we know of this speech comes from Leonardo of Chios.

"The city is lost, yet I am still alive"

Celldweller - The Sentinel

A bit of a mix up in the chronology of things. Since music is listed as one of the things this blog will be focusing on, I thought it would be pragmatic to show a song that I really like. There will be more songs to come for sure, but this one is just really epic! I hope you all like my taste in music :)

either copy the link below to see it, or click on the title.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkCtsPnoyio&list=FLiltC6homx9ZlOaN6iW-LqA&index=2&feature=plpp_video

The Allegory of the Cave

One of the oldest and most classic allegories every to have been conjured up. The allegory itself comes from a book called The Republic written by Plato. The book itself is one of the cornerstones of western philosophy and thought. The allegory was written as a fictional dialogue between Plato's teacher Socrates and Plato's brother Glaucon in chapter VII. Take from this parable what you like, but in the end the truth still remains. Also please bear with me, its about a 7 minute read.

[Socrates is speaking with Glaucon]

[Socrates:] And now, I said, let me show in a figure how far our nature is enlightened or unenlightened: --Behold! human beings living in a underground den, which has a mouth open towards the light and reaching all along the den; here they have been from their childhood, and have their legs and necks chained so that they cannot move, and can only see before them, being prevented by the chains from turning round their heads. Above and behind them a fire is blazing at a distance, and between the fire and the prisoners there is a raised way; and you will see, if you look, a low wall built along the way, like the screen which marionette players have in front of them, over which they show the puppets.

[Glaucon:] I see.

And do you see, I said, men passing along the wall carrying all sorts of vessels, and statues and figures of animals made of wood and stone and various materials, which appear over the wall? Some of them are talking, others silent.

You have shown me a strange image, and they are strange prisoners.

Like ourselves, I replied; and they see only their own shadows, or the shadows of one another, which the fire throws on the opposite wall of the cave?

True, he said; how could they see anything but the shadows if they were never allowed to move their heads?

And of the objects which are being carried in like manner they would only see the shadows?

Yes, he said.

And if they were able to converse with one another, would they not suppose that they were naming what was actually before them?

Very true.

And suppose further that the prison had an echo which came from the other side, would they not be sure to fancy when one of the passers-by spoke that the voice which they heard came from the passing shadow?

No question, he replied.

To them, I said, the truth would be literally nothing but the shadows of the images.

That is certain.

And now look again, and see what will naturally follow if the prisoners are released and disabused of their error. At first, when any of them is liberated and compelled suddenly to stand up and turn his neck round and walk and look towards the light, he will suffer sharp pains; the glare will distress him, and he will be unable to see the realities of which in his former state he had seen the shadows; and then conceive some one saying to him, that what he saw before was an illusion, but that now, when he is approaching nearer to being and his eye is turned towards more real existence, he has a clearer vision, -what will be his reply? And you may further imagine that his instructor is pointing to the objects as they pass and requiring him to name them, -- will he not be perplexed? Will he not fancy that the shadows which he formerly saw are truer than the objects which are now shown to him?

Far truer.

And if he is compelled to look straight at the light, will he not have a pain in his eyes which will make him turn away to take and take in the objects of vision which he can see, and which he will conceive to be in reality clearer than the things which are now being shown to him?

True, he said.

And suppose once more, that he is reluctantly dragged up a steep and rugged ascent, and held fast until he 's forced into the presence of the sun himself, is he not likely to be pained and irritated? When he approaches the light his eyes will be dazzled, and he will not be able to see anything at all of what are now called realities.

Not all in a moment, he said.

He will require to grow accustomed to the sight of the upper world. And first he will see the shadows best, next the reflections of men and other objects in the water, and then the objects themselves; then he will gaze upon the light of the moon and the stars and the spangled heaven; and he will see the sky and the stars by night better than the sun or the light of the sun by day?

Certainly.

Last of he will be able to see the sun, and not mere reflections of him in the water, but he will see him in his own proper place, and not in another; and he will contemplate him as he is.

Certainly.

He will then proceed to argue that this is he who gives the season and the years, and is the guardian of all that is in the visible world, and in a certain way the cause of all things which he and his fellows have been accustomed to behold?

Clearly, he said, he would first see the sun and then reason about him.

And when he remembered his old habitation, and the wisdom of the den and his fellow-prisoners, do you not suppose that he would felicitate himself on the change, and pity them?

Certainly, he would.

And if they were in the habit of conferring honours among themselves on those who were quickest to observe the passing shadows and to remark which of them went before, and which followed after, and which were together; and who were therefore best able to draw conclusions as to the future, do you think that he would care for such honours and glories, or envy the possessors of them? Would he not say with Homer,

Better to be the poor servant of a poor master, and to endure anything, rather than think as they do and live after their manner?

Yes, he said, I think that he would rather suffer anything than entertain these false notions and live in this miserable manner.

Imagine once more, I said, such an one coming suddenly out of the sun to be replaced in his old situation; would he not be certain to have his eyes full of darkness?

To be sure, he said.

And if there were a contest, and he had to compete in measuring the shadows with the prisoners who had never moved out of the den, while his sight was still weak, and before his eyes had become steady (and the time which would be needed to acquire this new habit of sight might be very considerable) would he not be ridiculous? Men would say of him that up he went and down he came without his eyes; and that it was better not even to think of ascending; and if any one tried to loose another and lead him up to the light, let them only catch the offender, and they would put him to death.

No question, he said.

This entire allegory, I said, you may now append, dear Glaucon, to the previous argument; the prison-house is the world of sight, the light of the fire is the sun, and you will not misapprehend me if you interpret the journey upwards to be the ascent of the soul into the intellectual world according to my poor belief, which, at your desire, I have expressed whether rightly or wrongly God knows. But, whether true or false, my opinion is that in the world of knowledge the idea of good appears last of all, and is seen only with an effort; and, when seen, is also inferred to be the universal author of all things beautiful and right, parent of light and of the lord of light in this visible world, and the immediate source of reason and truth in the intellectual; and that this is the power upon which he who would act rationally, either in public or private life must have his eye fixed.

Samurai proverb

Interesting thought

This is an interesting thought, yet it's verity is nonetheless prevalent in any circumstance. That is kind of the idea of why we have so much chaos and strife on this earth. Its because it shapes us- hardship molds us and it builds character. I'll definitely talk more in depth about this in future blog posts on theology. But for now, this image speaks enough to describe the idea.

Hammer vs Anvil

More Inspiration

powerful words