You're right, of course. Quoting a transcendentalist may have been a bridge too far. You may find this method for cleaning your internal environment of toxic fear and doubt more to your likeing: http://www.thefuckitway.com/ I was surprised to see this guy too in the popular Louise Hay lecture and publishing circuit. It may just be an indication of our evolving culture.
My point is, as Emerson points out, the more we dwell on the difficulties, horrors and hardships of the world, the more our own characters begin to reflect this with worry, anger, outrage. We become what we rail against (paradox of the Pharisee.) Our thoughts and emotions do make a big difference in how we experience the world (as well as our DNA according to Lipton). Where (local or non local) we posit our awareness does reflect our character. It doesn't mean all you have said is not real. Indeed, it is real to those living or witnessing the experience and identifying with it. We humans have much in common whether we are each aware of it or not. We are each, who we are. We are each, also, more. On Aug 10, 9:09 am, Slip Disc <[email protected]> wrote: > Is that all you can come up with; a subjective quotation? The reality > of the world has nil to do with my character, perhaps the character of > others. > > On Aug 10, 7:53 am, Molly <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > "People seem not to see that their opinion of the world is also a > > confession of character" - Ralph Waldo Emerson > > > On Aug 10, 7:17 am, Slip Disc <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > Cultural evolution is merely a bi-product of environmental > > > circumstance whether contemporary or prehistorically. To suggest that > > > ancient ancestral people were lacking syllogistic capability is > > > inaccurate. Cultural evolution in prehistoric era was based on the > > > same principles as today, that being communal assimilation and > > > adaptation to new environments. People seek growth with similar > > > beings and therefore cultural evolution can be differentiated by > > > varying cultures. We process more information today because our > > > environment has expanded thereby affording us more information to > > > process. While on the surface it seems much progression has taken > > > place I don't see all of it as being based on individual conscious > > > choice but rather initiated by social dictates by select groups. > > > Pointing out freedoms of women, children and minorities is not enough > > > to establish an evolution when there are other groups that are non > > > conforming and in violation of the supposed evolution. This is > > > evidenced, as Lee points out, by the numerous contradictions in social > > > behavior especially on a global level. We are no more socially > > > integrated today that we were as cave men; they had clubs and we have > > > bombs. We are still territorial and oppressive to outside groups. We > > > use terms like "it is illegal" to enforce bias and discriminate, we > > > create laws that allow for the use of "deadly force" upon a suspected > > > threat and more jargon to initiate war. This purported cultural > > > evolution is rife with flaw and fallacy. I call it the "Disney > > > Effect" which essentially creates a facade to conceal the horror > > > behind the pretty picture. Disney has for many years presented > > > animations of cute little animals playing in the forest and created > > > this image of loving and caring about nature while the reality is > > > this: Bulldozers come in and raze the land while killing and > > > displacing thousands of animals so that Disney can build their theme > > > park. This is primarily what we have today; a facade giving the > > > impression we have progressed socially when the fact is the world is > > > full of horror, horrendous acts of violence, genocide and egregious > > > violations of human rights. Aside from the subjective view and the > > > microcosms of change apparent here and there we haven't changed much > > > at all; we just have new tools. > > > > On Aug 3, 7:46 am, Molly <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > All aspects of human civilization—language, art, aesthetics, > > > > technology, architecture, organizations, governments—depend upon > > > > essential human relationships for their evolution and expression. > > > > > * Question: What is actually evolving? > > > > > * Answer: The quality and quantity of relationships between people, > > > > assuming the form of shared meanings, agreements, relationships and > > > > groups of relationships. The cultural domain is inter-subjective, > > > > because it exists between subjects, yet is often not objectively > > > > identifiable. But the fact that these shared spaces of meaning are not > > > > objectively identifiable does not hinder us from experiencing them as > > > > being real. As such, the subjective world includes not only individual > > > > consciousness but the inter-subjective domain of relationships as > > > > well, making the interior universe much more substantial. These > > > > relationships are real, yet they exist in the internal universe. The > > > > evolution of this internal universe accounts for the fact that women, > > > > children, and minorities now experience and possess more freedoms than > > > > in any time in written history. > > > > > What do YOU think? > > > > > For more: > > > > http://www.i-awake.net/2010/08/spiral-dynamics-introduction.html-Hidequoted > > > > text - > > > > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text - > > - Show quoted text -
