What can be said about information overload?  With the advent of the media and technology, especially in regards the television, the computer and invention of the Internet, we have unlimited access to information and knowledge more than at anytime in human history.

We are continuously bombarded daily with superfluous information no matter how useless or irrelevant it is to ourselves and our everyday lives.

We can now download information literally anytime and anywhere with the use of the currently popular Smartphones, iPads and various choices of Tablet computers.

However, the following article ‘Is the Internet the Fulfillment of Biblical Prophecy?’ reminds us of the fact that despite possessing vast amounts of information at our fingertips, it has inexplicably contributed towards obscuring our consciousness, paralysing our pursuits for self-knowledge and wisdom, and distracting us from attaining the true and beneficial knowledge that would broaden our perspective concerning world affairs.

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Happy New Year one and all!  Yes, I know it’s a bit late but I’ll say it anyway.  Hopefully you all had a good Pagan (or whatever you want to call Christmas) break and are now fully reinvigorated for the year ahead.

But don’t leave 2011 just yet, as I have decided to put together this recap of what I consider to be the best posts of last year on Knowledge Reform – one for every month.

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“Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do.”

~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Goethe starts this post with an apt quote which states, perhaps wisely, how one should apply the knowledge and experiences, they have accumulated in life, towards making the best possible decisions.

Therefore, by making a reasoned decision when called for, will not only make us more virtuous but will also put us on the true path towards goodness and happiness.

According to ‘The Art of Manliness’ bloggers Brett and Kate McKay, Aristotle’s philosophy of phronesis – which usually translates to ‘practical wisdom’ – best describes a more pragmatic life (rather than just contemplative) towards right action and virtue which deals, adequately, with all possible circumstances that may arise. Read more…

As much as I love the Christmas period with all the food and drink you can consume, as well as spending quality time with loved ones, there are times when it can all become a stress-filled, conflict-ridden and decadent exercise which can do more harm than good to one’s mind, body and spirit.

Everyone, I guess, is entitled to self-indulge (within reason, mind) at least once a year, but we must be careful not to enter the new year carrying too much weight, anxiety and damaged relationships.

Christmas should be a time to reinvigorate ourselves and to reconnect with friends and family who we have, directly or indirectly, long since neglected.

Surely, we’re not too busy for the important things in life?

Just to let you know that I don’t belong to any religious faith whatsoever, but felt the need to propose the following ten commandments (with a bit of humour thrown in for good measure) of my own for you to adopt towards having a happy Christmas of moderation.  So no belief in God or morality are required.

These precepts or maxims may or may not  help you to negotiate life more wisely, as well as put you in very good stead for the coming New Year and beyond.  Just remember to have fun along the way.

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The following metaphorical experiment involving monkeys reminds me much of a quote on Truth by Arthur Schopenhauer, especially the “violently opposed” part.  The quote is:

All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.

As for the experiment (true or not), it seems that the majority of the human race have replaced the monkeys in terms of our minds being imprisoned by those in, so-called, authority as well as the societal pressures to conform.

There is no doubt that we have all but become easily frightened and obedient monkeys, through the apparent use of the “carrot and stick” policy instigated by those who wish to coerce us into doing their bidding, whilst we violently turn on those who dare to step out the status quo. Read more…