Wisdom and Truth can be garnered from the most unlikely of places – none more so than the spectacle of stand-up comedy. So I’d like to introduce you all to two such past comedic greats who can be considered true prophets of their craft.
The comedians in question were George Carlin and Bill Hicks, who both penetrated our conscience, and raised our consciousness with their pinpoint insights and observations into all the pretentious bullshit and hypocrisy that society propagated and continues to propagate – not to mention, provoking uncontrollable laughter at the same time.
Both Carlin’s and Hicks’ social and political views were considered controversial at the time – but controversy does not mean that they were wrong.
Are we nothing but modern-day slaves to the system?
The following short thought-provoking video from Stefan Molyneux of Freedomain Radio website, should wake you up out of your ignorantly blissful life of deception…well, that’s what Molyneux wishes to achieve with this nihilistic feast for the senses.
Molyneux offers us up a metaphor of society as being a huge farm with us being the frightened cattle for those in power (the Farmers) to control and manipulate with the use of fear – which only serves to imprison our minds and direct our motives.
According to Molyneux, we are nothing but livestock who are all too willing to work for our hidden masters who make huge profits off our labour. Read more…
“Virtue makes the goal right, practical wisdom the things leading to it”
~ Aristotle
Is wisdom really the key for our world to progress? Maybe. Although I have created this blog encouraging everyone to embrace this seemingly rare thing, I have to remain realistic to the fact that it cannot be easily taught. One must discover wisdom for themselves and put it to good use whenever they come across any obstacles that threatens their own awareness and progress in life.
Maybe if one had common sense to begin with, it would help one to become wise. But unfortunately, as is most obviously the case, “common sense is the most uncommon thing in this world.”
In the following video, Barry Schwartz sheds some light on the problem of permeating a society with “practical wisdom”. Schwartz offers solutions on the teaching of wisdom and for institutions to revolutionise themselves towards embracing “practical wisdom” instead of “impractical bureaucracy”. This will more than likely sound somewhat Utopian to most people in the cold light of day.
‘Barry Schwartz makes a passionate call for “practical wisdom” as an antidote to a society gone mad with bureaucracy. He argues powerfully that rules often fail us, incentives often backfire, and practical, everyday wisdom will help rebuild our world.’
~ ‘Barry Schwartz on our loss of wisdom’ appearing on TED Talks
Please watch the following insightful talk by Barry Schwartz:
As I’ve kept on saying incessantly since starting this blog, I think that the only way for progress and a change for the better to happen globally, is if we all, through self-knowledge, develop wisdom within first – which unwittingly sounds more Utopian than Schwartz’s suggestions.
I do love a challenge…any suggestions on this “imparting wisdom” conundrum?
Wisdom, wisdom and more wisdom! How many more times must I spell out this simple but obscure six letter word that hides a beneficent gift to humankind.
The reason for encouraging you to attain this rare commodity, is because of the seemingly sad state of today’s superficial and ignorant world.
Whilst pursuing the things that we think will make us happy, paradoxically, they eventually serve to make us more miserable as we continue down the path of self-destruction.
Why not get off this ignorant path of perdition, my friend, and instead discover for yourself a pathless trail towards self-knowledge, self-improvement and limitless wisdom.
The Rafael painting (on the left) of Greek philosophers Plato (pointing up towards the sky) and his pupil, Aristotle (palm facing down towards the ground) seemingly depicts them debating what should govern Man’s affairs: either Plato’s heavenly passion of the Gods, or Aristotle’s earthly reason of science.
This battle of wise minds serves as an example that begins this post with an apparent conflict between reason and passion, as I ask the question to myself as to which of the two should be used towards benefiting us personally and society as a whole?
Philosophy, and Stoicism in particular, can be accused of being, at most part, emotionally cold and distant because of it’s aim for us to invoke the use of reason to override all human emotions. The elements of passion and reason have been opposing forces ever since the very beginnings of philosophy.
A humble blog compiled with philosophical advice, wisdom resources and enlightening knowledge of Truth - providing thought-provoking posts which will help free your mind and improve your life for the better.
The Battle between Reason and Passion
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