The absurdity of existence

The college campus of Harvard has been buzzing this September because of Mitchell Heisman.

Heisman was a man who worked at various bookstores in the Harvard area, he was in his mid-thirties and he was writing a book.  On September 18th, Heisman walked out onto the steps of Harvard Memorial Church and shot himself.  He left behind a suicide note, a thought-provoking 1,905 pages long note published online at the domain name of http://www.suicidenote.info.  This was the book he had been working on; this was his pièce de rèsistance and this was what left his family, the students, professors, media and public guessing.

Although I haven't fully engaged with all of the material in the note, a cursory reading reveals how well-researched and well-read Heisman was.  His note is really a book that makes a statement about contemporary society through the philosophical perspectives of nihilism and through the Christian faith.  Simply put, it's jaw-dropping stuff and a fascinating insight into an incredibly intellectually-gifted mind.

The reason I bestow the compliment (and perhaps also the curse) of intellectual-giftedness on Heisman is because reading his note reveals that he was obsessed with life and the questions surrounding it. Questions are important... hell, they're vital. Without questions and questioning, the heuristic possibilities of everything and anything are slim.  He never stopped questioning life and existence and, ironically, much like his inspiration Nietzsche; he suffered a mental breakdown.

Ultimately though, Heisman's own suicide is put forward by him to be an act of 'experimental elimination of self-preservation.'  The ambiguity of this is remarkable given the context it is presented in.  From my own sparse reading of his note (which I will read with the attention and focus it deserves very soon) I think Heisman simply realised there is no answer to life - a realisation the intellectual, scientifically-trained mind refuses to accept.  This refusal to accept the seemingly inevitable is what seemingly tormented him to the extent that he could only save himself through elimination.  There is the archaic belief that still persists today in non-Western cultures that the smarter man is the more tormented man and that with greater knowledge comes greater burden.  This seems to be very true for the philosophically-versed Heisman.

Really, Heisman's suicide note and his suicide have a lot to gift psychologists with but at the same time they are excellent examples for the philosophical school of absurdism to peruse - after all, the tragic ending to Heisman's academic endeavours is a testament of the absurdity of existence: you exist but you do not understand why, trying to understand will be an effort, never an accomplishment. I personally do not think human knowledge has limits.  Instead, I know that knowledge takes place in transitory processes and in due time.  The questions Heisman wanted answers to were unfortunately not ones that were solved in his time.  The logic in me tells me this.  However, I know that the philosophical community much prefer the viewpoint I mentioned earlier: after all, the tragic ending to Heisman's academic endeavours is a testament of the absurdity of existence: you exist but you do not understand why, trying to understand will be an effort, never an accomplishment.

Take what you want from this.  In fact, have a read through of Heisman's note, pass it on around your blogs and let me know what you make of it.

Rape is porn when you don't know the difference?

I don't know how many people who read this blog are located around Missouri but I know that a lot of you are born and bred in 'red States' such as Texas which means the issue of religious censorship in the education system should not be a complete mystery to you.

The latest issue to emerge is regarding the English Lit reading list for eight-graders in Springfield, Missouri.  According to the speaker for the Reclaiming Missouri for Christ organisation's latest opinion piece the books kids are being exposed to feature "concepts such as homosexuality, oral sex, anal sex and specific instructions on how to use a condom and have sex."  The fact that a reluctance to educate oneself about heated issues such as homosexuality exists is no revelation; you can see the dangerous effects of this in the pro-Prop 8 movement and of course, the latest scandal around the army's 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy.  The flaw in logic here exists with the idea that continued ignorance and non-exposure to these issues is a positive thing.  Oh, did I mention said speaker is Professor Wesley Scroggins of Missouri State University?  Am I the only one who finds an academically-powerful man promoting ignorance uncomfortable?


The other slap of stupidity his piece delivers comes when he begins to give his amateur Literary 101 analysis of the books up for debate.  The three offending books in the docks are: Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler and Slaughter-house Five by Kurt Vonnegut.  

Vonnegut's book is a personal favourite of mine and I am sad to report that after being 'reviewed' by the Republic school board; the book has been banned.  Equally disturbing as this news is Scroggins reaction to readings of these books.  He dismisses Speak to be soft porn because it depicts two rape scenes.  I kid you not.  As the author of Speak herself retaliated by saying: "the fact that he sees rape as sexually exiciting (pornographic) is disturbing, if not horrifying."  I however won't do Scroggins the disservice of mischaracterisation that he does to good, reputable books by mischaracterising him as someone who blurs the boundaries between consensual sex and rape.  Instead, I will make it clear that Scroggins is a product of the flawed education system he himself wants to keep in its impaired state.

My personal verdict is that perhaps Scroggins should go back to school and back to his English Lit classes and learn to read with insight and depth because he has dangerously mispercieved the powerful yet important moral messages of these books.  Messages that perhaps even his religion could get on board with.  


As a final note, I just want to give Missouri some credit for taking some of the press heat from Delaware this week.  It's tough to compete with Delaware-level crazy what with the Tea Party victories and Sarah Palin 2.0 but I think Missouri is stepping up to the plate nicely.  Somewhere, possibly some place cold and isolated, Glenn Beck is weeping joyfully....

Books books books

The Antibiotic Paradox by Stuart B. Levy

I stumbled across this little gem last weekend.  I'm quite embarassed that it took this long for it to make its way onto my reading list.  It is an absolute must-read not only for those pharmacologically-inclined in academic nature but also for anyone who has found himself upping the dosage of the odd painkiller every now and then.  

The most interesting thing for me about this book is the notion of evolution on the microscopic scale.  It's something that creationists and intelligent design proponents (also creationists, just ill-disguised) laughably deny occurs.  Yet, the history of prescription antibiotics and their effects on the average patient reveal exactly the opposite.

However, make no mistake: the antibiotic paradox is one of the less amusing and more terrifying ironies in scientific research.  At the risk of courting sensationalism, I'll go as far as to say that it makes the likelihood of living out those cheesy Hollywood horror flicks about killer viruses that can. not. be. destroyed. because. they're. just. TOO. damn. powerful a very possible reality.  Of course, I am completely hyperbolising here... or am I? Read it and find out for yourself.

 

Eden by Tim Smit

I'm sure everyone reading this has heard of the 'Eden project.'  The book chronicles in great factual and emotional detail the genesis of this project, its development and its resulting triumphant production.  I've never visited the Eden domes because, well, they're in Cornwall... and well, it's Cornwall.  Nonetheless, the book has some amazing pictures which are in all honesty, a poor trade-off and I really should pay a visit to Cornwall sometime soon.  The Lost Gardens of Heligan were also restored by one of the creators of the Eden project (the author) and are of course, located in Cornwall.  So there we go.

The project is a noble and impressive conservationist effort on the surface but as the book reveals; the philosophy behind it is so much more.  The great thing about the book is that it is extremely well-written and has a lot of heart; something people forget scientists and engineers have.  I'm not going to detail what that is but some have called it eye-opening and life-affirming.  So, I don't know, I'd say pick it up because, well, who'd want to miss out on that?

Before you ask, I'm not being paid to endorse these books (but I wouldn't mind the extra money....?).  They are very good books that I've encountered over the last two weeks and completely worth a read.  If you enjoy the food for thought offered on this blog, you'll enjoy them.

There's nothing ethical about intelligent design

Simply put, the word 'evolution' means development. However, the word also provokes discussion in the religious, political, social and scientific field.

Personally, I'm more concerned with the scientific perspective regarding species evolution but I can respect the fact that this vantage point does not exist in a vaccuum.  Science, politics, society and religion are heavily entangled whether we like it or not.

The scientific form of evolution builds on Darwinian theory.  Despite the heuristic and informative value of what Darwin posited, there are still areas in even the developed world where the scientific evidence of what man originated from is as unbelievable to individuals living in the year 2010 as it was to the majority in the late 1880's.   The main instigator of this disbelief is, ironically, the belief in God and religious faith.  As a result, 'intelligent design' is regarded as an appropriate 'alternative theory' to teach children in schools.

Schools in the 'red states' of America are the most common examples of areas where 'intelligent design' is taught to be a legitimate theory that, as the Texan-based Foundation for Thought & Ethics puts it: "fills in the gaps of Darwin's theory."  Unsurprisingly, the FTE is a Christian organisation that specialises in providing schools with textbooks on, among other things: intelligent design, abstinence and Christian nationalism¹.  They infamously participated in the Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District court case back in 2005².  (The case is fantastically portrayed in Judgement Day: Intelligent Design On Trial - definately worth a watch!)

The case revolved around the small American town of Dover where the local high school's board members took issue with how the origin of life was taught in biology classes.  They insisted that their children should not be 'force-fed evolution as being the gospel' and it should be clearly outlined that 'Darwin's theory was just a theory - not proven fact.'  Shockingly enough, the school relented and the students were taught Darwinian theory along with intelligent design theory; with intelligent design being given a positive bias.  It was not long before parents began to realise that 'intelligent design' alluded to a creator and thus has deep religious connotations.  Intelligent design was creationism and the teachings of Genesis.  This led to a court battle which the parents (thankfully) won.

The first striking fact of this case is the fact that it took place in 2005.  Then again, it is perhaps naive to assume that all individuals living in the twenty-first century have progressed to the same stage or to assume that ignorance has been completely obliterated in our very seemingly advanced world.  Most likely, it's the optimist in me being shot down.

The other thing about this case is the ethical implications it raises. During a quick skim-read of the FTE's legal guidebook regarding intelligent design in the public school curriculum, one finds that the organisation "seeks to restore freedom of choice to young people in the classroom... [by] breaking the naturalistic monopoly over school curricula."³  Naturalistic of course is referring to the discipline of science.  Thus, the aim of the FTE is to, supposedly, prevent the corrupting influence of a discipline dripping with systematic knowledge gained through controlled observation and experimentation.


It is a fact that intelligent design is not a testable 'theory.' This means that children, the adults of tomorrow are being taught a falsehood that is legitimised by the blind faith of their parents and their communities.  Ethically, this is wrong. It is wrong to distort the facts regarding evolutionary theory.  It is also wrong to impose religious culture into the secular education system.  Funnily enough, it violates the First American Amendment for the freedom of religion too⁴.  America is a melting pot of nationalities and religious faiths.  Teaching a 'theory' based on the Christian book of Genesis would monopolise those of other faiths (which explains why the FTE is also a strong proponent of Christian nationalism too).

 Putting all of that aside, religion is a blind leap of faith.  Science is not perfect but by its very definition, science is digging out its own flaws and laying them bare for the world to see, investigate and hopefully fix.  Intelligent design is being taught as the gospel, as something that 'seems likely because there is proof here and there' but it is not something that can be proven.  So it is unethical morally and scientifically to teach intelligent design in public schools.  Nonetheless, it still happens even in lands as great as America and there are plenty of individuals out there wanting it to be taught in their schools too.


To put it in plain English: let's stick to facts in the classroom and leave the gigantic and elaborate leaps of faith for the churches, mosques and other places of religious worship.

Look who came crawling back...

For personal reasons, I deleted the old blog. 

The main reason was that I am a student and blogging was taking up too much of my already very limited time during the exam period.  As these things go, I want to write again but of course, I had completely deleted the blog in order to remove any temptation for me to post any updates. 

This means I'm starting anew.  Sadly the posts of yesteryear are gone but hopefully we can generate some of the interesting discussions and debates on current issues that we did on the previous blog. 

I look forward to your comments and to the influx of personal narcissism I'll be experiencing.