Jacques Louise David - The Death of Socrates

Foreword


Welcome wayward wandering wayfarer. If you were wondering, “Where is this wasteland where one has a view of the vast virtual void?” your surfing has brought you to the edge of the internet. Non plus ultra. You are presently precariously positioned on the precipice to the abyss at the periphery of the plenum. Civilization is back the way you came.

On the real, round world of ideas, the truth is, long ago, I was a lonely, lost soul going around solely longingly looking for truth alone. As a castaway from the rest of the world, I was thrown about for decades on deep, stormy chaotic waters, until I landed upon this terra nova and I could plant my feet securely on solid ground. I was determined to trudge step by step until I concluded my journey here at my new home. Then I founded this piece of land for I found peace in this land. I’m the single citizen of this serene, sovereign state, and because of the complete autonomy and individualism of my state, relative to the rest of the world, it is an alien nation. Ideally, the flora and cultivated gardens here grow from the particular topography of the fields I experience within this phenomenal landscape. I have made a conscious effort to eschew the erection of ethereal edifices. Its organic, wild and free features shift slightly over time due to the evolving environment, it has no boundaries but entailment. It is extremely wealthy with nothings, absences, and emptinesses, and it may be impoverished in answers, but that are possibly more questions here than anywhere else. I asseverate that I am settled peacefully here, and I have no imperial, expansionist aspirations. (Though I will honestly admit that if I had the power to make critical thinking, love, harmony, compassion, and empathy priorities among all, I would do so; but I don't have that ability, so I am no threat).

These pages present maps of my meditations, my writings “to myself”; where words are signposts signifying my survey of the layout of the land and its growing groves.

It offers safe harbor, open to visitors, not because I presume to have anything to offer anyone, but because I am aware of the tortured anguish of the searcher over “the question”, the fluidity with which one frequently feels frustration, what it's like to be the constant companion of loneliness, and cognizance of continous confusion in the search for Truth and in general. The open border policy is to provide for the possibility of another lonely, lost soul finding some succor, solace, and sanctuary in someone else’s similar search for sapience. You aren't alone in your loneliness.

Nobody is presenting these thoughts to Nobody. They are written for me, but I am open-handedly sharing my thoughts. If a reader finds any refuse they can fashion into something useful, let creators ex nihilo make with this what they will.

Hear this pronouncement as if it came from Apollo himself, I have never claimed to be the Pythian Oracle. I offer its protection but not its religion. This site is purposely named "Thoughts On Truth". My written language very intentionally includes words like "bar bar", "seems to me", "appears to me", "I think", etc. I will attempt to acknowledge the elephant in the room; however, I am only describing the truth about the part of the elephant as I grasp it, and I will make every honest attempt to grasp it by the head. I will be describing the truth of my perspective on Truth, as a record for myself, that others are free to read, ignore, or despise.

I am not an authority on anything. I am not even formally educated in anything found here. I am not a scholar. I am not an historian. I am not a scientist. I am not smart. I am not wise. I am merely a philosopher in the supposed “Pythagorean” sense of the word. I am not interested in rhetoric or in persuading others. I am interested in morality, accuracy, truth, and honesty. I suck at writing; therefore, I don't take my writing too seriously, so I am resolved to play and just have fun with it. I can only understand holding myself accountable for what I can understand; but I also understand that others understand what I do not understand. I understand all of this; therefore, I don't take myself too seriously.

If you find references to people or to books, the content written here is merely my take away from them, not what those thinkers or books put forth. My writing does not claim to capture their meaning nor to be a commentary on it. References to others' works are the product of my poor reading ability, a dilettante's involvement, and my own limited understanding, and so these references are the synthesized thoughts from what I can make sense of from my reading of others' works; my thoughts on my interpretation of the truth of what their thoughts might have been. I certainly don't wish to suffer any of the fates of Zoilus. What is found here should not be accepted as an accurate account of these topics or of the contributions worthy of study within these disciplines. I hope the reader will keep these things in mind regarding the content here, and will not uncritically accept any of it as much more than merely my moronic musings. If declaring myself to be a cretin is problematic to giving my proclaimed cretinism credence, do not hasten to follow Philetas of Cos, but allow me to cut that Gordian Knot... Nobody puts credit in this nobody.

One last time, via negativa: this site is not claiming to have anything that anyone else is looking for. It does not seek to persuade or convince the reader. It does not seek practical value. It does not promote an agenda. It is not an attempt at self-validation, intellectual competition, or pedantry. It does not seek explanation or certainty. It does not seek to make sense with what anybody else believes. It does not seek or claim to be unprecedented. It merely contains my thoughts on truth for myself...nothing more.

But if perchance you are a sojourner and are of magnanimous mind, have copious quantities of time, a laudable level of laboriousness, and possess the potential for a potent plethora of patience, I long to learn from others. I am amenable to kindly, well-intentioned constructive criticisms and objections, which are welcomed with gratitude and enthusiasm. And if I learn of new possible hospitable lands beyond my horizons, I might migrate to a new land. I am not, however, interested in an intellectual competition. If that is what you want - you win. I am currently engaged in rigorous training and a grueling struggle with myself to never be competitive, and I want to be victorious.

Forgive me for being forward in the foregoing of this foreword, for morally I must be forthright, but the more formal, more formidable, less forgiving foraging foreigner has been forewarned...

You knew of sprightly Flora's ritual fun,
The festal jests and license of the rout.
Then why, stern Cato, come to watch? Have done.
Or did you come in simply to walk out? - Martial

This site and the realms of thought it attempts to sketch are inchoate, evolving living landscapes. There are many roads (links) that go nowhere, and may never go anywhere.

This site was last added to on November 12, 2021. Sapere aude, and well wishes in your travels.