Viewing Pleasure

First, I must admit that most of my time today has been wasted on the NBA playoffs. I have a strange affliction that occurs quite frequently: sports I am otherwise barely interested in become captivating during their post-season. Perhaps this is not so surprising, considering that I do enjoy sports in general and good sports in particular. I digress.

I was channel surfing during commercials as always, when I passed a program on Discovery that I had seen advertised through the week: “Green: the New Red, White and Blue.” For any in the dark about it, it is the T.V. counterpart to Thomas L. Friedman’s NY Times article about the Energy/Environment issue in America. I found it wonderfully on point and was appreciative of the minimal amount of politicking. The content of the program was relatively common for people who might have watched the FutureCars special on Discovery, or any other number of recent Environment focused or Green focused programs. I liked some of the specifics offered up in terms of consumption figures and comparisons among leading fuel alternatives. There really seemed to be some sound journalism involved on the whole.

The whole thing got me thinking about Native Sun, where until this month I was employed. It is a Green building with a focus in a Green industry. If the feeling of the program is correct, then the consciousness of the Energy/Environment Issue in America is really growing. As someone in the program remarked, “we don’t have a crisis mentality yet,” but the consciousness is growing. In some ways I had a momentary hint of regret at my decision to leave the company that realized so many of the priorities and goals I believe in. This regret faded and was replaced with the hope that I have the strength to continue to make decisions that I know will mean sacrifice in other areas. A few years ago when I bought a new car, Green was the last thing on my mind. While my current auto gets above average fuel economy, I could definitely have gone out on a limb for my beliefs and invested in a hybrid (or something else showing that sensibility).

I started to think about the ways I have tried to leave as small a footprint as possible, but the harsh realization set in that I don’t do nearly enough. The reality of the situation is that excuses are available, but they don’t even appease me for a moment when I look at the big scheme. So, I resolve to keep buying Organic when I can. I’m going to go out and buy compact fluorescent bulbs for my house – because this is a really simple way to make a big difference. I’m going to change that weather stripping around my door. I’m going to look into other changes that I can make that don’t involve the investments I can’t afford right now. I make a promise to myself that when it is sensible I’m making the move in my transportation. If the auto Industry hasn’t made it easier yet, then I will grit my teeth and put my money where my mouth is.

In the end, I feel like that’s what it comes down to. In some ways I’ve lived my convictions, but not nearly enough. So, a simple resolution is this: take advantage of the opportunities that I can and stop making excuses. Friedman claims that the people who will be dealing with this crisis are too young to vote or not born yet. While there may be ways this is true, it still allows for that mentality of dodging responsibility. I know I will be here to see Green make a major impact on America in many ways. True, I may not live to see the realization of a clean energy grid, or carbon-neutral homes. This, however, should not stop me from trying to realize the most I can in my time and in the footprint I leave on this earth.

Some questions about possible limits on God

An interesting discussion was started over on the FSPB by Dr. Vitz and the discussion shifted onto the class discussion board. At any rate, I found it interesting that so many people wanted to assert that God’s nature is such that, God acts morally, read Good, in every situation without the possibility of acting otherwise, read Evil. So, for some, it seems, that God’s moral perfection consists in God’s inability, by nature, to ever act immorally. The odd element of this assertion, for me, is that this reads like a limitation of God. Most modern conceptions of God still maintain many of the characteristics given to Him in pre-modern thought: Omnipotence, Omniscience, Omni benevolence, Omnipresence. This brings an interesting conflict into the discussion of God’s nature, one which Descartes and others seem to have allowed proofs for His existence to hinge on: can God be limited by His own nature? Is there a way in which this “omni” conception leads into unavoidable contradictions? Does Omnipotence conflict with Omni benevolence in a practical sense?

The source of the discussion is the work of Thomas Reid and his conception of what Moral Perfection is. It seems that, for those who would assert that God is not free to choose between moral and immoral, God is not morally perfect. If they would assert that He is, then they must reformulate the definition of Moral Perfection, or else, claim that it applies differently to God than to human moral agents. Perhaps they argue that God is not a moral agent in the sense that humans are and so, the definition cannot be logically applied.

It seems to me that there are a number of theist and non-theist responses. Some passively mentioned above. I’d enjoy hearing opinions from any perspective. Above I refer to God with masculine pronouns simply to keep consistency with the work from which the original discussion arose. As a non-theist, I have no allegiance to any particular notion of God.

Here is the original discussion:

http://unfspb.wordpress.com/2007/04/19/two-questions-about-moral-perfection/

Ethics Team, Grad School and Next Semester

I spoke with the director of the Ethics team today. I’m not sure how UNF did last year and since she wasn’t the director, she had little input on that. Nevertheless, I am excited about the prospect of engaging in practical, applied Philosophy. I haven’t ever, really had a strong attraction to the moral and ethical aspects of Philosophy, but I do prize a diverse experience and study. It seems that I will find personal gains on a practical level as well: participating on the Ethics Team will be, I think, a good bullet on my CV.

This kind of leads into the discussion of Graduate School. I talked with one of my current professors recently and started to get a “tip of the iceberg” impression of the things involved. I also looked up some particular schools and programs. I initially felt intimidated by the prospect of an application process and judgment. I think after talking with my family, friends and another professor, though, that my feelings are more confident and excited. This whole process is in the future, at a distance which allows this kind of disengaged activity. I am hoping that my studies in the Fall will offer me some more insight and direction pertaining to my future in Philosophy.

The most exciting thing on the horizon is the next few semesters; read, last few semesters. I’m really going to be able to focus in on Philosophy and my education in general over the next year. I think I have it planned out so that I won’t have to work unless it becomes absolutely necessary. Over the summer I’m taking French I and II with French Cinema in the latter part of the term. Hopefully this will provide me with some time to dedicate to recreational reading and writing. I feel like the Fall semester is going to be a big push and somewhat stressful, even if the stress will be mostly good, stimulating and challenging. The lineup so far is Philosophy of Religion, Science and Society, Lies and Self-Deception, Inventing Death, Metaphysics and a Seminar: Aristotle’s Metaphysics. There is a potential alternate in Intermediate French. That decision will wait until the term actually rolls around though. I was happy to get registration taken care of right away and not have any trouble getting the classes I wanted. One exception was a summer course called Art and Architecture of Italy, which I could not sign up for because it involved traveling to Italy! What a horrible reason NOT to be able to take a class. At the moment I cannot afford the endeavor and probably couldn’t afford to miss my other classes during the travel period.

I kind of smirk to myself and joke that I wouldn’t have fun anyways. The trip is for ten days and doubtless I would compare it to my last trip to that, most amazing, country. The reality of the matter is that Florence should never be missed if it can be helped. I will have to make it up to myself later.

Old Endings, New Beginnings

This is simply a placeholder for posts to come. For now, please check out my posts and the other great content at the Florida Student Philosophy Blog:

http://unfspb.wordpress.com