Bulletin N° 782
Subject
: Starting over: Suggestions from a 17th-century
philosopher, with the courage of his convictions, who might be of help to
us living with 21st-century conundrums.
21 January 2018
Grenoble, France
Dear Colleagues and Friends of CEIMSA,
In Part II of Baruch Spinoza’s Ethics
(written between 1661-75 & posthumously published
in 1677) we find a logical contemplation that puts to shame Discourse
on Method (1637) by René Descartes. Unlike Descartes, Spinoza found the
courage to begin his inquiry into human intelligence starting with himself and the physical presence of humans around him,
and not with some abstract schematic sketch drawn from his imagination. A lover of
sentient Humanity, and not of sterile Systems, Spinoza has much to offer us for
understanding the functions of the human mind as a product of Nature, and these lessons remain of vital
importance today.
Particularly pithy, in the second part of this work, is his discussion of,
Proposition 49:
“There is in the mind no volition, that is affirmation
and negation, except that which an idea, in so far as it is an idea, involves.”
Proof:
“There is in the mind . . . no absolute
faculty of willing and non-willing, but only particular volitions, namely, this
or that affirmation, and this or that negation. Let us therefore conceive a
particular volition, namely, a mode of thinking whereby the mind affirms that
the three angles of a triangle are equal to two right angles. This affirmation
involved the conception, or idea, of a triangle; that is, it cannot be
conceived without the idea of a triangle.
. . . Furthermore, this idea of
a triangle must involve this same affirmation, namely, that its three angles
are equal to two right angles. Therefore, vice versa, this idea of a triangle
can neither be nor be conceived without this affirmation,
and so . . . its affirmation belongs to the essence of the idea of a triangle,
and is nothing more than the essence itself. And what I have said of this
volition (for it was arbitrarily selected) must be said of
every volition, namely, that it is nothing but an idea.”
Corollary: “Will and
volition are one and the same thing.”
Proof: “Will and intellect are nothing but the particular
volitions and ideas. But a particular volition and idea are
one and the same thing. Therefore will and intellect are
one and the same thing.
He then addresses the
state of equilibrium in the ‘Buridan’s Ass Dilemma’.
“I
readily grant that a man placed in such a state of equilibrium (namely, where
he feels nothing
else
but hunger and thirst and perceives nothing but such –and-such food and drink
at equal distances
from
him) will die of hunger and thirst. If they ask me whether such a man is not to
be reckoned as ass
rather
than a man, I reply that I do not know, just as I do not know how one should
reckon a man
who
hangs himself, or how one should reckon babies, fools, and madmen.” (from Ethics
and Selected Letters, trans. 1982, by Samuel Shirley, pp.96-101)
Spinoza’s description of the human mind as a product
of nature, and human intelligence as inseparable from will, represents an
understanding of imagination and intellect that could only outrage the
guardians of organized religion, the indoctrination for which is perpetrated by propagandists supported by politico-religious institutions and who find themselves
necessarily on the defensive. They had frightened Descartes into compromise, and
he came to toe the line of the Church propagandists; Spinoza overcame his fear
and proceeded cautiously to seek the truth against the efforts of all organized
religions in the Netherlands, until his death in 1677.
What more can he teach us?
In the 15 items below you will find essays on
the internal contradictions and international struggles which constitute the
essence of 21st-century US political economy.
Sincerely,
Francis Feeley
Professor emeritus of American Studies
University Grenoble-Alpes
Director of Research
University of Paris-Nanterre
Center for the Advanced Study of
American Institutions and Social Movements
The University of California-San Diego
a.
From: "Groucho
Marx"
Sent: Monday, 15 January, 2018
Subject: Byron: Women's March Photograph
Francis,
I am proud of this photo I shot last year.
Can you use this banner photo from the last
march in 2017 ?
We had one of the biggest marches in San
Diego ever with 60,000.
The next march is this Saturday January
20th, 2018.
I think it's evocative and multi-meaning in
the imagery.
It feels like a contemporary image, echoing
and embodying Archibald Willard's, Spirit of '76 painting and the 1968
Memphis sanitation workers strike signage, I am a Man.
Their eyes and facial expressions still linger
in my memory. One expresses hope, one courage and one uneasiness.
And of course the flags as symbols of LGBT
Rainbow, Transgender Pride flag and the Stars and Stripes flag.
Thanks,
Photo Credit: Byron Morton
===========
b.
From: "Ariel Gold,
CODEPINK" <info@codepink.org>
Sent: Wednesday, 17 January, 2018
Subject: Turning 17 in prison
Dear Francis, I just hung up with Ahed’s attorney.
The news is horrific. Israel is refusing
to release her on bail pending trial. Not
only this, but the court proceedings against her will will begin on January
31, the day of
her 17th birthday! Rather than celebrating with family and
friends, eating cake, and having a party, she will spend the day in a
military courtroom. She
will sleep that night in a prison cell. Two days ago, I spoke with Ahed’s
father, Bassem. He told me that he is
proud of his daughter’s brave actions, but
his heart breaks every moment of her imprisonment. He also
told me how much he appreciates all we are doing to support his family,
including the Free Ahed petition you were a part of signing. Here are some next steps you can take to stand in solidarity
with Ahed:
According to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the
arrest and imprisonment of children is only to be used as a last resort, for the shortest period
of time, with the primary consideration being the best interests of the
child. But, because Israel regularly denies Palestinian children their human
rights, Ahed will spend her 17th birthday in
prison. If not for the occupation, she would be free. Join us in sending Ahed a
birthday card filled with love, support, and solidarity. Israel is trying to prevent any support for the Palestinians’
struggle for freedom. Read from Medea
on how outrageous it is that Israel has banned CODEPINK and 5 other US
organizations from entering the country. Then, join us in sending birthday solidarity to Ahed. In love and solidarity, P.S. On December 30th, in preparation for
Ahed’s trial and birthday, we will be protesting in
Washington, DC. Join us there or
plan a protest in your city to #FreeAhed. |
To update your email subscription, contact info@codepink.org. |
===========
c.
Rethinking Putin: A Talk by Professor Stephen F. Cohen
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/48618.htm
by Stephen F. Cohen
"What Putin Is Not"
===========
d.
It’s Nato that’s Empire-building, not
Putin
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/48602.htm
by
Peter Hitchins
Just for once, let us try this argument with an open
mind, employing arithmetic and geography and going easy on the adjectives. Two
great land powers face each other. One of these powers, Russia, has given up
control over 700,000 square miles of valuable territory. The other, the
European Union, has gained control over 400,000 of those square miles. Which of
these powers is expanding?
===========
e.
'We
Look at Them Like Donkeys'
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/48596.htm
What Israel's first ruling party thought about Palestinian citizens
by Adam Raz
“The
Arab question in Israel” was the term used in the top ranks of Mapai, the ruling party in the young State of Israel – and
forerunner of Labor – to encapsulate the complex issue that arose after the War
of Independence of 1948-49. In the wake of the fighting, and the armistice
agreements that concluded the war, about 156,000 Arabs remained
within Israel (out of an estimated 700,000 before the war), accounting for
14 percent of the nascent state’s population. So it was with some justification
that Foreign Minister Moshe Sharett stated in a
meeting of Mapai Knesset members and the party’s
senior leadership, on June 18, 1950, that “this is one of the fundamental
questions of our policy and of the future of our country.” He added that the
issue was one “that will determine the direction of the country’s morality,”
for “our entire moral stature depends on this test – on whether we pass it or
not.”
Almost
70 years later, the “Arab question in Israel” continues to pose a conundrum for
politicians when they address the issue of the status of Palestinian
citizens of Israel (or, as they are often imprecisely called, “Israeli Arabs”).
===========
f. Video
of Nikki Haley Groveling and Pandering at
AIPAC Event (Israel Lobby) by Louis
Heyward
=========== g. Norman Finkelstein on the Many Lies Perpetuated About Gaza |
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/48632.htm
===========
h.
Palestine, Israel And The
US: How The South Pacific Countries Selling Their UN Votes
by Andre Vltchek
Here it goes again! Several countries of Oceania
(also known as South Pacific Nations), or however you want to call that vast,
beautiful but thoroughly devastated part of the world, have voted “for Israel”,
“for the United States’ proposed resolution at the United Nations”, and
therefore, “against Palestine”.
===========
i.
Facing Serious Damage to its Image, Israel Must Smear its Critics
as Anti-Semites
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/48612.htm
by
Moshé Machover
On January 25, Labour activist and co-founder of Britain’s Palestine
Solidarity Campaign Tony Greenstein will undergo a disciplinary hearing over
accusations of alleged anti-Semitic comments made online. Greenstein was
suspended from Labour back in 2016 when the remarks
first came to light. Greenstein
has maintained the content was legitimate criticism of Israeli policy, and not derogatory statements about Jews. Moshé
Machover, a British-Israeli activist and member of the UK’s Labour
Party, has prepared the following testimony in defense of Greenstein. Machover
was also the founder of the Israeli socialist political party Matzpen.
===========
j.
From: World Beyond War
Video
Highlights of No Foreign Bases Conference
|
===========
k.
Let’s wrench power back
from the billionaires
Bernie
Sanders
===========
l.
10 Reasons Not To Trust Facebook
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/48604.htm
Watch
With
over 1.5 billion people using Facebook has become the
superpower of the social media landscape. With with
power comes responsibility and Facebook has
unfortunately been responsibly for some pretty shady
revelations!
===========
m.
Trump’s State Department Spent Over
$1m in Iran
to
Exploit Unrest
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/48628.htm
Documents reveal ‘regime change’ aspirations pursued
under cover of ‘democracy promotion’ programs
by Nafeez Ahmed
At the end of 2017, a dozen cities across Iran,
including the capital Tehran, were rocked by spontaneous protests which
continued into the New Year. The protests drew attention to the country’s
deteriorating economic conditions, along with the regime’s abysmal human rights record. They also paved the way for
President Donald Trump’s announcement on January 12th that this would be a “last
chance” for waiving US nuclear sanctions under the Iran nuclear deal for a
further 60 days, after which the US would withdraw if its “disastrous flaws”
cannot be fixed.
===========
n.
From: "Groucho
Marx"
Sent: Tuesday, 16 January, 2018
Subject: Byron: A few Photos from MLK jr March...Enjoy!
I thought you'd be interested in a few
shots from the Martin Luther King jr
Parade.
Stay well, do good work and keep in touch!
A VIEW OF ‘LIMITED DEMOCRACY’
FROM SOUTHERN CALIFORNA . . .
Child on Bike
Black Lives Matter Kid with Sign
Veterans For Peace
African American Association of County
Employees
Cesar Chavez Service Clubs
Miss Black California
___________________________________________________
San Diego Link Achievers
San Diego Pride Biker
Black Nurses Association
NAACP Black Lawyers Matter
Dancing Girl
Low Rider
Gadsden Marching Band San Luis Arizona
San Diego 1-21-17 Broadway Street
(Not a Byron Morton Photo)
===========
o.