DM>    The Semite grasp of desert vision HAS resulted in one of the most 
 DM>  long lasting successful people in all of our present historical 
 DM>  experience (irritated Jung till the day he died!). 
It occurred to me today, that had not Trajan forced them, they no 
doubt, would have stayed in Israel, and today they would *all* be 
Palestinians.  I view much of their success as an example of what 
Neitzsche said- that which does not kill me, makes me stronger.;) 
 
 DM> It is unclear that purity of truth has any epic good effect... 
Well sure; but religion has always wrestled with which lessons an 
ignorant population could absorb, and generally chosen the lowest 
common denominator to have the highest number of faithful.  There 
is no mandate to do that with philosophy.  Indeed, the criticisms 
I have read of Stoicism was that it only was for an elite with an 
adequate amount of time to study it and the integrity to adopt an 
ethic so high most men could not attain it.  Again, that is not a 
problem for those who choose to make the effort. 
 
DB> To some considerable extent, people make the decision about what 
DB> they will believe well before they are mature enough with enough 
DB> significant data to reach a well reasoned position, and are then 
DB> stuck with it.  The shrinks have shown that when a belief is put 
DB> to a test with contradictory data, that most people react with a 
DB> good deal of anxiety and even aggression... hence flamethrowers. 
 DM>   
 DM>  ........................"Mature enough"? Interesting generalization! 
Is there any doubt that flamethrowers lack maturity? 
 DM>  That we conclude emotionally first; then to find some logic fortress 
 DM>  to defend that/those conclusions IS-THE-WAY of it. In time 
 DM>  "reasonableness" occasionally sunshines through. ... 
Socrates, I believe, showed the value of doubting; thus, contrary 
to standard practice, the young should be taught to doubt, not to 
believe.  Do they *need* a fortress to defend? 
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 * OFFLINE 1.58 
--- Maximus 3.01
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