I Think, Therefore I Am?

Rene Descartes was a French philosopher.  Apparently, his job was to think, then write.  The question I have to ask is how did he do his thinking?  Did he sit around in a bath like Socrates?  Did he even talk with other people, or did he just think alone?   It is said that he had a series of dreams that formed the foundation of his philosophy.  From those dreams he formed his famous first truth.   But, this was clearly not the product of an all night drinking party (those Ancient Greeks and Romans again--look up what a symposium was--it was a drinking party).  No, Descartes' philosophy was a solo act.  He sat there examining his own experience and his own mind, deducing his basis for existence--his thought.  If his thought exists, then so must he.  

But I'm not smart enough to pursue that whole notion.  Deep thinking in solitude more than likely would put me to sleep.  Wait, maybe that's the kind of sleep Descartes fell into, then dreamed up the basis for existence!  Probably not.  

But, put me in a group talking about something like this and I feel alive.  "When I think, I feel alive."  If only I could remember how to say that in Latin, it would sound so much more profound.  After all, Descartes rewrote his that way, "Cogito, ergo sum."  When I came to that conclusion, it sounded to me at first like I was treading the same ground as Descartes had (just a thought, a leap of absurdity, I know).  Even so, I did a little reading about Descartes, and realized he was a solitary thinker.  Probably was never on the same page.  

Nevertheless, I agree with Descartes.  What I think is telling me something.  I don't know exactly how to do something about it.  I can try to hang around with people who will talk about these things, but I don't know exactly where they hang out.  Discussions involving deep thought seem to be few and far between these days.  

I could write a book, but that is a kind of solitary activity.   It becomes very private, in a sense, when one tries to write a serious book.  The author becomes sort of protective about the book, not wanting it to see the light of day until it's ready.        

Then there's the whole thing about the discomfort some people feel about sharing space with those who do not share their opinions.  Often discussions that make you think occur when opinions conflict, or, put another way, people share thoughts that may not yet be fully formed and ready for a steadfast defense.  That is OK.  It really is beyond me to take in why people have become convinced that the proper thing to do about someone who strongly holds or even offers, an opinion or an observation with which they disagree is to belittle them or worse.  

Political discourse in this country seems to be devoted to that approach.  Hence, little or no honest exchange of thought occurs.  As a result, no middle ground can be found.  I find that those moments when I am thinking, and therefore feel most alive are occurring less and less often.  They are pushed aside by many people who replace them either with ridicule of others or silence.  It is certainly predictable that people will be uncomfortable sharing thoughts for which they might be attacked.        

Why not try it?  Find a safe situation where you can express a thought and feel alive.  The first step is to start listening without judgement to what others who might not agree with you have to say.  Be willing to accept the discomfort that comes with sharing space with people who don't share your opinion.  You might learn something, and you might just feel a bit more alive for a little while.  

Weather, Who Needs It?

A friend asked me one of those "would you rather" questions this morning.  I answered it offhand and was satisfied with my answer, but it's the kind of question that follows you around all day.  It was "would you rather have the four seasons each year with their variations or just have it 72 degrees every day the year round?"

We need seasonal variations for conversation starters.
My first inclination is to point out how hard it would be to start a conversation.  We all have this common ground--"Boy, that was some rain we had!" or, "wow, this is the coldest day this year."  If all we had was the same weather every day, we.d be stuck--"Yeah, it's 72 degrees again, same old, same old."   BORING! and probably not  very good way to start a conversation.

Then, let's talk about the alternative.  We'd have to jump right in with whatever else-"Why do you have those crumbs on your tie?" Not what you want?  Try this, "You like this weather?  I'd swear it was 72 just yesterday." 

We need seasonal variation to allow proper gloating.
How could I call my siblings and tell them about the cooler/hotter weather I am enjoying in Hilton Head vs. Chicago, in say, January.  Sure, it would be 72 here, but isn't it a lot more fun saying to someone dear to you whose teeth are chattering in sub-zero cold, "Wow, it really got cold here last night, it's only going to be 60 today."

Oh, when you think the summer might be overwhelming for people here, forget it.  I can walk the beach at 7AM if I want to.  The ocean provides a breeze and cools you off almost all the time.  If it was 72 degrees all the time, how could I say in July,  "Wow, I had to spend all day at the beach here today, just to stay cool." It just doesn't sound as good to me.

We need seasonal variation to kill the bugs.
Give us just two overnight frosts a year to reduce the bug population.  if we don't get them, we need the birds, snakes, etc. to eat up the bugs.  Me, I prefer the frost.  Not enough to require scraping the windshield, though.  I lost my last  ice scraper in 2003 when I traded in my car.  I haven't seen one since.  Oh, I suppose the area thrift stores like Goodwill where people give away their old stuff when they move here permanently; things like overcoats, furs, snow boots, wool scarves and mufflers, ear muffs, ski hats and masks, .  Occasionally a snow shovel will even show up. Anyway, a couple of overnight frosts will usually kill off enough bugs so we won't get carried off by several thousand lifting at once and taking us home as food.

It's all relative, cold just isn't the same any more. Now, as I reflect on it, I like the cool mornings we encounter here in the fall and winter.  I would miss those moments if we had no "seasons."  However, I am also reasonably certain that I don't need a ten below zero morning to appreciate that variation.  I guess the question wasn't fair.  My idea of seasonal variations has been distorted. I grew up in Chicago,  Here, I think winter has arrived when it's 45 degrees at 7 AM.  It's a tough life, but I can do this.