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Capt. Huffnpuff says |
(if you may be interested in a thought or song, you might follow the link. Satisfaction is not guaranteed - there is always the "back" option).
"When you get to my age ... you realize that the world is a madhouse and that most people are operating in fantasy anyway...." -- John Cleese
“Fall Down Seven Times, Get Up Eight” -- Buddhist quote
Acceptance, Forgiveness, and Love. Now that's a philosophy of life.
-- Broadway Danny Rose (1984)
Sometimes the magic works.
Sometimes it doesn't.
-- Old Lodge Skins, "Little Big Man" (1970)
"Lighthouses are more helpful than churches” -- Ben Franklin
"As I grow older, the less I know"
--unknown
"`Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe."
-- Lewis Carroll
"Funny ha ha or funny peculiar?"
-- Cecil the Seasick Serpent
"We forget how an infant smiles"
-- Jean-Paul Sartre
An adventure
into the known knowns, the known unknowns, the unknown unknowns, everything before that, in between and beyond.
(10 minutes of TV history)
Worldview
Capt. Huffnpuff's Worldview is a work in progress, continually evolving, following where his whimsy takes him.
His has a naturalistic worldview derived from the awesome, beautiful, wondrous natural universe around him, Skeptical, probably Existentialist, partially expressed by the the Brights, Humanists, the Greens, TED, other people.
Add a pinch of Beany and Cecil, Laurel and Hardy, W.C. Fields, the Marx Brothers, Monty Python, and Woody Allen, Calvin and Hobbs, spiced with charm and beauty and pride.
There are dreams and sometimes they come true. There are rainbows and sometimes you're lucky enough to see one or two.
Et Viola, a worldview (Weltanschauung, philosophy of life, life stance)
Awesomeness, Beauty and Wonder
The good Capt.'s universe is filled with awesomeness, beauty, and wonder. The stars, nature, people, and all that he is in the amidst of are awesome, beautiful and wondrous. They are wonderful in and of themselves.
If you think for a moment, it is even more awesome, beautiful, and wondrous if no "one" made or designed them.
Skeptic
"Extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof." -- Carl Sagan
To be truly skeptical, one must have an open mind. The Capt. is ever curious and wants to understand. He is open to any source, but asks for proof of their assertions.
If you want to change his mind, convince him. If he wants to change your mind, then he needs to convince you.
Existentialist
Whatever happens happens.
The Capt. has better things to do than fret about philosophy, but he's not sure what. Didn't the French invent ennui.
Existentialism is optimistic (sometimes this gets lost amongst the trees)
Existence precedes essence
Man is nothing more than what he makes of himself
Fear is a condition of action (hang ten, dude!)
Each must create his or her own meaning and morality without the help of any divine being
Man is Free
There is no pre-established morality. Morality is agreed upon by the community.
Existentialism is a Humanism
(more on this later)
Imagine Peace
"Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace"
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace"
-- John Lennon
Violence Never Leads to Peace
Violence is not an option as it is a crime against humanity, except when absolutely necessary for self preservation. Violence only begets violence.
"Peace cannot be achieved through violence, it can only be attained through understanding." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson
"Heroism on command, senseless violence, and all the loathsome nonsense that goes by the name of patriotism - how passionately I hate them!" -- Albert Enstein
"I object to violence because when it appears to do good, the good is only temporary; the evil it does is permanent." -- Mohandas Ghandhi
"The pursuit of truth does not permit violence on one's opponent." -- Mohandas Ghandhi
"...we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex." Ensenhower's Farewell Address
And so many quotes of men more intelligent than the Capt. More quotes on Violence
Department of War morphed into Department of Defense - the philosophy is still same, "might vs right". The US has been at war or complicit in war, almost continually since 1939. When has the US fought a war in their own defense? Korea? Vietnam? The Balkans? Afghanistan? Iraq (WMD?)? They have been wars to force their ideals and beliefs on others. It is still the Department of War however they want to gloss it over with a name change. Its much like in "1984" where newspeak changes "ministry of war" to "ministry of peace" though the function did not change. Indeed, this "Department of Defense" provides weapons to many countries to fight their own wars.
"War - An act of violence whose object is to constrain the enemy, to accomplish our will." -- George Washington
insurgent - the Afghan insurgents attacked NATO forces. How preposterous. NATO are the invaders! The Taliban are fighting for their lives and beliefs. Another example of insurgents were the American Revolutionaries. (I am not taking sides, I am merely giving examples)
Surgical vs Neutering? "Pinpoint" killing versus more massive killing. Hasn't anybody learned that aerial bombing is merely long range artillery. It takes soldiers on the ground to "neuter" anything and even that is not very effective (how long was the US in Vietnam? Iraq? Afghanistan? How many years and counting? Who have the "neutered"? How many people and maimed in these "pinpoint" actions?)
collateral damage - the most obscene phrase in the English language. It means killing and maiming innocent civilians and destroying their property. There is NO acceptable level of collateral damage.
Bright
A Bright is a person who has a naturalistic worldview
A Bright's worldview is free of supernatural and mystical elements
The ethics and actions of a Bright are based on a naturalistic worldview
Note that in this context, Bright is a noun. It is a reflection of the bright side of life.
Humanist
"I am a humanist, which means, in part, that I have tried to behave decently without expectations of rewards or punishments after I am dead." -- Kurt Vonnegut
"The four characteristics of humanism are curiosity, a free mind, belief in good taste, and belief in the human race." -- E.M. Forester
The minimum humanist definition according to the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU):
"Humanism is a democratic and ethical life stance, which affirms that human beings have the right and responsibility to give meaning and shape to their own lives. It stands for the building of a more humane society through an ethic based on human and other natural values in the spirit of reason and free inquiry through human capabilities. It is not theistic, and it does not accept supernatural views of reality."
The fundamentals of modern Humanism are as follows:
- Humanism is ethical. It affirms the worth, dignity and autonomy of the individual and the right of every human being to the greatest possible freedom compatible with the rights of others. Humanists have a duty of care to all of humanity including future generations. Humanists believe that morality is an intrinsic part of human nature based on understanding and a concern for others, needing no external sanction.
- Humanism is rational. It seeks to use science creatively, not destructively. Humanists believe that the solutions to the world's problems lie in human thought and action rather than divine intervention. Humanism advocates the application of the methods of science and free inquiry to the problems of human welfare. But Humanists also believe that the application of science and technology must be tempered by human values. Science gives us the means but human values must propose the ends.
- Humanism supports democracy and human rights. Humanism aims at the fullest possible development of every human being. It holds that democracy and human development are matters of right. The principles of democracy and human rights can be applied to many human relationships and are not restricted to methods of government.
- Humanism insists that personal liberty must be combined with social responsibility. Humanism ventures to build a world on the idea of the free person responsible to society, and recognises our dependence on and responsibility for the natural world. Humanism is undogmatic, imposing no creed upon its adherents. It is thus committed to education free from indoctrination.
- Humanism is a response to the widespread demand for an alternative to dogmatic religion. The world's major religions claim to be based on revelations fixed for all time, and many seek to impose their world-views on all of humanity. Humanism recognises that reliable knowledge of the world and ourselves arises through a continuing process. of observation, evaluation and revision.
- Humanism values artistic creativity and imagination and recognises the transforming power of art. Humanism affirms the importance of literature, music, and the visual and performing arts for personal development and fulfilment.
- Humanism is a lifestance aiming at the maximum possible fulfilment through the cultivation of ethical and creative living and offers an ethical and rational means of addressing the challenges of our times. Humanism can be a way of life for everyone everywhere
The Capt. does have a reservation. As stated, it is too "human being" centric. There is all of the rest of Nature. It seems to him that it is arrogant to assume that the Universe spins around a center of humans. Humans are not "responsible" for Nature, per se; they are only responsible for husbanding the resources they can influence. Humans only exist in Nature as part of the Universe on a tiny planet near the edge of a tiny galaxy.
If there were really Aliens from out space, how would we treat them?
Ask Not for Whom the Bell Tolls
Who casts not up his eye to the sun when it rises? But who takes off his eye from a comet when that breaks out? Who bends not his ear to any bell which upon any occasion rings?
But who can remove it from that bell which is passing a piece of himself out of this world?
No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friend's or of thine own were. Any man's death diminishes me because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee. . . .
-- John Donne from Meditation 17
-- John Donne from Meditation 17
We forget how an infant smiles
-- Jean-Paul Sartre
That quote is probably the most profound thing Sartre even wrote!
Somebody's attempt to explain Sartre's notion that Existentialism is a humanism and what he did say Existentialism is a Humanism.
(For such a short man, Sartre is certainly very long winded)
The Fisher King
Green
Grassroots democracy
Social justice and equal opportunity
Ecological wisdom
Non-violence
Decentralization
Community-based economics and economic justice
Feminism and gender equality
Respect for diversity
Personal and global responsibility
Future focus on sustainability
Wisdom, democracy, justice, wisdom, equality, diversity, responsibility, sustainability. Not just pretty words.
--Green
Freedom and Responsibility
Some people have the notion that freedom, as defined by the Humanists and Existentialists, means "unfettered", i.e., that they can do as they want, being exempt or released from something onerous, unrestricted; a sort of liberum arbitrium where almost anything is possible and where values are inconsequential to choice and action, hence leading to "immoral activities", the decay of society, havoc, and chaos.
Nothing could be further from the truth. Both Humanists and Existentialists hold that, with freedom comes responsibility. If you are free to act as you wish against others, you deny them their freedom; to preserve your freedom, you must act responsibly and allow others theirs. You must take responsibility for your actions. Unfettered "freedom" can lead to consequences you did not anticipate nor want.
As the IHEU puts it, personal liberty must be combined with social responsibility. Per Wikipedia, "Freedom in existentialism is related to the limits of the responsibility one bears as a result of one's freedom: the relationship between freedom and responsibility is one of interdependency".
See the section on Humanism (above) about their definition of freedom and here for Existentialism Freedom
TED
Riveting talks by remarkable people, free to the world
Capt. Huffnpuff's Ethics and Morals
Rules? We ain't got no Rules. We don't need no Rules. I don't have to show you any stinking rules.
But if you really must have them,
The good Capt. takes these as guidelines on how to behave decently, not rules and regulations.
The Capt. read somewhere,
"Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself"
And somewhere else
Embrace our common humanity, celebrate our rich diversity.
The Good Capt.'s Pigeon Holes
Capt. Huffnpuff's pigeon holes are his, not defined by others. The good Capt. IS absurdly enough an Existentialist, Skeptic, Bright, Humanist, and Green. That is a positive statement, "He is".
He does not consider himself an atheist because the term is irrelevant as his worldview does not include the mystical or supernatural, hence theism and atheism make no sense.
He is close to a seven on Richard Dawking's "Spectrum of Theistic Probability". But not quite a seven because a skeptic must have an open mind. What is wanted is proof.
The Absolute Truth
It seems to the Capt. that none of us are the "keepers of the absolute truth".
Not the hoards of religious denominations and sects arguing amongst themselves about who knows the absolute truth, even resorting to violence, to force "truth" on others.
(The most important bit starts at about 4:30 into the video)
Nor philosophers through out history. Nor law makers and lawyers. Nor the self proclaimed experts and pundits. Nor all of the myriad of authors, books, and publications. Nor the mighty buck.
Not even, some would say the new religion, science, which is a method of "objectively" describing the known universe, not the answer.
Science without humanity is truly ugly. Science driven by the greed of multi-national companies is positively obscene. So sayest the Capt. himself.
It seems to the Capt. that children are the closest to truth and draw further away from it as they age.
Does the good Capt. know the absolute truth?
Absolutely Not!
Awesome Art
The Capt. is in awe of the art that man has made in honor of their beliefs (often missing the irony).
What Good is a Worldview Without a Song
Book?
Thoughtful
Awesome, Charming, and Beautiful
(you must watch to the end, especially Simon's Comments)
(it takes about 30 seconds to start)
Humorous
If All Else Fails
Be Skeptical
"We offer a one-million-dollar prize to anyone who can show, under proper observing conditions, evidence of any paranormal, supernatural, or occult power or event."
Meet the Rest of the Gang
Those are my principles, and if you don't like them... well, I have others. -- Groucho Marx
The Capt. doesn't care what you call him. Just don't call him late for dinner.
À tout à l'heure.
“Fall Down Seven Times, Get Up Eight"
(Bright)
