(1998: THE FINAL LECTURE)
HUMAN BEING XLI
(Revision)
May 1, l998.
Our dear Khalid,
A year ago, we had an interesting discussion about Labour
Day; ever since, we had excellent lectures on the topic of Labour.
Thus, this year's appreciation of this "great" event will be of another
nature. We will revise our "labouring" efforts until now, within the framework
of the "labour pains" of the Patria. Let us relax today, enjoy the Holiday,
and "gaff" friendly!
A while ago, we insisted that it was "high time" that we begin to think about, for and by ourselves; we have masticated sufficiently what others have "thought"; certainly, we reaped the benefits of culture, but in our mind we also sowed the benefits of Cartesian doubt : dubito, cogito, ergo sum.
To know oneself, gnothi seautón, Erkenne Dich selbst, all imply that we have to surpass our daily passive, receptive cognition, and to "advance" towards "labouring", to "productive" heights, to original active methods, to sublime spheres of recognition. Criticism of the patrian superstructure is not a half-hearted affair, it is not a dozing liaison; either we go all the way or we better insure our inflammable neurons very dearly; expressed otherwise, we have to keep them very far away from the blazing ideological capitalist cauldron, Hexenkessel.
Obviously, we cannot read and study all the "classics" of philosophy or politics; we cannot specialize in the works of titans like Kant, Hegel, Marx, Trotsky, Shakespeare, Einstein, Beethoven, Kwame Nkrumah, Hobbes, Darwin, Hannah Arendt, Nadine Gordimer, etc., and then become erudite experts in all these philosophies and ideologies. Our life-span on this godforlorn planet does not even permit us this privilege; our empty wallet gives us the rest, the final blow of no grace.
Nevertheless, semi-consciously, our everyday thoughts are overloaded with manipulated, indoctrinated views; from the cradle to the grave, we are spoon-fed with the very best delicatessen of the patrian superstructure, with the intellectual dainties and titbits of "common sense". We enjoy this feast so voraciously, that we do not smell a rat, that we do not realize that it is our "Last Supper", that it is our mental Crucifixion.
Hence, we need not study all these majestic works; we know them, not half-hearted, but by heart; we enjoy the "fruits of labour", their "fruits of knowledge" everyday; we have had a big bite in this sour apple long ago already; we are now and here enjoying the results, our experiences, our sour grapes dipped into sour cream.
Consequently, to make a very long story very brief, in medias res: Any idea, any thought, any concept, any theory, any ideology, any philosophy, all of them have to line up in front of the telescope and magnifying glass of our Intellect, and then they have to pass over to the "weeping and gnashing of teeth", to the "fire and brimstone", to the "Dr. Mabuse Torture Chamber", to the Orwellian "Ministry of Love", to the Mension of Incision, Decision, Revision and Trivision, to Our Reason, to Our Reasoning, to Our Method of Reasoning. What survives, for Us, and for Us Only, merits the connotation: Ours Truly ! The rest goes for "recycling", for "Yours Truly".
If anybody has informed us that Marx is a "materialist ", whatever this is supposed to mean, and that Hegel is an "idealist", and we supposedly all know what this means, then it is fine; if we are happy with this information, hence, what is the issue? We can joyfully "rest in peace".
If we begin to study Marx or Hegel, materialists or idealists, and we come to the very same afore-mentioned conclusion, then, also there is no dilemma; at least, we are scheduled for the next summa cum laude, and we can dance to the rhythm of "Celebration!". If these two positions are the only ones which count in this so ever static and so ever changing PATRIA, then it is excellent.
But, when our Cartesian razor blade sets in, and dubito (I doubt) becomes restless, becomes incisive, then the "works", the "labouring" of the Mind really sets in; de aquí en adelante the operation, not the "Operation Desert Storm", but the Operation Doing a n d Thinking AND Excelling takes its toll, then the "Sea of Troubles" really roars, then "Trouble troubles Us", not in single file, but in patrian battalions. Then we receive many names: Anti-Christ, Terrorist, Fascist, Racist, Elitist, Nihilist, Atheist; our only capital crime: We have dared to do a n d think AND excel about, for and by ourselves for the very first time in our life. As Marx had exclaimed: We tried to storm the Heavens!
In the next lectures, we will postulate Cosmos, Einai and Nothing.
Original "Labour" Greetings!
Franz.
http://www.oocities.org/Athens/Academy/8545/eng_1.html
We wish you fun, reading them!