This essay explores the topics of linguistic determinism and linguistic relativism. These topics are the subject of some scientific debate and the two theories can be viewed as being in competition. Linguistic relativism is an idea related to how language is structured and is used by people; the theory can be viewed as a weak form of linguistic determinism. The central idea of linguistic relativism is that the language spoken by a given person impacts the way that that person views the world. On the other hand, linguistic determinism is a stronger form of the same position that agrees that language affects the way that a person thinks and perceives their surroundings but goes beyond that and states that language is determinant in forming how a person thinks. Therefore, both theories attempt to demonstrate that the way that individuals think is influenced by the language that the given individual uses.
I am afraid that I have some seriously bad news. Free speech is a choice and an admirable one but not one without consequences. Why? Simply put, one has to choose between being inoffensive and thus producing a safe space for all including even the most easily offended, or to truly stand for the preservation of the value of free speech.
Sexual perversion is to be defined as sexual behavior that is not practiced by the clear majority of humans in a given culture that is differentiated from sexual exploration by the reoccurrence of the behavior, the extremity of the deviation, and the harm resultant from the performance of the perversion. It is recognized when a certain individual expresses certain sexual desires or urges that are uncommon, unrelated to typical sexual interactions, and/or are somehow outside the two categories entirely. Perversions are many and varied, diverse in their characteristics – varying from sexual attitudes towards non-sexual objects, to frotteurism, transvestitism, and voyeurism.
There are many differing definition of justice – but at its most fundamental – justice is the concept of fairness, that all individuals receive what they are rightfully owed. However, there is a major debate between the political right and left on what is owed to each person. Stemming from this debate is the question of whether capitalism is just. Far from being an empty, meaningless debate, the question does indeed have an answer and that answer is a resounding yes.
The view “that anything that we can successfully interact with by treating as if it were rational, and as if it had beliefs, desires, etc., has the very same claim to be regarded as having beliefs and desires” as humans do is one that is put forth by Daniel Dennett. This view is implausible for a multitude of reasons. It is important to note the contrast between faux beliefs and desires, and genuine beliefs and desires of rational beings. There is also the issue of conflation between metaphor and reality, the unique nature of being human, and finally the fundamental difference between non-rational things and rational beings that are able to control their impulsive and immediate pseudo-desires and pseudo-beliefs in favor of real desires and beliefs such as a human’s life purpose in the existential sense.
Apollonian vs. Dionysian - The Superior Person's Balancing ActThe balancing act of the Apollonian and the Dionysian as aspects of personality
In The Birth of Tragedy Nietzsche, following Schopenhauer, characterizes our experience of individuality (principium individuationis) as an illusion. He makes use of the Greek gods Apollo and Dionysus to personify both sides of our humanity. Nietzsche’s ideal in this work was a human being in which the Apollonian and Dionysian elements were brought into some kind of harmony with each other. Is our individuality an illusion? What could it mean to reconcile the Apollonian and Dionysian sides of our existence?
Essence and ExistenceA look at Sartre's characterization of the human condition and analyzing essence vs. existence in terms of primacy
Jean-Paul Sartre’s declaration that “existence precedes essence” is a multifaceted statement that is invoked in order to defend existentialism against critics of it. In order to understand and analyze the phrase, all three words within it must be analyzed and then assembled together to comprehend the full meaning of the sentence. The declaration reverses the status quo thinking at the time, but allows mankind freedom. The statement is accurate, and is universally applicable to man, the author himself included.
Ephemerality Reviewing Nina Kraviz's eponymous' debut and exploring the numinous
Sensual, sexual, ephemeral but inescapable, Nina Kraviz has created something truly beautiful and unique and yet something that approaches a numinous experience.
The deepest of house reminds us of our most deep and intense memories and dreams and leads us on, a definite will-o-the-wisp, forcing us to trudge ever onward through the muck, to sail through the mist, a siren's call that leads us onto the rocks.
It's briskly walking through the freezing streets of Moscow at 3am, walking quickly because of the howling gale and the bitter cold, but never running because it's undignified. It's more Murmansk or Irkutsk than Moscow but the lights are of the boutique stores and the inescapable grim albeit everyday realities that contrast sharply with the dream-like opulence displayed publicly. The contrast of a drunk with a glimmering shopfront all in this mist, all while actively trying to go somewhere and being purposeful about it but not actually having anywhere to go to.
Veckatimest, The Essential, and The DisposableReviewing Grizzly Bear's Veckatimest and a hard look at existence
Sometimes things get complicated. It's easy to lose track of what you want or need and often difficult to realize that you're not working towards those things that are so important but instead are merely occupying your time with tedious, unimportant and uninteresting things simply so that you don't feel quite so reclining. It's important to work, it's important to do what society expects of us, in order to receive what your expect from society - a career, a standard of living, and the little trinkets that make up our life: Evian water, a Prada luggage bag, Audio-Technica turntable, Bang & Olufsen earphones. These things aren't necessities in the standard meaning of the word because they are not necessary for everyone but these kinds of little extravagance are important in order to take our mind off the true emptiness of it all - a sort of Fight Club-esque indulgence where we fill our vacant apartment-cum-souls with IKEA furniture because what else is there to do? In moments of realization such as these it's important to take a step back and find something that can float you away from all of that tedium and into a parallel musical dimension where you can be free of all of those concerns. This is what that album does.