(no subject)
Because man, in so far as he is a part of nature, constitutes a part of the power of nature. Whatever, therefore, follows necessarily from the necessity of human nature (that is, from nature herself, in so far as we conceive of her as acting through man) follows, even though it be necessarily, from human power.
--from A Theologico-Political Treatise, by Benedict Spinoza
What he's saying, if I'm reading his wheels-within-wheels sentence style correctly, is that human nature is part of the whole of nature. It's like the laws of nature (gravity, etc.), only laws that apply specifically to the human mind and human behavior.
[His spiral sentences are one major hurdle in understanding the guy. But also beautiful, because said style mirrors, in a way, nature's own recursiveness.]
...Which is kinda what I said over here. "But we can look at human nature and our 'better instincts' (the drive to care for each other, for instance), as being their own natural laws, specifically pertaining to the part of God which is us."
See what I did there? I anticipated Spinoza! Or, well, not anticipated, since he's been dead for three hundred something years--but I hadn't read this idea through him yet, but still got it on my own.
That makes me happy. In a philosophy geek sorta way.
In other news, there's still a test I need to take to complete my snail-pace college application. Looks like I may be able to take it over Thanksgiving break.
Hubby broached the idea to me of quitting his job and becoming a teacher--getting out of the rat race, as he put it. If we were both teachers (not substitutes) we would still make only a bit less every year than we do now--but with the added benefit of having the same vacation time.
No idea why, but other people's goals will often drive me harder than my own. Little old unambitious me.
[Q: Am I still a feminist if I say that satisfying my husband brings me more personal satisfaction than satisfying myself does? A: Yes, but not a very satisfactory one.]
In other, other news, the new Bioware game, Dragon Age: Origins is pretty fantastic. The shape of the story is very similar to the KotOR and Mass Effect games. There's a problem laid out; you go to a variety of different places (planets in KotOR/Mass Effect, cities in DAO), where you solve minor quests while working on the main one; the enemies you encounter level up in keeping with where you are in the game, so that whether you do Denerim before the Dalish camp or vice versa, the baddies you meet are still (theoretically) within your limits.
Also, I love the fact that Bioware includes a romantic plotline in their games. And Alistair is woobily adorable. Not my type in real life (why why why didn't they make Canderous a possible love interest???), but his stumbling, blushing, rose-bestowing ways are seriously charming.
This is part of why Bioware gets it right: They produce games that really do appeal to women--not "shoes and purses and puppies are adorable" girl-women, but women who play video games. Blood, guts, and violence--check. Save the world from evil plot--check. Hot guy falling in love with you on the way--check.
Thank you, Bioware. You're one of the good ones.
In other, other, other news, have tried Stevia. No anaphylactic reaction. A very definite intestinal one, though. Also, a strange aftertaste that I'll have to get used to if I want to keep using the stuff. That, or add a scoop of cocoa, in which case why even bother with the Stevia?
And finally, hubby mentioned the possibility of switching medical insurance plans if/when I need another knee surgery. Or two or three or why the hell don't they just skip to the knee replacement already.
And because my mind obviously has some not-so-hidden trauma over the whole knee thing, I dreamed all night long that I was climbing an unending flight of unending stairs with a painfully busted knee. And people kept knocking me down.
My subconscious mind always seems to know how to cheer me up.
--from A Theologico-Political Treatise, by Benedict Spinoza
What he's saying, if I'm reading his wheels-within-wheels sentence style correctly, is that human nature is part of the whole of nature. It's like the laws of nature (gravity, etc.), only laws that apply specifically to the human mind and human behavior.
[His spiral sentences are one major hurdle in understanding the guy. But also beautiful, because said style mirrors, in a way, nature's own recursiveness.]
...Which is kinda what I said over here. "But we can look at human nature and our 'better instincts' (the drive to care for each other, for instance), as being their own natural laws, specifically pertaining to the part of God which is us."
See what I did there? I anticipated Spinoza! Or, well, not anticipated, since he's been dead for three hundred something years--but I hadn't read this idea through him yet, but still got it on my own.
That makes me happy. In a philosophy geek sorta way.
In other news, there's still a test I need to take to complete my snail-pace college application. Looks like I may be able to take it over Thanksgiving break.
Hubby broached the idea to me of quitting his job and becoming a teacher--getting out of the rat race, as he put it. If we were both teachers (not substitutes) we would still make only a bit less every year than we do now--but with the added benefit of having the same vacation time.
No idea why, but other people's goals will often drive me harder than my own. Little old unambitious me.
[Q: Am I still a feminist if I say that satisfying my husband brings me more personal satisfaction than satisfying myself does? A: Yes, but not a very satisfactory one.]
In other, other news, the new Bioware game, Dragon Age: Origins is pretty fantastic. The shape of the story is very similar to the KotOR and Mass Effect games. There's a problem laid out; you go to a variety of different places (planets in KotOR/Mass Effect, cities in DAO), where you solve minor quests while working on the main one; the enemies you encounter level up in keeping with where you are in the game, so that whether you do Denerim before the Dalish camp or vice versa, the baddies you meet are still (theoretically) within your limits.
Also, I love the fact that Bioware includes a romantic plotline in their games. And Alistair is woobily adorable. Not my type in real life (why why why didn't they make Canderous a possible love interest???), but his stumbling, blushing, rose-bestowing ways are seriously charming.
This is part of why Bioware gets it right: They produce games that really do appeal to women--not "shoes and purses and puppies are adorable" girl-women, but women who play video games. Blood, guts, and violence--check. Save the world from evil plot--check. Hot guy falling in love with you on the way--check.
Thank you, Bioware. You're one of the good ones.
In other, other, other news, have tried Stevia. No anaphylactic reaction. A very definite intestinal one, though. Also, a strange aftertaste that I'll have to get used to if I want to keep using the stuff. That, or add a scoop of cocoa, in which case why even bother with the Stevia?
And finally, hubby mentioned the possibility of switching medical insurance plans if/when I need another knee surgery. Or two or three or why the hell don't they just skip to the knee replacement already.
And because my mind obviously has some not-so-hidden trauma over the whole knee thing, I dreamed all night long that I was climbing an unending flight of unending stairs with a painfully busted knee. And people kept knocking me down.
My subconscious mind always seems to know how to cheer me up.