eclectica superbia

the mentality of a seattle pedestrian: 'by law, I am entitled to inconvenience anyone within 100 yards; and if I should inconvenience you, ye shalt be delighted.'

you know what they say about gas in a vacuum.. [in the absence of true religion, man will substitute idolatry that soothes his conscience]
- and with every new idolatry comes a new inquisition! 'ye shalt inquire/think/travel as I mandate! and ye shalt be delighted!'

the modus operandi of governmental generosity: the provision of the grand inquisitor. 'let us unite under the earthly banner of bread and thereby fashion happiness for all! [for is not living slavery preferable to dying freedom?]'

where the 'definition' substitutes for argument and all applaud: for, if I obscure fact with language, what becomes of discourse? how can we inquire when the very words that enable inquiry are removed or rendered meaningless? [if 'acts of war' are merely an instance of 'irresponsibility' and, by this language, I enforce the personal ethic, I have destroyed - by definition - the question of casus belli. 'there is no need for discourse/inquiry because we already know the answer!']

generosity at the point of a societal sword: some words about 'living by the sword' come to mind..

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say I generate a deductive program: I must begin with some set of hypotheses and criteria - chosen by me! the conclusion is the definition, but the definition was a choice. and who are you to criticize or demand my choice?

ahh, but I can be [must be!] held accountable here on one point, for no matter what definitions I choose, the following is definition-invariant:
'I cannot claim to not contradict myself when, in fact, I contradict myself.'

and so, yes, I can define whatever I choose; but if I step beyond the humility of the mathematician (who freely recognizes the hedonism of his act of definition), then I contradict myself before all.

an example: the conclusion of a definition justifying the choice of definition.
- this is the logical content of political rhetoric, whether from the 'old school' or its 'shining examples of purity and light,' hailed as the saviours of the modern age.
- it is the vacuum of reason that has inevitably followed from the degradation of language.

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I just started reading karl barth; thus far, it's been as natural as washing in a stream.