Archetypal Writings

Three Philosophy  by Samvel Marutyan Reality, the state of existence not under the sovereignty of any human being. For far too long have men pushed for the notion of bending reality in accordance to whatever narrative is desired by an individual; white lies, saving face, protection from the fire of the moment—besides, how is one tiny lie going to hurt anybody? “Lying is, almost by definition, a refusal to cooperate with others. It condenses a lack of trust and trustworthiness into a single act. It is both a failure of understanding and an unwillingness to be understood. To lie is to recoil from relationship.” That quote is from neuroscientist Sam Harris’ book “Lying,” and in it Sam covers every aspect of the act of lying; white lies, big lies, little lies, and fundamentally concluding with the notion that no amount of lying will do anybody any good. In fact, Sam argues that it will do more than that for it will most definitely catastrophize any dilemma. Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn on...

The Wanderer Above the Sea Fog  by Caspar David Friedrich (1818) So much of today’s inclinations dive deep into the notion that people should be more congenial to their fellowmen, hence the ever so enticing sentiment “be nice, there is already so much hate in the world.” This too, however, holds a great amount of morality and compassion for those inflicted by suffering. If we have witnessed a random stranger being harassed by others, would we not tell the perpetrators to stop whatever they are doing? Fundamentally branching from the former sentiment. Or perhaps you may have seen a loving friend, a family member, a former lover utter the words “I just don’t want you to be hurt.” However, to say that this perspective on human behavior is skin deep is an understatement; for if we wish there not to be any suffering for our fellowmen, do we also not wish for the withering of their beings? To desire a stress-free life is to also desire a rather dull and monotonous life. Seneca once s...