There's not much to say about me. I am a philosopher at heart, although I concede that the essence of a human being is beyond the sphere of knowledge, and lies in the domain of faith. I matriculated in Trinity College, University of Dublin, in a degree of Philosophy of Political Science, managing to get through of semester before succumbing to the malaise of kidney failure (worded ironically). Illness has been a dominant component of my life and history. I was born with a single dysfunctional kidney, and received my first transplant when I was 4 years old. Ever since then the road has been laden with twists, turns, and innumberable potholes. I know that I am very fortunate in many respects, and remain ever optomistic. I am currently studying at Columbia University in the School of Continuing Education, having returned to New York City where I have lived all of my life, as well as begun studying Method Acting at the Strasberg Institute for Theatre and Film.
Theatre, Acting, Philosophy, Meditation, Travel, Dialectic, Animals, Preservation, Sustainability, Economics.
We should all have, as human beings, a little skepticism in our selves, and in our efforts, for example, to pursue Truth. We all think, as individuals, we have it right. And maybe we do. More often than not, though, we assume that the others must be wrong. This inevitably creates tension, which sometimes leads to irresolvable conflict, and sometimes leads to suffering. Our motivations for pursuing knowledge may not be as noble as we think them, and may not have the same standard of objectivity as we think. We aim to further ourselves, our reputations, our senses of self worth. Realizing this, perhaps we can drop our tension, ease the conflict, and with a little bit of skepticism, reach the Truth that much faster.
Efforts in wildlife conservation, philosophy think-tanks, advances in technology, techniques in acting and performance, Buddhist thought, contemporary Psychology, Literature
Finding new flaws in myself every single day.
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A comment on Conversation: How do we kill 'islamophobia' and 'anti-Semitism'?
The real question, as I see it, and I concede I may miss the author's intention, is about hate and fear of other peoples, cultures, and ideals, specifically of those who subscribe to the faiths of Islam and Judaism. The solution, if there is a single one, which I do not see there as being, is not to bash and dissent against the religions from which and against which such hate and fear may undoubtedly occur; it is to promote dialogue between the individuals within and around those faiths, to promote the acceptance of individuals, regardless of what position they're born in, or how they choose to develop themselves as people.
Bombasting the institutions that traditionally have promoted violence and intolerance is not the solution, as some may believe, it's just more of the same in different guises, a wolf in sheeps clothing. Unfortunately, it is within human nature to be cruel, to do evil, to err, as all religions teach us. It is in human nature as well to overcome those features in time. Religion has many good and necessary functions for human beings. Religions teach us how to be good, how to treat other people, give us a sense of purpose and a larger place in a community.
If individuals are to move forward towards peace and harmony, then religions must as well. It is not enough to accept people who are similar to us, be it in religion, race, nationality, or any other component that makes us who we are. We must accept individuals as they are, and treat people as persons. Only through discourse is this possible, and the knowledge that underneath the surface, we are all human beings.