"Don't be an idiot", @edprivat shouts from across the pond. At least, it seems like it is from across the pond. Where is the pond? Left, right, it is all perspective bound! What a way to begin this post. All confusion. With my morning coffee, after the last day of 2021, I walk into my garden greeted by what feels like a hundred Cape Sparrows. I sit on my favorite cut tree stump and listen to the gleeful chirping trying to understand their manic discussions. For quite a while I sit and listen and watch. What a playful bunch. I try not to disturb them and find my camera. I snap a couple of photographs before they fly away. Fleeting moments.

In any case, this is kind of a reply to @edprivat and his post on advice for this coming year, and it is not. Missing the deadline by a solid 12 hours or so, maybe it is longer still, I am taking the opportunity to reflect with the sparrows and other birds. Maybe they will listen to my somewhat delusional musings!

Just before takeoff

"Don't Be an Idiot" Some Say

Cape Sparrow of Judgement

In the crypto sphere, I have seen the phrase DOYR, or do your own research, so many times. You might be familiar with it. But this sentiment, of doing your own research, is such a vital lesson I think most of us can take into the new year. Not just for the sake of not being an idiot, but do appreciate life a little more. It is when you start to understand the complexity of life and the intricate nature of things that you can appreciate it better. Or that is my assumption! Oh, assumptions everywhere.

Let us call assumptions Figs (i.e., food for my birds)

Don't Assume, But if You Do, Declare Them

Assumptions are one of those things that people rarely talk about. When you declare your assumptions, people might understand you better, or so I presume (or assume!). But the thing about assumptions, even in philosophy, is that they are your building blocks. When you declare your assumptions, you actually become aware of them. When you do become aware of them, you might see where your argument fails, or why you hold certain beliefs. Full circle, we are back at doing your own research. When you make too many assumptions (i.e., lack of research) you might become what some have labeled as an "idiot", and the sparrow of judgment will judge you!

A little less judgemental Cape Sparrow of judgement

What you looking at?

What does the sparrow say?

I have no idea. I cannot understand sparrow talk. Neither can they understand me. I love the concept or idea promoted by Ludwig Wittgenstein and Thomas Nagel that even if we could "talk" to animals, or if they could "talk" to us, we would fundamentally not understand them. Their conceptual frameworks, amongst other things, will be so different from our own that even if language could overlap we will still not understand them. But this little word, "understand", is such a harsh word for me. In my own field of philosophical counseling, there is an idea promoted by the philosophical counselor Maria daVenza Tillmanns that understanding is fundamentally reducing the other person to concepts and ideas that make sense to you. And isn't this a beautiful idea to take into the new year: We should not try and understand others. It might only hurt others. What is the alternative to understanding? It is very complicated and not the place to try and explain it, but we should, according to her:

[acknowledge] the other's otherness.

That is philosophy for you.

"Hey, you," the Cape White-eye says

"Do you need some philosophy?"

"Okay, sorry, carry on!"

Resolutions, Advice, and Musings

What are resolutions? What counts as advice? Why do I always "muse" about things? Philosophy is to me one of the most important tools in your life. And here I am making the assumption that philosophy is a way of living rather than a body of knowledge or "what is in the books". If you take any of my advice (which can be dangerous!) it is to bend down and smell a flower. Or to see the beauty in life and the simple things. But what does this mean? It means becoming more aware of yourself being present in the world. It means that you do not simply carry on and "go with the flow". It means that you examine and reflect on your own life, actions, and so on. Reflect and examine, reflect and examine. The philosopher Socrates through the mouthpiece Plato is believed to have uttered: the unexamined life is not worth living. Let us not dispute historical accuracy, but marvel at the insight in this sentiment: we should not live by assumptions we did not at first examine. Phew, what hard work, one might exclaim. And it is. It is a choice you make. Go with the flow or go against it (classic false dichotomy!). Okay, no, life is more complex than those two options, but this is the lesson: reflect and examine. Going with the flow can in some instances be the better option.

Hey buddy, don't touch my figs

Even when I am not looking, I can see you!

Will We Ever Learn to Live

This has been a very chaotic post. Advice, maybe not, resolutions, neither. Musings, always. We should strive not to be idiots, but learning is never fun when we need to be tested. But this is not always the case. Life, according to Tillmanns, is meant to be lived. We should live. Along the way, we should learn as well, but we need to live our lives. According to what principles? That is the question and where the Socratic adage of living an examined life comes into play. Reflect on things and lead a meaningful life. Sometimes people bump their heads into their own limitations. I cannot remember if it was a study or something, but people living inside of borders sometimes lead more meaningful lives than those without borders. The story went, if you know your limitations you will examine things up to those borders. If you do not have borders or limitations, you might not wander too far from "home" for the fear of getting lost. The gist of the story: use what you have to the fullest and do not look beyond what you have. (This has its own limitations, o the sweet contradiction!)

Cape Sparrow Butt

Cape Sparrow not judging anymore

Concluding the year/Restarting the year

What funny and fun times we live in. Yes, there are divides between people, let us not get political at the end of this post. Even in my own country, we are starting to see the weird divide present in other parts of the world. Maybe I have been living under a rock for too long. But let us learn from the birds and try and be happy with what we have. This seems like a controversial statement, for some people have more than others, but what can we realistically do about it? A lot, but for now, let us look at the birds and feel their joy in finding a tree full of figs.

(All the images were taken with my Nikon D300 that is on its last legs. All the musings are my own unless stated otherwise. Please do your own research, reflect on life, and examine your assumptions, but isn't that an assumption in itself? That life is better with examined assumptions? Okay, no this is the end. Please be safe and good luck with 2022!)