What do we own?

In my Modern European Political Thought class we a currently reading Nietzsche's Beyond Good & Evil. As I was catching up on some of the reading I came across an interesting quote, "a thought comes when 'it' wishes, and not when 'I' wish." After reading these words my mind fell through a series of logical conclusions that I would have to consider if I were to concede this point my made by Nietzsche. If I do not control my thoughts (when they come, how often they some, or what they are) can I really call them ‘my’ thoughts? Their inspiration is outside of myself, maybe a beautiful day a good book or a circumstance I find myself in which I have no control of. Often times I have gone somewhere private committed to solving a problem. When an answer would come to me, obviously in the form of a thought, I would feel really proud of my ability to problem solve. Thinking back to these events I wonder how much a role I played besides just taking the time to listen.

It could be said that although we do not have control of our thoughts it is our minds that have these thoughts and therefore we should be proud of our bodies and lay claim to whatever it produces. My initial question to those who believe this line of thought is what make’s something ours, why do we feel that we can lay claim to our bodies? It seems to me that since I did not make my body I have no claim to it and neither does anyone else to ‘their’ own or any other to ‘mine’.

So if we do not own ‘our’ bodies or thoughts, where does this leave us? It seems that from here we cannot conclude anything else but that no one owns anything. If we cannot lay claim to our bodies or thoughts than how can we possible lay claim to anything that comes from them?

So then, if own nothing why then is the western world so set on protecting ownership of private physical and intellectual property? Or an even better question, what should our response be? First I think that we need to stop claiming ownership of ideas. There is no such think as intellectual property. This truth functions in two ways; it restricts the initial receiver of the thought from laying claim but also all receivers following the initial receiver.

Secondly, if no one owns anything and nothing is owned by anyone then we must take care of all things in the same we would take care of something that another has put in our care. For example, a parent does not own their child nor does a child own themselves but it is clearly the responsibility of a parent to care for a child and when the child is put in the care of another that person should be considerate enough to care of said child in the best way possible.

To be honest, that’s all that has come to my mind. Again, I had no control of this inspiration I was just willing to take the time to listen and record what it is I heard.

Online Arguments

In the past year, as I have begun to write more and more posts concerning controversial topics I have gotten more and more attention from online arguers. In the past I have attempted talking with such persons hoping that we could come to some sort of agreement, but this has not been the case. I have concluded that this occurs for two reasons.

First, I firmly believe that controversial/complicated topics are best discussed in person. Though such topics are still tedious in person, this is the best way to avoid mis-communications, which allows those involved in the discussion to focus on the topic at hand.

The second reason I believe that this happens is that some people just like to get others riled up. They find some sort of joy making others angry then critiquing them when they return rhetorical blow for rhetorical blow.

Whether my reasons are right on, or there is some other mysterious reason as to why these online arguers are constantly jumping from debate to debate the rest of us still have to deal with them. So this post will end with a question, what ways have you found in dealing with such people?

No Political Philosophers Outside of Europe

Just last week I was sitting in my Modern Political Thought class and came to the realization that every individual we were reading was a European Male. At that moment I quickly raised my hand unintentionally interrupting my professor's lecture. When he (a male of European descent) called upon me I asked, "Why is this class titled Modern Political Thought as apposed to Modern European Thought, since all of the thinkers we cover are European." It seemed that the question, which was admittedly a tangent but none the less more than relevant, caught him off guard.

At first he responded in a defensive manner and honestly if I was in his shoes I may have done the same. What really got to me was not his response, but the response of his girlfriend. She asked me, "Are there any non-European political philosophers?" Not only was I taken a back by the ignorance that lined her question, which I could tell by her facial expression was more of a statement, by I was almost instantly filled with anger as I realized that I could not name one political philosopher outside of the United States or Europe.

I have been reflecting on this moment all week and since then have struggled to name but a hand full of Latin American political philosophers, no Middle-Eastern, African, or Asian philosophers (actual Mao Ze Dong would fit into this category). This has been a reality check as to how much I have been shaped by an intellecual diet of soley euro-american thought. The practice of tearing away Native American children from their rich cultural heritage (customs, dress, language, art, philosophy, etc.) through education is a practice that is not only prevelent today, but has been institutionalized to a point that minorities thank their oppressors for "educating" their children.

If it was not for US/UK imperialism in Latin America it would be a much stabler place today and we would not have had so many individuals fleaing to the US in order to escape the wars and economic depressions that occured thanks to US intervention. Worse then the fact that these peoples were pushed from their home countries is the fact that once they got here many were restriced from speaking spanish in the classroom and were then taught the history of the world from the books of the oppressors. This is where Latino's find themselves today. Many not speaking spanish, having no access to the philosophies of their pueblo, and thinking that history has and always will be in the hands of white men.

As Latinos, as well as other ethnic minorities and women, have risen to higher and higher levels of the education system many universities have begun to introduce classes such as Latin Amerian Political Thought, Feminist Theory, Chinese Political Thought, and Afro-Caribbean Philosophy but as has come to be expected APU is years behind these universities. Though I am glad that there are now more and more students at this university who are demanding such courses to be taught, I am disappointed that my education was so euro-americancentric.

My hesitation with blogging

In the past I have written all of my deep thoughts, observations, and concerns in a journal. I have been doing this since I was a freshman in high school and have since filled about eight journals. Journaling not only helped me process things that I was going through but I also liked the idea of having something to pass on, if I were to have children. Something that was honest and real to show them that they are not alone and that their father went through similar shit.

Now that I am blogging I am wondering how many entrees that would have filled the pages of my journal will now find their way on to this blog instead. To be completely honest I am not sure if I am ok with that. I may have to think out this whole blogging thing before I continue.

My Hope

I never thought I would be one to start blogging but none the less here I am. To be completely honest, I am not sure whether or not I am doing this for myself, others, or some strange, complicated combination of the two.

I feel that it is not only valuable to express one's thoughts and feelings in words, but also that we share these words with others. In the sharing of my blog with others I hope for end. Instead, I hope to enjoy this process with others who want to take the time to participate in conversation via this forum.