International of Anarchist Federations / Internationale des Fede Tetrapharmakos The Tetrapharmakos (τετραφάρμακος) "four-part remedy" is a summary of the first four of the Κύριαι Δόξαι (Kuriai Doxai, the forty Epicurean Principal Doctrines given by Diogenes Laërtius in his Life of Epicurus) in Epicureanism, a recipe for leading the happiest possible life. They are recommendations to avoid anxiety or existential dread.[1] The four-part cure[edit] As expressed by Philodemos, and preserved in a Herculaneum Papyrus (1005, 5.9–14), the tetrapharmakos reads:[4] This is a summary of the first four of the forty Epicurean Principal Doctrines (Sovran Maxims) given by Diogenes Laërtius, which in the translation by Robert Drew Hicks (1925) read as follows: 1. 2. 3. 4. Don't fear god[edit] In Hellenistic religion, the gods were conceived as hypothetical beings in a perpetual state of bliss, indestructible entities that are completely invulnerable. Don't worry about death[edit] As D. What is good is easy to get[edit] What is terrible is easy to endure[edit] References and notes[edit]
"I’m a What?" Eliciting Latent Humanism By Andy Norman I was invited recently to address a group of college students who were curious about humanism. They had been sampling different “faith options” over the course of a semester, hearing from a Catholic priest, a Jewish rabbi, a Buddhist monk, and a Mormon minister. Could I present the humanist point of view, the organizer asked, then answer questions about it, all in a non-proselytizing way? “Sounds like fun,” I said, “Count me in.” Preparing for the session, I surveyed some classic attempts to define the humanist outlook. I wanted, of course, to win over my audience. Suddenly I was reminded of a comedy routine by “country comic” Jeff Foxworthy. I can’t match Foxworthy’s comedy, but I can use similar prompts to convey what humanism is about. If you believe that … you just might be a humanist! Presenting these indicators of humanism to a mixed-faith audience proved interesting. Most of the indicators proved congenial for all. Indicator (6), however, did prove controversial.
Anarchism: Arguments for and against -- by Albert Meltzer by Albert Meltzer Table of Contents Introduction Inalienable Tenets of Anarchism The Class Struggle Organisation and Anarchism The Role of an Anarchist in an Authoritarian Society Bringing About the New Society The Marxist Criticism of Anarchism The Social-Democratic Critique of Anarchism The Liberal-Democratic Objection to Anarchism The Fascist Objection to Anarchism The Average Person's Objection to Anarchism Introduction The Historical Background to Anarchism It is not without interest that what might be called the anarchist approach goes back into antiquity; nor that there is an anarchism of sorts in the peasant movements that struggled against State oppression over the centuries. In particular, we may cite three philosophical precursors of Anarchism, Godwin, Proudhon, and perhaps Hegel. Godwin is the father of the Stateless Society movement, which diverged into three lines. The third school of descent from Godwin is simple liberalism, or conservative individualism. The Class Struggle
Evolution Debate Will Soon be Over Proclaims Top Researcher (Source: South Park Studios) Richard Leakey says its time to stop wasting time debating something most scientists agree upon Richard Leakey, son of Louis Leakey and Mary Leakey, is perhaps the best-known name in paleoanthropology today. The much-respected researcher has spent much of his life digging up fossilized primate remains in Africa, slowly piecing together mankind's evolutionary tree. The painstaking process has not been without its flaws. I. At an institute in Manhattan he spoke to reporters at a charity dinner that raised $2M USD for National Geographic conservation efforts. He adds, "If you get to the stage where you can persuade people on the evidence, that it's solid, that we are all African, that color is superficial, that stages of development of culture are all interactive then I think we have a chance of a world that will respond better to global challenges." Creation stories are as old as mankind itself. But does his criticism mean that he hates religion? Prof. II. Prof.
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