<![CDATA[ Kevin J. Browne: philosopher / educator / composer - blog]]>Fri, 08 May 2015 03:19:17 -0400Weebly<![CDATA[The Calendar of Virtues: January]]>Tue, 28 Jan 2014 18:20:54 GMThttp://kevinjbrowne.weebly.com/blog/the-calendar-of-virtues-januaryPicture
For the first month of our family Calendar of Virtue our virtue is Novelty.   January is usually a month for making resolutions which themselves are often new but often don't have the same appeal.   So, for this month our family motto was: Try something new. 

 It has been a good month for trying new things.  Here are a few of the things we have done.

1.  Cooking new dishes.  A couple of years ago my wife got me a wonderful book called Twelve Months of Monastery Soups.  The book contains a wide variety of soups each very simple to make and containing just a few ingredients.  So, I resolved to try one new soup each month this year.  January's new soup is Saint Anthony Soup which is a barley soup with carrots and leeks.  

This novelty experiment went over so well with the family that I have made a few other new soups including a chick pea and spinach soup.  Other favorite soups in our house from the book include Brussels Sprout Soup, Spicy English Parsnip Soup, and Cream of Mushroom Soup.  There's nothing like a hot bowl of soup on a cold winter's day!

2.  Learning Tai Chi.  I've been wanting to learn tai chi for several years now and this seemed like the perfect month to start.  As I was doing some elementary stretches, my daughter Teagie asked to join me so we are both going to learn some tai chi.  

3.  Integrating ritual into everyday life.  An important part of my family life growing up was always family dinner.  I wanted to insure that our family had the same sort of daily rituals.  Like most young kids, Teagie enjoys the regularity of daily rituals and we already have quite a few in place related to waking up and bed time.  This month we are working on adding some ritual elements to family dinner time and we have successfully added one very important and enjoyable ritual to our afternoons: tea time.

4.  Learning the Japanese tea ceremony.  Like tai chi I've been interested in learning about the Japanese tea ceremony for some time.  I've always loved the minimalist aesthetic and precision associated with this ritual. It encourages mindfulness, relaxation, and an appreciation of the simple pleasures of life.  

So, the year is off to a good start.  In addition to these new ventures I think I'm going to re-work my blog to focus more on education and unschooling with an emphasis on the activities we get up to 
]]><![CDATA[Is everything I've done "Nothing but Banality?"]]>Wed, 22 Jan 2014 23:56:51 GMThttp://kevinjbrowne.weebly.com/blog/is-everything-ive-done-nothing-but-banalityRegular visitors to my website know that I have a lot of avocations including music composition, wood carving, blogging, reading, and organizing to name just a few of the more prominent ones.  I enjoy each of these and have not aggressively pursued any of them as professional occupations though I believe I could succeed if I focused on them as such.  I also enjoy sharing my pursuits on the web through various social media outlets including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and YouTube.

But, I've not received a great deal of feedback in terms of likes, re-tweets, comments, etc.  The reason I bring this up on the blog is because of a blog post from Seth Godin titled The Worst Feedback is Indifference.

The point he makes is one I've had in the back of my mind for quite some time.  While many people worry about getting negative feedback for their online activities the real problem is not negative feedback but no feedback at all. According to Godin, what this indicates is that "we've created nothing but banality."  

While I'd like to believe this is untrue it's hard to discount public sentiment especially if that sentiment is indifference.  So, is everything I've done here just banality?  My music?  My carvings?  My writings?  

One problem with Godin's idea is that it seems to equate quality with popularity.  He seems to be implying that there simply could be no good artwork that would remain unnoticed.  Therefore, works that do not get much buzz, few re-tweets, likes, etc. are by definition "banal."  Doesn't this seem a little suspicious?  I think so.  

Many quality works go unnoticed for a variety of reasons not the least of which is that there is so much now available it is increasingly difficult for any given artist to break through the clutter and get noticed.  Getting noticed results from a lot of factors one of which may be (or may not be) quality. 


I think an important part of the creative process is the willingness to continue to create even in the face of indifference.  Albert Camus' image of the myth of Sisyphus comes to mind.  In the face of such a hopeless condition Camus counsels 'conscious revolt."  I take him to mean that we continue in the face of adversity or indifference because that is what we do and what gives meaning to life.  And, as he pointed out we must suppose that even Sisyphus was happy.  

The world is filled with mediocre artists producing mediocre works of art.  Perhaps I'm one of them.  But, producing anything entails taking a risk, putting it out there, and repeating the process.  If success comes at all it comes through a willingness to make mistakes and endure failure.  

Banal or not I feel like I have little choice but to continue to create things.  That's what I do!  That means more blogging, composing, carving, writing, etc.  I am hopeful that my efforts continue to improve.  

Meanwhile, words of encouragement are always appreciated!]]><![CDATA[More Tips for Reducing Your Sugar Intake]]>Mon, 13 May 2013 14:23:41 GMThttp://kevinjbrowne.weebly.com/blog/more-tips-for-reducing-your-sugar-intakeA few months ago I posted an article on Yahoo about reducing your sugar intake (http://voices.yahoo.com/8-easy-tips-reduce-sugar-intake-12012228.html?cat=5).  One way to reduce sugar in your diet is to make your own items instead of buying processed versions which almost always contain sugar or high fructose corn syrup.  There are a few staple items that are surprisingly easy to make and the results are just as good, if not better, and contain no sugar at all.  

1.  Make your own nut butter.  All you need to make your own nut butter are a food processor, nuts, olive oil, and honey (optional but I add for a little sweetness).  You can use peanuts or mixed nuts.  I prefer mixed nuts.  The result is a nutritious treat that tastes better than any store bought but butter and contains no sugar at all!

2.  Make your own spaghetti sauce.  Here is another item where sugar lurks but making your own will eliminate the sugar entirely.  I start with canned tomato sauce and add a little basil, oregano, liquid smoke, and cayenne pepper. There are any number of variations on this that you can find online to suit your taste.  This is a simple and less expensive alternative to store bought sauce and, again, you end up with no sugar.

3.  Make your own chocolate sauce.   Of course you need some sort of sugar for chocolate sauce.  Well, I guess you don't need it but I like a little sweetness!  I use organic palm sugar instead of sugar but you could also use Stevia.  All you need are cocoa, water, salt, vanilla, and your sweetener.  While this substitute won't eliminate the sugar it will eliminate the high fructose corn syrup and I think the result tastes much better.  

4.  Look for other homemade substitutes.  There are many other items you can make at home that will help you eliminate your sugar intake.  The three above are the easiest.  For me, this is an important consideration because you will need to make some each time you run out.  If the homemade version is too complicated the temptation will be to revert back to the store-bought, sugar-containing version, even if the homemade version tastes better.  It really depends on how diligent you want to be about your sugar elimination.  I suspect that if you start with the 8 tips I offered in the previous article and add the 3 tips above you will go a long way towards eliminating your sugar intake and improve your health in the process.       ]]><![CDATA[Why you should learn about religion]]>Fri, 10 May 2013 14:19:08 GMThttp://kevinjbrowne.weebly.com/blog/why-you-should-learn-about-religionThere are more people who profess a given religion than there are people who actively practice that religion and it also seems to be the case that there are fewer people who have a working knowledge of religion (both their own and others) than there are people who actively practice a religion. In fact, some studies show that the less religious a person is the more knowledgeable they are about religion in general. But, for those who practice a religion are there any benefits to the study of their own religion? Are there any good reasons to study other religions at all? Let's examine these questions.
 
Tolerance: Many people believe without question that their religion is the correct one and all others are mistaken in important ways. If nothing else the study of religion can foster tolerance towards other beliefs and the people who profess them. In a world with more and more religions being formed all the time this is an important benefit to religious and non-religious people.
 
Moderation: As Charles Kimball pointed out in his book titled When Religion Becomes Evil, problems occur when religious believers take their views as the only right ones and become more extreme in their practice of religion. We have only to look at the events of 9/11 to understand this. But, the study of religion can lead to more moderation in the practice of religion and as a result it becomes less likely that dangerous consequences arise from the practice of religion.
 
Secularism: While this point is controversial, ultimately the benefit of studying religion as an academic subject is to foster more, not less, secularism. Indeed, studies show that the more people know about religion (their own and others) the less likely they are to actively practice any religion. In other words, the more likely they are to be agnostic or atheist.
 
Unlike the other subjects examined in this series, the argument I am making here is that the study of the subject leads to less active application of the subject and this is a benefit. But, this is also what makes many people reluctant to take on a serious study of religion. They intuitively recognize that once they learn about other religions and the details of their own, their belief will seem less plausible and they may end up giving it up entirely. But, is this such a bad thing? Certainly one can hold fast to a sense of spirituality without holding onto certain beliefs about how the world works that are largely outdated and incorrect. Certainly one can find meaning and purpose in life and live according to a set of ethical principles without appealing to a set of metaphysical presumptions that are largely at odds with what we know about how the world works.
 
As Carl Sagan pointed out: In some respects, science has far surpassed religion in delivering awe. How is it that hardly any major religion has looked at science and concluded, “This is better than we thought! The Universe is much bigger than our prophets said, grander, more subtle, more elegant. God must be even greater than we dreamed!”? Instead they say, “No, no, no! My god is a little god, and I want him to stay that way.” A religion, old or new, that stressed the magnificence of the Universe as revealed by modern science might be able to draw forth reserves of reverence and awe hardly tapped by the conventional faiths.

 ]]><![CDATA[Why you should learn about psychology]]>Wed, 08 May 2013 16:34:23 GMThttp://kevinjbrowne.weebly.com/blog/why-you-should-learn-about-psychologyWith the growth of the self-help movement has come a growing interest in and knowledge of psychology. Given this, it would seem obvious that there are benefits to the study of psychology. But, let's look beyond the obvious benefits to see if there are other aspects of psychology that can give us useful insights.
 
Self-Help: Clearly the ability to work through one's own emotional difficulties is a useful benefit to the study of psychology. The insights available from the study of psychology are particularly useful in sorting through the various approaches to find one that is most compatible with each individual's needs.
 
Self-Knowledge: With the rise of self-help has also come the potential to increase one's self knowledge. Indeed, a good knowledge of the self is critical to the successful use of most self-help techniques. Psychology encourages the kind of reflection that one needs in order to gain a better sense of self.
 
Reason and Feeling: An important benefit to the sty of psychology is the recognition of the distinction between reason and feeling in thinking. While the two function together there is an important difference in their role in thinking. How they are understood separately and how they work together are both often misunderstood and the study of psychology helps to clarify these questions.
 
Metaphysics: At the root of every approach in psychology is a set of presumptions about how the mind works and how it is related to the brain. Too often this important aspect of the subject is ignored and consequently many people misunderstand the role of the brain in our thinking. While psychology has advanced well beyond the insights of the 17th century philosopher Rene Descartes, many people still have a basically Cartesian dualist view of the mind and the brain. But, there is much that we now know about this subject that is both interesting and useful.
 
At its most fundamental psychology is the study of the mind and how it works. Given the central importance of thinking and information processing in our world today the benefits of studying psychology are numerous. Given that much of what we think about how we think is wrong the study of psychology is also necessary to correct some of these mistaken intuitions. It is perhaps these less obvious benefits which are the most valuable insights we can gain from the study of psychology.
 ]]><![CDATA[Why you should learn about politics]]>Tue, 07 May 2013 00:09:44 GMThttp://kevinjbrowne.weebly.com/blog/why-you-should-learn-about-politicsAt any given time in history it is relatively easy to find politicians who have fallen out of favor with the people they are charged with representing or leading. In the United States congressional disapproval seems higher than ever. Many people instinctively distrust politicians and many otherwise well qualified people are put off pursuing public service entirely once they observe what those who seek elected office must endure to win an election. Given all of this can there be any good benefits to the study of politics? Since the essence of politics is the act of coming together in civil society to solve the problems in that society it seems that there certainly practical benefits to the study of this much maligned subject.
 
Cooperation: An important element of politics is the act of cooperation. This can be difficult at times when the parties involved disagree on fundamental issues of principle. But, there are some things that cannot be accomplished alone and we must work together to get them done. How this cooperation gets organized is a central focus of politics.
 
Compromise: What makes politics so frustrating is the need for compromise. But, when people differ on basic principles and ideals getting things done requires compromise. Rather than look on this necessity as a flaw of politics we should look on it as an indication of our liberty. Compromise is rarely needed in societies ruled by dictators since they can demand conformity and impose their will without consulting others. The moment we bring other people into the process we introduce the need to compromise. This is an indispensable feature of a free society.
 
Problem Solving: Of course, the goal of coming together to cooperate and compromise is to solve problems. As a method of problem solving, politics seems impractical and inefficient. But, again we must remember that with liberty comes the ability to disagree and this means that we cannot use the power of politics to impose our will on others. As the Framers of our government recognized, our government is ultimately based on the consent of the governed. The solutions we arrive at for our problems are also ultimately based on this same consent.
 
A truly informed electorate is necessary to make our political system work at its best and this includes a working knowledge of the system we have. The direct benefits of this come from being better informed voters. But, as with the other subjects we have examined there are also indirect benefits to the study of politics. Our national politics is just a macrocosm of our daily lives where the same need to cooperate, compromise, and solve problems exists. Recognizing this will benefit both realms of life and give us a greater appreciation for the importance of politics.]]><![CDATA[Why you should learn about physics]]>Fri, 03 May 2013 17:52:25 GMThttp://kevinjbrowne.weebly.com/blog/why-you-should-learn-about-physicsThe scientist J.B.S. Haldane once said "My own suspicion is that the Universe is not only queerer than we suppose, but queerer than we can suppose." This is the daunting prospect facing anyone who tries to understand how the world works and where everything came from. But, this is precisely what physics attempts to do and with the advances made in relativity and quantum mechanics we have made progress. Yes, there are still unanswered questions but as strange as the implications of relativity and quantum mechanics are their accuracy so far tells us that they are good explanations as far as they go. But, the question remains. If the universe is "queerer than we can suppose," is there any point or benefit in studying the science that studies the universe? Let's look at some possible benefits.
 
Appearance/Reality: An important distinction made by early philosophers and scientists still holds true and is a useful one to remember in everyday life. There is a difference between appearance and reality. In other words, things are not always what they seem. Physical objects appear to be solid yet we know the reality is that they are composed of very tiny particles which themselves are in constant motion and which consist of largely empty space. Many of our common sense intuitions about how the world works are based on appearances and are wrong. We would do we to remember that to truly understand anything it is important to look below the surface to the reality underneath.
 
Wonder: The practical benefit of our everyday perspective allows us to get on with the business of living without having to deal with the realities that physics describes. As Richard Dawkins points out, we have evolved to live in a middle world between the immensely large objects in the universe such as galaxies and the vanishingly small objects in the world such as electrons and quarks. Our minds are not innately tuned to observe these levels or to comprehend them without great effort. But, as a result of being evolved to live in this middle world we can lose some of the sense of wonder that comes from a study of the large and the small. Physics helps us regain this important feeling of wonder.
 
Connections: Physics also shows that everything is ultimately connected in many surprising ways. If you contemplate how the universe of the large looks from the perspective of galaxies and groups of galaxies you quickly see that there is no way to distinguish individual people here on earth. Likewise, if you contemplate the universe of the small from the perspective of an electron or a quark you also recognize that there is no way to distinguish individuals. This shift in perspective from the everyday to the physics based perspective reveals a world more connected than we usually consider. Appreciating that is an important insight and one which has many uses in everyday life.
 
Of course, there are also many very tangibly practical benefits to studying physics in a world based on the flow of digital information and technology. None of this would be possible without the advances made in physics. While we may not contemplate the queerness of the universe on a daily basis we do live with the results of our knowledge of this queer universe. The power of these results will continue to grow over the next few decades and an understanding of the forces behind these advances in technology will be invaluable.]]><![CDATA[Why you should learn about philosophy]]>Thu, 02 May 2013 03:25:32 GMThttp://kevinjbrowne.weebly.com/blog/why-you-should-learn-about-philosophyFor most people philosophy is an unfamiliar subject to begin with so to argue that it is useful in everyday life might seem like a difficult proposition. Yet, with the growth of applied philosophy and the practice of philosophical counseling, philosophy has taken on a new sense of importance. In truth, philosophy has always been important. As Epicurus pointed out "Vain is the word of a philosopher which does not heal any suffering. For just as there is no profit in medicine if it does not expel the diseases of the body, so there is no profit in philosophy either, if it does not expel the suffering of the mind."
 
Therapy for the Sane: Lou Marinoff has called the practice of philosophy "therapy for the sane." This is a good description of the recent philosophical counseling movement but as the Epicurus quote illustrates philosophers have always been concerned with improving life and relieving suffering. It is only recent movements such as analytic philosophy which have moved away from this tradition. Philosophy invites us to reflect on how we can lead a happy and meaningful life. It also provides an opportunity to address life's ultimate questions involving suffering and death and in the best sense of the word is, indeed therapy understood as care of the soul.
 
Power of Ideas: Philosophy is really about the study of ideas and their power in our lives. Alfred Adler once said "A person's behavior springs from his ideas." So, the study of ideas is important not only to understand the actions of others but ourselves. Our life is ultimately guided by many ideas such as truth, beauty, justice, meaning, and good to name just a few. A systematic study of these can lead to a greater understanding of some of the most important aspects of our life.
 
Meaning: The question for meaning is one of the most important aspects of anyone's life and the psychiatrist Viktor Frankl recognized that a large amount of psychological suffering results from the failure to find meaning. His approach to therapy called Logotherapy is premised on the idea that finding meaning is an important key to mental health. Philosophy provides a method for examining our life and the attempt to find meaning.
 
The study of philosophy is often seen as an abstract exercise with very little relevance to everyday life and the problems real people encounter. But, the best of philosophy provides just the kinds of insights one needs to address life's ultimate questions and help find meaning and purpose in life. Furthermore, we are influenced each and everyday by a world of ideas. Studying them in an effort to understand them and their effect on us is a worthy and important pursuit.]]><![CDATA[Why you should learn about music]]>Mon, 29 Apr 2013 13:21:11 GMThttp://kevinjbrowne.weebly.com/blog/why-you-should-learn-about-musicAmong the first subjects to be cut in school budgets are art and music.  These cuts are often based on the belief that these subjects can be sacrificed without much damage to a student's development or academic success.  But, more and more research shows that this is not the case. While the Mozart Effect, claiming an increase in IQ points when children are exposed to classical music,  has been largely debunked, there are still good reasons to study music.  Let's consider some of these.
 
Applied Academics:  One benefit is that music is a great way to show a fun application of other academic subjects such as mathematics, physics, history, and geography.  Given the general interest in music that most children have, it can be used as a window into other subjects that are not as immediately interesting for students.   
 
Cognitive Benefits:  While the Mozart Effect may not be reliable, there are tangible cognitive developmental benefits to studying music.  Surely one of these is an increase in creativity.  Other benefits include an increase in attention span and quantitative ability.  Music does activate various parts of the brain and this increased activity has positive benefits.  Music rewards close attention to detail, form, structure, and organization all of which are beneficial in many other areas of life.     
 
Rhythm: An important part of music is the element of rhythm and many children relate to music very physically though dance, clapping, singing, and humming.  Focusing on the rhythm of music can improve a child's general physical coordination and practicing a musical instrument can improve more specific coordination and dexterity.
 
Harmony:  A second component of music is harmony and here the benefits of studying music are both literal and metaphorical.  The study of harmony develops the ability to hear and discriminate among various tones and intervals and can lead to an appreciation of a wider range of musical styles.  Metaphorically the study of harmony can be used as a meas of teaching the benefit of harmony in general in how we relate to others.  Such virtues as sharing and cooperation can be introduced through the musical element of harmony.
 
Melody: Built on the foundation of rhythm and harmony is the element of melody.  Again, the benefits of study here are both literal and metaphorical.  Since music has long been used as an aid to memory and a means of improving memory, the study of melody can be beneficial.  The study of increasingly complex melodies can lead to an improvement of memory for more complex ideas as well.  Metaphorically, the study of melody introduces the idea of individuality.  Like musical pieces, Everyone has their own individual melody which develops over time.
 
Just a consideration of the basic elements of music can illustrate several important benefits to studying music.  Studying specific genres can yield other benefits.  Jazz is important to the study and ability of improvisation.  The blues illustrates emotional expression.  Classical music reveals organization and precision.  At the same time, music also shows the universal nature of such values as every genre contains these elements as well as the basics of rhythm, harmony, and melody.  The rewards of studying and enjoying music extend far beyond the simple act of listening and playing.  As important as these are, the applied benefits are also well worth examining.  ]]><![CDATA[Why you should learn mathematics]]>Fri, 26 Apr 2013 14:30:18 GMThttp://kevinjbrowne.weebly.com/blog/why-you-should-learn-mathematicsWhile it's relatively easy to argue for the importance of studying mathematics, it is unfortunate to have to. But, the fact remains that in some cases a majority of college students enter their freshman year needing some remedial mathematics courses. This clearly indicates that they are not getting a good math education in high school and probably also means they are not being shown the importance of learning math. This is more unfortunate as the job market continues to develop more and more jobs where math skills are in demand. Even in the information age, where information is usually taken to mean verbal or written communication, mathematics still ranks as an important skill set. 

Everyday Use: The most obvious argument for studying math is the many everyday uses. Calculating percentages, balancing a checkbook, calculating area are just a few skills everyone needs virtually every day of their lives. Unfortunately, such applied math skills are sorely lacking even in students with good grades in high school math courses. The philosopher and mathematician Pythagoras recognized that numbers are an integral part of every life and that has never been more true than today.

Numeracy: One of the most important aspects of studying math is gaining what mathematician John Allen Paulos calls numeracy, defined as a general familiarity with numbers or having a good sense of numbers. This is quite different than being skilled in everyday uses of math though the two are connected. Being numerate involves such skills as estimation and a firm grasp of statistical principles and how to apply them. Being numerate also involves being able to see the connections between numbers and aspects of life not immediately obvious and not often taught in math classes. What does the population of a city tell you about how many ethnic restaurants there are or the chances of finding a good used bookstore? 

Universality: In many areas of life people tend to be relativists in spite of the many problems with this view especially in the realm of ethics. But, the study of mathematics can be a good antidote to this relativism as it shows that there are certain universal principles which govern how the world works and how we can understand it which are independent of culture or opinion. There is no such thing as Chinese mathematics which differs from European mathematics. The same principles apply wherever you happen to live. 

Foundations: Perhaps for reasons connected with the points made above about universal rules, Plato advised that before studying philosophy and ethics students in his Academy first master the principles of mathematics and geometry. Pythagoras believed that everything consisted of numbers and to the extent that we can quantify a wide range of phenomena both physical and social this is true. Mathematics is the foundation of physics, chemistry, and most other hard sciences. Through the use of statistics it can also be seen as an integral part of such soft sciences as sociology and economics. To fully understand the principles of these disciplines requires a good working knowledge of mathematics.
 
More than any other area in the curriculum, with the possible exception of history, how math is taught has led to the problem of mathematical illiteracy. Unless we begin teaching mathematics with an eye towards helping students master everyday use and gain numeracy as well as see the connections and foundations of math in other disciplines we will continue to struggle in a world more driven by math than ever. Ultimately, students will grow into adults who see first-hand the costs of this illiteracy in their shrinking income, investments, and savings. Perhaps those numbers will motivate the drive towards improved math literacy! ]]>