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1995-08-20
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Path: moe.ksu.ksu.edu!ux1.cso.uiuc.edu!uwm.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sdd.hp.com!usc!rutgers!ub!toz!phoenix
From: phoenix@toz.buffalo.ny.us (the phoenix)
Newsgroups: alt.startrek.creative
Subject: Intro to Vulcan Philosophical Paper
Message-ID: <VqFoNB1w165w@toz.buffalo.ny.us>
Date: 10 Jul 92 03:33:42 GMT
Organization: The Tower of Zot - (716)691-3865
Lines: 32
...
.....
....... Greetings. This is Ambassador T'Sinde.
I will soon be posting a brief outline I've written called
"In the Footsteps of Surak". The paper is alternately named "On
The Extent of Misapplication of the Principals of Logic As Proposed
by Surak in His 'Essays on Discipline' and Other Works: Are the
Teachings Relevant for Modern Day Vulcans?"
I would like to take this opportunity to encourage feedback
on this topic in anticipation of its being posted. I am
interested in hearing from both Vulcans and non-Vulcans alike.
Through such feedback I hope to gain further insight which will
aid me in my research.
Also, ... Nadev tlhInganpu tu'lu'a? Duj tlhIngan wo'
Charghuta Duy'a' jIh.
In English, Are there any Klingons here? I am an
Ambassador to the Imperial Klingon Vessel Conquest.
Besides being an armchair philosopher, I am a bit of a
linguist and would greatly appreciate the ability to exchange
correspondence using the Klingon language.
Live long and prosper,
T'Sinde of Vulcan
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phoenix@toz.buffalo.ny.us (the phoenix)
-- Change this!
Path: moe.ksu.ksu.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!pacific.mps.ohio-state.edu!linac!att!rutgers!ub!toz!phoenix
From: phoenix@toz.buffalo.ny.us (the phoenix)
Newsgroups: alt.startrek.creative
Subject: In the Footsteps of Surak
Message-ID: <cg1PNB3w165w@toz.buffalo.ny.us>
Date: 10 Jul 92 23:58:35 GMT
Organization: The Tower of Zot - (716)691-3865
Lines: 96
...
.....
....... one small note from the "real world." The
quotes attributed to Surak have been taken from the
book "Spock's World". My writing was inspired by the
philosophy in that book, which went from about pages
313-317.
And now, back to the essay, which I must point out only skims
the surface.
I have noticed several inconsistencies between the written
philosophy of Surak, which codifies the logical way of life of a Vulcan,
and the way in which many Vulcans actually live. It seems that there are
at times misapplications of his philosophy by his own people. It also
appears that people of other races often have a distorted view of the
Vulcan lifestyle.
In writing this critique, I wish not to offend, but merely to
search for truth by documenting my observations. I hold the teachings of
Surak in the highest esteem. I merely wish to explore their limits to
the fullest in order to test the application of Vulcan ideals to real
world situations.
Perhaps through the clarification of Surak's intent, it will be
made easier to understand and follow the Disciplines which he instituted.
Or perhaps this writer will discover that the discrepancies between word
and action of modern Vulcans constitute a legitimate need for
reevaluation of logic as regards the growth of our culture and race.
Therefore, I will quote various passages from these teachings and then
proceed to examine their validity according to current Vulcan social and
behavioral standards.
Surak has written, "Cast out fear. Cast out hate and rage.
Cast out greed and envy. Cast out all emotion that speeds entropy,
whether it be love or hate. Cast out these emotions by using reason to
accept them, and then move past them. Use in moderation emotions that do
not speed entropy, taking care that they do not cause others pain, for
that speeds entropy as well. Master your passions, so that they become a
power for the slowing of the heat death."
The controlling of emotions is an ideal. However, it is the
means to an end, rather than an end in itself. To strive for COMPLETE
control, then, may be to miss the point. Not all emotions need to be
controlled. And to pretend that perfect control has been achieved in
cases where it has not, is to illogically ignore reality. What is
unclear in the above quote is this: Exactly which emotions "do not
speed entropy" and can therefore be allowed moderate expression?
Surak has written, "Pretending there is not a lematya in your
house will not make it go away if there is one. You must first admit to
yourself the fact that there is a lematya -- you must first accept its
presence. Then you can call the animal control people and have them come
and take it away. But until you first admit that it is there, you are
going to have a lematya in your bed every night. It may save your pride
not to admit it is there, but your bed will be increasingly crowded."
Vulcans at times illogically refrain from stating the truth due
to their wish to appear completely stoic. For example, when a Vulcan
notices that he is becoming ill/tired/hungry/cold, he will often act as
though nothing is wrong. When offered help, a typical Vulcan will
stubbornly refuse, and may indicate that he does not need help,
preferring not to draw attention to himself. However, this stubborn
refusal IS ITSELF enough to draw attention, and so, illogical. It is
further illogical because instead of taking action to sove the problem of
sickness, fatigue, hunger, or cold -- the Vulcan only makes it worse by
ignoring it. In my opinion, a person who will not admit to needing help
is not being particularly honest or objective when it comes to assessing
the needs of his physical circumstances or environmental deficits. Since
all of us have basic needs which must be met in order for us to survive,
it is illogical to be ashamed about expressing such needs in a rational
manner.
I have neither time nor space at present to delve further into
this topic. However, I will leave you with a few questions to think
about. They are questions which I intend to explore more fully in the
near future.
Does the controlling of emotions conflict with IDIC? (Infinite
Diversity in Infinite Combinations) Does an individual who follows the
principles of Surak sell his/her birthright to express emotions in a
diverse manner and so make the Vulcan claim of respecting IDIC invalid?
Or is it true that by controlling one's passions, one is thereby more
"free" to reach his or her peak of abilities via the discipline thereby
achieved? Can a person who conforms to the Vulcan lifestyle of logic be
seen as a unique individual?
Feedback graciously accepted,
Ambassador T'Sinde
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phoenix@toz.buffalo.ny.us (the phoenix)
-- Change this!