from Lawrence, Sunday PhiloMadrid meeting: Looking for a meaning in what we do.+ news

Essays and News
Dear friends,
This Sunday we are discussing: Looking for a meaning in what we do.
In the meantime Miguel has posted for us a short essay related to the topic on his blog which you
can find here:
The search for the meaning of life
http://cielosdemarzo.blogspot.com/2012/01/search-for-meaning-of-life.html
Please let me know if you cannot access the blog so I can send you a copy of the essay.
In the meantime, my approach to the topic would be to consider whether we do actually look for a
meaning in what we do. Or whether we try to find meaning, or even justify, what we do after we have
acted for whatever reason we decided to act.
In other words, do we act first, and then try to justify our actions to place them in a context. For
example, a context of justified survival – I had to steal the loaf of bread because my children were
starving. Or maybe a context of accomplishment for self gratification – we did not invest in market
X because we did not want to expose ourselves to market fluctuations, (but in reality all the good
bargains were taken by the competition!!).
Or do we act after considering the issue and justification for acting in one way and not another?
But in this context we imply that "looking for meaning" we are looking for a moral justification for
our actions. By having to explain an action before we do it we imply, at least in our society, that
we have also considered the ethical consequences of what we do. "I have to support my family, so I
must think of the company's profits before the welfare of our clients." "There is nothing wrong in
wanting to earn more money." "I have worked for my money, so I spend it how I feel like it."
And we have to consider the ethical issues before hand (and by ethical I also mean socially accepted
attitudes) or at least pretend to consider the ethical issues, because not to do so means that we
are nothing more than automata in motion and not rational free agents. Automata do not enjoy a sense
of self achievement or self fulfilment. Nor approval from peers and other members of society. There
is no psychological or mental satisfaction if we said that, my three million euro bonus was just a
result of automatic unconscious acts which cannot be explained nor accredited to any intention or
ability on my part.
It makes more sense if we ascribed the three million euro bonus to rigorous analysis of the market
and sacrificing the family for working late into the night at the office. The element of sacrifice
and intellectual prowess gives us the bragging rights to feel good about the three million and our
enemies no ground for criticism.
We try to find meaning in what we do, because we also try to feel good about what we do. And feeling
good is the one thing we thrive to achieve in our lives, because nothing feels more good than
feeling good about ourselves (even if we don't admit it).
Have fun
Lawrence

regular messages from friends below
Meet 6:30pm
Centro Segoviano
Alburquerque, 14
28010 Madrid
914457935
Metro: Bilbao
-----------Ignacio------------
In the meantime Ignacio has reminded me to let you know about the new arrangements for the Thursday
meeting.
Thursday's Open Tertulia in English
Important Notice: From December 1st, the Tertulia will take place at O'Donnells (ex-Moore's) Irish
Pub, c/ Barceló 1 (metro Tribunal)
http://sites.google.com/site/tertuliainenglishmadrid/
----------From Luisa:
Data of language exchange,
Location: Café Comercial
Address: Glorieta de Bilbao, 7
Website location:
http://maps.google.com/maps/place?hl=es&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=glorieta+de+Bilbao+en+Madrid&fb=1&hq=glorieta+de+Bilbao&hnear=Madrid,+España&cid=168580715753984644
Dates: on Saturday
Time: from 12:30 to 14:45
Price: 2.50 € (exchange organizing, hiring the top of the cafeteria and coffee, tea, soda, wine or
beer are included).
Luisa - email to confirm please alvarez_luisa@hotmail.com
-------------- Visits to the British Cemetry in Madrid from David Butler---
HAPPY NEW YEAR -- FELIZ AÑO NUEVO
Por el presente mensaje hago saber las fechas de las visitas comentadas, programadas para los
próximos meses : si hay alguien que quiera hacer una visita con su correspondiente grupo en
cualquier otra fecha, sírvasa avisarme para llegar a un acuerdo mutuo de fecha.
I am starting up the guided tours of the Cemetery again : if anyone wishes to make up a group
independent of the groups I set up, I will be most happy to take them round - all they need do is
state their preferred dates and we will work out a schedule.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Redacto el presente mensaje tanto en español como en inglés con el objeto de comunicaros que sigo
con el programa de visitas comentadas, sábados por la mañana, al Cementerio Británico.
Las visitas empiezan a las 11 horas en la entrada del Cementerio Británico, calle del Comandante
Fontanes 7, distrito de Carabanchel
*sábado, 11 de febrero, cuando daré las explicaciones en español
*sábado, 25 de febrero, cuando daré las explicaciones en inglés
*sábado, 10 de marzo, cuando daré las explicaciones en español.
Lo dejo a su elección cuál día acuda y no hay necesidad de avisar.
Tomen nota de nuestra página web < www.britishcemeterymadrid.com > que contiene información
de la historia del Cementerio y el mapa de su ubicación.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am writing this in both Spanish and in English to tell you that I am continuing Saturday morning
guided visits to the British Cemetery.
We meet at 11 o'clock at the Cemetery entrance in Calle del Comandante Fontanes 7 in Carabanchel
* the visit on Saturday 11 February will be in Spanish
* the visit on Saturday 25 February will be in English
* the visit on Saturday 10 March will be in Spanish.
The choice of date is left to you and there is no need to inform me in advance of the visit whether
you are coming.
Do take note of our website < www.britishcemeterymadrid.com > where you will find details of the
Cemetery's history and a map with its location.
David Butler
Short url: http://tinyurl.com/visit-british-cemetery

from Lawrence, Sunday PhiloMadrid meeting: Looking for a meaning in what we do.+ news