For Saturday: tertulia sobre Matemáticas + language exchange + Visits to the British Cemetery in
Madrid and a message from Ceit and Marie-Aimée
Dear Friends,
This Sunday we are discussing: Modernity.
Carmen has sent us some ideas about her subject plus we have lots of activities going on; please
check out the details below.
----------from Carmen----------
Hi there!
It would be wrong of me not to do a little introduction to the topic chosen at the gathering:
Modernity.
Modernity is opposed to the traditional, which is more than just saying it´s something new, against
the old. It is rather quite creative independence and contrary to the established and inherited.
For instance, in architecture it is called the "modern movement", developed in the years 1928-1959,
whose main characteristic was the functionality and use of orthogonal forms, as opposed to the
organic shapes and reference to previous ages.
At the moment it seems that it is considered a "modern life" as healthy living, without artifice,
"natural life", without manipulation (apparently!). Lived as our ancestors lived (¿?)
Take care and see you on Sunday,
Carmen
--------------end---------------
Estimado tertuliano,
Te invitamos a asistir a la tertulia sobre Matemáticas y papiroflexia que tendrá lugar el próximo
Sábado 25 de Febrero de 2012 a las 12 del mediodía en La Gata, c/ Fuencarral nº 148, 28010 Madrid.
Puedes encontrar más información en: https://sites.google.com/site/tertuliadematematicas/25-2-2012
Saludos cordiales,
J. Miguel
--------------------Ceit--------------------
Hi Lawrence,
Over the weekend I saw a poster advertising a production of Marlowe's Faust at Teatros Canal. I
don't know if it's something that interests many people, but it certainly interests me.
Unfortunately, I can only attend on Saturdays because of my TOEFL course. But, if others are
interested maybe we could meet for a drink or something before or after. I plan on going on March 3
and Blanca thought she might go too. There is a discount for large groups, but it needs to be 20 or
more people. Here's the link: http://www.teatroscanal.com/1000357000101/doctor-faustus__1.html
See you Sunday
Ceit
------------Marie-Aimée -----------
Marie-Aimée (phone: 635125185), a native French speaker and experienced teacher, is looking for:
1. Persons (or companies) for her courses interested in learning French
2. A native English speaker for language exchange
------end-----------
Best
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---------
Please not you will have to let her know in advance if you wish to attend, thanks:
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 Cemetery 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: Modernity + LOTs of News incl Saturday
PhiloMadrid - Pub Philosophy Meetings in Madrid
24 February 2012
17 February 2012
from Lawrence, Sunday PhiloMadrid meeting: Is it ethical to seek human perfection through manipulation? + News
- Message from Marie-Aimée re French courses and intercambio English/French:
- Invitation by Carlos for a Piano recital
Dear Friends,
This Sunday we are discussing; Is it ethical to seek human perfection through manipulation?
Let us agree that by perfection we do not mean to be gods but to make a better functioning body.
Based on this approach we have on one side the evolutionary process that depends on built in
information about the body and takes time, a really long time to make changes. On the other hand, we
have the immediate and need now to cure and restore our body after an illness, or worse, to create
an advantage over other human being. For example, better memory to pass exams, better looks to be
more attractive, or taller to attract those driven by biological instincts.
The question we've been asked to address involves the latter scenario, the one when we try to
improve our body for the here and now. The moral part of the question is probably based on the
assumption that any measures we would take involve paying money and these perfections are only
available for the rich and the wealthy.
I personally do not believe that there is a moral issue in this question. And my reason is very
simple, there are basic biological/natural reasons why there is no issue. By trying to create an
advantage over others we would basically be entering into an arms race when those competing for top
spot would always have to come up with better looks or better skills to stay in the top spot.
Moreover, there will also be a viscous inflationary process since the more successful a person
becomes the more that person will depend on others to protect the person, to create the new
knowledge to stay in the top spot and all this will itself create a market place for the best
information at a higher price.
However, the fallacy of completion (I have never seen this account being given by others) is that
only if you are the best does competition make sense, if you are the second best completion is
probably deadly for you.
Hence, morality is basically irrelevant to the issue, there are natural and unavoidable consequences
that will thwart any advantage in due course. We don't need morality to stop people creating unfair
advantage.
But there is a consequence to this arms race, it will cost the players more for less: see present
real life arms races. For example aircraft carriers cost so much today that only a few countries, if
that many, who can afford to deploy any functioning aircraft carrier. But the presence of an arms
race does not mean that non players cannot and do not develop effective basic weaponry. In the case
of the population, I propose that things are much simpler. Whilst it costs the few at the top more
to stay at the top, the others just get on with the business of reproduction.
Sure it might be annoying that someone is better looking than us, or that they attract the attention
of those who are better looking than us, but it does not follow that they won't necessarily face the
same fate as us.
In the meantime, it won't hurt anyone if in the short term, and better still in the long term, you
or your friends supported Marie-Aimée by taking one of her French courses. I am convinced that this
would be a really moral thing to do:
Marie-Aimée (phone: 635125185), a native French speaker and experienced teacher, is looking for:
1. Persons (or companies) for her courses interested in learning French
2. A native English speaker for language exchange
In the meantime Carlos has invited us to a Piano Recital:
Enclosed you will find an invitation for the piano concert that will include poetry and lyrics that
we at Asociación Club del Hombre Libre are going to present on Monday, February 20, at 20:00, at
Café Comercial (Glorieta Bilbao 7).
Kind regards
Thanks
Carlos Fargas
For more information about this event I have posted the info sent to me by Carlos on a Google Doc
which you can find here: http://tinyurl.com/piano-20-feb
See you Sunday
Best
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: - Please not you will have to let her know in advance if you wish to attend,
thanks:
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: Is it ethical to seek human perfection through
manipulation? + News
- Invitation by Carlos for a Piano recital
Dear Friends,
This Sunday we are discussing; Is it ethical to seek human perfection through manipulation?
Let us agree that by perfection we do not mean to be gods but to make a better functioning body.
Based on this approach we have on one side the evolutionary process that depends on built in
information about the body and takes time, a really long time to make changes. On the other hand, we
have the immediate and need now to cure and restore our body after an illness, or worse, to create
an advantage over other human being. For example, better memory to pass exams, better looks to be
more attractive, or taller to attract those driven by biological instincts.
The question we've been asked to address involves the latter scenario, the one when we try to
improve our body for the here and now. The moral part of the question is probably based on the
assumption that any measures we would take involve paying money and these perfections are only
available for the rich and the wealthy.
I personally do not believe that there is a moral issue in this question. And my reason is very
simple, there are basic biological/natural reasons why there is no issue. By trying to create an
advantage over others we would basically be entering into an arms race when those competing for top
spot would always have to come up with better looks or better skills to stay in the top spot.
Moreover, there will also be a viscous inflationary process since the more successful a person
becomes the more that person will depend on others to protect the person, to create the new
knowledge to stay in the top spot and all this will itself create a market place for the best
information at a higher price.
However, the fallacy of completion (I have never seen this account being given by others) is that
only if you are the best does competition make sense, if you are the second best completion is
probably deadly for you.
Hence, morality is basically irrelevant to the issue, there are natural and unavoidable consequences
that will thwart any advantage in due course. We don't need morality to stop people creating unfair
advantage.
But there is a consequence to this arms race, it will cost the players more for less: see present
real life arms races. For example aircraft carriers cost so much today that only a few countries, if
that many, who can afford to deploy any functioning aircraft carrier. But the presence of an arms
race does not mean that non players cannot and do not develop effective basic weaponry. In the case
of the population, I propose that things are much simpler. Whilst it costs the few at the top more
to stay at the top, the others just get on with the business of reproduction.
Sure it might be annoying that someone is better looking than us, or that they attract the attention
of those who are better looking than us, but it does not follow that they won't necessarily face the
same fate as us.
In the meantime, it won't hurt anyone if in the short term, and better still in the long term, you
or your friends supported Marie-Aimée by taking one of her French courses. I am convinced that this
would be a really moral thing to do:
Marie-Aimée (phone: 635125185), a native French speaker and experienced teacher, is looking for:
1. Persons (or companies) for her courses interested in learning French
2. A native English speaker for language exchange
In the meantime Carlos has invited us to a Piano Recital:
Enclosed you will find an invitation for the piano concert that will include poetry and lyrics that
we at Asociación Club del Hombre Libre are going to present on Monday, February 20, at 20:00, at
Café Comercial (Glorieta Bilbao 7).
Kind regards
Thanks
Carlos Fargas
For more information about this event I have posted the info sent to me by Carlos on a Google Doc
which you can find here: http://tinyurl.com/piano-20-feb
See you Sunday
Best
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: - Please not you will have to let her know in advance if you wish to attend,
thanks:
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: Is it ethical to seek human perfection through
manipulation? + News
10 February 2012
from Lawrence, Sunday PhiloMadrid meeting: The saturation of feelings. + News
Don't forget the visit to the British cemetery on Sunday.
Dear Friends,
I look forward to meeting you again on Sunday. In the meantime I was tasked to interpret the title
for this Sunday's meeting. The title that was voted for was: The saturation of feelings.
However, your chair person and proposer suggested that the idea behind the title was something like:
"Maybe "Feelings after too much of a good thing" ...." We can interpret this in terms of an overload
of positive emotions. A more vulgar interpretation might be familiarity breeds contempt, even if
this expression is mostly used for people we know. But then again, the Chair and Proposer do suggest
that this Saturation applies equally well to relationships.
An equally valid alternative is to use something from economics, and suggest the Law of diminishing
returns. This might work very well for strawberry ice cream or chocolate cakes, but do we really
believe that there is an inbuilt mechanism that diminishes our lover towards our beloved? Not if one
is romantic would one accept this idea, and close to St Valentines' Day, I would suggest that this
idea might easily be the equivalent of heresy in the philosophy of love and relationships.
Nor would the diminishing returns interpretation apply comfortably to knowledge. Are we to say that
there is an inbuilt mechanism toward the positive feelings we have for acquiring new knowledge? We
might be tired and need a rest, but this does not mean that we enjoy knowledge less as we accumulate
it in our lifetime.
We can move on to physics and interpret the idea of saturation as being to fill a given space (real
or metaphorically) with more of a thing than the capacity of the volume of a given space. Thus, we
cannot put more than a pint of beer in a pint glass and if we tried not only do we fill the glass to
the brim, but create an overflow to the theoretical point that we might get soaked or even drown in
beer. But given that emotions and feelings are physical and even things that belong to the brain,
maybe there is a physical limit to emotions; maybe the brain does have a physical limit, after which
an emotion or feeling might physically reach its physical limits and capacity. Maybe, but this will
imply that there is a built in mechanism that implies our love towards someone is doomed to
destruction: a way out it to ration our love so that we never reach saturation levels, but then
again can we accept that our love should be measured and rationed? Certainly not so close to the
14th Of February! Unless, of course you happen to be a romantic mathematician and apply the
Banach–Tarski paradox to the topic.
Does this mean, therefore, that there are physical limits to what we can emotionally and positively
experience in our lives. It is one thing to fill our belly with chocolate cakes and another to enjoy
say the beauty of a work of art or of a work of literature.
Maybe, it is not that feelings get saturated, but rather, and here we have two options, some
feelings become overwhelmed or drowned out by other emotional feelings. For example, our positive
feelings for a person are overwhelmed by the stress cause at work. The other alternative is that we
have very little control on what emotions to experience and feelings to feel. Thus, when we're hit
with positive feelings about something we enjoy that feeling until we are hit by some other feeling
that would neutralise or destroy our previous feeling. And since we are more temporally conscious of
the loss of one positive feeling rather than the destruction of the positive feeling by some yet
unknown causal feeling or some other cause that has not yet reached our conscious self.
In conclusion, maybe the title of our topic: The saturation of feelings is just as valid and just as
controversial as any other title I might come up with. So maybe we should start from the beginning
and see where we arrive.
See you Sunday
Best
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: - Please not you will have to let her know in advance if you wish to attend,
thanks:
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: The saturation of feelings. + News
Dear Friends,
I look forward to meeting you again on Sunday. In the meantime I was tasked to interpret the title
for this Sunday's meeting. The title that was voted for was: The saturation of feelings.
However, your chair person and proposer suggested that the idea behind the title was something like:
"Maybe "Feelings after too much of a good thing" ...." We can interpret this in terms of an overload
of positive emotions. A more vulgar interpretation might be familiarity breeds contempt, even if
this expression is mostly used for people we know. But then again, the Chair and Proposer do suggest
that this Saturation applies equally well to relationships.
An equally valid alternative is to use something from economics, and suggest the Law of diminishing
returns. This might work very well for strawberry ice cream or chocolate cakes, but do we really
believe that there is an inbuilt mechanism that diminishes our lover towards our beloved? Not if one
is romantic would one accept this idea, and close to St Valentines' Day, I would suggest that this
idea might easily be the equivalent of heresy in the philosophy of love and relationships.
Nor would the diminishing returns interpretation apply comfortably to knowledge. Are we to say that
there is an inbuilt mechanism toward the positive feelings we have for acquiring new knowledge? We
might be tired and need a rest, but this does not mean that we enjoy knowledge less as we accumulate
it in our lifetime.
We can move on to physics and interpret the idea of saturation as being to fill a given space (real
or metaphorically) with more of a thing than the capacity of the volume of a given space. Thus, we
cannot put more than a pint of beer in a pint glass and if we tried not only do we fill the glass to
the brim, but create an overflow to the theoretical point that we might get soaked or even drown in
beer. But given that emotions and feelings are physical and even things that belong to the brain,
maybe there is a physical limit to emotions; maybe the brain does have a physical limit, after which
an emotion or feeling might physically reach its physical limits and capacity. Maybe, but this will
imply that there is a built in mechanism that implies our love towards someone is doomed to
destruction: a way out it to ration our love so that we never reach saturation levels, but then
again can we accept that our love should be measured and rationed? Certainly not so close to the
14th Of February! Unless, of course you happen to be a romantic mathematician and apply the
Banach–Tarski paradox to the topic.
Does this mean, therefore, that there are physical limits to what we can emotionally and positively
experience in our lives. It is one thing to fill our belly with chocolate cakes and another to enjoy
say the beauty of a work of art or of a work of literature.
Maybe, it is not that feelings get saturated, but rather, and here we have two options, some
feelings become overwhelmed or drowned out by other emotional feelings. For example, our positive
feelings for a person are overwhelmed by the stress cause at work. The other alternative is that we
have very little control on what emotions to experience and feelings to feel. Thus, when we're hit
with positive feelings about something we enjoy that feeling until we are hit by some other feeling
that would neutralise or destroy our previous feeling. And since we are more temporally conscious of
the loss of one positive feeling rather than the destruction of the positive feeling by some yet
unknown causal feeling or some other cause that has not yet reached our conscious self.
In conclusion, maybe the title of our topic: The saturation of feelings is just as valid and just as
controversial as any other title I might come up with. So maybe we should start from the beginning
and see where we arrive.
See you Sunday
Best
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: - Please not you will have to let her know in advance if you wish to attend,
thanks:
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: The saturation of feelings. + News
03 February 2012
from Lawrence, Sunday PhiloMadrid meeting: The wonders of the ordinary
Dear friends,
This Sunday we are discussing: The wonders of the ordinary.
Once again Miguel wrote us an essay on the subject. You can get the essay from his blog, this is the
link: http://cielosdemarzo.blogspot.com/2012/02/wonders-of-ordinary.html
If you have problems accessing the essay please let me know.
Best
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: - Please not you will have to let her know in advance if you wish to attend,
thanks:
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: The wonders of the ordinary
This Sunday we are discussing: The wonders of the ordinary.
Once again Miguel wrote us an essay on the subject. You can get the essay from his blog, this is the
link: http://cielosdemarzo.blogspot.com/2012/02/wonders-of-ordinary.html
If you have problems accessing the essay please let me know.
Best
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: - Please not you will have to let her know in advance if you wish to attend,
thanks:
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: The wonders of the ordinary