Dear friends,
A Happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year to you and your family.
Looking forward to our meeting on the 8th January 2018.
In the meantime if you are wondering our next topic is: eagerness
(ilusión in Spanish)
Take care
Lawrence
tel: 606081813
philomadrid@gmail.com
Blog: http://philomadrid.blogspot.com.es/
MeetUp https://www.meetup.com/PhiloMadrid-philosophy-group/
PhiloMadrid Meeting
Meet 6:30pm
Café Madrid
Calle del Meson de Panos in Opera
from Lawrence, PhiloMadrid Happy Christmas + News
PhiloMadrid - Pub Philosophy Meetings in Madrid
21 December 2017
15 December 2017
from Lawrence, SUNDAY PhiloMadrid meeting at 6:30pm: All The World Is Stage + News
Dear Friends,
This Sunday we are discussing: The World is a Stage.
But before we get to our topic, some news. This Sunday will be our last
meeting for 2017 but we'll be back on the 7th January. I will post the
topic for the first meeting of the New Year sometime next week.
A second matter is that Encarna kindly pointed out that members of the
PhiloMadrid Group on MeetUp might get the impression that no one is
coming to the meetings since there no or few RSVPs for the meeting. I
will rewrite the introduction to make it clear that we have two lists
for the meeting and that we don't usually RSVP.
In the meantime it will be nice if you could also subscribe to the
MeetUp group here: https://www.meetup.com/PhiloMadrid-philosophy-group/
MeetUp is free just to follow and if you can RSVP the meetings visitors
will have a coordinated view of our activity.
The following message is from Alfonso who asked me to share with you,
and to whom I must apologise for not including it last week:
Desde La Realidad Más Metafísica Y Sensible Os Mando A Todos Un Fuerte
Abrazo Y El Sentimiento De Lucha Y Placer Que Siento Viendo A La Gente
Senana Tras Semana Peleando Por Mejorar. Me Emociona Y Por Eso Lo Quiero
Decir.
First Goes First And So. Just For My Friends
Finally: Miguel sending me news of exciting events regarding maths and
science in Madrid but most of these events happen before I send out the
email. Sometimes I manage to send a message on my Facebook. However, if
you want direct news about his tertulia and mailing you can contact him
via his webpage: https://sites.google.com/site/tertuliadematematicas/
------end of news
All The World Is Stage,
Matilda sent us this quote from Shakespear that bares the title of our
topic:
All the world is stage,
And all the men and women merely players:
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages.
"As you like it" W. Shakespeare.
(NB; full text available online)
---My few ideas….
The point about such famous and memorable texts in our culture is not
that Shakespeare wrote these verses, or any other author who wrote
equally powerful verses. But that even Shakespeare found it compelling
to write about human truths and human beings and human nature. We can
escape most things but can we escape the gravitational pull of other
human beings?
Indeed human beings have a great capacity to notice and write about
human truths. But by definition, the meaning of "to notice" is to
participate in the activity as an observer. Can an actor also be a
member of the audience?
Unfortunately, Shakespeare only gives us the gist of the stages of human
kind; he does not provide us with the theme or the genre of the play we
are supposed to be acting in. So this leaves us with having to ask: what
is happening in the play? What is the play about that we see on the
world stage?
And although this is not a topic about Shakespeare, the playwright, an
observation we might make is that The World is a Stage might also be
interpreted as a case that we are actors performing some make believe
reality for the benefit of other people; and when we go home we remove
the mask. So basically we are actors performing for the public in a make
believe real time story, but without the valuable benefits of having an
Equity card. Meaning, we are amateurs and without prior experience.
Or the second interpretation is that the world is our stage where we
cast ourselves in the different roles in our own play. When we are
children we play the role of a child and so on… In other words, we are a
one person show and what is more we are also the playwright and the
stage hands.
But if we are our own playwright to our own play, do we write the verses
before the performance or do we act and then write the verses as a
record of our play? And do we have an idiot for a director? But unlike
Shakespeare, the playwright, we can neither rehearse before our
performance nor erase any mistakes. And even worse, we don't have a
prompter in the flickering shadows of the footlights to remind us of any
lines we have forgotten.
If we are all actors or mere players, who are the audience in our play?
Could we be both the audience and the actors at the same time? This is
beginning to sound like some lost chapter from a Quantum Mechanics text
book; we are both a particle and a wave. We can be here and there and
everywhere but it all depends how others chose to observe us. Indeed
people do critique our lives as if we were sometimes the playwright and
sometimes the actor or actors. You should have studies medicine instead
of history of art? And why on earth did you operate on that patient with
a feverish infection? Humans might be very good at observing people but
most times we are hopeless at look at the details and certainly blind to
causality.
Sure we are all mere players in the cycle of life; and like "Solomon
Grundy" in the English nursery rhyme we are born, age and die. But these
are just word tags, categories, a linguistic way of bring some order in
the chaos of the brain. But what is a child supposed to do? Or middle
aged person? It's not as if we are born with some innate powers like
Super Man or Super Woman; the only tool we have on the world stage is a
crude capacity to figure out probabilities and patterns. This sabre
tooth tiger looks very friendly today; she's not going to eat me!
It is also unfortunate that many people do not even reach middle age or
let alone the second childishness. Many just have cameo parts on the
world stage and some of us just barely play an extra in a crowd scene.
Of course, whichever way we reach the end of the play the conclusion is
always as Shakespeare says, "Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans
everything." But the tragedy is not that we are sans everything, but
that we are sans everything without our memories and hence we are mere
actors sans new lines in our own play. But are we?
Best and see you Sunday and if not have a Good Holiday
Lawrence
tel: 606081813
philomadrid@gmail.com
Blog: http://philomadrid.blogspot.com.es/
MeetUp https://www.meetup.com/PhiloMadrid-philosophy-group/
PhiloMadrid Meeting
Meet 6:30pm
Café Madrid
Calle del Meson de Panos in Opera
from Lawrence, SUNDAY PhiloMadrid meeting at 6:30pm: All The World Is
Stage + News
This Sunday we are discussing: The World is a Stage.
But before we get to our topic, some news. This Sunday will be our last
meeting for 2017 but we'll be back on the 7th January. I will post the
topic for the first meeting of the New Year sometime next week.
A second matter is that Encarna kindly pointed out that members of the
PhiloMadrid Group on MeetUp might get the impression that no one is
coming to the meetings since there no or few RSVPs for the meeting. I
will rewrite the introduction to make it clear that we have two lists
for the meeting and that we don't usually RSVP.
In the meantime it will be nice if you could also subscribe to the
MeetUp group here: https://www.meetup.com/PhiloMadrid-philosophy-group/
MeetUp is free just to follow and if you can RSVP the meetings visitors
will have a coordinated view of our activity.
The following message is from Alfonso who asked me to share with you,
and to whom I must apologise for not including it last week:
Desde La Realidad Más Metafísica Y Sensible Os Mando A Todos Un Fuerte
Abrazo Y El Sentimiento De Lucha Y Placer Que Siento Viendo A La Gente
Senana Tras Semana Peleando Por Mejorar. Me Emociona Y Por Eso Lo Quiero
Decir.
First Goes First And So. Just For My Friends
Finally: Miguel sending me news of exciting events regarding maths and
science in Madrid but most of these events happen before I send out the
email. Sometimes I manage to send a message on my Facebook. However, if
you want direct news about his tertulia and mailing you can contact him
via his webpage: https://sites.google.com/site/tertuliadematematicas/
------end of news
All The World Is Stage,
Matilda sent us this quote from Shakespear that bares the title of our
topic:
All the world is stage,
And all the men and women merely players:
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages.
"As you like it" W. Shakespeare.
(NB; full text available online)
---My few ideas….
The point about such famous and memorable texts in our culture is not
that Shakespeare wrote these verses, or any other author who wrote
equally powerful verses. But that even Shakespeare found it compelling
to write about human truths and human beings and human nature. We can
escape most things but can we escape the gravitational pull of other
human beings?
Indeed human beings have a great capacity to notice and write about
human truths. But by definition, the meaning of "to notice" is to
participate in the activity as an observer. Can an actor also be a
member of the audience?
Unfortunately, Shakespeare only gives us the gist of the stages of human
kind; he does not provide us with the theme or the genre of the play we
are supposed to be acting in. So this leaves us with having to ask: what
is happening in the play? What is the play about that we see on the
world stage?
And although this is not a topic about Shakespeare, the playwright, an
observation we might make is that The World is a Stage might also be
interpreted as a case that we are actors performing some make believe
reality for the benefit of other people; and when we go home we remove
the mask. So basically we are actors performing for the public in a make
believe real time story, but without the valuable benefits of having an
Equity card. Meaning, we are amateurs and without prior experience.
Or the second interpretation is that the world is our stage where we
cast ourselves in the different roles in our own play. When we are
children we play the role of a child and so on… In other words, we are a
one person show and what is more we are also the playwright and the
stage hands.
But if we are our own playwright to our own play, do we write the verses
before the performance or do we act and then write the verses as a
record of our play? And do we have an idiot for a director? But unlike
Shakespeare, the playwright, we can neither rehearse before our
performance nor erase any mistakes. And even worse, we don't have a
prompter in the flickering shadows of the footlights to remind us of any
lines we have forgotten.
If we are all actors or mere players, who are the audience in our play?
Could we be both the audience and the actors at the same time? This is
beginning to sound like some lost chapter from a Quantum Mechanics text
book; we are both a particle and a wave. We can be here and there and
everywhere but it all depends how others chose to observe us. Indeed
people do critique our lives as if we were sometimes the playwright and
sometimes the actor or actors. You should have studies medicine instead
of history of art? And why on earth did you operate on that patient with
a feverish infection? Humans might be very good at observing people but
most times we are hopeless at look at the details and certainly blind to
causality.
Sure we are all mere players in the cycle of life; and like "Solomon
Grundy" in the English nursery rhyme we are born, age and die. But these
are just word tags, categories, a linguistic way of bring some order in
the chaos of the brain. But what is a child supposed to do? Or middle
aged person? It's not as if we are born with some innate powers like
Super Man or Super Woman; the only tool we have on the world stage is a
crude capacity to figure out probabilities and patterns. This sabre
tooth tiger looks very friendly today; she's not going to eat me!
It is also unfortunate that many people do not even reach middle age or
let alone the second childishness. Many just have cameo parts on the
world stage and some of us just barely play an extra in a crowd scene.
Of course, whichever way we reach the end of the play the conclusion is
always as Shakespeare says, "Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans
everything." But the tragedy is not that we are sans everything, but
that we are sans everything without our memories and hence we are mere
actors sans new lines in our own play. But are we?
Best and see you Sunday and if not have a Good Holiday
Lawrence
tel: 606081813
philomadrid@gmail.com
Blog: http://philomadrid.blogspot.com.es/
MeetUp https://www.meetup.com/PhiloMadrid-philosophy-group/
PhiloMadrid Meeting
Meet 6:30pm
Café Madrid
Calle del Meson de Panos in Opera
from Lawrence, SUNDAY PhiloMadrid meeting at 6:30pm: All The World Is
Stage + News
07 December 2017
from Lawrence, SUNDAY PhiloMadrid meeting at 6:30pm: New Year Resolutions
Dear friends,
At the end of this weekend, we'll enter the Christmas period and it is
also the custom to talk about New Year Resolutions. This will also be
our topic on Sunday From our perspective we might consider the topic to
be: Why is the future so difficult?
Best Lawrence
tel: 606081813
philomadrid@gmail.com
Blog: http://philomadrid.blogspot.com.es/
MeetUp https://www.meetup.com/PhiloMadrid-philosophy-group/
PhiloMadrid Meeting
Meet 6:30pm
Café Madrid
Calle del Meson de Panos in Opera
from Lawrence, SUNDAY PhiloMadrid meeting at 6:30pm: New Year Resolutions
At the end of this weekend, we'll enter the Christmas period and it is
also the custom to talk about New Year Resolutions. This will also be
our topic on Sunday From our perspective we might consider the topic to
be: Why is the future so difficult?
Best Lawrence
tel: 606081813
philomadrid@gmail.com
Blog: http://philomadrid.blogspot.com.es/
MeetUp https://www.meetup.com/PhiloMadrid-philosophy-group/
PhiloMadrid Meeting
Meet 6:30pm
Café Madrid
Calle del Meson de Panos in Opera
from Lawrence, SUNDAY PhiloMadrid meeting at 6:30pm: New Year Resolutions
from Lawrence, SUNDAY PhiloMadrid meeting at 6:30pm: New Year Resolutions
Dear friends,
At the end of this weekend, we'll enter the Christmas period and it is
also the custom to talk about New Year Resolutions. This will also be
our topic on Sunday From our perspective we might consider the topic to
be: Why is the future so difficult?
Best Lawrence
tel: 606081813
philomadrid@gmail.com
Blog: http://philomadrid.blogspot.com.es/
MeetUp https://www.meetup.com/PhiloMadrid-philosophy-group/
PhiloMadrid Meeting
Meet 6:30pm
Café Madrid
Calle del Meson de Panos in Opera
from Lawrence, SUNDAY PhiloMadrid meeting at 6:30pm: New Year Resolutions
At the end of this weekend, we'll enter the Christmas period and it is
also the custom to talk about New Year Resolutions. This will also be
our topic on Sunday From our perspective we might consider the topic to
be: Why is the future so difficult?
Best Lawrence
tel: 606081813
philomadrid@gmail.com
Blog: http://philomadrid.blogspot.com.es/
MeetUp https://www.meetup.com/PhiloMadrid-philosophy-group/
PhiloMadrid Meeting
Meet 6:30pm
Café Madrid
Calle del Meson de Panos in Opera
from Lawrence, SUNDAY PhiloMadrid meeting at 6:30pm: New Year Resolutions
01 December 2017
from Lawrence, SUNDAY PhiloMadrid meeting at 6:30pm: Body Language
Dear Friends,
Last Sunday we decided to continue with the same topic for this coming
meeting on Sunday, hence: Body Language (2)
But first of all, Alfonso has kindly sent us the link to his website
where you can find details about his plays, poems and paintings:
https://www.obrascompletasalfonsovallejo.com/
And to kick off the topic Matilda has sent us the following quote from
Sherlock Homes:
By a man´s fingernails, by his coat sleeve, by his boots, by his
trouser-knees, by the calluses of his forefinger and thumb, by his
expression, by his shirt-cuffs, by his movements, by each of these
things a man´s calling is plainly revealed. That all united should fail
to enlighten the competent enquire in any case is almost inconceivable.
SHERLOCK HOLMES, 1887
Essay from Lawrence…..
As names go, Body Language is not very representative of our subject
matter; but this is English so names are not necessarily there to convey
information about their representative in the real world. Body language
is first and foremost not a language least of which because this non
verbal communication is not a public behaviour which we can learn by
following the rules. Indeed body language is supposed to occur
unconsciously. And what are the semantics and syntax of this language?
Of course, some would argue that some body language is a conscious
behaviour. For example, we consciously give the message that we are
being submissive. Shyness, timidity or meekness are other forms of body
messages which are a dead giveaway that we are very well aware of what
is happening to us.
Culture might provide some rules or meaningful structure for certain
behaviour while other behaviour might be confined to a certain group,
e.g. the military. Gestures and hand movements are often peculiar to
culture, but with modern communications and media some gestures are
becoming globalized, for example the Nazi salute is gaining such a
characteristic.
Other forms of body language do seem to be universal, at least universal
within modern cultures. Smiling, screaming, disgust, elation, fear,
pain, are all forms of body language which although not necessary
unconscious, certainly happen spontaneously in many cases.
So what are the key issues for us? The first must surely be, is body
language learnt or inherited as part of our DNA and genes? Are these
unconscious body language messages latent in us waiting for the right
occasion to express them? In the same sense that the heart beats faster
when we run, is a latent capacity of the heart just waiting for us to
start running. Or is body language picked up from our environment and
people close to us. Of course, cultural body language fits this latter
possibility, but do we need to learn how to give the right behaviour for
pain. (Please note that there are some people who do not feel pain and
this could be a very dangerous situation for them. This is disease is
well documented.)
Fear is a good cause of body language and is the primary cause of
certain types of body language. We are supposed to accept that our body
language gives us away when we lie, or at least most people cannot
unconsciously conceal they are lying. I would argue that it is not the
lying as such that causes the relevant body language for lying, but
rather fear (of being caught lying) that activates the relevant body
language.
However, when we are afraid we are supposed run away or fight, when we
lie we are engaged in a verbal conversation that does not involve
running away or starting a fight. Maybe certain body language is more
primitive than modern behaviour. And we give ourselves away when we lie
because we cannot control our sense of fear. Indeed at the primitive
level fear in a person is very clear and without a hesitation of doubt;
we either run away or start fighting.
Finally, we might call this group of body behaviour or actions body
language because we assume that body language is there to convey
information to others; and certainly happens with a load of information.
And this information is most times correctly deciphered by others, which
they may or may not use against us. The problem with this scenario is
that why would we want to give away information unconsciously when
consciously we know would compromise us if others knew it. Why would we
tell others things about us unconsciously, when we wouldn't dream of
uttering consciously?
Maybe body language is not a means to convey subtle information to
others but rather to ostentatiously communicate with others our state of
being so that they can change their behaviour towards us. Thus, any form
of body language to convey we are lying is not us unconsciously
admitting we are lying but us wanting to convey we are being threatened
and that the other person should stop their behaviour towards us. Body
language must surely first and foremost be ostentatious communication to
others so they change their behaviour towards us.
Best Lawrence
tel: 606081813
philomadrid@gmail.com
Blog: http://philomadrid.blogspot.com.es/
MeetUp https://www.meetup.com/PhiloMadrid-philosophy-group/
PhiloMadrid Meeting
Meet 6:30pm
Café Madrid
Calle del Meson de Panos in Opera
from Lawrence, SUNDAY PhiloMadrid meeting at 6:30pm: Body Language
Last Sunday we decided to continue with the same topic for this coming
meeting on Sunday, hence: Body Language (2)
But first of all, Alfonso has kindly sent us the link to his website
where you can find details about his plays, poems and paintings:
https://www.obrascompletasalfonsovallejo.com/
And to kick off the topic Matilda has sent us the following quote from
Sherlock Homes:
By a man´s fingernails, by his coat sleeve, by his boots, by his
trouser-knees, by the calluses of his forefinger and thumb, by his
expression, by his shirt-cuffs, by his movements, by each of these
things a man´s calling is plainly revealed. That all united should fail
to enlighten the competent enquire in any case is almost inconceivable.
SHERLOCK HOLMES, 1887
Essay from Lawrence…..
As names go, Body Language is not very representative of our subject
matter; but this is English so names are not necessarily there to convey
information about their representative in the real world. Body language
is first and foremost not a language least of which because this non
verbal communication is not a public behaviour which we can learn by
following the rules. Indeed body language is supposed to occur
unconsciously. And what are the semantics and syntax of this language?
Of course, some would argue that some body language is a conscious
behaviour. For example, we consciously give the message that we are
being submissive. Shyness, timidity or meekness are other forms of body
messages which are a dead giveaway that we are very well aware of what
is happening to us.
Culture might provide some rules or meaningful structure for certain
behaviour while other behaviour might be confined to a certain group,
e.g. the military. Gestures and hand movements are often peculiar to
culture, but with modern communications and media some gestures are
becoming globalized, for example the Nazi salute is gaining such a
characteristic.
Other forms of body language do seem to be universal, at least universal
within modern cultures. Smiling, screaming, disgust, elation, fear,
pain, are all forms of body language which although not necessary
unconscious, certainly happen spontaneously in many cases.
So what are the key issues for us? The first must surely be, is body
language learnt or inherited as part of our DNA and genes? Are these
unconscious body language messages latent in us waiting for the right
occasion to express them? In the same sense that the heart beats faster
when we run, is a latent capacity of the heart just waiting for us to
start running. Or is body language picked up from our environment and
people close to us. Of course, cultural body language fits this latter
possibility, but do we need to learn how to give the right behaviour for
pain. (Please note that there are some people who do not feel pain and
this could be a very dangerous situation for them. This is disease is
well documented.)
Fear is a good cause of body language and is the primary cause of
certain types of body language. We are supposed to accept that our body
language gives us away when we lie, or at least most people cannot
unconsciously conceal they are lying. I would argue that it is not the
lying as such that causes the relevant body language for lying, but
rather fear (of being caught lying) that activates the relevant body
language.
However, when we are afraid we are supposed run away or fight, when we
lie we are engaged in a verbal conversation that does not involve
running away or starting a fight. Maybe certain body language is more
primitive than modern behaviour. And we give ourselves away when we lie
because we cannot control our sense of fear. Indeed at the primitive
level fear in a person is very clear and without a hesitation of doubt;
we either run away or start fighting.
Finally, we might call this group of body behaviour or actions body
language because we assume that body language is there to convey
information to others; and certainly happens with a load of information.
And this information is most times correctly deciphered by others, which
they may or may not use against us. The problem with this scenario is
that why would we want to give away information unconsciously when
consciously we know would compromise us if others knew it. Why would we
tell others things about us unconsciously, when we wouldn't dream of
uttering consciously?
Maybe body language is not a means to convey subtle information to
others but rather to ostentatiously communicate with others our state of
being so that they can change their behaviour towards us. Thus, any form
of body language to convey we are lying is not us unconsciously
admitting we are lying but us wanting to convey we are being threatened
and that the other person should stop their behaviour towards us. Body
language must surely first and foremost be ostentatious communication to
others so they change their behaviour towards us.
Best Lawrence
tel: 606081813
philomadrid@gmail.com
Blog: http://philomadrid.blogspot.com.es/
MeetUp https://www.meetup.com/PhiloMadrid-philosophy-group/
PhiloMadrid Meeting
Meet 6:30pm
Café Madrid
Calle del Meson de Panos in Opera
from Lawrence, SUNDAY PhiloMadrid meeting at 6:30pm: Body Language
from Lawrence, SUNDAY PhiloMadrid meeting at 6:30pm: Body Language
Dear Friends,
Last Sunday we decided to continue with the same topic for this coming
meeting on Sunday, hence: Body Language (2)
But first of all, Alfonso has kindly sent us the link to his website
where you can find details about his plays, poems and paintings:
https://www.obrascompletasalfonsovallejo.com/
And to kick off the topic Matilda has sent us the following quote from
Sherlock Homes:
By a man´s fingernails, by his coat sleeve, by his boots, by his
trouser-knees, by the calluses of his forefinger and thumb, by his
expression, by his shirt-cuffs, by his movements, by each of these
things a man´s calling is plainly revealed. That all united should fail
to enlighten the competent enquire in any case is almost inconceivable.
SHERLOCK HOLMES, 1887
Essay from Lawrence…..
As names go, Body Language is not very representative of our subject
matter; but this is English so names are not necessarily there to convey
information about their representative in the real world. Body language
is first and foremost not a language least of which because this non
verbal communication is not a public behaviour which we can learn by
following the rules. Indeed body language is supposed to occur
unconsciously. And what are the semantics and syntax of this language?
Of course, some would argue that some body language is a conscious
behaviour. For example, we consciously give the message that we are
being submissive. Shyness, timidity or meekness are other forms of body
messages which are a dead giveaway that we are very well aware of what
is happening to us.
Culture might provide some rules or meaningful structure for certain
behaviour while other behaviour might be confined to a certain group,
e.g. the military. Gestures and hand movements are often peculiar to
culture, but with modern communications and media some gestures are
becoming globalized, for example the Nazi salute is gaining such a
characteristic.
Other forms of body language do seem to be universal, at least universal
within modern cultures. Smiling, screaming, disgust, elation, fear,
pain, are all forms of body language which although not necessary
unconscious, certainly happen spontaneously in many cases.
So what are the key issues for us? The first must surely be, is body
language learnt or inherited as part of our DNA and genes? Are these
unconscious body language messages latent in us waiting for the right
occasion to express them? In the same sense that the heart beats faster
when we run, is a latent capacity of the heart just waiting for us to
start running. Or is body language picked up from our environment and
people close to us. Of course, cultural body language fits this latter
possibility, but do we need to learn how to give the right behaviour for
pain. (Please note that there are some people who do not feel pain and
this could be a very dangerous situation for them. This is disease is
well documented.)
Fear is a good cause of body language and is the primary cause of
certain types of body language. We are supposed to accept that our body
language gives us away when we lie, or at least most people cannot
unconsciously conceal they are lying. I would argue that it is not the
lying as such that causes the relevant body language for lying, but
rather fear (of being caught lying) that activates the relevant body
language.
However, when we are afraid we are supposed run away or fight, when we
lie we are engaged in a verbal conversation that does not involve
running away or starting a fight. Maybe certain body language is more
primitive than modern behaviour. And we give ourselves away when we lie
because we cannot control our sense of fear. Indeed at the primitive
level fear in a person is very clear and without a hesitation of doubt;
we either run away or start fighting.
Finally, we might call this group of body behaviour or actions body
language because we assume that body language is there to convey
information to others; and certainly happens with a load of information.
And this information is most times correctly deciphered by others, which
they may or may not use against us. The problem with this scenario is
that why would we want to give away information unconsciously when
consciously we know would compromise us if others knew it. Why would we
tell others things about us unconsciously, when we wouldn't dream of
uttering consciously?
Maybe body language is not a means to convey subtle information to
others but rather to ostentatiously communicate with others our state of
being so that they can change their behaviour towards us. Thus, any form
of body language to convey we are lying is not us unconsciously
admitting we are lying but us wanting to convey we are being threatened
and that the other person should stop their behaviour towards us. Body
language must surely first and foremost be ostentatious communication to
others so they change their behaviour towards us.
Best Lawrence
tel: 606081813
philomadrid@gmail.com
Blog: http://philomadrid.blogspot.com.es/
MeetUp https://www.meetup.com/PhiloMadrid-philosophy-group/
PhiloMadrid Meeting
Meet 6:30pm
Café Madrid
Calle del Meson de Panos in Opera
from Lawrence, SUNDAY PhiloMadrid meeting at 6:30pm: Body Language
Last Sunday we decided to continue with the same topic for this coming
meeting on Sunday, hence: Body Language (2)
But first of all, Alfonso has kindly sent us the link to his website
where you can find details about his plays, poems and paintings:
https://www.obrascompletasalfonsovallejo.com/
And to kick off the topic Matilda has sent us the following quote from
Sherlock Homes:
By a man´s fingernails, by his coat sleeve, by his boots, by his
trouser-knees, by the calluses of his forefinger and thumb, by his
expression, by his shirt-cuffs, by his movements, by each of these
things a man´s calling is plainly revealed. That all united should fail
to enlighten the competent enquire in any case is almost inconceivable.
SHERLOCK HOLMES, 1887
Essay from Lawrence…..
As names go, Body Language is not very representative of our subject
matter; but this is English so names are not necessarily there to convey
information about their representative in the real world. Body language
is first and foremost not a language least of which because this non
verbal communication is not a public behaviour which we can learn by
following the rules. Indeed body language is supposed to occur
unconsciously. And what are the semantics and syntax of this language?
Of course, some would argue that some body language is a conscious
behaviour. For example, we consciously give the message that we are
being submissive. Shyness, timidity or meekness are other forms of body
messages which are a dead giveaway that we are very well aware of what
is happening to us.
Culture might provide some rules or meaningful structure for certain
behaviour while other behaviour might be confined to a certain group,
e.g. the military. Gestures and hand movements are often peculiar to
culture, but with modern communications and media some gestures are
becoming globalized, for example the Nazi salute is gaining such a
characteristic.
Other forms of body language do seem to be universal, at least universal
within modern cultures. Smiling, screaming, disgust, elation, fear,
pain, are all forms of body language which although not necessary
unconscious, certainly happen spontaneously in many cases.
So what are the key issues for us? The first must surely be, is body
language learnt or inherited as part of our DNA and genes? Are these
unconscious body language messages latent in us waiting for the right
occasion to express them? In the same sense that the heart beats faster
when we run, is a latent capacity of the heart just waiting for us to
start running. Or is body language picked up from our environment and
people close to us. Of course, cultural body language fits this latter
possibility, but do we need to learn how to give the right behaviour for
pain. (Please note that there are some people who do not feel pain and
this could be a very dangerous situation for them. This is disease is
well documented.)
Fear is a good cause of body language and is the primary cause of
certain types of body language. We are supposed to accept that our body
language gives us away when we lie, or at least most people cannot
unconsciously conceal they are lying. I would argue that it is not the
lying as such that causes the relevant body language for lying, but
rather fear (of being caught lying) that activates the relevant body
language.
However, when we are afraid we are supposed run away or fight, when we
lie we are engaged in a verbal conversation that does not involve
running away or starting a fight. Maybe certain body language is more
primitive than modern behaviour. And we give ourselves away when we lie
because we cannot control our sense of fear. Indeed at the primitive
level fear in a person is very clear and without a hesitation of doubt;
we either run away or start fighting.
Finally, we might call this group of body behaviour or actions body
language because we assume that body language is there to convey
information to others; and certainly happens with a load of information.
And this information is most times correctly deciphered by others, which
they may or may not use against us. The problem with this scenario is
that why would we want to give away information unconsciously when
consciously we know would compromise us if others knew it. Why would we
tell others things about us unconsciously, when we wouldn't dream of
uttering consciously?
Maybe body language is not a means to convey subtle information to
others but rather to ostentatiously communicate with others our state of
being so that they can change their behaviour towards us. Thus, any form
of body language to convey we are lying is not us unconsciously
admitting we are lying but us wanting to convey we are being threatened
and that the other person should stop their behaviour towards us. Body
language must surely first and foremost be ostentatious communication to
others so they change their behaviour towards us.
Best Lawrence
tel: 606081813
philomadrid@gmail.com
Blog: http://philomadrid.blogspot.com.es/
MeetUp https://www.meetup.com/PhiloMadrid-philosophy-group/
PhiloMadrid Meeting
Meet 6:30pm
Café Madrid
Calle del Meson de Panos in Opera
from Lawrence, SUNDAY PhiloMadrid meeting at 6:30pm: Body Language
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