PhiloMadrid Skype meeting: Wednesday 8th NOVEMBER at 8:00pm

PhiloMadrid Skype meeting: Wednesday 8th NOVEMBER at 8:00pm


Dear friends,

I'm afraid I have to cancel our meeting on 25th October until the 8th
November. We'll continue with the topic:


Are racial comments freedom of speech?
https://tinyurl.com/essay-18-october


Because of any possible overzealous AI Morality bots I took the
precaution of posting the essay on my personal account which you can
access via a tinyurl link. The link above will take you to the tinyurl
interface then click on the link for my essay.


I proposed the topic and hope to have an essay by the end of next
weekend. If you want to write me with your comments or essay please let
me have them before Sunday next week. Thanks…..

NEWS:
In the meantime, Marjorie is presenting her new book, Field Notes/Notas
de Campo, on the 11th October.
Marjorie
October 11, 2023. Presentation of Field Notes/Notas de Campo.
At: Casa Sefarad
Web: www.marjoriekanter.com
Or here: https://www.philomadrid.com/2023/10/por-fi.html


Raquel and Pedro are busy trying to find a place where we can use for
our meetings but if you have any suggestions please let me know. Thanks….
Past News:

--Diego: Manifesto: The Beehive Complex: Dare to Dance in the Dark and
Rejoice in the Most Astonishing of Illusions.

The Beehive Complex is available here: https://amzn.eu/d/9U4AwmH
It's a short book and to the point!


--Un giro en el aire
Lucinda Maxwell (Teresa)
https://libros.cc/Un-giro-en-el-aire.htm?isbn=9788411753296
Also from Amazon.es ( https://amzn.eu/d/a6RY3AP )


--Oscar's book is now available from Oscar himself:
"Toranzo, 88 ilustraciones y coplillas" by Oscar at €35
https://www.philomadrid.com/2022/09/toranzo-88-ilustraciones-y-coplillas-by.html



--It is with great sadness that I have learnt Julian Martelli passed
away early in October this year, 2022. Julian was very active during our
meetings in Molly Malone and participation was always respected by all.
Christine kindly wants to share with us a photo of Julian with her and
friends. You can find the FaceBook link below.

I also include a link for our visit to Toledo in 2008 when Julian came
with us on the day trip.

Julian
https://www.philomadrid.com/2022/11/julian.html


--Jorge has kindly sent us the link to his book which is available for
Free Distribution at:
Evolution of Thought and its Influence on Society and Technology
https://www.adneli.com/store


Please let me know if you need the Skype link: preferably by WhatsApp.


Best and take care
Lawrence


telephone/WhatsApp: 606081813
Email: philomadrid@gmail.com
http://www.philomadrid.com


PhiloMadrid Skype meeting: Wednesday 8th NOVEMBER at 8:00pm

PhiloMadrid Skype meeting: WEDNESDAY 18th October: Are racial comments freedom of speech?

Dear Friends,

I have prepared a short essay for our meeting on the 18th October at
8:00pm:

Are racial comments freedom of speech?
https://tinyurl.com/essay-18-october

Because of any possible overzealous AI Morality bots I took the
precaution of posting the essay on my personal account which you can
access via a tinyurl link. The link above will take you to the tinyurl
interface then click on the link for my essay.

Please let me know if you need the Skype link: preferably by WhatsApp.


Best and take care
Lawrence


telephone/WhatsApp: 606081813
Email: philomadrid@gmail.com
http://www.philomadrid.com


PhiloMadrid Skype meeting: WEDNESDAY 18th October: Are racial comments
freedom of speech?

PhiloMadrid Skype meeting: WEDNESDAY 18th October – check News

Meeting next Wednesday, 18th October at 8:00pm


Dear friends,

In view of the long holiday weekend this week our next meeting will be
on Wednesday, 18th October at 8:00pm.

Our topic for the meeting is: Are racial comments freedom of speech?

I proposed the topic and hope to have an essay by the end of next
weekend. If you want to write me with your comments or essay please let
me have them before Sunday next week. Thanks…..

NEWS:
In the meantime, Marjorie is presenting her new book, Field Notes/Notas
de Campo, on the 11th October.
Marjorie
October 11, 2023. Presentation of Field Notes/Notas de Campo.
At: Casa Sefarad
Web: www.marjoriekanter.com
Or here: https://www.philomadrid.com/2023/10/por-fi.html


Raquel and Pedro are busy trying to find a place where we can use for
our meetings but if you have any suggestions please let me know. Thanks….
Past News:

--Diego: Manifesto: The Beehive Complex: Dare to Dance in the Dark and
Rejoice in the Most Astonishing of Illusions.

The Beehive Complex is available here: https://amzn.eu/d/9U4AwmH
It's a short book and to the point!


--Un giro en el aire
Lucinda Maxwell (Teresa)
https://libros.cc/Un-giro-en-el-aire.htm?isbn=9788411753296
Also from Amazon.es ( https://amzn.eu/d/a6RY3AP )


--Oscar's book is now available from Oscar himself:
"Toranzo, 88 ilustraciones y coplillas" by Oscar at €35
https://www.philomadrid.com/2022/09/toranzo-88-ilustraciones-y-coplillas-by.html



--It is with great sadness that I have learnt Julian Martelli passed
away early in October this year, 2022. Julian was very active during our
meetings in Molly Malone and participation was always respected by all.
Christine kindly wants to share with us a photo of Julian with her and
friends. You can find the FaceBook link below.

I also include a link for our visit to Toledo in 2008 when Julian came
with us on the day trip.

Julian
https://www.philomadrid.com/2022/11/julian.html


--Jorge has kindly sent us the link to his book which is available for
Free Distribution at:
Evolution of Thought and its Influence on Society and Technology
https://www.adneli.com/store


Please let me know if you need the Skype link: preferably by WhatsApp.


Best and take care
Lawrence


telephone/WhatsApp: 606081813
Email: philomadrid@gmail.com
http://www.philomadrid.com




PhiloMadrid Skype meeting: WEDNESDAY 18th October – check News

PhiloMadrid Skype meeting: WEDNESDAY 4th October: Moral and cultural decadence in Europe + news

Meeting next Wednesday, 4th October at 8:00pm


Dear friends,

This Wednesday, 4th October at 8:00pm, we are discussing: Moral and
cultural decadence in Europe


The topic was proposed by Jorge and in my few notes I discuss the issues
behind this subject:

Moral and cultural decadence in Europe
https://www.philomadrid.com/2023/10/mor-al-and-cultural-decadence-in-europe.html


In the meantime, Marjorie is presenting her new book, Field Notes/Notas
de Campo, on the 11th October.
Marjorie
October 11, 2023. Presentation of Field Notes/Notas de Campo.
At: Casa Sefarad
Web: www.marjoriekanter.com
Or here: https://www.philomadrid.com/2023/10/por-fi.html


Raquel and Pedro are busy trying to find a place where we can use for
our meetings but if you have any suggestions please let me know. Thanks….
Past News:

--Diego: Manifesto: The Beehive Complex: Dare to Dance in the Dark and
Rejoice in the Most Astonishing of Illusions.

The Beehive Complex is available here: https://amzn.eu/d/9U4AwmH
It's a short book and to the point!


--Un giro en el aire
Lucinda Maxwell (Teresa)
https://libros.cc/Un-giro-en-el-aire.htm?isbn=9788411753296
Also from Amazon.es ( https://amzn.eu/d/a6RY3AP )


--Oscar's book is now available from Oscar himself:
"Toranzo, 88 ilustraciones y coplillas" by Oscar at €35
https://www.philomadrid.com/2022/09/toranzo-88-ilustraciones-y-coplillas-by.html



--It is with great sadness that I have learnt Julian Martelli passed
away early in October this year, 2022. Julian was very active during our
meetings in Molly Malone and participation was always respected by all.
Christine kindly wants to share with us a photo of Julian with her and
friends. You can find the FaceBook link below.

I also include a link for our visit to Toledo in 2008 when Julian came
with us on the day trip.

Julian
https://www.philomadrid.com/2022/11/julian.html


--Jorge has kindly sent us the link to his book which is available for
Free Distribution at:
Evolution of Thought and its Influence on Society and Technology
https://www.adneli.com/store


Please let me know if you need the Skype link: preferably by WhatsApp.


Best and take care
Lawrence


telephone/WhatsApp: 606081813
Email: philomadrid@gmail.com
http://www.philomadrid.com




PhiloMadrid Skype meeting: WEDNESDAY 4th October: Moral and cultural
decadence in Europe + news

Mor al and cultural decadence in Europe

Moral and cultural decadence in Europe



Topic by Jorge

Notes by Lawrence





This is a definition of decadence from Google: moral or cultural decline as characterized by excessive indulgence in pleasure or luxury. (1)





And Eurostat published this message earlier this year: In 2022, 95.3 million people in the EU were at risk of poverty or social exclusion; this was equivalent to 21.6 % of the EU population. (2)





Finally, Eurostat again wrote in 2022: In 2021, the 20 % of the population with the highest income received 38.2 % of disposable income in the EU Member States. (3)





As a figure of speech when we say a generalised statement such as “X is d” we do not necessarily mean that all “X are d”, but rather we have a valid belief that “X is d” meaning “d” is very common in the context of “X”. Not all the citizens in the EU are morally decadent or culturally decadent.





So is Europe decadent and has Europe lost its moral and cultural heritage? With 22% of the EU population within the poverty line we can hardly say that pleasure and luxury affect the whole population of the EU. Even if we accept that in such cases, there will always be a long fat tail of inequities in a population.





Regarding culture, it is a truism that culture changes and evolves over time. Traditionally, the causes of culture change were influx of groups of people or successful occupation by an external power. But historically, this would have been measures in centuries and not just a decade.





More recently, abundant access to information about other cultures influences culture change in short periods. Firstly, we had the Hollywood movie invasion and now the internet and streamed videos has a strong hold on European and world cultures.





Just because this change in European (EU) culture is happening, it does not imply it is decadent or immoral. For example, whilst I agree with those who abhor fast food culture and other aspects of new culture changes, this is part of the process of culture. The question is: when is something culture change and when is it unfettered profiteering.





Morality, it might be argued, is a different matter since this is, first and foremost, an individual matter and any acts that seem to be acts of collective morality are still the sum of individual acts. The problem here is that it is very difficult to generalise about collective morality. Even the worst events of collective immoral acts still have to be investigated between moral acts and the individual acting.





Of course, some individuals are evil and immoral, but an import aspect of immoral acts is the intention of the individual. Without deviating into normative ethics, there are many factors that might lead someone intending to something and not something else. In addition, two of those factors are fear and influence by others.





What is clear is that income distribution is an important motivator for action since this is a relevant component in survival. Intentions are one side of morality, but what is the role of “duty to be informed” in moral actions? What’s the excuse in 2023 for people to elect governments whose main agenda, hidden or not, is to limit human rights and inequitable distribution of national wealth?





(1) Google:
https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-e&q=define+decadence

(2) Living conditions in Europe - poverty and social exclusion
https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Living_conditions_in_Europe_-_poverty_and_social_exclusion

(3) Living conditions in Europe - income distribution and income inequality
https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Living_conditions_in_Europe_-_income_distribution_and_income_inequality





Best and take care

Lawrence



telephone/WhatsApp: 606081813

Email: philomadrid@gmail.com

http://www.philomadrid.com





PhiloMadrid Skype meeting: WEDNESDAY 4th October: Moral and cultural decadence in Europe