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New Existentialists

Examining the Source of Human Value: We Are Not Our Jobs

11/27/2012

I’m sure we are all familiar with what I assume is the most frequently asked question in a first encounter or meeting with another person: “So, what do you do?” I cannot be the only one who is intrigued by this very common phenomenon. In terms of cultural commentary, I wonder what this says about our American society. What does this question mean in this context? What exactly is meant by “do” here? What strikes me most about this question is that in all likelihood, it is not a request for information regarding an individual’s personal interests or hobbies, what he or she does for fun, to...

Posted at 11:00 AM

New Existentialists

Masks

11/26/2012

I recently watched an old favorite movie of mine, The Man in the Iron Mask. This film came out in 1998 and is a fictional account of some well-loved characters, the Three Musketeers. The storyline is that the King of France, Louis XIV, is a bad king, more concerned with bedding mistresses than with the welfare of his people. The Three Musketeers, after a series of unfortunate events, decide to band together and replace the king. In their plan, the king is to be replaced with his twin brother who has been locked in a prison for six years, wearing an iron mask so as to conceal his identity....

Posted at 11:00 AM

Interdisciplinary Inquiry

New study released: Keep soldiers out of schools and universities

11/24/2012

The use of schools and other education institutions for military purposes by armed forces and non-state armed groups during wartime endangers students and their education around the world, said the Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack in a new study. The 77-page study, “Lessons In War: Military Use of Schools and Other Education Institutions during Conflict”, examines the use of schools and other education institutions for military purposes by government armed forces and opposition or pro-government armed groups during times of armed conflict or insecurity. Schools are used for barracks, logistics bases, operational headquarters, weapons and ammunition caches, detention and interrogation centers, firing and observation positions, and recruitment grounds.

Posted at 02:33 AM | Permalink | 0 Comments

Rethinking Complexity

What Struck You?

11/21/2012

This year's Systems Thinking in Action conference hosted by Pegasus Communications in Indianapolis, Indiana, brought a question into focus: What struck you? In his keynote address, Peter Block emphasized the importance of questions, such as this. His message: Questions are the point; questions bring us together; and answers keep us apart. We must ask great questions that are open-ended and ambiguous to promote thought and a chance to deepen our experience together. As I reflect on what struck me about this conference, I look to the wealth of experience of the global community of...

Posted at 03:55 PM

New Existentialists

Joyful Thinking-Thanking: A Reading of Heidegger’s “What Is Called Thinking?”

11/21/2012

“Before one’s individual ability-to-be, there goes an unshakable joy in this possibility.” -– Martin Heidegger, Being and Time While I do not feel very celebratory about the colonization of American by the West, and the violent displacement of Native Americans, I think a holiday dedicated to gratitude is not such a bad idea in itself. In today’s America, the holiday has become increasingly and ironically a cult of consumerism—a day of guilt-free gluttony followed by manic and aggressive Black Friday shopping. A meme passed around on Facebook astutely observed, “Only in America do you have a...

Posted at 11:00 AM

New Existentialists

Western Psychotherapy: Have We Cultivated an Age of Narcissism?

11/20/2012

I spoke with a fellow psychotherapist this weekend at the Sixth Annual Conference for the Existential Humanistic Institute in San Francisco about a topic that seems to be presenting itself to me in many circles. It is a topic that I have been motivated to explore because of personal experiences I've encountered, as well as academically and professionally. We were discussing the breakdown of relationships and commitment in our country. He asked me what I thought the reason was for this, and my answer was "I think we give up too easily when things are difficult." His response, paraphrased, was...

Posted at 11:00 AM

Rethinking Complexity

A Hybrid Approach to Global Sustainability

11/19/2012

As I drove into work the other morning, shamefully oblivious to the stunningly beautiful California sunrise washing over me, I intently listened to the "Diane Rehm Show" on National Public Radio. I’ve always found her topical interviews informative and indeed fascinating. On that particular morning, the topic was the U.S. oil production boom. “What boom?” I thought. This topic struck me as particularly relevant and concurrently controversial with fuel prices in California continuing to grow excruciatingly out of control. Of course, I was aware that most energy...

Posted at 01:34 PM

New Existentialists

Pain, Suffering, and Companionship

11/19/2012

I was recently conducting a workshop in Singapore, and an earnest student asked, “You talked a lot about the healing power of companionship, but how exactly does that help when it comes to pain and suffering?” I’ve accepted the “truth” that companionship is a powerful antidote for existence pain and suffering, but it’s been a while since I’ve really pondered and had to explain why. The question from this “beginner’s mind” challenged me to offer her an answer that will quell her genuine desire to learn. My answer begins with a deeper look into the nature of pain. In his book, Pain, The Gift...

Posted at 11:00 AM

Creativity

Exploring Leadership and Learning Theories in Asia (ELLTA)

11/16/2012

Exploring Leadership and Learning Theories in Asia (ELLTA) will take place December 11-13, 2012 in Malaysia and will be co-hosted by the University of Utara Malaysia. ELLTA invites contributions to highlight Asian perspectives on Creativity, Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Given the enormity and diversity of challenges facing the world at large, and Asia, in particular, the transformation of societies requires creative and innovative responses, and individual and collective entrepreneurship. http://ellta.org/

Posted at 11:43 AM | Permalink | 0 Comments

Creativity

Art Basel, Miami

11/16/2012

Art Basel, Miami: From December 6 through 9, Miami Beach, Florida, will host the 11th edition of Art Basel. More than 260 leading galleries from North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia and Africa will take part, showcasing works by more than 2,000 artists of the 20th and 21st centuries. http://miamibeach.artbasel.com/

Posted at 11:37 AM | Permalink | 0 Comments

Posts

Examining the Source of Human Value: We Are Not Our Jobs

Masks

New study released: Keep soldiers out of schools and universities

What Struck You?

Joyful Thinking-Thanking: A Reading of Heidegger’s “What Is Called Thinking?”

Western Psychotherapy: Have We Cultivated an Age of Narcissism?

A Hybrid Approach to Global Sustainability

Pain, Suffering, and Companionship

Exploring Leadership and Learning Theories in Asia (ELLTA)

Art Basel, Miami

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