Man and Sin by Piet Schoonenberg (1964) 2.3 NU
[In phase two, physicians, friends and loved ones of smokers notice the chronic health problems of habituated smokers.
Another value (health) enters the picture.]
08/1/18
Category Archives: Our current Lebenswelt is not the Lebenswelt that we evolved in
Human psychology evolved under in the social milieu of constrained complexity. Currently, humans live in unconstrained complexity. What has this done to our minds? These topics are addressed in various parts of An Archaeology of the Fall, particularly in chapters 8C and 11B.
07/31/18
Man and Sin by Piet Schoonenberg (1964) 2.3 NT
[The history of tobacco products may be told as three phases.
In phase one, tobacco cigarettes are romanticized.
Before cigarettes became popular (mass produced), they are regarded as a form of relaxation and thus a benefit to health.
After all, smoking a cigarette is like a ritual.
So, the health benefits of a cigarette are linked to a relaxation ritual.
The original concept goes like this:
A little tobacco (in fact, very little, since tobacco is toxic in high doses) plus a ritual equals relaxation. This short-term relaxation benefits the anxiety prone individual. Lighting up allows the smoker to take a break.
In phase one, value1b aligns with desire1a.]
07/30/18
Man and Sin by Piet Schoonenberg (1964) 2.3 NS
Summary of text [comment] page 83
[I now want to examine ‘the thought experiment where ‘I choose to smoke a tobacco cigarette’’.
Let me start with an off-the-cuff history.]
07/27/18
Man and Sin by Piet Schoonenberg (1964) 2.3 NR
[How does sovereigninfra ban tobacco cigarettes?
Regulation and taxation increase the cost of tobacco cigarettes.
Smoking is banned in particular locations.
And so on.
Some Progressive law firms make lots of money by suing the tobacco companies for elevated health costs from tobacco-related illnesses.
Progressives also raise the cost of the research and development of substitutes for tobacco cigarettes.
Today’s substitutes, available in niche markets, were developed outside the United States of America.]
07/23/18
Man and Sin by Piet Schoonenberg (1964) 2.3 NM
Summary of text [comment] page 83
[The previous blog is speculation that must be dismissed out of hand.
Why?
Anyone proposing such an idea is for smoking and therefore promotes anti-healthy lifestyles.
Anyone proposing such an idea is thinkanti-object.
Thinkanti-object forces participants into the mode of sensible construction, so the overlying social construction is assumed and remains unquestioned.
Citizen health takes priority over psychological speculation.]
07/20/18
Man and Sin by Piet Schoonenberg (1964) 2.3 NL
[Modern society is full of negative moments. People compete for the stupid advantages. People position themselves against others. There is plenty of fodder for fulmination. Then negative thoughts spawn other negative thoughts.
Many people are prone to repetitious negative thoughts.
The ritual of smoking a cigarette would break the cycle.
Individuals became addicted, not to the nicotine, but to release from patterns of repetitious negative thoughts.
Smoking is cathartic.]
07/19/18
Man and Sin by Piet Schoonenberg (1964) 2.3 NK
[Smoking a tobacco cigarette is a personal ritual that some people find comfort in.
The ritual is not “religious” to the extent that it lacks presence (relation to the sovereign) and carries no message.
Smoking has one notable effect. It stops cycles of negative thoughts.
This relaxing ritual breaks negative-thought obsession.]
07/18/18
Man and Sin by Piet Schoonenberg (1964) 2.3 NJ
[Smoking tobacco cigarettes invites health problems.
No one should smoke tobacco cigarettes.
So why would anyone desire to smoke?
The element of desire is not so obvious and is nonsensical.]
07/17/18
Man and Sin by Piet Schoonenberg (1964) 2.3 NI
Summary of text [comment] page 83
[Each sovereigninfra demands ‘something2a’.
Often, this is a prohibition.
For example, smoking tobacco cigarettes was rendered taboo in the 1990s.
A health-minded sovereigninfra decreed, “The subject shall not smoke cigarettes.”
I want to explore this example because the elements of conversion are obvious and sensical.]
07/16/18
Man and Sin by Piet Schoonenberg (1964) 2.3 NH
[The passage of an institution from point 1 to point 3 changes the message of the institution.
The message goes from conversion by persuasion (or example) to conversion by the sword.
All sovereigns have the sword, so why not use it?
If the objectorganization is so important that it must be imposed by sovereign power, it is important enough to worship as an idol.
Thus, sovereign religions veer towards idolatry.]