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Post by I AM the Way on Nov 4, 2012 8:59:18 GMT -6
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Post by shawnhartnell on Nov 4, 2012 9:02:25 GMT -6
I'm going to have to read this later, but this is one hell of a cool quote :
I choose weird stories because they suit my inclination best—one of my strongest and most persistent wishes being to achieve,momentarily, the illusion of some strange suspension or violation of the galling limitations of time, space, and natural law which forever imprison us and frustrate our curiosity about the infinite cosmic spaces beyond the radius of our sight and analysis
H.P. Lovecraft. “Notes on Writing Weird Fiction”
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Post by sin on Nov 4, 2012 9:10:29 GMT -6
HPL receives much criticism as a writer and a man. I can't help but wonder if his contributions have been untapped because of it. When I was sharing my essay on a "Lovecraftian Theocracy", most readers were too focused on his person than his ideas. Seems to be rather common.
I suppose this is why the discussion of "Are we our ideas?" is an important one to have. I prefer to address the ideas, the person having them doesn't appear to be a focus of mine. I'm not sure why in comparison to others.
I like to explore the limitations of what my own mind will accept, and what it will 'react' to and why. I think it's important to analyze that.
CS
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Post by shawnhartnell on Nov 4, 2012 9:32:09 GMT -6
I like to explore the limitations of what my own mind will accept, and what it will 'react' to and why. I think it's important to analyze that. CS [/color] [/quote] I know that my perception or reality is only a reflection of my understanding and just a small part of what is knowable. The concept that Cthulhu lies outside of reality is a reminder that there's an unseen world out there, completely beyond my current understanding, some of it surely beyond my ability to understand it or even grasp it to know that I don't understand.
Short version: The concept reminds me that my reality is just a minuscule nugget of bullshit in a grand mystery.
From what you quoted, it seems like reading HPL is like contemplating a koan.
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Post by sin on Nov 4, 2012 10:07:48 GMT -6
Indeed. I think this is why group study is helpful, that way you can step outside your own head for a minute. See things from another's point of view. I can't say that my perception of things is all that stellar at times, in fact, I often feel like a blundering novice. The past 10 years have made me realize how much I was really closing myself off to a better part of the mystery.
[/quote]
Great analogy!
CS
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Post by shawnhartnell on Nov 4, 2012 14:04:49 GMT -6
I've read it and I'm not certain that I understood it completely because I'm not up on all the quoted philosophy references, which are most likely considered to be basic by most philosophers and too numerous for me to look up. With that said, I will now speak about this article from my rectal niethervoid :
It was critical of several philosophers, all of which seemed to lack the ability to even comprehend the phrase 'shit happens' or that they really knew about as much about how the universe / their brain works as a non-mechanic knows about how a car engine works. To admit such things would be madness! Oh well, shit happens.
I looked up your interview with Ligotti and it was odd to see someone more nihilistic than I was at my most nihilistic. I understood his view much more than anyone else quoted in the article. His vision of puppets and mannequins is horrific to me as I'm sure an indifferent, uncaring and impersonal universe is to others.
I'm really ok with the damn falling white snow not giving a falling white damn, but the click-whirr of a clockwork man -- that's horror!
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Post by shawnhartnell on Nov 4, 2012 14:13:58 GMT -6
@cs: I agree and know what you mean.
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Post by shawnhartnell on Nov 4, 2012 14:39:45 GMT -6
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Post by sin on Nov 4, 2012 19:54:04 GMT -6
How horrible!
CS
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Post by I AM the Way on Nov 5, 2012 15:17:25 GMT -6
I've read it and I'm not certain that I understood it completely because I'm not up on all the quoted philosophy references, which are most likely considered to be basic by most philosophers and too numerous for me to look up. With that said, I will now speak about this article from my rectal niethervoid :
It was critical of several philosophers, all of which seemed to lack the ability to even comprehend the phrase 'shit happens' or that they really knew about as much about how the universe / their brain works as a non-mechanic knows about how a car engine works. To admit such things would be madness! Oh well, shit happens.
I looked up your interview with Ligotti and it was odd to see someone more nihilistic than I was at my most nihilistic. I understood his view much more than anyone else quoted in the article. His vision of puppets and mannequins is horrific to me as I'm sure an indifferent, uncaring and impersonal universe is to others.
I'm really ok with the damn falling white snow not giving a falling white damn, but the click-whirr of a clockwork man -- that's horror!
I didn't realize that my interview with Ligotti was quoted twice until just now, having finally read it.
www.cultofcthulhu.net/2010/03/devotees-of-decay-and-desolation/
I agree with your estimation of the essay, Shawn. Ben Woodard is down with Kant and up with the weird tale philosophy of Lovecraft and Ligotti. Why? Because there are unexplained things going on in our understanding of the world, reality, etc. A little over my head, too, in places. But food for thought.
Yes, Ligotti is a nihilist's nihilist... almost to the point where he becomes rather un-nihilistic. If you haven't read his stories, then do so!
What do you think of Stephen Hawking?
Awake!
VS
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Post by shawnhartnell on Nov 5, 2012 17:41:51 GMT -6
That whole trapped thing is creepy, but at least he has a soul.
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Post by I AM the Way on Nov 6, 2012 14:46:47 GMT -6
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