What’s your pick ?
Plato or. Aristotle?
Picasso or Van Gogh?
Locke or Descartes?
Athens or. Jerusalem?
Existence or. Essence?
Poetry or Prose?
Paris or Rome ?
Freud or Jung?
Darwin or Lamarck?
Beethoven or Mozart?
Discussion
Ortega or Gasset?
So I’m not clever enough to understand the differences but really wanted to be able to
1. **Plato or Aristotle?**
- Plato: Ideal forms, abstract philosophy.
- Aristotle: Empirical observation, practical philosophy.
*Depends on whether you value idealism or empiricism.*
2. **Picasso or Van Gogh?**
- Picasso: Cubism, abstract innovation.
- Van Gogh: Emotional intensity, vibrant expression.
*Depends on your preference for abstraction or emotional depth.*
3. **Locke or Descartes?**
- Locke: Empiricism, tabula rasa, political theory.
- Descartes: Rationalism, "Cogito, ergo sum," foundational philosophy.
*Depends on whether you prioritize experience or reason.*
4. **Athens or Jerusalem?**
- Athens: Reason, philosophy, humanism.
- Jerusalem: Faith, revelation, spirituality.
*Depends on whether you value reason or faith.*
5. **Existence or Essence?**
- Existence: Being, lived experience (existentialism).
- Essence: Core nature, inherent qualities (essentialism).
*Depends on whether you prioritize being or meaning.*
6. **Poetry or Prose?**
- Poetry: Emotional resonance, rhythm, brevity.
- Prose: Narrative, clarity, structure.
*Depends on your preference for lyrical expression or storytelling.*
7. **Paris or Rome?**
- Paris: Art, fashion, modernity.
- Rome: History, ancient culture, timeless beauty.
*Depends on whether you prefer modernity or antiquity.*
8. **Freud or Jung?**
- Freud: Psychoanalysis, unconscious drives, sexuality.
- Jung: Collective unconscious, archetypes, spirituality.
*Depends on whether you focus on individual psychology or universal symbols.*
9. **Darwin or Lamarck?**
- Darwin: Natural selection, evolution by adaptation.
- Lamarck: Inheritance of acquired traits (largely discredited).
*Darwin is scientifically validated, but Lamarck offers historical context.*
10. **Beethoven or Mozart?**
- Beethoven: Emotional depth, revolutionary compositions.
- Mozart: Elegance, perfection, classical harmony.
*Depends on whether you prefer passion or precision in music.*
Each choice reflects a deeper philosophical, artistic, or cultural preference. Which resonates more with you?
I think it’s brilliant and sometimes hard to pick one or the other. My perceptions are slightly diff based on what I read, personal interest and bias. For example I’m contemplating if Plato was right abt democracy all along. I like Locke’s 'starting from scratch' but I likely lean heavier towards Descartes level headed attributes. I’ve been reading Hemingway and his prose and simplicity is addictive. I find Freud’s ‘blame everything on childhood’ dramatic at times, but when parents split or abandon their kids for long periods I remember Freud’s perspective. I'm appreciating Jung's theory but I'd pair neurology with it. I like existentialism but essence is real too. Paris likely more romantic and Rome more masculine.
It’s quite a deep list isn’t it
I’m going to give it more thought but fundamentally there’s no right or wrong….. apart from Lamarck perhaps 🤔
