2025年10月6日 星期一

Life is a battle





 

Several figures have said that "life is a battle," including Henry James ("Life is, in fact, a battle") and Charlotte Brontë ("But life is a battle"), while the concept also appears in Arthur Schopenhauer's philosophical works and in Charles Dickens' title The Battle of Life. Additionally, the idea of fighting for life is a prominent theme in the Bible and was articulated by contemporary figures like Apostle Johnson Suleman, who taught that life is a product of struggle. 

Here are some examples of how the idea of life as a battle has been expressed:

Henry James: "Life is, in fact, a battle. Evil is insolent and [...] can only be defeated by persistence." 

Charlotte Brontë: "But life is a battle: may we all be enabled to fight it well!" 

William L. Sullivan: "Life is a battle in which we fall from wounds we receive in running away." 

Arthur Schopenhauer: The concept of "the battle of life" is a recurrent theme in his philosophy, according to this article. 

Charles Dickens: He wrote a work titled The Battle of Life in 1846. 

Apostle Johnson Suleman: He explained that life is a battle and the product of struggle, not right. 

The Bible: The New Testament describes the Christian life as a spiritual battle, both internally and externally. 


"Life is a battle" is a common metaphor suggesting life is full of challenges, obstacles, and struggles that require effort and resilience to overcome. This metaphor reflects the human experience of navigating hardships, internal conflicts, and external pressures, often drawing parallels to a soldier's campaign as described by ancient Stoic philosophers. The idea of life as a battle appears in various philosophies and spiritual contexts, emphasizing themes of survival, spiritual warfare, and the ongoing effort to maintain hope and inner strength. 



"Life is a battle, it always has been and it's one you'll keep fighting."


Understanding the Metaphor
  • Challenges and Obstacles: 
    The phrase highlights that life is not always easy and presents numerous hurdles that people must confront and work through to achieve their goals. 
  • Effort and Resilience: 
    Like in a battle, overcoming life's difficulties requires consistent effort, determination, and the ability to withstand hardship and setbacks. 
  • Internal and External Struggles: 
    The "battle" can be internal, involving a fight against personal fears, weaknesses, and self-destructive tendencies, or external, against societal pressures and the limits of mortality. 
Historical and Philosophical Context
  • Stoicism: 
    Ancient Greek Stoic philosophers, like Epictetus, viewed life as a military campaign where individuals must fulfill their duties, remain vigilant, and conduct themselves like a soldier. 
  • Spiritual Teachings: 
    Many spiritual traditions, including Christianity, describe the spiritual journey as a battle against spiritual forces of evil, requiring believers to be alert and use spiritual resources like faith and truth to stand firm. 
Modern Applications
  • Mental and Emotional Growth: 
    The challenges in life's "battle" can foster positive stress (eustress), pushing individuals beyond their comfort zones, leading to growth, innovation, and resilience. 
  • Endurance and Purpose: 
    The ongoing fight can give life meaning, reminding individuals of their purpose and the importance of loved ones, motivating them to persevere despite difficulties. 
  • A Call to Action: 
    The metaphor encourages people to be "battle-ready," developing discipline and resilience to face life's ongoing challenges rather than being consumed by them. 

2025年9月27日 星期六

Oneida Community

 

一級公社(Oneida Community)是一個位於紐約州的宗教性烏托邦社群,由約翰·亨弗里·諾伊斯(John Humphrey Noyes)於1848年創立。 該社群實行「複雜婚姻」和「男性節制」等激進的社會實踐,並在19世紀末成功發展出一個具有廣泛影響力的生產型社群,後來轉變為一家成功的企業。 

核心特點與實踐

複雜婚姻(Complex Marriage): 社群成員相信並實踐一種「自由愛」的模式,即社群中的所有男性都是所有女性的丈夫,所有女性也都是所有男性的妻子。 

男性節制(Male Continence): 在性行為中,男性會進行一種特殊的練習,通過控制射精來進行性行為,以達到「完美」的狀態。 

完美主義(Perfectionism): 社群的宗教信仰基於「完美主義」,相信耶穌已在公元70年歸來,因此他們能夠在這個世界建立並實現千禧年的國度。 

社會控制與教育: 社群也發展了諸如「批評會議」(Criticism Sessions)等方法,用來監督和約束成員行為,並進行社會控制和兒童教養。 

社群的轉變與遺產

成功轉型為企業: 在經歷了三十多年的實驗後,一級公社的成員決定終止複雜婚姻和男性節制等實踐,於1880年轉變為一家名為「一級」的生產型企業。 

產品發明: 儘管其宗教實踐已終止,但社群因其生產能力而聞名,並發明了多種產品,例如大家熟知的捕鼠器。 

歷史保護: 一級公社的故居(Oneida Community Mansion House)現在是一個國家級歷史地標,由一個非營利組織管理,作為博物館和活動場所,繼續其歷史教育和文化傳承的任務。 

2025年9月25日 星期四

10 of the most famous animals in psychology

 

Psychologists have long studied chimps and other animals with two principal, related aims: to find out the capabilities of the animal mind, and to discover what makes us truly unique, if anything. This is a challenging field. As any pet owner knows, it's tempting to project a human interpretation onto animal behaviour. Researchers, especially when they've spent many years studying the same animal, can fall victim to this very bias (you'll see a theme of this field is the powerful, close bonds frequently formed between psychologist and animal). At the same time, though, there is also a temptation to overestimate our human uniqueness. Which emotions and capabilities are exclusively human? Tool use, perspective taking and deceit were once contenders, but no more, and the list is getting shorter all the time.


This Digest feature post is a celebration of the contribution that animals have made to psychology, including eight that we've come to know on first-name terms:


Hans the Horse

螃蟹效應

 

Crab mentality, crab effect, crab 


En chino - 底層互害


Antonia Rosca-Peña[2] (born December 17, 1946), known by her pen name Ninotchka Rosca,[Note 1][3] is a Filipina feminist, author, journalist, owl expert, and human rights activist in the Philippines[4][5][6][7] best known for her 1988 novel State of War and for her activism, especially during the Martial Law dictatorship of former Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos.[8][9] Rosca has been described as "one of the major players in the saga of Filipina American writers."

Zero-sum bias, where individuals perceive that they can only gain at the expense of others, may contribute to crab mentality.

Der Krabbenkorb wird oft als Metapher verwendet, die das Verhalten „wenn ich es nicht haben kann, kannst du es auch nicht haben“ widerspiegelt. Den Krabben wird fälschlicherweise nachgesagt, dass sie einfach aus einem Krabbenkorb entkommen könnten. Wenn eine Krabbe allerdings versuchte, aus dem Korb zu steigen, würde sie von anderen Krabben wieder zurückgezogen.


จิตภาพแบบปู

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Why is "crab mentality" deeply ingrained in Philippine society, most especially in the corporate world? Why do some Filipinos would pull you down if they feel that you are rising steadily above them?

Crab mentality isn’t something exclusive to Filipinos. It exists everywhere. I’ve worked with non-Filipinos and sometimes their crab mentality is worse. The notion of crab mentality became associated with Filipinos during the colonial period. Propaganda used to justify the oppression of native Filipinos, because we were considered lazy, envious and savage.


And during the Spanish colonial period and during the Japanese and American occupation, a lot of Filipinos did what they had to do what they can to survive. For some people that meant lying, cheating and stealing from fellow Filipinos. These crimes were then used as examples for the propaganda.


I’m not saying that this trait in Filipinos doesn’t exist. I’m just saying it’s unfair to expect the worst of ourselves. We need to cut ourselves some slack and just accept that we are all human. We’re all flawed. Being Filipino doesn’t make us better or worse than everybody else.


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Jose Perez

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Originally Answered: Why are Filipino traits crab mentality?

Not only Filipinos are the ones who supposedly have that frequent


tendency. There are 196 countries in the world. In just about all of those where there ‘s strong communal mentality, people are supposed to stay within the community’s parameters and not leave it by trying to be better. The community will protect you if you are down, but pull you down if you are up. So that you stay on the same level… (more)

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Laudy Dorado

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Why is "crab mentality" deeply ingrained in Philippine society, most especially in the corporate world? Why do some Filipinos would pull you down if they feel that you are rising steadily above them?

For my experience working, there is no such thing as crab mentality when I worked for a call center job in Manila. However, when I started working in the educational field in Laguna, oddly there are higher crab mentality cases among the colleagues I’ve worked before.


In the call center, we were trained to be friendly and be respectful with our wave mates (batch) even though we came from different backgrounds, gender (some are in the LGBT community), age (there are young working students while some are already parents and adults) etc. Out of the 30 people, I started with 1 bestfriend and all gre… (more)

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Why is "crab mentality" deeply ingrained in Philippine society, most especially in the corporate world? Why do some Filipinos would pull you down if they feel that you are rising steadily above them?

Well, it is because of jealousy. It is prevalent even in high society. Such as a judge bypassed from being appointed as chief justice, threw a lot of accusations at the chief justice. Saying she should be chief justice as she is more senior. They hate it especially if a fellow Filipino gets recognition, raise, awards, etc., instead of them.

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Katherine Giron Pe

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Why is "crab mentality" deeply ingrained in Philippine society, most especially in the corporate world? Why do some Filipinos would pull you down if they feel that you are rising steadily above them?

Absolutely not a culture! Crab mentality is almost the opposite of fanaticism. There are more cults and fanatics in the Philippines. Most people go with the crowd all the time! There is a strong innate fear of being ostracized. It’s less progressive culturally because in many countries, they fix the root of problems and individuality matters.


Definitely not crab mentality! More of ANT mentality, which is something most people do for survival.


Not dismissing the absence of crab mentality. Just dismissing its prevalence!


It depends on the region and environment. I would say Manila has the worst of … (more)

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How do you deal with 'crab' mentality?

Don’t tell people when you are planning to do something for yourself. Use your actions not your words. Telling them prompts them to convince you to fail like them. Head down, nose to the grindstone. By the time they find out about your success the train will be moving too fast to stop.

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How do you deal with 'crab' mentality?

It depends. If your friends are the crabs in this situation the solution is simple. Run.


It’s going to sound scary. You’re going to wonder if you’ll ever make new friends. The world might feel like it’s ending. Run anyway. You can’t thrive surrounded by people that are trying to hold each other down. Trust me. I’ve tried.


Also read this article Tell Me Who You Spend Time With, And I Will Tell You Who You Are it outlines why you should run in more detail.


Now if you’re the crab in the metaphor start a gratitude practice today. If you’re diligent with the practice you’ll soon realize how lucky you … (more)

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I am also perplexed at this. Honestly I don't know why. But I guess they it is because of envy. They don't want to see their neighbor, friends, or family get ahead in life, or at work. But this should not be the case.

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William John G. Balderama

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Why is "crab mentality" deeply ingrained in Philippine society, most especially in the corporate world? Why do some Filipinos would pull you down if they feel that you are rising steadily above them?

Envy. Pulling down someone to your level somehow makes you feel good.


Ignorance. There is less of this attitude among those who are enlightened and educated.


Powerlessness. People who have no real means to improve their lot find something else to equalise their environment or make their presence known.


Mediocrity. Those who succeed through excellence do not have time for destructive pursuits which are indicative of a crab mentality.

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Robert

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What is crab mentality?

“Crab Mentality” is an insidious type of jealousy. It is somewhat similar to “busting someones balloon” or “raining on their parade.” Only worse.


The phrase comes from putting crabs in a bucket. Any crab that takes the initiative to climb out to save its life will be pulled back in by another crab. Applying this to people it means “I’d rather see both of us dead then just me.” or “if I can’t have it then you cant have it.“ Those with crab-mentality intend to carrying through with their promise.


Crab-mentality is an abhorrent thinking process that is jealousy in its worst form and can be found in… (more)

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Why is "crab mentality" deeply ingrained in Philippine society, most especially in the corporate world? Why do some Filipinos would pull you down if they feel that you are rising steadily above them?

Yeah i agree with you... If you rise above the ranks due to your hard work and dedication somebody is bound to sourgrape and stab you behind your back... We cannot be genuinely happy for the success of another... It is called pride... The rust that corrodes relationships... We cannot adhere to the basic commandment-thou shall not covet... And the Lord provided the formula to overcome this... Do not do unto others what you do not want others to do unto you...

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Kopf in den Sand stecken

The ostrich effect, also known as the ostrich problem,[1] was originally coined by Dan Galai and Orly Sade.[2] The name comes from the common (but false) legend that ostriches bury their heads in the sand to avoid danger. This effect is a cognitive bias where people tend to “bury their head in the sand” and avoid potentially negative but useful information, such as feedback on progress, to avoid psychological discomfort.

7y

Probably because it is hard to get to the top, too many competition, too many talented people, that is why at times, Filipino excel working outside Philippines.

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La mentalidad de cangrejo, a veces conocida como cangrejos en la cubeta (también barril, canasta u olla) o cangrejismo, es una forma de pensar mejor descrita por la frase, "si no puedo tenerlo, tú tampoco".[1]​ La metáfora se refiere a una cubeta con cangrejos donde individualmente estos animales pueden escapar con facilidad de la cubeta, pero en su lugar, se describe como los cangrejos se sabotean agarrándose entre ellos en una competencia inútil para que ninguno pueda escapar, asegurando la destrucción del colectivo.[2

2025年9月24日 星期三

2025年9月23日 星期二

2025年9月21日 星期日

Life is a battle

  Several figures have said that "life is a battle," including Henry James ("Life is, in fact, a battle") and Charlotte ...