Zak ZM

A reflection on how the emotion system works in terms of its association with memory and the deeper survival/replication system.  I posit that to overcome trauma - which I view as strong memories that store strong negative emotions - a person must dissolve these memories and create new ones.

I lay out my perspective on how the emotional system works, how it is different from other systems which are under our direct control such as speaking and movement.

This work is currently theoretical, and I've yet to test it with clients or myself even. Though it does seem sound. And I will soon apply it to my therapy work.

My rough draft theory of personality based on the idea that everyone has a negative and positive avatar which makes up their positive and negative personalities; in other words that we all have two personalities through which we live life. These are formed based on our memories (traumas/positive exp), our beliefs, our habits, etc

I also lay out a mechanism based on darwinian adaptation which explains how certain behaviours and associated beliefs etc become the default. and how this collection of defaults form a personality.

i begin my thoughts of how this may be used to change your negative personality and thus to have a better life and better life experience.

the negative personality and positive personality are always present - they get triggered based on the person feeling an emotion. and that emotion having an associated response - which becomes adapted as the default due to its success in keeping you alive (survival) thus it is reinforced.

whatever emotions etc are felt more leads to the personality manifesting and becoming dominant.

its a rough draft atm.

Structural Philosophy would study how shifts in technology, economic needs, and states of conflict or peace influence and are influenced by changes in societal philosophies and ideologies. This field would explore how these structural factors shape collective beliefs, values, and philosophical outlooks.

The idea is that mass philosophy-the dominant ideas and ideals held by people in different places at different moments in history-is created by, influenced, and changed by the structural realities of the day. This idea is powerful in that it gives us a lense to analyse the dominant ideas of our time, and the times in the past, that provides deeper understanding of why people began to believe them in the first place, and moreover why they are so dominant, and naturally believed in. The landscape of the day-in terms of conflict (war/peace), technology (advancements), and economic reality-provide a context and backdropa soil from which the philosophies are grown out of. This gives us a much more realistic view of these ideas, and a far more comprehensive way of analysing them, and the people who hold them.

There is no devil, except for a minority of humans who become so evil they can be called that. This point is fundamentally one of worldview choice. A person can choose whether they believe the devil is real based on their faith or religion. I will, however, present what I believe to be true based on my observation, experience, and logic itself.

A reflection on the feeling of insignificance, and the meaning of significance. I realise in the reflection itself that I have been judging myself too harshly, and that I have in fact been more impactful, and thus am more significant than I thought (and sometimes think).  I hope it serves as a comfort to others who may feel this way.

A breakdown of the nature of death, and suicide. Followed by a systematic analysis demonstrating why suicide is wrong. Written from the perspective of helpful, considerate reflections as opposed to judgmental or critical 'advice'.

I hope this writing serves to clarify the topic, and if possible to save a precious life.

This essay disproves the idea that human beings are at base evil. That people are born evil. That most people are evil, and other associated ideas about the nature of man.

It definitely proves why human beings are fundamentally good. Why at our base, in our natural state, we are good. That it is only ever the minority of us who engage in evil. That this is a peversion, an exception of human nature. Not the default.

The issue has been settled. Human beings are not evil by default, no matter how much pessimistic philosophers try to convince us otherwise.

This text articulates a philosophical perspective on spirituality, morality, and the essence of human existence, positing that 'God' represents the initial, impersonal, and unknowable cause at the inception of everything. It argues for the intrinsic value of all beings as a moral foundation and views religion as a human attempt to make sense of the unknowable.

The author suggests that while we cannot comprehend the divine or the metaphysical fully, we possess innate morality and goodness, deriving from our infinite origin and evolutionary history. Rejecting the notions of destiny, predestination, and external embodiments of evil, the text champions personal agency, virtue, and the power of choice in shaping our lives and the world around us.

The latter part shifts focus to practical existential questions, advocating for a life lived with openness to being wrong, acceptance of mystery, and a commitment to living well for oneself and others. It underscores the importance of personal action and choice in creating a fulfilling life and contributing positively to society, while maintaining humility and peace with the unanswerable mysteries of existence.

The text calls for focusing on actionable, knowable aspects of life—personal goals, relationships, well-being, and contributions to society—as the path to a meaningful and virtuous life. Through this lens, the author presents a vision for living that embraces the unknown while empowering individuals to shape their destiny and foster a collective sense of kinship and morality.

We can say that our self image - our identity - what we believe to be ourselves - at least in large part - is based on what the people around us tell us. Since we can’t physically see ourselves, and since - especially when we are young - we have no real understanding of what self is, we rely on the people around us to tell us who we are.

There are many forms of elite man. The two basic divisions are Alpha and Sigma. One is not better than the other-they are the yin and yang of leadership; opposite sides of the great coin of masculinity. Both are necessary for the group to remain healthy, balanced, productive, and good in ethics, and in terms of quality of life for every individual that makes it up. 

Note - I write this only focusing on men as I am one, and thus do not know if it applies also to women.

In this essay we will discuss the question of whether interest groups enhance or undermine democracy. We will begin by defining what interest groups are; thereafter we will present a short definition of democracy, followed by an examination of the arguments for each side.

This essay argues that Troy (2004) is a modernization of Homer's Iliad which shifts focus from a story which revolves around the agency of 'the gods' to a story which revolves around the agency of human beings. I argue that this re-contextualization is a reflection of our modern quest for immortality through human action i.e. leaving a lasting legacy.

[Note: This isn't a conversation about religiousity or the existence of the Divine but rather a conversation about human agency and re-contextualization.]

Sovereignty is a concept that has long been debated in academic circles (Beeson, 2002). They disagree not only over its definition but also how it relates to the modern globalised context. Is state sovereignty absolute and unchanging? Is it fluid? In this essay we will discuss what sovereignty is and also how it relates to globalisation in today’s world.

In this essay we will explore this deceptive blurring of reality passing from external body of the story world to the deepest​ ​ core​ ​ of​ ​ the​ ​ tale​ ​ (the​ ​ message​ ​ of​ ​ the​ ​ play​ ​ itself). We​ ​ will​ ​ do​ ​ so​ ​ in​ ​ the​ ​ following​ ​ order:

This essay explores the relationship between Diski, Trocchi and the key ideas of individualism and rebellion which flowed through the period of the sixties. It explores these ideas with reference to Diski's text of the same name and Trocchi's Cain's Book.

This essay compares the representation of two women from the sixties - Jenny Diski (The Sixties) and Joy (Nell Dunn's Poor Cow). It focuses on how they contrast in the areas of ownership, their views on love and the relationships/perspectives they develop in relation to men.

Culture has been shown to have an impact on the behaviour of individuals, and as has been demonstrated by various writers-for example Chai et al (2011) and Wildavsky (1987)-culture can be categorised into different types. These types being based on the values the culture upholds. In this article we will review what has been said about the relationship between culture and behaviour and how culture (specifically in the grid type of categorisation has been shown to make individuals more punishing). Thereafter we will discuss a hypothesis and proposal based on this: countries which are more grid-type in culture will have higher conviction rates since they take a more punishing view in response to norm breaking (illegal) behaviour. In terms of the grid-type countries, Bangladesh, Philippines, Nigeria, Brazil, Venezuela and South Africa would serve as a starting point for this research (based on work done by Chai et al, 2009). Following this, we will discuss some possible drawbacks to the expected findings: and the counters to these possible limitations-namely that development level or population rates could impact conviction rates; with my counter being that the countries mentioned above are all listed in different sections of the HDI and also that a full, global level study would reveal whether this was true or not. It is of course possible that all three forms of explanation could be true at the same time-all of this is to say there is a good amount of research to be done and that a study into the relationship between conviction rates and culture type will no doubt yield some interesting results.

In this essay I will answer the question of which electoral system (I believe) is best and why. I will begin by first laying out a summary of the main types of systems currently used; relying mainly on the highly impressive work of Blaise (1991) and Norris (1997). I will base my argument for which system is best based on three criteria: popular power, representation and potential for danger.

In this essay I will answer the question of which electoral system (I believe) is best and why. I will begin by first laying out a summary of the main types of systems currently used; relying mainly on the highly impressive work of Blaise (1991) and Norris (1997). I will base my argument for which system is best based on three criteria: popular power, representation and potential for danger.

A multi-level analysis of the foriegn policy action carried out by Obama in 2013. The fundamental idea being that deceptive coercive diplomacy made out to be real intention of attack was used to pressure Syria into giving up its chemical weapons.

In this essay I will again put forward a positive case for the existence of the Creator. I will do this by using an argument based on objective morality. The argument is as follows: • If objective moral values exist, there has to be a source from which they come. • Objective moral values exist. • Therefore there is a source from which they come. This argument is deductive in nature meaning that in order to refute its conclusion, one of its premises must be shown to be invalid. In this essay we will first discuss what objective moral values are and then I will attempt to disprove the argument presented. So to begin, we will first deal with defining objective moral values: Objective moral values are basically things which are good or bad in and of themselves, meaning no matter what anyone, thing, country etc. thinks of them they are still good or bad. An example of this would be the action of rape; rape is objectively bad no matter what anyone thinks about it. Now we know what the term means we will move on and attempt to disprove the argument. The first premise states: 'If objective moral values exist, there has to be a source from which they come.' The two questions we must ask are: • What are the sources of morality? • Which, out of these sources, is objective? Before we delve into the questions I think it is important to mention that another type of moral value exists: the subjective. This type of moral value is determined by people's opinions and is not good or bad in and of itself. An example of this is: person A likes chocolate; person B hates it. In this example neither person is right or wrong as opposed to the previous example, where the thing can be only good or bad. The first question (what are the sources of morality?) has five answers:

Radicalisation is not a Muslim problem, a right wing problem or a Feminist problem; radicalisation is a human problem. In 2014, academics from around the world ​ produced a paper​. In it, they explained how violent radicalisation works. They found that at the heart of the suicide bomber, the militant feminist and the university shooter, is something both simple and disturbing: the need to feel significant. In other words, it isn't an inhuman desire to kill people that drives someone to ​ enter a mosque and blow themselves up​ , but rather it's a very human need to feel recognised. This is disturbing because it flies in the face of much of what we believe. We often think that it's only ​ those terrorists​ with ​ those​ ​ crazy beliefs ​ that are responsible for the horrors enacted around the world. That it is only people who've been labelled with the multitude of buzzwords (militant, radical, extremist, fundamentalist ­ take your pick) that are capable of blowing up an airplane or taking over a train with a machine gun​. The truth, however, is that radicalisation is not limited to a specific race, culture or religion, but rather, that each and every one of us has the ability to take life and each and every one of us has the ability to commit acts of terror.

People who don't have authentic confidence substitute it with two strategies. These strategies act as way to try to get the things that come with confidence, while minimising the costs of its lack. This can be related to conflict, but it also applies in areas of desire such as when a man tries to get a girl to like him.

Alongside the study of the combat as in terms of its principles, its forms and its components-we must also look into its instruction. A fruitful view of this may be to look at instruction in terms of instructing those who know nothing. After all, combining an individual who is open to all learning with a principle based approach (as we are attempting to lay down) would theoretically create what we have discussed as the near-perfect fighter-combined with correct moral instruction: the near-perfect martial artist. It is to children then, that we turn our attention.

In this essay we discuss whether the Theory of Evolution should be readily accepted for the process by which man has come about. Individual evidences are not discussed but rather the theory as a whole is taken into consideration. The main argument holds that every piece of evidence which supports major evolution can be used to support another interpretation (including those of design).

Before even introducing this essay, I want to say (as a reminder to myself and a clear declaration to others) what I know compared to what those who I consider masters e.g Musashi, Kano, Sun Tzu, Jack Dempsey, is nothing. I am only a student that hopes to reach the level (and if possible to go beyond) these great martial artists.

A research proposal for a study which will examine whether there is a disconnect between the perspective of people who live under autocratic conditions and those who travel to autocratic countries: in other words, do we who live in democracies actually factor in the governmental system of the country we wish to visit? I argue that for the majority, if enough modern choices are available in that country, the answer is no.

This essay (unfinished) attempts to describe a new way of teaching martial arts that couples the university model with the advent of internet learning. I It is very different from the standard way in which fighting is taught today - I hope it will be a valuable starting point and contribution to the arts as a whole.

In this essay I break down the broad definition, according to various academics, of humanitarian intervention. I thereafter discuss whether intervention is a good thing or a bad thing; in terms of historical instances where it was implemented.

A Defeater to the Problem of Evil/The Problem of Arbitrary Suffering.

Defeater: human beings don't have the full perspective required to make objective moral judgements on life events.

Alternative: if there is another, everlasting, life after this one, and these things help one to be successful in it, they are objectively good.

This is a tool (a three line deductive argument) which allows you to see what you are in terms of objective reality. It can be applied to people suffering from serious intrusive thoughts, people who have fears about being haunted etc

Tool:

If at point 1 Zak is A.

And when he reaches point 2 Zak has not changed.

Then at point 2 Zak is A.

The above takes out the individuals own biases and emotions from the measurement and therefore presents a picture which is true and as solid as the Kalam argument for the existence of the Creator.

Two summaries of two (I believe new) theories. Combined with rough notes of my thoughts and conclusions which led to their discovery.

The first deals with a new analysis of how to clinically deal with Intrusive Thoughts.

The second, on a new definition and terminology for what they actually are: renaming them 'thought bubbles'.