The Philosophy of Amaranth; Metaphysics and the Post-Modern Solution

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Date: January 16th, 2013
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Read Today's Daily Prophet: Knights of Walpurgis attack Hogwarts; Belleford steps down as Hogwarts closes until further notice

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Here at Hogwarts our students are currently in their Seventh Year. Last year, the war against the Knights crescendoed into a direct attack against the school. Disappearances are still reported (or not) daily, and the Dark Lord and his Knights of Walpurgis have succeeded in spreading their message of "do as thou will" far and wide across the globe. Magical Law Enforcement, which is now the only authority in the wizarding world under Martial Law, has responded by tightening security, controlling the media, and strictly enforcing curfews and other laws. Their control is damaging to the people's freedom, and their hierarchy is a suspicious lot. It is clear that some members of the MLE like their new found power a bit too much, others see it necessary, but all are in serious danger of being consumed by it. But with the picture of just what Azariah Amaranth is after becoming ever clearer, and a third player in the form of a group called SAVIOR entering the scene, what will the MLE do next to ensure that they've got the situation under control?

The Elementium, the Higher Plane that had once been hidden just beyond the veil in the Department of Mysteries, and the Deathly Hallows. The pieces of the puzzle have been identified, but what picture do they make?

Today is Day 1 of Year Seven. Students have had time to recover from the Knight's attack, and are beginning to reluctantly return to the walls of Hogwarts. The safety of the school has been diminished, bringing up the question everyone must ask. Are you safe anywhere these days? It's up to each individual to decide their fate, where will you decide to go?

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The Philosophy of Amaranth; Metaphysics and the Post-Modern Solution; Please Read if you are interested in the underpinnings of the plot
Tweet Topic Started: Dec 4 2011, 08:58:35 PM (201 Views)
Ian de Pointe du Lac	Dec 4 2011, 08:58:35 PM Post #1
Seventh Year Posts: 2,280 Group: Slytherin Member #1,536 Joined: Aug 14 2010 Age 22 Real Name Tony Ray Vick Character Age 17 RP Relationship Status Single RP Location Azkaban	I wanted to give a short, clean, clear-cut explanation of Azariah's goal, and what it means, so that we're clear. I'm sure once its explained in the RP, there could be some confusion if we don't understand the basics. I want the staff and the site to understand so that the characters may make their decisions appropriately and with care, otherwise the whole point gets thrown off. First, a definition: Metaphysical - Metaphysics is a type of philosophy or study that uses broad concepts to help define reality and our understanding of it. Metaphysical studies generally seek to explain inherent or universal elements of reality which are not easily discovered or experienced in our everyday life. As such, it is concerned with explaining the features of reality that exist beyond the physical world and our immediate senses. Metaphysics, therefore, uses logic based on the meaning of human terms, rather than on a logic tied to human sense perception of the objective world. Metaphysics might include the study of the nature of the human mind, the definition and meaning of existence, or the nature of space, time, and/or causality. Second, a law: The second law of thermodynamics is an expression of the tendency that over time, differences in temperature, pressure, and chemical potential equilibrate in an isolated physical system. From the state of thermodynamic equilibrium, the law deduced the principle of the increase of entropy and explains the phenomenon of irreversibility in nature. The second law declares the impossibility of machines that generate usable energy from the abundant internal energy of nature by processes called perpetual motion of the second kind. In short: Nothing is infinite. Time does not run backwards because heat cannot be returned. The temperature will always even out. Since our universe is an object with heat, it can only be that our universe itself continues to grow cold until all the heat of it is spent. It is the certainty of the physical universe. Lastly, an era: The term "post-modern" refers to all of human history, thus far, that has occurred since World War II. World War II was a defining moment in human history because of the atom bomb. Before the atom bomb, humanity was perfectible through technology, or, if you didn't believe that, then humanity could at least be expressed through art and poetry. The battle between the classical (humanist) view and the romantic (existential) has been the defining argument of human history since the Renaissance. But these days, the classical and romantic viewpoints are almost seen as one, mainly because they themselves have a challenger: The post-modern view. Both classical and romantic sensibilities look to create harmony, understanding, and happiness within the system. What is "the system"? The system is everything. Any system. Just pick one. There are romantic and classical arguments for and against any and all systems: Communism, capitalism, libertarianism--they're all systems. And, despite differences, both schools of thought work within any system. But the post-modern view is different. The post-modern view says that system itself is a problem. Not "the" system, not your system (with "my system" being the better alternative, as would be the case for either a romantic or classical mindset): any system. And why? Because the atom bomb represents the highest level of human achievement. Humanity and progress suddenly go up in flames in a split-second flash of meaninglessness. And if humanity and progress were the only schools of thought, then ALL is meaningless. That is post-modernism. It's nihilism. All of your metal, death metal, punk, and grunge bands (or most of them) are an example of post-modernism in art. So, if all systems are a problem, then what is the solution. No system? So, anarchy, right? That's post-modernism's contribution to the argument, yes. But people tend to misunderstand anarchy" Anarchy would be a system where no one's will supercedes another. The problem with the absolution of all systems, you understand, would be the absolution of individual will. There will still be free will, but it will no longer be individual. Humanity itself is a system that would have to be absolved. Enter Azariah. Azariah is the consciousness of the physical universe. As such, he is destined to be destroyed when the universe is. The universe itself has a creator, or, perhaps, simply an...well say "instigator." Some other consciousness got the ball rolling, and the energy which comprises the universe comes from somewhere else, because energy cannot be created or destroyed, merely changed from one form to another. And there's the thing: The energy itself is the higher consciousness we've been discussing in the RP and outside of it. The energy itself has will. Sometimes, our will can supercede the will of that energy, and that is called "magic." The elementium, on the other hand, is Azariah's will. You only use it because he allows you to. And he would never think to supercede your will, so he won't stop you even if you tried to use it on him. He envisions a world where no one's will, not even the will of the higher consciousness which powers this universe, can be held above another. He envisions a world where he and the physical universe will not run out of heat--because that universe will itself become a source of energy. Azariah has made many arguments against systems, but his ideas run deeper than that. He would abolish all systems, including humanity. All minds will become one mind, one will, and this universe, and everything in it, will become as the higher consciousness. "Eat of the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil, and ye shall be as gods." -- The serpent of the Book of Genesis, Chapter 3, Verse 5. If Azariah succeeds, we will have achieved a new level of existence. We, that is, you, and I, and Azariah will BECOME God. We could create whole universes, which would themselves would have systems. Perhaps that is how the higher consciousness that powers our universe came to be. Perhaps this was the goal all along and not even Azariah realizes it. Azariah wishes to make all of humanity, and the physical universe, a new will which is exactly as powerful as the higher consciousness. There will be no more strife, no conflict, nor death. We will still exist, but we will be part of the One Mine, wherin our individual will is meaningless, yet our power to create will be infinite because we are no longer bound by any system. The Knights' actions from the start has been to prove to humanity that ANY system is inherently harmful. But it won't matter. It is doubtful that humanity would give up, well, humanity. Alphonse is one of the few who truly understand Azariah's ultimate goal, and Alphonse wishes to aid Azariah in helping humanity evolve by shedding the shackles of humanity itself. While this idea may seem strange, it IS the logical conclusion to post-modern thought, and, with technology, it may be possible to throw off the confines of one's will and become an infinite consciousness. That idea has already been explored, and will continue to be. In essence, this plot has always been an exercise in metaphysical thought. And, it was with that thought in mind that I first gave our evil (or, in reality, not-so-evil) organization an ultimate goal. Since then, I have learned much about metaphysical concepts and philosopy, and they have deepened my understanding and ability to explain this plot. It has been written as human experience has grown in me, and the puzzle of our existence has grown evermore complex. I hope I've illuminated some of it for you, so that we may give this story the ending it deserves. "When we have found all the answers and lost all the meaning, we will be alone on an empty shore." -- Tom Stoppard, Arcadia Edited by Ian de Pointe du Lac, Dec 4 2011, 09:03:50 PM.
	Thanks Beth! I heard the sound of a thunder, it roared out a warnin' I heard the roar of a wave that could drown the whole world I heard one hundred drummers whose hands were a-blazin' I heard ten thousand whisperin' and nobody listenin' I heard one person starve, I heard many people laughin' Heard the song of a poet who died in the gutter Heard the sound of a clown who cried in the alley And it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard And it's a hard rain's a-gonna fall. --Bob Dylan


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