Blake "...didn’t Tolerate Vagueness or Empty Abstraction."

narouz

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Everywhere in Blake’s work, it is clear that he never underestimated the possibilities of the future, and never imposed false limits onto anything, but he didn’t tolerate vagueness or empty abstraction. Sharp definition was essential, and unique particulars were the basis for beauty and knowledge....

--Dr. Ray Peat in Can Art Instruct Science? William Blake as Biological Visionary
http://raypeat.com/articles/articles/william-blake.shtml
 
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narouz

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Re: Blake "...didn’t Tolerate Vagueness or Empty Abstraction

Part of my reason for posting this quote was to invite,
in my demonic way, consideration--
in light of Blake's views on vagueness--
of our resistance here
to clearly articulating a Peat diet.
 

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Re: Blake "...didn’t Tolerate Vagueness or Empty Abstraction

I love that quote. I think it is easy to be clear about a "Peat diet" for oneself. What becomes vague is when it is applied broadly. I suppose that is why it is often said there is no Peat diet. Maybe then specifics for the individual but somewhat vague when applied to groups because there will always be exceptions. Then of course there are words like 'sugar' that cause confusion.... It may be used generally or specifically. Sometimes this leads to misunderstanding.
 

4peatssake

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Re: Blake "...didn’t Tolerate Vagueness or Empty Abstraction

Because there isn't one.
 

Blossom

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Re: Blake "...didn’t Tolerate Vagueness or Empty Abstraction

Demonic is right! :cuss
 
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narouz

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Re: Blake "...didn’t Tolerate Vagueness or Empty Abstraction

Overheard at Starbucks

Mike: Hey man! Long time no see!
Darley: Yeah, I moved a few blocks away.
Mike: So how ya doin’? You still doing that Caveman diet thing?
Darley: No, I changed that actually. I’m eating a…[voice trails off]
Mike: What was that?
Darley: I’m, uh, eating a Ray Peat lifestyle.
Mike: What?
Darley: I mean I’m living a Ray Peat lifestyle.
Mike: Yeah…Peat. You were talking about him a little last time I saw you. I thought he was into like nutrition and diet.
Darley: Well, he is. I mean nutrition. But it’s more complex.
Mike: Well…what ya been eating? Looks like you put on a few pounds. [pokes playfully at Darley’s protruding belly.]
Darley: It’s just glycogen and water, so it’s a good thing. [looks off] It’ll go away when I heal.
Mike: OK. So on this Ray Peat lifestyle, what is your diet? I mean what kinds of things do you eat?
Darley: We don’t like to use the word “diet.” It scares people.
Mike: Really?
Darley: Yeah…makes them think of scales and anorexia.
Mike: Ya think? Okay. Well…I still am curious about your…I mean I’m wishing I could get an idea of what you’re eating.
Darley: It’s all about context. And healing.
Mike: Right. Gotcha. But...food? Like foods you put in your mouth?
Darley: It all depends.
Mike: Okay, never mind. You say you’re doing this Ray Peat “lifestyle.” What kind of stuff do you do on that kind of lifestyle?
Darley: Well…just the usual. Peat doesn’t say too much about it. He mostly talks about food.
Mike: Jeezus! Stay in touch man.
 

Blossom

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Re: Blake "...didn’t Tolerate Vagueness or Empty Abstraction

:rolling Now that's hilarious!!!!
 
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narouz

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Re: Blake "...didn’t Tolerate Vagueness or Empty Abstraction

Us Peatians have to keep a sense of humor about ourselves,
don't we?
 

Blossom

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Re: Blake "...didn’t Tolerate Vagueness or Empty Abstraction

narouz said:
Us Peatians have to keep a sense of humor about ourselves,
don't we?
Yep. I guess I'm too new to really understand this topic "there is no Peat diet" fully. I understand there is no Peat Diet but I don't think I understand the the full implications of when it it is offensive to use for discussion purposes. I imagine it might be offensive to use that simplistic term when referring to Dr. Raymond Peat PhD's phenomenal scientific works but I think some people have used the phrase innocently enough. I suppose your quote paid off narouz, thanks for the laugh. :twisted:
 
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But these are not empty abstractions, they are quite full. It's the false limits which worry.
 
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narouz

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Can a Paleo diet be whatever each individual wants it to be?
 
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narouz

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Ray Peat - The details vary slightly according to what's available. Daily, milk, fruit (mainly orange juice), eggs, butter, cheese, and coffee. As available, liver, shrimp, squid, oysters, cod, sole, ox-tail soup, chicharrones (puffed pork rind), sapotas, pawpaws, cherimoyas, guanabanas, guavas, carrots, bamboo shoots, small turnips, corundas.

Are these "empty abstractions" or specific and real things:
"unique particulars"?
 
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The Paleo Diet has no kind of ontological framework around it other than "rockstar caveman who drives a Porsche". Besides that, Ray Peat is someone who discovered that certain things, including our culture, are toxins. He is not Robert Atkins. Now, I've already mentioned the need to let things draw themselves. If your wish is to provide people with a list such as the one above, be aware that a hundred years from now he wouldn't be eating those things, for many would have become extinct. So ask yourself, is that the Ray Peat Diet? And I mean with all capitals and a trademark next to it.
 
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narouz

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Such_Saturation said:
The Paleo Diet has no kind of ontological framework around it other than "rockstar caveman who drives a Porsche".
You lost me, Such, but I do like the sound of it.
Seriously though: it's nice to be able to know what a Paleo diet is...isn't it?

Such_Saturation said:
Now, I've already mentioned the need to let things draw themselves.
In my other life, when I'm not writing authoritarian tracts on this forum, I am a musician.
A bad one, yes.
But still...
In that creative realm, I am totally hip to what you're saying.
I have a friend I sometimes try to collaborate with.
But it is hard for me because
he tends to want me to send him a song that is pretty finished.
Or he wants to send me one that is.
Whereas I like to start with a little bit,
bounce it off of him,
letting him react to it and letting the song "draw itself."
Or vice versa if he sends me something.

However, in the realm of science, I operate differently.
Peat does too.
He wants to see studies, experiments.
He wants those experiments to be carefully controlled.
He is not loose-y goose-y

Such_Saturation said:
He is not Robert Atkins.
Thankfully.

Such_Saturation said:
...be aware that a hundred years from now he wouldn't be eating those things, for many would have become extinct.
I can see that.
I don't think it changes my view
that it is essential to
1. acknowledge the obvious: that there is a Peat diet
2. describe generally what that diet is.

Such_Saturation said:
If your wish is to provide people with a list such as the one above...
That is not my wish.
However, there are such lists already on the forum,
and I don't see them as evil.
Just somewhat inadequate and inaccurate.

Such_Saturation said:
And I mean with all capitals and a trademark next to it.
I honestly have no interest in trademarks/marketing.
Actually, that is why it would be very helpful for the forum to embrace a Peat diet description:
we are not trying to Sell it.
Or at least we shouldn't be.
To me, those who try to fuzz things up by saying "There is no Peat diet"...
they are the ones who could be susceptible to the charge of selling or marketing
because they are trying present a Peat diet as
Anything You Want It to Be.
Now there's a diet you can Sell!
 
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I want a "diet" I can eat, you know? And in fact I'm eating right now. And it's not a diet. It's "my diet, this month" and "my disease, this month". This view only goes for me of course, although I'm faring pretty well considering the standard. It's about priorities.
 
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narouz

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di·et
ˈdīət/
noun
1.
the kinds of food that a person, animal, or community habitually eats.
"a vegetarian diet"
synonyms: selection of food, food, foodstuffs; More
 
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I think we departed from dictionary definitions long ago. I really believe you are not helping them in the long run. I hope you will prove me wrong.
 
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narouz

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Such_Saturation said:
I think we departed from dictionary definitions long ago. I really believe you are not helping them in the long run. I hope you will prove me wrong.

This does clarify, Such.
I have not departed from dictionary definitions.

Such_Saturation said:
Who is "them"...?
 
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narouz said:
Such_Saturation said:
I think we departed from dictionary definitions long ago. I really believe you are not helping them in the long run. I hope you will prove me wrong.

This does clarify, Such.
I have not departed from dictionary definitions.

Such_Saturation said:
Who is "them"...?

People who are trying to feel better.
 

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