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Have you ever heard of "The Golden Mean"? Or probably about the 'Virtue Theory'? Well, if we go back in Ancient Greece (of course, it is always Greece), and we talk to Aristotle (who, by the way, actually stole this idea from Ancient China) about what is 'courage', he would probably tell you the following thing. For a trait to be virtuous it has to be in a golden mean. That is to say, Aristotle believed that the equilibrium of 'virtue' is reached by a golden mean. But this idea of 'virtue' or 'being virtuous', we can expand it a bit further by "proper function". What is to be good or bad? What is proper function? Let's take for example a pen that has ink and its idea is to deliver ink for you to write. It's function is to write. Good pen is one that writes. Bad pen is one that doesn't write. It doesn't fulfill its function. Different entities have their own proper function, and believe it or not, it can be expanded to even human traits. But how 'proper function' actually applies on' good' vs. 'bad'? Well, Aristotle says that 'a good man practises good deeds, by practising good deeds he becomes a good man', so with the 'bad man'. Let's think of an architect. A good architect is one who builds good walls. By building good walls, over and over again, he can become a better architect. A good, very good one. A bad architect builds bad walls. Such architect who continues to build bad walls will continue being a bad architect for he practises 'bad walls'. So the idea of being virtuous depends on the practice. However, 'virtue' on its own - taken as 'a good thing' is questioned. What is the true color of 'virtue'? For it to function and be a virtuous act or a virtuous person, Aristotle mentions the golden mean. It is explained by the idea of 'courage'. Courage is seen as a virtue, a good thing to have! What is 'courage'? Well, one who is brave! X DING DING, WRONG. One who doesn't fear anything! X DING DING WRONG. One who sacrifices and fights for whatever is to be defended! X DING DING WRONG. We are not talking about 'linguistic definition', this is what you have to realize. For courage to be in its golden mean and be 'a good thing' (opposite of being bad and harmful), you have to feel fear but also bravery at the same time. A balance, of sorts. Aristotle says that if you have too much fear, 'courage' is in deficit and it results into 'cowardice'. Therefore, 'courage' that is in deficit gives a 'hypo-result'. Opposite, if 'bravery' is too much, 'courage' is in abundance and it results into 'recklessness'. Therefore, 'courage in exaggeration gives a 'hyper-result'. Apparently, a trait, an emotion or a metaphysical object can be rendered with a golden mean. This blog entry bends 'the golden mean' to show how a lie can become in its most dangerous and most damaging state through the use of 'truth' in deficit. So to say, utilizing the truth despite making a lie out of it. Let me put it that way. Have you heard of the saying, "Read between the lines"? Or.... "The truth is always somewhere in between"? Glad you have heard them, saves us both time. Have you ever deeply analyzed these statements? The perfect lie, my dear reader, and the hardest to catch, is the one that utilizes a small dose of the truth. It does not show the full color of 'truth', but it borrows from it to be painted by the shades of a truth. Does it start to make sense? Truth, according the golden mean is something very interesting. Can you even put a truth under a golden mean? Apparently you can with 'secrecy' which involves lack of honesty and excess of it. But how about 'truth'? Deficit of truth should, logically, result in a lie, but what is the exaggeration of a truth? Again a lie? Manipulation? Or probably Solomon's Wisdom? Let's switch now, 'lie in the golden mean'. Can a lie even have a golden mean? Some people may now come in and question the 'white lie'. Therefore, I want to scratch this with eagle claws. A white lie does not exist. It is a lie in its deficit. Let's end this long-lasting debate on 'white lie', okay? -_- It is a truth in deficit. Not enough truth is said, therefore, it is a lie but 'not harming one'. So people say. -_- So, a deficit - a white lie. What about a lie with exaggeration? Politics. -COUGH COUGH- Sorry, a joke slipped. Can a lie be in its exaggeration state? Having excess of it? People will say, "Look, it is still a lie anyway; what's the point of applying 'golden mean'?" Hmmmmmm. True. But using a golden mean can help bad people actually create/fabricate a lie very close to the truth and utilizing 'facts' to bend them in a way that takes away their truthfulness but still mislead because the 'receiver' is aware that 'such things indeed happened'. So, have you ever questioned 'history'? If you have, you may understand what I am saying. Question time, "Can a truth become a lie, and can a lie become a truth"? I leave this to more experienced philosophers.

The heart - one's feelings and emotions - where is it? Is the heart tangible, or not? Does it exist at all? Before love can be spoken about in any manner, the existence of the heart must be determined. For, what is the point of discussing love between two men, or people in general, if there is no heart. In other words, if we have no heart, we cannot love, and without love the many shounen-ai (boy love) stories we share on this forum are without meaning. For this reason, I suggest we strike up a discussion on the existence of the heart, so that we can begin to validate the supposed meaning within our beloved shounen-ai. That meaning being that the love between two homosexual men is not only acceptable, but also desirable – we can be happy when the protagonists are together at the end of the story. There are many perspectives on the issue of the existence of the heart/mind/ soul. I would like to present one topic presented by my username's namesake, Ulquiorra Cifer of the anime Bleach. Cifer is a nihilist, one who rejects the existence of all things that he cannot see with his own eyes. In the following excerpt we see him explaining his initial philosophy on the existence of the heart: "Hearts, you say? You humans are always so quick to speak of such things. As though you carry your hearts in the very palms of your hands. But this eye of mine perceives all. There is nothing that it overlooks. If this eye cannot see a thing, then it does not exist. That is the assumption under which I have always fought. What is this "heart"? If I tear open that chest of yours, will I see it there? If I smash open that skull of yours, will I see it there?" (Bleach manga, Chapter 317, pp. 20) The Russian philosopher and novelist, Ivan Turgenev wrote in his book Fathers and Sons, “A nihilist is a person who does not look up to any authorities, who does not accept a single principle on faith, no matter how highly that principle may be esteemed.” In our discussion, the “esteemed principle” is the faith humans have that the heart exists. The nihilist, Cifer, outright rejects the existence of the heart. This is because he must determine on his own accord that the heart exists, as he will not take the word of any higher authority. The “heart” cannot be perceived by the eyes though, as it is made up of the intangible thoughts and feelings. This is suggested by notion of the heart is suggested by Orihime Inoue, Cifer’s antitheist. In his death though, Cifer comes to an epiphany. He acknowledges the existence of the heart, as Inoue reaches out to him. His final words were, "I see. This. Yes. This thing in my hand is the heart?” The cause of his quick turnaround in his philosophy is unknown, but may be due to the fact that in that moment he could sense Inoue’s emotions; feeling her heart. One can only ponder on why it is only at this moment he changes his mind, but even the nihilist the one who rejects all he can’t see – eventually accepts the notion of the heart, or at least in this specific case. This is a discussion though. What are your opinions on this matter? Is Cifer’s initial philosophy that the “heart” cannot be seen and therefore doesn’t exist. Or is his epiphany, the heart being “in his hand,” –his physically disintegrated hand - correct? Share your thoughts on the matter, so that we can all come to a better understanding of the heart. The heart, without which, you can have no love – or shounen-ai in our case. Videos of Ulquiorra Cifer explaining his philosophy: