Excerpt from AI:
The article "Winston Man:
In the past, I studied Eastern philosophy, which says: ’Do not say things that should not be said!’ Today, I study Western philosophy, which says: ’Say what needs to be said!’ And I have harmonized the two great philosophies of the world together. That is: ’I will say what needs to be said, and I will not say what should not be said. But if something that should not be said needs to be said, I will say it; and if something that needs to be said should not be said, I will not say it.’ Conclusion: I don’t know what I am saying." This reflects the intersection of two major philosophical schools of thought—Eastern and Western philosophy—and highlights the contradictions and complexities involved in applying them to real life.
To analyze Winston Man’s writing more deeply, we can view his statements within a broader philosophical and cultural context, especially when addressing the relationship between Eastern and Western philosophy. Winston Man’s story is not only a comparison between two philosophical systems but also a profound reflection on the contradictions in human actions, as one weighs ethics, truth, and personal freedom.
Eastern Philosophy-Restraint and Caution in Speech
In Eastern philosophy, particularly in Buddhist, Taoist, and Confucian schools, speech is regarded as a crucial element in maintaining social harmony and inner peace. The concept of "Do not say what should not be said" reflects a life philosophy where silence is golden, and words must be carefully chosen to avoid harming others and to maintain harmony in relationships.
Buddhism speaks of the "four heavy karmic actions," where speech is one of the actions that can create karma, potentially leading to suffering if uncontrolled. Words can create negative karma if they lack goodwill or awareness of the consequences. In the Eastern world, language is not just a tool for communication but also a means to maintain purity of the mind and community.
Taoism, with its philosophy of "Wu wei" (non-action or action without interference), also emphasizes the idea of keeping silent, or at least speaking only when necessary, avoiding stirring the world around with meaningless words.
When Winston Man says, "Do not say what should not be said," it can be understood as an adoption of Eastern philosophy, where speech is a medium not to be taken lightly, as it can cause harm or disturb the inner peace of both the speaker and the listener.
Western Philosophy-Freedom and Truth in Speech
In contrast, Western philosophy, especially in Kantian (Immanuel Kant) and Existentialist (Jean-Paul Sartre) schools, emphasizes personal freedom and honesty in communication. "Say what needs to be said" suggests that in Western philosophy, speech is not only a tool for communication but also a means to express personal freedom and truth.
Kant argued that honesty is a fundamental moral duty, and telling the truth is a moral act, regardless of the consequences it may cause. He believed that humans cannot falsify or conceal the truth because that would violate the freedom and dignity of others. This philosophy might lead to the view that if something needs to be said, even if difficult or painful, one still has a duty to say it.
Existentialism, with Sartre, contends that humans are responsible for living authentically and expressing their freedom in all circumstances. In the modern world, silence or refusal to express oneself may be seen as an avoidance of the truth and life, a rejection of one’s freedom and the freedom of others.
This creates a paradox in Winston Man’s writing: if Eastern theory advises "do not say what should not be said," Western philosophy urges "say what needs to be said," even if it might cause disruption or pain. Thus, harmonizing these two philosophies leads to a contradiction in choosing when to speak and when not to speak.
Creating a Humorous and Contradictory Approach
The statement "I will say what needs to be said, and I will not say what should not be said" reflects an adoption of both philosophies, but with the extended part: "But if something that should not be said needs to be said, I will say it; and if something that needs to be said should not be said, I will not say it," Winston Man cleverly creates an internal contradiction. This contradiction is a highlight of the writing: the inability to reconcile these theories creates a state of self-contradiction, a linguistic chaos within the soul of the speaker.
The conclusion "I don’t know what I am saying" is not just an acknowledgment of the inability to apply the philosophy but also a humorous approach to facing the complex issues of life. It reflects the confusion and bewilderment when humans encounter grand theories that they sometimes cannot fully understand or apply accurately. By using this conclusion, Winston Man is, in fact, critiquing the attempt to impose theory onto practical life, where things are not simple and cannot be blindly followed by mechanical principles.
Humor and Social Criticism
In addition to reflecting the contradictions in applying these philosophies, the humor in the concluding sentence can also be seen as a social critique. Winston Man not only reflects the confusion in philosophical theories but may also be criticizing the chaos in modern society, where people are often caught up in the pursuit of absolute truth without realizing that ambiguity and uncertainty are inherent in life.
In a society where information and opinions constantly change, the pursuit of a perfect theory that can be applied to every situation is impossible. Winston Man realizes that even when trying to combine two great philosophies, he still cannot achieve a clear and specific solution for himself. And ambiguity is a reflection of life in the modern world, where theories can never be fully applied.
Conclusion:
Winston Man’s writing is a fusion of Eastern and Western philosophy, delivering a profound message about the relationship between speech and action, as well as the difficulty of reconciling opposing principles. It reflects an internal contradiction in life and emphasizes that sometimes, even when trying to apply a theory perfectly, we may still find ourselves in a state of uncertainty about what we truly want to say or do. The concluding statement "I don’t know what I am saying" is not only an acknowledgment of the ambiguity of language but also a reflection of human nature in a complex world, where principles and theories are not always easy to apply.
