Creating a Lunar Philosophy: Research Project & Experiments

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of "lunar philosophy," exploring the potential effects of the full moon on human behavior and consciousness. Participants consider the implications of documenting experiences during full moons, the validity of lunar-related lore, and the philosophical underpinnings of such a project. The scope includes philosophical inquiry, personal experimentation, and the intersection of folklore and scientific reasoning.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Experimental/applied

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses interest in documenting personal experiences during full moons and exploring dream interpretation, seeking feedback and collaboration.
  • Another participant questions the belief in the full moon's effects on people, suggesting that many associated stories are superstitious and noting the extensive work involved in such documentation.
  • A different viewpoint emphasizes the need for comparative observations between full moon and non-full moon days to assess any significant effects, advocating for a blind test to eliminate bias.
  • One participant shares a personal anecdote of feeling strange during a full moon, raising questions about the truth behind lunar lore, such as lunatics and werewolves.
  • Another participant critiques the connection between lunar phenomena and philosophy, arguing that a belief system does not equate to philosophical inquiry, and offers a definition of philosophy that emphasizes systematic exploration.
  • A participant reiterates the idea of documenting experiences while also considering the moon's influence on tides and its historical significance in navigation and seafood collection, suggesting a possible evolutionary connection to lunar effects.
  • One post mentions experiments linking lunar activity to psychic phenomena, though this is presented without further elaboration.
  • Another participant dismisses the discussion as lacking philosophical relevance, categorizing it as folklore.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants exhibit a range of opinions, with some supporting the exploration of lunar effects and others challenging the philosophical validity of the project. There is no consensus on the significance of lunar influences or their relevance to philosophy.

Contextual Notes

Participants express various assumptions about the relationship between lunar cycles and human behavior, and there are unresolved questions regarding the methodology of potential experiments and the definitions of philosophy versus belief systems.

raolduke
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I am guessing - that there is some sort of lunar philosophy?
I was hoping on creating a research project similar or finding out about this idea. I was thinking, for the rest of my life I could document each full moon I experience in as much detail as possible.. Besides recording my conscious self I want to try dream interpretation on those occassions too.

I know there is a bit to consider before attempting this experiment and much information to learn about.. So if there is anyone with some criticism or knowledge about this subject please elaborate.

It would also be very awesome if we got a few that want to help.
 
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Lunar Philosophy

What makes you think that the full moon has any effect on people (other than making them spend hours setting up large telescopes in extremely cold temperatures just so they can examine the moon at close quarters)? Most stories associated with changes in humans during the full moon are just supersticious. Also, making notes on the effects of the full moon for the rest of your life would be quite a lot of work.
 
If you restrict your observations to full moons only then you will have nothing to compare these observations against. Plus, whatever you may do and experience on these days will be influenced by the fact that you are busily documenting all that, plus the fact that you are aware of this fact.

To know if there is anything significant enough about full moon days to create your philosophy, you need to compare them to non-full-moon days. You should also do a blind test, i.e. you should not know which day is a full moon and which day is not, otherwise once again your actions and perceptions will be influenced by your knowledge of this fact and its perceived importance.
 
The reason why I bring this up is because I was out on a night in the middle of the woods and I felt very strange and it turns out it was a full moon. The control is a good idea definitely.. Same as all experiments. Is there any truth to lore about the moon - lunatics, were wolves, that sort of stuff?
 
There are many theologies which look at the moon as a factor in our lives. However, I'm confused as to how this has any bearing on philosophy. A system of beliefs is not philosophy, inasmuch as astrology is not science. Perhaps one of the better definitions I've read is that philosophy is "[t]he methodical and systematic exploration of what we know, how we know it, and why it is important that we know it."

Not to undermine your lunar endeavors, just a bit of food for thought on what philosophy is and is not.
 
raolduke said:
I am guessing - that there is some sort of lunar philosophy?
I was hoping on creating a research project similar or finding out about this idea. I was thinking, for the rest of my life I could document each full moon I experience in as much detail as possible.. Besides recording my conscious self I want to try dream interpretation on those occassions too.

I know there is a bit to consider before attempting this experiment and much information to learn about.. So if there is anyone with some criticism or knowledge about this subject please elaborate.

It would also be very awesome if we got a few that want to help.

The fact that the moon tends to either coincide with or actually effect the tides is significant in itself. It would have been a driving force in collecting seafood at one time and of course in navigation and sailing.

Comparing neurological activity during a full moon and a new moon will be a good control as Out Of Whack has offered. My guess is that we as evolving organisms have always been affected by the moon in terms of how its effects change the ocean, seeing as how most life on Earth has arisen from the ocean. So, if there is a lunar philosophy it will be rooted in the primordial experiences we had as slime mould or fish when our oceanic tides began to shift and when they didn't. Or not.
 
<link deleted>
experiments relating lunar activity to psychic cognition (ESP, Telekinesis, all that junk)
 
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Sorry, everyone, but this just doesn't have anything to do with philosophy. This is folklore, at best.
 

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