by Jishi Santos

Created on: May 30, 2009   Last Updated: May 31, 2009

Way back, way way back in the recorded history of our world, there are our ideas and they have been with us for so long now and we still have not learned from them. What is the point of philosophy if we can't learn from history and its great ideas? I suppose it depends on who those ideas came from in the beginning.

In the beginning there was the void and out of this came Creation. God's idea, and a great one, for I would not be writing this today. What a marvelous idea to create a universe and a world in which we can live. I think it is the only one we know of, so it is the only speck in the cosmos to be discussing philosophy at all.

Who were the earliest inhabitants of this ground we walk on ? The Australian aborigines, by all archaeological and anthropological accounts written so far. Their greatest idea was, 'Only take what you need from the land, replenish, replace, put back, and make the earth better for future generations' . One of the greatest ideas in history from all that time back. They would not have survived without that idea as it was a tough environment to be walking round in.

As we travel further towards the future, we stumble across yet another indigenous group once occupying the plains and canyons of America. One of their great ideas was,' To keep one foot in the river and one foot on the bank'. By this they meant, that in life keep up with the flow, but above all stay grounded and don't get swept away. Also apologizing to an an animal or tree before cutting it down to survive was not a bad idea springing of a humane approach to all life.

Finally, great ideas from history come out of that book the Bible. Why you can find an answer to almost anything there and above all it is a recorded life of Jesus, whose two great ideas rank definitely number one in my book. 'Love thy neighbor as thyself' and 'Do unto others as you would have done to you'.

Now a fifth idea, and only a personal aside, the best idea I have come across from history, is that you can learn a bit from it, but you are better to interact with each new day and come up with this idea.' I am going to make the very best of this day by giving to others, by not getting angry and by creating something good. Whether it be a meal, an idea, or a gesture towards n my wife, family and little dog. Wait, here is the best idea of all, for history has shown us many bad ideas, including war. 'Peace on earth for evermore'.

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