Philosophy of 'Swing’

The swing is a universally accepted form of amusement. Just hang a plank or tire from branch of a tree or a beam and one can oscillate like a pendulum. The thrill one get is just a manifestation of what happens when one swing.

Jhoola symbolizes greenery, fertility and productivity. The sway and swing high in the grove, take the breeze upon one to absorb and imbibe the virtues of fertile season, so that life may blossom forth.

Someone claims, “The swing is a humble vehicle that lifts you to the state where soul temporarily breaks through the body, the state that the word ecstasy truly connotes.”

The cradle is a variant of the swing. A small bud swaying in the breeze prospers my child in the rocking cradle! 

The Philosophy of Gossip

The Philosophy of Gossip

Keep this philosophy in mind the next time you either hear or are about to repeat a rumor.

In ancient Greece (469 - 399 BC), Socrates was widely lauded for his wisdom.

One day the great philosopher came upon an acquaintance that ran up to him excitedly and said, “Socrates, do you know what I just heard about one of your students?"

"Wait a moment," Socrates replied. "Before you tell me I'd like you to pass a little test. It's called the Triple Filter Test."

"Triple filter?"

"That's right," Socrates continued. "Before you talk to me about my student let's take a moment to filter what you're going to say.

The first filter is Truth. Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about to tell me is true?"

"No," the man said, "actually I just heard about it."

"All right," said Socrates. "So you don't really know if it's true or not. Now let's try the second filter, the filter of Goodness.

Is what you are about to tell me about my student something good?"

"No, on the contrary ..."

"So," Socrates continued, "you want to tell me something bad about him, even though you're not certain it's true?"

The man shrugged, a little embarrassed.

Socrates continued." You may still pass the test though, because there is a third filter - the filter of Usefulness.

Is what you want to tell me about my student going to be useful to me?"

"No, not really ..."

"Well," concluded Socrates, "if what you want to tell me is neither True nor Good nor even Useful, why tell it to me at all?"

The man was defeated and ashamed.

This is the reason Socrates was a great philosopher and held in such high esteem.

It also explains why he never found out that Plato was having affairs with his wife.

‘Philosophy of Chair’

‘Philosophy of Chair’

A chair is viewed from its utility view point while its design is under consideration. Utility too have more than one parameter. What’s the use of object? Who is going to use it? Where will it be installed or placed? And so on.

Different chairs may be used by same person at different point of time. Say while relaxing and beaming favorite television show in own drawing room, a person want to use relaxing chair with arm resting comfortably and resting heaps on soft cushioned surface and back resting on comfortable support but while having lunch or dinner on a lovely dining table the chair must be little taller and the chair arms may be redundant or might become obstacle and back support, if absent, may not bother while the same person seating opposite to a bar counter wants to have tall chair to artificially create high mood.

Okay…. These are just few examples of specific use of chair for different applications. There can be ‘n’ number of applications. The chair of Managing Director of some corporate house and the chairs or executives of the same corporate house and that of junior Clark and others holding different positions and post can’t be alike.

When a craftsman is asked to design a chair he has to be made fully aware about whom the chair is for, where it is going to be installed and what is the application.

A king of a nation seating on ordinary looking chair may not attract the attention of people of his kingdom and his cabinet colleagues occupying the chairs of top quality and craftsmanship shall look not in place.

So while looking from the point of view of craftsman ‘What is a chair?’

Chair is an object which ultimately shall reflect the personality of the person seating on it. It can’t be ordinary. A person seating on an ordinary chair can ruin his status. So much is the importance of a chair and hence its creator must follow the basic philosophy of chair design without which the money spend will go in vain.

Of course the strength of chair shall also play vital role in defining the power that of the person seating on it must be enjoying. A powerful decision maker seating of ordinary weak looking chair shall lack that vigor to decide anything with firmness, right or wrong.

Philosophy of ‘Hand Railing’

Philosophy of ‘Hand Railing’

Many a time a small thing around us does not attract our attention and goes un-noticed. So is the case with ‘Hand Railing’ as available in different walks of life. And the design and architect of so called ‘Hand Railing’ differs depending more upon its ambient than it’s utility. Ya, the utility is same everywhere. To support, help to support, or help to increase confidence while walking or help to increase confidence while climbing and so on. This utility of ‘Hand Railing’ is common irrespective of where it is affixed.

A ‘Hand Railing’ is a support. It is a sort of pillar of confidence with which one can walk or climb without fear. It can help a child to climb steps of foot-over Bridge. It can help youth to speed up his climbing on and getting down from foot-over Bridge. It is support by which an elderly and senior citizen can cross a bridge without anyone’s help. Ya….. that independence it imparts to senior citizen is so vitally important in today’s fast life. Otherwise living a dependent life, a senior citizen is never happy in asking for support of any nature but some time is in helpless situation. And if the ‘Hand Railing’ sane him or her from asking help then it is worth a million.

The question is, then why such an important life saving equipment, if I call it, has not got its due importance and respect?

A ‘Hand Railing’ is important equipment, life saving equipment, atleast sometime, does purpose of supporting a falling object, I mean a falling person.

Let us make an attempt to through some light on the characteristics that ‘Hand Railing’ should have. And what kind of philosophical thinking should go behind installation of a ‘Hand Railing’.

‘Hand Railing’ is equipment, a life saving equipment, serves the purpose of supporting a falling object. And the object which is as precious as life. Life, that of a child, youth, elderly or senior citizen. Oh….. My goodness…. What a responsibility it carries on its shoulders? Such a huge burden of responsibility if it needs to carry, it can’t be ordinary!! If it has to carry the load of those who solely and blindly depends upon it, it itself got to be strong enough to carry, right? Okay…… that makes one of its vital characteristic that it got to be strong.

Now the unfortunate part of ‘Hand Railing’ is that it can’t be just strong in itself, because it itself is supported on some other structure or flooring or steps or…… Hence second characteristic of ‘Hand Railing’ is that it has to have strong support to mount on. So to say, support to support ‘Hand Railing’ got to be strong.

Thirdly the outer surface of ‘Hand Railing’ has to have mixed blend of properties. It got to be smooth enough for it not to hurt the hands of person resting his or her hand on it at the same time it can’t be so smooth that and hand extended in an emergency slips on its surface.

Okay….. ‘Hand Railing’ should never have sharp edges since it is installed at public place and even a handicap might have access to it to depend.

My goodness….. A leg-handicap might fold his Crutches and take the support from ‘Hand Railing’!!! See the responsibilities of ‘Hand Railing’.

‘Hand Railing’ in a moving bus or train has to withstand the socks of breaks. And a normal human on his reflects action extends his hand towards it for help and ‘Hand Railing’ has no right to refuse.

Sometime a non-existence of ‘Hand Railing’ is pardonable but if it has to exist it got to be strong-strong and fully functional in all weather or any advance condition.

The design of ‘Hand Railing’ depends upon its ultimate place of installation. Normally it is rigidly firm but not necessary. Okay…. Imagine a moving ‘Hand Railing’!! Yes on escalators one can see a moving ‘Hand Railing’ running at synchronized speed of escalator. And my god……how much purpose it serves!! Should someone want he can ask an elderly person who are not so comfortable with the use of escalator but by force uses it keeping fear in heart. Their sole reliance is this moving ‘Hand Railing’.

Design of any product depends on the philosophy of looking at the product. And once all aspects are scrutinized and looked upon nobody will design such an important product in hurry or without giving the due importance.

That’s the philosophy of simple product as simple as ‘Hand Railing’.